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Can’t decide whether to get Canon DSLR (rebel), PowerShot A640, Panasonic DMC LX2 OR DMC FZ50?

After trolling through other answers, I’m still not sure what new camera I should buy. First I’ll say that I’m a total amateur and know nothing about f/stops and proper ISO and lenses. I have an Olympus point-and-shoot digital which has been great, but it’s old, quite slow to focus and doesn’t give me the control I want. What I want to know is this–is it REALLY going to dramatically improve my photos if I get the Canon DSLR? Like flower close ups or night-sky pictures? All of the above cameras seem to have faster response when I snap away, so I’m happy with that. Please, any technical information which I may not know (but will come to appreciate) would be SO HELPFUL!!

I know what you mean, it’s hard to pick a camera. I wanted a Canon Rebel, I mean it just seems awesome, but I couldn’t realistically afford one, so I got the Canon PowerShot A640. This little camera is awesome. It does all the things that you have named above. I was out taking pictures of this full moon the other night and it worked great. I also have taken super close ups with it, people, animals,and flowers, all also great. What I like about this camera is that it is small, easy to operate, but it also has all the manual settings too. Like the ISO and lenses and all that stuff. You can even order a little cover for it and take underwater pictures. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed if you get this camera, I’ve had it for almost 2 months and I’m still finding more stuff that it will do. Oh yeah, be sure and go ahead and purchase an extra memory card when you purchase your camera, the ones that come with most cameras are very small.

Sony DSC-HX5V HD Video

Clarion NZ409 7-Inch Portable GPS Navigator $999.99 Amazon.com Product Description Get there fast, and get there entertained with Clarion’s NZ409. Featuring built-in GPS navigation, a 7-inch motorized touchscreen, iPod direct control, and plenty more, it’s the perfect hub for your mobile entertainment needs. Get there fast, and get there entertained. Click to enlarge. The NZ409 features a 12-digit blue LCD sub-display for maximum visibility …

Dual XDVD8265 AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA Receiver 6.5 LCD Monitor $1,399.99 Power your in-vehicle entertainment system with the Dual XDVD8265 in-dash media player/receiver, which offers a multi-format DVD/CD player, AM/FM tuner, and bright 6.5-inch TFT motorized touchscreen LCD–enabling you to keep the family entertained with movies and music as well as access GPS driving directions using the optional Dual XNAV9525 navigation module. The screen has a brightness rating of…

Koso North America EGT Meter BA004065 $162.43 Easy-to-read, backlit digital displayAllows more precise engine tuningVisual maximum temperature warning is settable up to 2100 deg. F; screen changes color and blinksMeasures 42mm H x 99.5mm W x 22.5mm DAvailable with either standard or fast-response EGT sensorIncludes EGT clamp and gauge bracket…

GPS-Photo Link: Express Series – Software that geotags your photos $249.00 GPS-Photo Link is software that maps your photos. The PC-based software works with virtually any digital camera coupled with a GPS. Also works with most GPS enabled phones including iPhones. See also GeoJot app in app store. Use GPS-Photo Link to accurately map photographs for display on a digital map layer such as Google Earth. Create customizable watermarked photos. Generate customizable repo…

Nikon D5100 Digital SLR Camera With 18-55mm VR & 55-200mm f/4.0-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lenses $846.95 Nikon’s D5100 Digital SLR Camera delivers a galaxy of professional features in a consumer digital camera. A high-resolution 16.2MP DX format CMOS sensor and an EXPEED 2 image processing engine guarantee superb quality and high performance. The 3″ vari-angle tilting LCD monitor allows you full freedom in composition, with sparkling 921,000-dot resolution. Full 1920 x 1080p video with full-time autofocus (for tracking subjects in motion) and stereo sound (using optional microphone) is always available, with in-camera editing and creative controls to bring out your inner director. Included is Nikon’s 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX lens which has a 3x focal zoom range and is ideally suited to compact Nikon digital SLR cameras with the DX size sensor. The Effects mode provides a dazzling array of special effects for putting your own individual stamp on all of your images-still photos or video. Selective Color, for instance, isolates any color within a scene, and Night Vision captures details in places too dark for your own eyes. High Key effect will create bright, glowing images filled with atmosphere and mystery, or you can emphasize the mood of a scene using Low Key, or Miniature Effect-which produces a scene that looks like a miniature scale model. With sensitivity ranging from 100 to 6400 ISO, you’ll be able to make photos and videos that are amazingly rich, even in low light. In-camera HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode will tame high contrast situations by automatically capturing multiple exposures of the scene and combining them for vastly improved contrast and low noise. A blazing fast 11-point autofocus system and split-second shutter response mean that you won’t miss photo opportunities waiting for your camera to catch up. The built-in speedlight has i-TTL for accurate, well-balanced flash every time. With the Scene Recognition system, 420-pixel RGB 3D Color Matrix Metering II, 16 automatic exposure scene modes, and Active D-Lighting, your control over your photos and movies will be more precise and simple to carry out than ever. The automatic image sensor cleaning prevents dust from ruining any of your images.

