Taking my age and what i would use it for into consideration what is the best camera for me? HELP!?

Cameras do not come with age or application requirements. Anyone can use any camera for any purpose they have in mind. DSLRs start at around $500 brand new. Check http://www.bhphotovideo.com for actual prices. Secondhand, the decent ones start at around $200 for a very used but working early model. See eBay.

You can look in every photo magazine you can find and spend hours pouring over specifications etc but my best advice is to go into 2 or 3 photographic dealers, tell them what you want it for, tell them your budget and see what they advise; that way you can actually see the various cameras in the "flesh" and get some good advice as to what will best suit you.

Go to the sites below. After you answer a few questions it will show you a list of cameras that will be good for you. http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare.asp http://www.myproductadvisor.com/mpa/camera/inputSummary.do

Every DSLR available in the UK is good at its price, so just go for the cheapest, all are of good brand. NB get a proper SLR if that's what you want, not a 'bridge' camera.

If you wanted to do film, then you might find a secondhand 35mm film SLR at reasonable prices, but there are no cheap digital SLRs. On a film SLR, the important things are that the viewfinder and film use the same lens, this requires the reflex mirror. Most digitals can preview live from the sensor, without needing a reflex mechanism, unless you would rather look through an eyepiece. There are some quite chunky "superzoom" cameras that may be a possibilty - Fuji have some in that style, but on a limited budget, it may be as well to stick to a good quality compact, instead of a DSLR and probably just one kit lens, as if you don't have additional lenses, that negates another feature of the SLR. If you really want DSLR, then the cheapest seems to be the Sony Alpha A230, cheapest online @ £277. But as it stands, a 10MP camera with an 18-55mm kit zoom lens By comparision, PCWorld had a 10MP Sony Cybershot compact (now out of stock online) reduced to £49.99 And the compact will fit in your pocket - I used to like big cameras, the 35mm film SLR, but the compact is just so much more convenient.

1) I've seen under 10's using SLRs and DSLRs perfectly well, as long as the user knows what they're doing and has been well instructed. 2) If you want to gain experience as a model, it's actually the interaction with the photographer that is critical. If you are able to click with any photographer then you will find no problems at all. The trouble is that with SP's you never have that interaction. By all means get an SLR, and learn how photography works. It's quite useful when you have something extra to offer, if you are doing to learn about this do stay behind the camera, you'll learn a lot more. If you're looking to advance your modelling career you should find somebody willing to do time for prints/CD (TFP/TFCD), which is all part of portfolio building. The cheapest SLRs and lens cost from around £150 used for a Canon EOS 300D, Nikon D40/50, Pentax K-10, Konica Minolta 5D, and £350 new for an entry level SLR such as a Canon EOS 1000D, Nikon D3000, or Sony A230. But remember without good photographic training these things are pretty useless.