Hi

I know you guys always get ask to suggest "the best camera," but I do need some advice.

As the title of the post says, I don't feel ready to buy a DSLR. I'm going to a wedding in a few months and would love to have bought my new camera. I just don't want to look a fool, as everyone else is taking snaps and I'm standing there trying to work out shutter speed, exposure and f-stops, etc.

So I want something thats gives me a point and shoot mode to get all my pictures, but then when no-one is looking to have an experiment with some shots. So this sounds like one of the prosumer cameras (is this the right term?).

So far I can't seem to stop looking at the Canon Powershot range (the A710 IS and S3 and S5).

So any advice is welcome

Thanks Toby1

[fuzed]

The digi slr's all have the point an shoot modes for those lasy moments, they just give you alot more than a standard compact camera!!!

[Bursar]

SLRs have a 'dummy' mode as well

To be honest, it won't take you long to get used to the controls. I used to shoot everything using one of the scene modes, but now I've played around and upgraded my camera, I typically use Aperture mode.

For a wedding, it will be great as you can focus on the happy couple, and then throw the background out of focus.

[Strobe]

IMO, as long as you don't mind the bulk you ought to still get a DSLR. Picture quality will be superior to a bridge/prosumer digicam although you may lose a bit on the zoom. You can leave it on 'Auto' or one of the 'scene' modes until you feel confident with the manual settings. If the wedding is a couple of months away then you still have plenty of time to have a tinker.
To name a few cameras currently available, in no particular order ...
Nikon D40 (£280 with cashback)
Canon EOS 400D (£430 with cashback)
Pentax K100D (£300)
Prices from www.warehouseexpress.com.
The Sony A100 silver version can also be picked up from Argos for £350 at the mo, which is bit of a bargain.
The Canon S5 is around £300 so the above cameras are there or thereabouts budget-wise.

PS. If you go the bridge/prosumer route, also have a look at the Panasonic and Sony models (they also come well regarded like the Canons).

[Pirate!!]

Look at the Panasonic DMC-FZ50 or if you want to go DSLR for not a lot more, look at the Sony Alpha A100 (silver) in Argos.

The FZ50 is regarded as the best prosumer/bridge camera on the market. The A100 is just an incredible price! Both have image stabilisation.

Your money, your choice.

[senu]

I tend to agree with the points raised by Strobe

Disadvatages of DSLR
Size
Cost
Learning curve to get the best
Limited range of kit lens
Tends to be only the first of many items you buy

Each of these disadvantages has a workaround
The newer DSLRs are
Small
Dont cost much more than the bridge
Can be learnt : this is time/ interest dependent as there is no shortage of help
Kit lens limited range is often what you notice after a while , it is often enough for most "everyday situations
As for buying more: that is a choice you will gladly make yourself as you yearn for even better as time goes on

The better speed , low light imaging abilities, very clean detailed images and possibility of creative use tend to make all these "disadvantages" become trivial when you find that time and time again you are getting great images in situations you would previously have thought impossible.
The "David Baileys" out there would probably take great images with whatever they find in their hands but for the rest of us... kit which help us get more keepers is simply not to be dismissed lightly.
Unless absolute cost and size is a turn off, DSLRs are not nessesarily only for aspiring pros.. anyone can have them and start off using them in fully auto or Programed auto mode, gradually gaining confidence and proficiency
All the best whatever you get

[Radiohead]

Most compacts are gash to be honest with very few exceptions. If you want to learn then a DSLR is the best bet and there's no reason to be worried - just be prepare to put some time in.

[Yandros]

Another vote here for an entry level DSLR. I notice from another thread that you started off with the old MTL3...so did I If that rather put you off SLRs, don't worry, they've come a long way since then. Sure you can still go full manual, but you've got a sliding scale of complexity from that, though aperture or shutter priority, then program mode, then scene modes, then plain old full auto.

Prosumer/bridge cameras, or point and shoots are ok, but you'll find they just don't have the flexibility when you want to start doing the creative stuff.

[ScottBT]

I didn't think I was ready but I bought a Nikon D40 anyway and the learning curve can be as steep as you want it to be.

[hilly10]

Originally Posted by ScottBT

I didn't think I was ready but I bought a Nikon D40 anyway and the learning curve can be as steep as you want it to be.

Ditto from me as well I have the D40 and a complete novice but learning fast and its great fun