Nikon D5100 Digital SLR Camera With 18-55mm VR & 55-300mm F/ 4.5-5.6G Nikkor DX VR Lenses $949 Nikon’s D5100 Digital SLR Camera delivers a galaxy of professional features in a consumer digital camera. A high-resolution 16.2MP DX format CMOS sensor and an EXPEED 2 image processing engine guarantee superb quality and high performance. The 3″ vari-angle tilting LCD monitor allows you full freedom in composition, with sparkling 921,000-dot resolution. Full 1920 x 1080p video with full-time autofocus (for tracking subjects in motion) and stereo sound (using optional microphone) is always available, with in-camera editing and creative controls to bring out your inner director. Included is Nikon’s 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX lens which has a 3x focal zoom range and is ideally suited to compact Nikon digital SLR cameras with the DX size sensor. The Effects mode provides a dazzling array of special effects for putting your own individual stamp on all of your images-still photos or video. Selective Color, for instance, isolates any color within a scene, and Night Vision captures details in places too dark for your own eyes. High Key effect will create bright, glowing images filled with atmosphere and mystery, or you can emphasize the mood of a scene using Low Key, or Miniature Effect-which produces a scene that looks like a miniature scale model. With sensitivity ranging from 100 to 6400 ISO, you’ll be able to make photos and videos that are amazingly rich, even in low light. In-camera HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode will tame high contrast situations by automatically capturing multiple exposures of the scene and combining them for vastly improved contrast and low noise. A blazing fast 11-point autofocus system and split-second shutter response mean that you won’t miss photo opportunities waiting for your camera to catch up. The built-in speedlight has i-TTL for accurate, well-balanced flash every time. With the Scene Recognition system, 420-pixel RGB 3D Color Matrix Metering II, 16 automatic exposure scene modes, and Active D-Lighting, your control over your photos and movies will be more precise and simple to carry out than ever. The automatic image sensor cleaning prevents dust from ruining any of your images.

Nikon D5100 Digital SLR Camera With 18-55mm VR Lens $699.95 Nikon’s D5100 Digital SLR Camera delivers a galaxy of professional features in a consumer digital camera. A high-resolution 16.2MP DX format CMOS sensor and an EXPEED 2 image processing engine guarantee superb quality and high performance. The 3″ vari-angle tilting LCD monitor allows you full freedom in composition, with sparkling 921,000-dot resolution. Full 1920 x 1080p video with full-time autofocus (for tracking subjects in motion) and stereo sound (using optional microphone) is always available, with in-camera editing and creative controls to bring out your inner director. Included is Nikon’s 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX lens which has a 3x focal zoom range and is ideally suited to compact Nikon digital SLR cameras with the DX size sensor. The Effects mode provides a dazzling array of special effects for putting your own individual stamp on all of your images-still photos or video. Selective Color, for instance, isolates any color within a scene, and Night Vision captures details in places too dark for your own eyes. High Key effect will create bright, glowing images filled with atmosphere and mystery, or you can emphasize the mood of a scene using Low Key, or Miniature Effect-which produces a scene that looks like a miniature scale model. With sensitivity ranging from 100 to 6400 ISO, you’ll be able to make photos and videos that are amazingly rich, even in low light. In-camera HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode will tame high contrast situations by automatically capturing multiple exposures of the scene and combining them for vastly improved contrast and low noise. A blazing fast 11-point autofocus system and split-second shutter response mean that you won’t miss photo opportunities waiting for your camera to catch up. The built-in speedlight has i-TTL for accurate, well-balanced flash every time. With the Scene Recognition system, 420-pixel RGB 3D Color Matrix Metering II, 16 automatic exposure scene modes, and Active D-Lighting, your control over your photos and movies will be more precise and simple to carry out than ever. The automatic image sensor cleaning prevents dust from ruining any of your images.