What type of Camera would be best for a Beginning Photographer?

Does it really matter what type of Camera you have , or can you just use a regular digital Camera?

That completely depends on whether or not you have done photography before, or are serious and want to spend a lot of money.

If you've never owned your own camera before, I'd say start out with a little compact and look out for working on techniques such as lighting and composition. This way, you can also figure out if you are serious about photography-- as it is not all about happy snaps and is not "instantaneous". A compact is also a good camera for sticking into your pocket and taking photographs of friends.

If you are serious about Photography, then I would suggest purchasing an SLR or SLR style camera will full manual mode available. This way, you can learn all of the techniques of photography. However, an SLR or SLR style camera is incredibly expensive and needs careful looking after and should not be suggested for something you're just going to end up using for happy snaps.

It does matter what type of camera you have, as the extra features with an SLR or SLR style camera has more features which will give you more flexibility in your photography.

You will never learn photography with a digital camera. What you need is a camera where everything is manual -- focus, aperture, and speed. Make sure the camera does not need any type of battery.

SLR camera is best for starters. A digital camera will only take pictures on auto which means that they set everything, you don't need to make any adjustments which means you will not learn anything about photography. You should use a SLR camera, you have to set everything. The focus, the shutter, the aperture etc so you can get the know the functions. Digital Camera doesn't train a good photographer. For a SLR camera, I recommend the Canon Rebel XT or the new one, XTi

You can use anything that records light on a sensor or film. Digital makes it less expensive in the long run but the initial outlay is much higher. You can pick up used film cameras at Goodwills or other second hand shops for peanuts these days. I picked up 2 functioning 35mm SLRs with lenses at a church yard sale for $10(for both). They are older manual focus cameras but they'll outperform any of the cheap P&S digicams out there. They have better control of depth of field and sharper optics. And I get these novelty items called prints out of them. People have a bad tendency to forget just how detailed a print is compared to a computer screen. If you want to something really beautiful check out slides on a light table with a loupe.

Get one of the following, or a camera like them (there is no way I can list all brands)

Olympus OM1
Olympus OM2
Canon A1
Canon AE1
Pentax Spotmatic
Pentax K1000, and others in that category.

These cameras are as solid as the rock of Gibraltar and all are film and have the capacity for totally manual operation. You have to know the relationship between f stops, shutter speeds, film speeds, and lighting in order to take a good picture.

I just got my first digital and although I think it will be fun, I don't like the concept that you can set the camera to take the picture it wants and shoot all day, never knowing the reality of photography. In my estimation a digital SLR is nothing more than a sophisticated point and shoot.

My main cameras are 2 OM1, 1 OM2, a Mamiya RB67 and a little 35mm Minox that I bought the other day for fun.

If you wish to become a seasoned professional photographer, I would strongly urge you to stay away from the likes of the Canon Rebel series camera and the Nikon D80/D40 series camera. These cameras were not intended for pro use and it is very tough to become a pro using less than pro tools. Theses cameras were designed for amateurs and all designed for the camera to do most of the work, not allowing you to be as creative. As someone else before stated that if you are really serious about this, you should start out with a fully manual film camera where you are forced to do all of the work. In order to do all of the work, you must learn how to do the work. Many of the full manual features are not found on the El cheapo Nikons and Canons. I've been a pro for 24 years and I've paid my dues with the full manual film cameras which has deffinately helped me to become a successful creative pro photographer unlike so many new photographers who have come who have come on the scene with their Rebel X-- & D40's who are shooting so called pro jobs full automatic and handing out BS to the customers. If you go Canon, then you should start out at least with the 40D (1299.00 or the Nikon D200 $1599.00. They have many of the pro features needed and can be used fully manual with ease. They are excellent tools to be creative with.