Help me find a camera please?

I am looking to buy a digital camera. My budget is $500 give or take. I am an amateur wanting to learn to be semi-professional. I count on keeping that camera for a long time (can't afford another one for awhile.) I know I need a decent # of pixels. I am interested in experimenting with shutter lag, aperture and continuous photographing. I am at a loss for the optical zoom, what is a good optical zoom? They all seem so small?
I wanna do closeups as well...
all in all I need a well rounded camera. Is it objectif to get all my specifications with my budget?

As you're "wanting to learn to be semi-professional" you should first figure out how you're going to earn money with your camera.

Here's the photography people will pay for:

- Weddings
- Studio portraits
- Photojournalism (including sports)
- Commercial
- Stock

Yes, you can shoot "artistic" pictures and hang them in cafes with a price tag, but that's not even going to pay for your gear.

Find out what pros in those fields use and what kind of training they need (4-year college degree for pj).

Then select your equipment.

Hope this helps.

Get a canon G7. it can be used as a simple point and shoot camera, but it also has advanced functions that you are looking for. Plus canon is one of the best in Digital Photography.

Canon's acclaimed G-Series has a new top-of-the-line model, and serious photography enthusiasts have a lot to be excited about. A matte black, retro-hip design houses impressive capabilities and top core specifications, including 10.0 megapixel resolution and a powerful 6x optical zoom. Loaded with Canon's latest and most advanced technologies, including an Optical Image Stabilizer for clear shots throughout the zoom range, PowerShot G7 is a camera to be reckoned with.

If you are wanting to be a semi-professional photographer you will probably want to purchase a digital SLR. Canon and Nikon are the best ones out there. If you are doing any kind of photography with a digital point & shoot camera you won't have the credibility that you would have with an SLR. Many people will look at a person taking photos with a P & S camera and think to themselves, "I have a camera like that. Maybe I should just take my own photos." With an SLR you will have a much more professional look, in addition to being able to do so many more things with it!

Digital SLRs also have the shortest shutter lag and better close-up capabilities.

Bob K
www.CameraRepairs.com