I need some help with cameras? 10 points?

sounds like every person that comes on here thinking DSLR's are what they need and aren't willing to pay the price for the equipment... get a point and shoot or a bridge... they are small and cheap... they tend to be light and you get one lens so you don't have to worry about changing them and buying the expensive new ones when you realise that cheap is nasty...

There are compact cameras that take clear good quality photographs (you don't need an SLR) SLR means any SLR camera (film or digital). DSLR means digital SLR camera. getting an SLR does not guarantee clear good quality photographs. Good phototaking skills do that (holding the camera steady, having enough light, etc.) canon or nikon, it doesn't matter. To learn more about SLRs would take pages - get a book from the library instead (don't expect everyone to give you answers on a silver platter)

I currently have a point and shoot, and while it does have its shortcomings, particularly in low light conditions, it takes very nice pictures and has allowed me to learn a lot about the settings and controls of digital cameras. My camera, a Canon PowerShot SX120 IS, has full manual controls, which means I can control the aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance, etc. What's more, it was only $200 dollars, as opposed to the >$500 dollar price tag for a DSLR, not counting accessories and additional lenses. So, in response to the person above, point-and-shoots do have a place in photography, as they do take nice pictures and can be a great learning tool before moving to a more "serious" camera. Hope this helps!

SLR means "single-lens reflex". The "D" in DSLR stands for "Digital", not that anyone uses Film SLR's anymore.Anyway, in short, SLRs are those professional looking cameras, that can change lenses and costs more then $600.Here's a photo of their basic shape : http://philipbloom.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Canon-EOS-550D-DSLR-Camera-front-angle.jpg Anyway, I think you should get a bridge camera.They are a lot cheaper then DSLRs, less heavy but have that same shape. They are usually around $250-$400 They allow M (manual), SCN (scene), Tv for Canon, or S for Nikon (Shutter speed priority),or Av for Canon, or A for Nikon (Aperture priority) modes, which DSLRs do have. They can't change lenses, unless you put a few extensions, such as Raynox macro lenses. Here are a few results I got, by searching on Google : http://goo.gl/jxt5J You won't get high quality and clear photos unless you actually know how to use the camera though. Here is a link on how to use Manual mode : http://cameradojo.com/2011/06/13/shooting-in-manual-mode/ Tv mode is basically changing the Shutter speed, while the camera changes the rest.This way you can take photos fast , or slow. Av mode is changing the Aperture, and controlling the depth of field.You will learn more about the Shutter speed and Aperture above. Anyway, I use the Canon powershot SX30 IS. It's a superzoom camera, with the longest zoom for a non-DSLR camera , which is 140x (35x optical zoom + digital assist). It's pretty expensive ($450), but the newer version , the SX40 HS, is $400 ..It's the same shape, size and has the same zoom, but it has better photo quality.

Most people on here will say, 'Oh it's not the camera but the person holding it' Well to an certain extent that's true, but you need a good camera that is reliable fairly versatile to begin with. Starting out with a point and click is not going to allow for much room for progress as your limited with functions. Personally I'd go on ebay or amazon and look for a 10-20 year old 35mm or 5-10 year old DSLR. DSLR's make taking photos easier in that you can snap, look, delete, snap look delete, until you find the image you want. With a SLR you will have to think about each shot a little more, and you will, because film isn't cheap. That's how I started and i think it's a good way as it familiarises you with basic settings. Good luck