Good to know about the differen't quality of the D SLR's versus the point & shoot. I haven't seen a photo of the former. I just thought the D SLR's gave more options, and of course the ability to use diff lenses. I know the point & shoot digital's eat batteries. Dunno about the D SLR's. I would imagine they would have more powerfull batteries like the Film versions. As for film i shoot mainly slides, and scan them. I like the control over their final look, and like the quality of slides. I hear you can do allot of adjustments with digital pictures too on the computer. I'll have to look at some D SLR prints.

Good info George.
I looked at a canon digital Rebel around christmas. It was probabaly the cheapest Digital SLR and still a 1000 dollars. I wouldn't want a point and shoot and can't afford D SLR prices at this time. I got a new lense and a scanner instead and still paid less than a quarter of the rebel. Also I read on several sites on the net that it takes like a 10 meg pixel to approach film quality contrast. The ones I've seen of relatives from some nice 5 mgpixels were very good at the whole picture being in focus. But it was a little flat looking. And alot of the pics i've seen were under or over exposed, and I hear that's a problem. Supposedly their color quality is very good.

As for as flash, I might try your idea and get the ZX-M down the road, (or something like it), at some point and pick up the external flash. It would give me allot more choices in models. But what's a zoom for on a flash?

As for digital, the SLR D prices would have to drop allot. Also can the D SLR's do everything the film camera's can? Do you have aperture control? And what sets the ISO, you just pick what you want? I think also i fear all that computerized stuff breaking down, and love the simplicity of film. yea I'll probably have to come to that point someday. I'm just getting back into camera's, and maybe learning archaic information that might be useless eventually. I always tend to get into things late. But having fun learning an old and established art form.

Thanks for the info Kimbo.

I like my SFXn. Just want a second, manual camera for other options. Something with out a readout panel. And I'd use a manual lense. Those 2 alone should make it lighter, though I'm more interested in the change than the weight. But I'd want a built in flash, even if i picked up an external later, so i guess the camera won't be new after all, since the Pentax site only offers one manual SLR and doesn't have a flash, and there are too many times with relatives and gatherings that I would need one, when not shooting nature stuff. But I do have a problem with red eye John, so i guess I'll look in to an external. I have allot more reading to do on the net I guess. I found one site that shows most of the models and pictures they took. But need to find one that evaluates them.

Sorry for being so wishy but i'm feeling my way on this, and didn't really know at first what all i wanted. Thanks for all the help guys.

Ahh ok i understand now. Yea i bought my SFXn while in London on a trip. I gues I'd have to get the US version if I wanted one now. Your right about the red eye. So what about external flash, are they expensive?

I guess i still don't know enough to know what I want. I wish there was some place locally that I could hold each camera and talk to someone knowlegeble. But even camera shops don't have many cameras in stock. And i don't think i've even seen a Pentax locally

Thanks guys.

I was talking about the ZX-M John. Was the MZ it's predesessor?
Also for shooting people indoors I'd have to have a flash.

Wait the ZX-M doesn't seem to have a flash. Am I right?

What was it's predesessor? What are the cons of plastic, other than maybe look or feel?

And yea aint it the truth, I'm lousy and don't take great shots lol.

As for as new what about the ZX-M? I see it's the only manual SLR on the Pentax site. What do you yall think about it? It looks nice.

sorry make that ist, not isd. Guess I should proof read some more.

Thanks George, but I should have said film camera. What's a good film equivilent? Is there an isd film version? Not so worried about size of camera. it doesn't have to be small. Lighter than my AF SFXn would be nice, but not looking for a small camera nessesarily.