Picture This.

Okay, so I really don't have anything for you to picture. It was just the snazziest title I could come up with. And it relates to my topic today, really, it does!

I've decided that I'm tired of trying to make our Kodak EasyShare C643 take pictures it's incapable of taking. I try to get really cool close-up photos, and the darn thing wags its red, Blurred Image signal at me. Well, phooey on you, Ms. C643 (I determined this camera must be female because if it were male, I'd surely have been able to trick it into compliance by now). If any of you are familiar with this camera, you would probably understand why it appealed to us initially. It is SO easy to use - for dummies like us, who were buying our first digital camera, there were certainly no headaches when first learning how to use it. A little hand on the screen appears after you've snapped the photo to let you know how it turned out. Green = good quality picture. Yellow = acceptable, but not perfect. Red = blurry or poorly lit photo. I mean really, how simple could it be?

I've learned something, however, in the two years we've owned this camera: Easy does not mean best quality! Therefore, I have come to the conclusion that we need a new camera. I've done a little research on better quality cameras, and have narrowed my field of possibilities down to three (I think. Unless you all have any other suggestions).

--The Nikon D40

--The Nikon D80

--And the Sony Alpha 10.2

Now, I've read some reviews. Some were posted on the Best Buy or Wal-Mart site, and the others were posted here. So far, I'm leaning towards the Nikon D40. It is much more advanced than our Kodak - obviously. It also isn't so high tech that it will be difficult to use. At least, that's what I'm reading. I also don't want something that is so clunky it will make me not want to take photos as often.

So, there it is. Now I'd like your input. If you own any of these cameras, or you'd like to offer up another suggestion, I'm all ears.