recommendation for a digital camera

Hi folks, I am looking for a recommendation for a digital camera. I am NOT a photographer so I’ll just list what it is I am looking for and hope someone can point me to a good deal…

Price: under $500.
At least 7MP (well, maybe 6).

I need a zoom feature. I take pictures of small items for EBay and for my website. I also need a camera to take pictures of fragile documents at the Library of Congress that can’t be copied any other way. That means I also need a flash I can EASILY turn off as in the LOC I can’t use it. I’ll be taking photos in natural light.

Thanks.

Check this site out it might help you find something.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare.asp

thank you, that looks very helpful.

A question thou, I don't understand Zoom W and Zoom T. If I want to take close up photos does Zoom T need to be a higher or lower number? (70 mm vs 200 mm)

thanks

On 35mm film format(which at times differ from digital or larger film formats) the median focal length (the equivelent of what our eyes see) is 50mm. Anything underneath that, like 35mm, 28mm, 14mm fisheye...is wide angle.

Telephoto is any focal length that is higher in number than 50mm. 80, 200, 210, 300, 1000, 2500, etc.

A zoom lense is an adjustable focal length lense. It can go one , the other and anywhere inbetween. It's bottom focal length (could be either w or t) is the first XX and the top telephoto is the second XX. For example...28-80mm zoom lense. Zooms are more versatile than fixed lenses.

What your question is, the answer would be a MACRO function on the camera. Generally it takes 80mm at least to do a macro (or close-up shot) on 35mm film format. It could be different depending on the digital camera you choose. the longer the focal length on the macro, the closer to your subject you can get (Down to insects showing off hairs). At $300, almost all digital cameras will have a macro function, usually indicated by a flower icon. Like this...

6.1MP for about $400.

They have been on the cutting edge of digital photography for the last five years. Nikon is just now catching up.

It seems to be getting good reviews.

The S-60 is very nice.

I have a S-50

It's a great camera although the S-70 is better.

I took my film camera out today to shoot some B&W. The digital is so much easier to carry around.

you can change the film speed (ISO) and can do a white balance on.

Be careful of the "zoom" feature. Some "zoom" cameras just take the part of the picture you want and croping it to make the zoom. You'd want a camera with a zoom lens where the lens actually does the zoom, not the camera cropping program.