Need help choosing a new camera!

I am in a great need for a new camera, I do product reviews for my site, and would love a great camera that I could get good pics of fish/ corals and such.

I know absolutely nothing about photography! and to be honest the cameras with the big lenses scare me, but I have some extra money, and really want to learn.

What would be a good camera to begin with?

 

How much are you wanting to spend?

 

Probably like 200-400

I'm not to worried about price just need a good beginner camera

 

canon is my pic

 

Everybody starts with "I know nothing about photography" sometime in their life. Anyways, you mentioned about big lenses, so you are talking about DSLR (Digital Single-Lens Reflex) camera, aka interchangeable lens camera.

What do you want to take pictures of? Only fish/corals? In my case, I started DSLR when my wife got pregnant and wanted to keep a record of my baby's growth. But I like nature/wild life pictures too, and cars. I have a Nikon D90, and two lenses. One is standard lens and the other is zoom lens. I take tank pictures with both of them. They take decent (sometimes awesome) photos. My suggestion is invest a bit more money and try to find a decent used body like a Nikon D40 and get a nice macro (micro) lens like this.

 

I have a nikon D40 and I love it

 

I have a Canon T2i and love it but it is a DSLR which you said you're not that into. I would recommend something from Canon's "G" line, They are up to the G12 right now but anything from a G9 on up would be a good start. Point and shoot simplicity with the ability to go full manual if you get into photography later. A used G9 on craigslist in my area is priced at $225 or you can get a used G12 on Amazon for $400 so those models run both ends of your budget. I intend to grab a G12 for traveling when I don't want to haul all my gear.

 

I had a D40 but it was stolen. I replaced it with a Cannon rebel Xsi. The great thing about buying the DSLR'S is they have auto settings on them (just like point and shoots)that will take great pics but when you start to learn more about photography the DSLR's give the ability to do more as far as custom settings. Finding a D40 body is a great idea but they have actually gone up in price since they stopped producing them. I researched for a long time and I liked the Cannon better then the replacements for the D40.(D3100) Heres a couple of links to read reviews on Dslrs and point and shoots.
Nikon D3100 vs. Canon D500 vs Canon Rebel XS: Beginners Questions Forum: Digital Photography Review

Digital cameras: compare digital camera reviews - CNET Reviews

 

+1 on the cannon I have an xsi and love it

 

Canon T3i