Look,
depend on what you want. An SLR, a pocket size, or average one what is convenience to take with you anywhere, but still have good picture quality?
I am not a pro nor someone who after every camera model to tell you which is the best, but I did a lot of searches a while back and here is what I think. If you want good photo and set your mind on a biggo SLR with a 30' long lense, I'll leave it to someone else to give you suggestion, because I don't know anything to say here
. For those point and shoot, although the smaller it is, the convenience it is, but...
- bigger lense, better picture, almost no matter the number of pixel.
- people tend to think as long as you get Canon or Nikkon, it's the best. Or the more numbers of pixel, the better the camera. No, it's not always. For those point and shoot, it is a different story. There was time, I wanted a camera small enough for us to take with us anywhere, but doesn't have to be a credit card small. I bought a Nikken, Canon, Sony, and one more which I forgot what it was; which have the similar price range, number of pixel, etc. Layed them side by side on my desk, having the same targets (interior and in the back yard), same lighting, at the same time. I also did small target as text on poster, labels, etc. The Sonny turn out to be the best.
One problem though, I have not seen any point and shoot that can focus quick enough to move the camera while taking picture. All those I touched will take time to focus, long time.
One of these, below, is what I think good enough for most family purposes. If you choose an older model, with same lense size and similar soom length, price can be a lot lower. Go to one of those Sony outlet, if you have not been there.
http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666297852