manual or digital? between $ 400 - 600 used I would recommend a digital. There are plenty of very nice digitals out now- in the 5-8Mp range. I prefer Nikon, but Canons generally have easier-to-learn menus. Choose your camera based on features- not megapixels. The image quality in enlargements is negligible between 5-6 megapixels vs. 8. You're FAR better off if have a very good camera/lens shooting 5-6mp than you are to have an average camera shooting 8mp. I've made 20x30 enlargements from a 6.3mp image and been TOTALLY pleased.
Go to a store & play with the various models. Find out whose ergonomics suit you best. Decide which feature are most important to you. I decided upon which storage medium I was going to ultimately use (compactflash), purchased a small card, and took it to the store with me. No store employee had any problems with my using my own card.... I tried several cameras and took my card home. When I got home, I took a CLOSE look at the images- that helped me make my decision. I'm a Canon guy. I like the EOS series of cameras. Everything is swappable between the 2 (except for the 18-55mm lens that comes with the digital kit). All you need is 2 bodies and you have a great system for either digital or film. I prefer Canon now because Nikon just announced that they are abandoning the manufacture of film cameras. | 