I've been using a Fuji S5000, a lower end SLR type which I'm very fond of, it's been a marvellous camera for megalithic outings - lightweight but fully featured - it even had 'RAW' which was surprising for the time.

Bit old now, but I dare say there're some in that range that would suit you.

Worst camera I've bought was a 7.1mp Samsung compact digital, avoid!

I love my new(ish) camera!

Panasonic DMC FZ7

Takes an amazingly high quality photo (2560 x 1920 pixels in 4:3 format and 1920 x 1080 pixels in 16:9) and has an excellent video setting (320 x 240 pixels @ 30fps, apparently).

12x optical zoom (48x digital, but who uses that?), 6 megapixels, and loads of other excellent features - have a butchers! http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz7/

I got mine from eBuyer for about £150-£160, and a couple of 2 gig memory cards for about £6 each!

G x

Get a Canon D60 second hand? Or a second hand EOS 300D kit?

Batteries last forever, stick a 2 or 4 gig compact flash in and you're set!

That's my two pennies, here's a third:

As far as compacts are concerned, I can't really fault the bomb-proof Powershot s50 which is a total bargain second hand. Needs a spare battery though, but at the prices they go for it's easy to have three ;-)

I bought this recently, from the very place

http://tinyurl.com/yomvkg

It doesn't do any of that five shots per second malarky, not that you need that taking pics of stones;-)

It does give you excellent picture quality, especially good with natural scenes (has a special setting) and you get nine minutes or so of film should you want it, and best of all the batteries (do get rechargeables!) allow about 200 pics in a go. I suppose you'll know all the rigmarole of having spares etc.
Nice big screen too.
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