A question for the camera buffs

[Nightshade]

My camera died recently I am going to try and get it fixed but I am not too optamistic about that and think its coming time to start saving for a new one next convient bank holiday when I have money.
So this is my current camera
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kodak-ZD710-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B000TGL86U/ref=sr_1_25?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1252663852&sr=1-25
Brilliant except that

So what camera recomendation do we have? I like my high zoom capabilities but am wondering if it is possible that the bulkiness of the camera has played a role in it dying, as I never could get it into a case. I don't partically like relying on an LCD screen, there are too many times when the sun means you can't see what you are shooting excatly I much preffer using the oldfashioned view finder.
I like the look of the face recognition thing and I really like being able to do paneramic pictures two things my current camera doesnt offer.
SO any sugesstions?
Basically I want to know what is really important with a camera? How do you go about buying yours? Do you hold on to an old one or just keep buying the latest greatest?

[DanielBenoit]

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Cybershot-Digital-Optical-Stabilization/dp/B000ENTFDG/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1252678591&sr=8-13
Here's my baby with a slightly different design. Probably the greatest thing about it is its zoom, which can capture objects well over 10 yards away as clear as crystal.

What I think is particuarly important with a camera is the quality of lenses, for that's the only way you can shoot the outside world, and buying a camera with no good lenses, means you're going to have to waste more money getting better ones or whatnot.

To tell you the truth, I haven't really have been around the camera market that much, so I don't know what to tell you but I've heard nothing but good things about Nikon and Olympus.

Here's a link that might help you http://www.digital-slr-guide.com/what-is-the-best-digital-slr.html

[ClaesGefvenberg]

If you are looking for something in the same range, I can recommend Canons Powershot SX100IS (http://images.google.se/imgres?imgurl=http://www.trustedreviews.com/images/article/inline/5986-CanonSX100IS3quart.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.trustedreviews.com/digital-cameras/review/2007/11/13/Canon-PowerShot-SX100-IS/p1&usg=__vHtfdC0Mr62zewJHke_P4ZEIdzc=&h=474&w=500&sz=60&hl=sv&start=7&sig2=eilp6QnVO4Pz7Qar6axeVA&um=1&tbnid=g7feBNnHos0nuM:&tbnh=123&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcanon%2Bpowershot%2Bsx100is%2Breview% 26hl%3Dsv%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1&ei=OM-rSqDXIIOj-AaExfnQBg), which is what I have been using myself for a while now: I am very happy with it and you can see the results scattered over the Pictures Taken By you... (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20158&highlight=%2FClaes) thread. I particularly like the 10x optical zoom and its macro abilities. I make frequent use of both.

/Claes

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Hello Claes,

Thanks for that information. I too am in desperate need of an upgrade in cameras. I still have my old Pentax film camera and a small "point and shoot" digital Canon PowerShot A520.
Eventually I would like to step up to digital SLR.

Gilliatt

[Virgil]

For a point and shoot camera, I like the CoolPix series by Nikon. Here: http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Digital-Camera/index.page. You'll have to sort out what features you want. A large zoom range was important to me and the deciding factor as to what to pick.

Most point and shoots are not very much different from each other.