i'm looking to buy a digital camrea. i want the option of putting lenses on the camera, ie wide angle, filter, etc. but i don't need a "professional" high quality camera. right now i'm looking at several cameras. the ones high up on the list is Minolta DiMAGE 7 (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?cameras=minolta_dimage7&method=sidebyside) and this one Sony FD Mavica MVC FD-97 (http://www14.activebuyersguide.com/abg/nav/ShowSpecHandler.cfm?PID=12X14X61X90294X134e0e&ProdID=46274&check=1) and this one FujiFilm FinePix 6900Z (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?cameras=fuji_finepix6900z&method=sidebyside) . i'm kind of iffy on the way fujifilm cameras "capture" their images, the way they set up their pixlels. anybody have any experiences or comments? i want something that has a good optical zoom, not the digital interpolated poop that they try and push on people. i've seen a lot of good photography displayed on this site and would love some comments. thanks in advance everyone.

I think you've picked out 3 winners - could prove to be a tough choice! I don't have personal experience with any of the ones you mentioned, however my sister has the DiMAGE 5 (very similar to the 7) and I've used it several times. Seems to be very well built, has excellent optics/features and takes truly great looking shots. As for the others, I do like Sony's media (memory stick) because it's small and durable. Fuji makes great lenses, haven't used any of their cameras.

Here's a sample pic from my sister's DiMAGE 5:

thanks. well i've done a bunch of research and all the cameras have their upsides and downsides. i think i'm going to end up going with the minolita dimage 7. you have more options for different pictures, and the flash cards that are high speed are MUCH more faster than sony's memory sticks... although they will heat up much faster than any memory stick will. thanks for the imput mmpc. hey do you know of any online stores that sell cameras cheaply? also i'm looking for uv and polarized lenses for the camera as well. any suggestions? thanks.

I may sound like a broken record to some on this forum, but I really do recommend www.mysimon.com and www.pricegrabber.com for price comparisons and research - check 'em out! :)

As for the filters, you should be able to find those by using those sites as well. They're a great idea - if for nothing else than to protect your lens. UV/Haze or clear are a great choice for that...

awesome. thanks for all the help. one more quick question. i am now looking for a flash, and in this area i have absoloutely NO idea what i need to look for. i don't need a super huge giant flash, but i don't want a small namby pamby flash that is useless. i am going to be using the flash for low lighting photography, and for "fill flash" shots to brighten up shadows. what do you recommend? should i buy a flash that minolta produces, or should i go with a secondary manufacturer that makes a flash to fit my camera? what specs should i look for in a flash. i hear some flashes actually send out the light farther by moving the reflectors when you zoom in? is that correct? thanks again for all your help.

You got me on the flash question - no idea either. Rick would know, however. If he doesn't drop in and answer, you might try PMing him... :)

well, i've had my minolta dimage 7 for about two weeks now and this digital camera rocks! it took a while to get used to the way it is, since this is my first slr like camera, with all the manual focus, zoom, and aperature, shutter speed, etc. but getting used to it is half the fun. it was a bit costly, just over 1000 bucks for the camera, a 320mb microdrive, good rechargable batteries, and several tiffen filters. i'm very impressed with the camera's performance, and would recommend it to anyone going for a medium priced digital camera that want all the features of a film slr like camera. plus 5.2 megapixels just make the pictures that much more detailed. thanks so much for your help mmpc.

Really happy you like it, Blue Steel! I've drooled over that camera a time or two myself and I know my sister loves her DiMAGE 5... :)

Looking forward to your pics being posted here soon!