Which camera... and i can only spend 400?

[Falsefaith]

Alrite I have a sony dsc-f88 i might return it. Which means i have 400 dollars again.

So in the case i do return it, which camera should i buy?

1. I want GOOD image quality. Good lens, good mp (perfer 5mp+, but at least 4 be nice), as long as the picture is "professional" (using that term loosely)...
2. I want a camera that is advanced, i'm a beginner trying to grow in the art of photography.
3. Auto and Manual focus is a must. (turn ring in front for manual would be great)
4. I shoot everything from Portraits, to landscape, to action

So yeah, now that you know i want a lot... have any suggestions? :p
sorry about the small budget of 400. I know i cant get a Digital rebal or anything.
John Reed (i think) suggested a Panasonic DMC-FZ15. anything else experts?
thank you

[D70FAN]

Alrite I have a sony dsc-f88 i might return it. Which means i have 400 dollars again.

So in the case i do return it, which camera should i buy?

1. I want GOOD image quality. Good lens, good mp (perfer 5mp+, but at least 4 be nice), as long as the picture is "professional" (using that term loosely)...
2. I want a camera that is advanced, i'm a beginner trying to grow in the art of photography.
3. Auto and Manual focus is a must. (turn ring in front for manual would be great)
4. I shoot everything from Portraits, to landscape, to action

So yeah, now that you know i want a lot... have any suggestions? :p
sorry about the small budget of 400. I know i cant get a Digital rebal or anything.
John Reed (i think) suggested a Panasonic DMC-FZ15. anything else experts?
thank you

John would never lead you astray ;) .

The FZ15 is a good choice. Hey most of us have budgets. It just depends on how long you can go without eating that determines which camera you buy :D

[Falsefaith]

John would never lead you astray ;) .

The FZ15 is a good choice. Hey most of us have budgets. It just depends on how long you can go without eating that determines which camera you buy :D

Hehe, i like my food... so i cant go long without eating :) . But im considering the FZ15... do you think the image quality will be as good as my current sony dsc-f88 though? What really is making me lean towards the FZ15 is that the turn ring in the front. But the camera has 4mp and im not sure if the lens is good.. I never used it before. But i really am looking at image quality... (prints to look good at 8x10), if the FZ15 can do everything just as good as the sony and better, i might just go return the sony.

[D70FAN]

Hehe, i like my food... so i cant go long without eating :) . But im considering the FZ15... do you think the image quality will be as good as my current sony dsc-f88 though? What really is making me lean towards the FZ15 is that the turn ring in the front. But the camera has 4mp and im not sure if the lens is good.. I never used it before. But i really am looking at image quality... (prints to look good at 8x10), if the FZ15 can do everything just as good as the sony and better, i might just go return the sony.

Other than the rotating lens (on your F88) the Panasonics seem to be first rate, and you'll be trading tiny Zeiss glass for big Leica glass, so there is an advantage to Panasonic there.

I have yet to see a real complaint from people owning the FZ family, and image quality is not an issue. So give it a try. You've got nothing to loose.