FujiFilm MX-1200 (Finepix 1200)

Opinion: As a beginner I found the MX-1200 an excellent value for the $279.00 paid for it. It is a trully pocket sized camera with excellent image quality and ease of use.

Opinion: For close portraits this camera gives decent results but for subjects further than about 2 metres the results are almost unusable (compression artifacts even at the highest resolution).
As an introduction to digital photography this camera just about suffices, but if you do decide to purchase it make sure you don't throw away the old 35mm. Personally I would recommend spending a little more on something like the MX2700.

Opinion: I spent a long time looking for a Digicam, and then settled on this cos it was the second cheapest in the shop! Seriously tho, if you want a good camera for the money, you can't go far wrong. The camera will take 22 pics at 640x480 standard and 3 at the highest (1280) setting on the 2Mb card. Do the maths to work out how many pics you will get on the 64Mb card!!

There is no usb or video out, so in the long term a card reader is a must. However, the image quality is better than you would expect for the money, and it is fairly rugged.

It will eat AA batteries with the LCD screen on, and you don't get a power supply as standard.

If you want an entry level camera with enough features to take you well into the next level, and beyond (LOTS of manual shooting options!) then look no further. I am very satisfied.

Opinion: Basically this camera appears to be OK in design and use. Until that is that you look carefully at the photo images on your computer screen. More often than not when using the camera with flash, some small smudges appear. This I believe is caused by air borne dust. The camera picks them out and they appear as smudges - sometimes (depending on where it is used) lots of these appear. Many of my photographs are ruined as a consequence.