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I want to do some photography, including that of birds.  My current camera has 4x Digital zoom, so would something with 8x digital zoom be able to zoom twice as much?  I just want a good, inexpensive (no more than $400) camera to take scenic and wildlife pics and stuff.  Links are welcome.  Also, I'm a camera noob, so just give it to me simple

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Recent: Osprey, Northern Flicker, Blue Jay, Black-Crowned Night Heron.

For the money you want to spend you should be able to get a 10 to 12 MP with a 10 to 12 X zoom  with the following brands Nikon, Canon, Fuji, Panasonic. Point and shoot style camera. Go to a store and check them out for feel in your hands etc.

Most department store carry the above brands

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My New Avatar is in memory of Nancy my darling wife of 10 years who passed away on Monday November the 16th 2009 after an illness

My photo gallery http://thekiwi.org/photography/index.php

I have been reviewing the point and shoot cameras and from what I have read, I would recommend the Panasonic FZ28. It is a 10 megapixel camera that has an 18x Leica zoom lens that covers the focal range of 27mm-486mm. It might cost slightly more than the $400 you want to spend, but for an extra $50, you would have one of the best rated point and shoot cameras on the market. I am a DSLR user but if I were to buy a point and shoot camera, I think I'd go with this one. Having said that, I agree with Kiwi, you should go to a camera or department store and try a few different cameras to see how they feel. Buying any camera is only going to please you if you are comfortable with the feel of the camera. Here's a clip that discusses the FZ28 to help explain some of the camera's features.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pleob9tGETA

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My unorganized pictures can be viewed at

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I just got (as a gift) a Nikon coolpix L100, which has 15X optical zoom and 10 million pixels.  It retails for around $300 (give or take) and so far I have gotten some pretty good shots.

Also, keep in mind, that DIGITAL zoom is not the same as OPTICAL zoom.  Digital Zoom, when used, can give you a distorted quality picture, as it isn't a "true" zoom.  You want to look at how much optical zoom it has.  I recommend at least 10 but preferably 15, for a point and shoot camera.

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Life List: 139
Latest: Cedar Waxwing!!!!!!!

Curlybird:

Also, keep in mind, that DIGITAL zoom is not the same as OPTICAL zoom.  Digital Zoom, when used, can give you a distorted quality picture, as it isn't a "true" zoom.  You want to look at how much optical zoom it has.  I recommend at least 10 but preferably 15, for a point and shoot camera.

Good point Curlybird. Digital zoom sounds like a nice feature, but in my opinion, digital zoom works best when it is turned off. Another thing not to get confused by, is the zoom factor, 5x, 10x, 15x, 20x, etc. A 20mm lens with a 10x zoom factor will give you 200mm focal length at maximum zoom, a 10mm lens with a bigger sounding 20x zoom factor achieves the same 200mm at maximum zoom. When shopping for cameras it is a good idea to compare focal lengths instead of comparing zoom factors. Minimum focal lengths vary from camera to camera which affects the outcome of the max zoom factor, so don't get fooled by all the different zoom factors and pay more attention to the focal length.

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My unorganized pictures can be viewed at

http://picasaweb.google.com/lonestranger102

lonestranger:

Curlybird:

Also, keep in mind, that DIGITAL zoom is not the same as OPTICAL zoom.  Digital Zoom, when used, can give you a distorted quality picture, as it isn't a "true" zoom.  You want to look at how much optical zoom it has.  I recommend at least 10 but preferably 15, for a point and shoot camera.

Good point Curlybird. Digital zoom sounds like a nice feature, but in my opinion, digital zoom works best when it is turned off. Another thing not to get confused by, is the zoom factor, 5x, 10x, 15x, 20x, etc. A 20mm lens with a 10x zoom factor will give you 200mm focal length at maximum zoom, a 10mm lens with a bigger sounding 20x zoom factor achieves the same 200mm at maximum zoom. When shopping for cameras it is a good idea to compare focal lengths instead of comparing zoom factors. Minimum focal lengths vary from camera to camera which affects the outcome of the max zoom factor, so don't get fooled by all the different zoom factors and pay more attention to the focal length.

Curlybird and lonestranger you are correct about the difference between digital and opitical zoom. This is a subject tha I have posted a few times now and I will repeat what you have said forget the digital zoom part turn it off.

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My New Avatar is in memory of Nancy my darling wife of 10 years who passed away on Monday November the 16th 2009 after an illness

My photo gallery http://thekiwi.org/photography/index.php

lonestranger:

 

Good point Curlybird. Digital zoom sounds like a nice feature, but in my opinion, digital zoom works best when it is turned off. Another thing not to get confused by, is the zoom factor, 5x, 10x, 15x, 20x, etc. A 20mm lens with a 10x zoom factor will give you 200mm focal length at maximum zoom, a 10mm lens with a bigger sounding 20x zoom factor achieves the same 200mm at maximum zoom. When shopping for cameras it is a good idea to compare focal lengths instead of comparing zoom factors. Minimum focal lengths vary from camera to camera which affects the outcome of the max zoom factor, so don't get fooled by all the different zoom factors and pay more attention to the focal length.

 My camera has focal length of 5.0-75.0mm - is that very good? 

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Life List: 139
Latest: Cedar Waxwing!!!!!!!

Curlybird:

 My camera has focal length of 5.0-75.0mm - is that very good? 

Actually Curlybird, according to the info I found, your camera has an equivalent focal range of 28-420mm, in 35mm terms. Each manufacturer has different sensor sizes so they try to standardize things by comparing them all to the older 35mm film cameras. I would consider this a good focal range for a point and shoot, there are some cameras with a broader range but 28-420mm is a pretty good range in my opinion.

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My unorganized pictures can be viewed at

http://picasaweb.google.com/lonestranger102

great - thanks. I have been able to take some pretty good pictures from a fair distance so I guess that's all that matters!

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Life List: 139
Latest: Cedar Waxwing!!!!!!!

I have been using a Canon SX10IS for about 3 months now and the only time I can say that I am disappointed with my shots are when I do something wrong.

I'm still a noobie with it so I am still experimenting with things like EV, shutter speeds, ISO and other manual options, but for a camera that is under $400, has a 20x zoom (focal length 5 - 100mm on the camera, 28mm - 560 mm in 35mm terms), up to 80x digital zoom (watch it, the pictures are average unless you are using the highest res of 10MP and using a tripod) and takes awesome (at least, to me) shots with just the AUTO function (including MACRO closeup shots), I'm throwing in my 2 cents for that one.

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=144&modelid=17630

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Bob & Jane - birding since April 2009
Lifer count : 110
Newest : female Belted Kingfisher

I've had my Canon SX10IS for several months now too.  Love it, and it was under $400.  Definitely NOT a "pocket camera", but I really like the "feel" of it.  Ditto with everyone above on "digital zoom".

Getting used to using (and succeeding with!) a long zoom on a P/S can be a bit tricky, but when you do, you will love being able to capture a decent picture of a "long distance" shot.