Advice on getting a better camera, please

As you may know I have a Canon Powershot A630 point and shoot camera, it's a nice little camera for what it is, but since this site started I realize it's not up to taking the sort of pictures I'd one day like to be able to take, or it may just be me, not being up to taking the pictures I'd like to be able to take . I've seen the great pictures that you take with the DSLR camera, but at the moment being so new to photographey, they frighten me a little bit I've also seen a bit about the Fuji Finepix camera's something like I think it's Carole has got (sorry if it's not ) the S9500, would you advise I go with something like that to start with, or stick with my little camera untill I've learnt to take better pictures, and save up and jump in at the deep end with a full blown DSLR, please be 100% honest with me on your opinions, especially if you think it's just me not being up to much on the taking of pictures, I know I have a huge amount to learn .

What is the difference between Optical Zoom and Digital Zoom, my little camera has 4x Optical and 4x Digital zoom. Where from what I've read the Fuji has 10x Optical and 2x Digital, what difference does it make.
Thank you

Optical zoom is 'real' zoom where the camera lens actually does zoom in to get nearer the subject.

Digital zoom is sort of cheating. It chops a little bit of the full frame and enlarges it to fill the frame. Just like cropping the image on a computer

Optical zoom is the way to go... Digital zoom is a 'fake' zoom where you lose quality as you get closer to your subject.

Would you like to keep an all in one camera? Or something that can be expanded in future?

I think it'd be nice to choose something that goes quite wide, whilst also having a good length of zoom - if you want to stay all in one.

I think it would also be good to have a good series of options on the camera, including manual modes and wide levels of film speeds (ISO's).

You have a Canon at the moment, and although you can go to any brand - you may prefer the familiarity of a Canon when you upgrade... (Similar menu functions)

So let us know if you want to stay all in one - or whether you want the future option to expand your options with interchangeable lenses and additional flash guns...

Thanks guys,
cymruchris, that's just it I don't know , eventually I would like to get a camera that you can change the lenses, not all in one, but they scare me at the moment, if you could get an all in one that does everything or nearly everything they do, and as well as they do, I'd be more than happy, I don't think I'm good enough yet to be let loose with a big camera, but then again I don't want to wast my money on a upgrade all in one, if it's only going to be slightly better than I already have. On the zoom side of things I would like a good zoom as I love taking pics of birds/animals, that sort of thing and you can't get very close to them without them disappearing, and the pics I take at the moment are quite distant or out of focus (that's probably me). I'm not particularly bothered by different menu functions, I'll get used to it so a different make wouldn't bother me if it would be an upgrade on what I've got.

Christine - I'm glad you posted this!

A number of times I've felt like saying... so when are you getting your DSLR CLMG?

I think you have outgrown your P&S And you are ready for a dslr The only reason I didn't say anything before is because I didn't want to mention it incase you didn't want to upgrade at this time. But am glad you posted now cos obviously you're thinking about it!

So my views are I reckon you should get one of the starter DSLRs like my Nikon D40 - they are coming down in price now and are perfect for people just getting into dslr.

Don't let it scare you - it has fully automatic modes (so you can use it as a point n shoot) and of course all the features you'd expect from a dslr - so perfect for learning. And you can of course get new lens as and when you want - although the kit lens with the D40 is excellent.

Amazon are doing them for £299 - plus if you get an amazon credit card they give you a £15 voucher afer your first purchase - so I would get the card first, make a few purchases (eg food shopping) and then when you get the code use it on the camera

Or you could wait a couple of months as they're bound to reduce in price after xmas.. or also wait for the cashback programs to start again?

Do you have a budget in mind?

Oh gosh thank you so much for your kind words Azz and all the info, as far a budget goes, I have a birthday next month, and Christmas is just round the corner, if I ask for money and with what I can save as well, I would imagine the £299 you mentioned would be well within my budget, and maybe with the sales in the new year I should be able to get something pretty reasonably ooh I can't wait I'm off to swat up on a Nikon D40

I found this user guide very helpful in setting up my camera: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40...uide/index.htm

Good luck! Keep us posted!

azz is spot on CLMG ! i learned alot from a film SLR in collage,learned about shutter speed aperture etc etc..... BUT by the time i had it develop and put on cd to change colour it cost me lot of money so i save hard to get a nikon D80 and boy it was well worth it for me! have heard lot of good report about the D40 very good for a someone like you, you wont regret it

Thank you, both of you , it looks like it's going to be the Nikon D40 then Ooh I can't wait , I didn't realize they had the point and shoot function as well, that has eased my mind a lot, it'll be a great help with those senior moments I'll probably wait untill the January sales, and see what I can get then, but don't worry, you guys will be the first to know and the first to see the results, and the first place I come to with crys of hhheeeelllppp

I am reading this with interest....as I am thinking of taking the step up to a SLR ,but I have to admit they frighten me, have looked at some in the shops, but dont have a clue what to go for.