The message <002601c3e9a7$7c5dfb10$b8a879a5@DJ9SK221> from "diana chapman" <rarebulbs@earthlink.net> contains these words: > Hi Jim: > Many thanks for the advice. I am NOT experienced with photography, and I am > not likely to get interested. I just want photographs of my plants, so I > absolutely don't want the high-end cameras. I did have a Koolpix 4000 for a > short while, and found it quite terrifying. I really want something easy to > use. Taking pictures of pollen grans or the hairs on a bee's leg isn't what > I want, but I do want to get within two to three inches and get a good > picture. For me, I need something that is not bulky, easy to understand and > easy to use otherwise I won't use it. When I was young I bought a good > camera to take on multi-day rock climbs to get photographs of the > spectacular settings, I took it twice and it stayed in the haul bag almost > all of the time. I never used it again. > Best. > Diana Nikon colpix range seem to be particularly recommended for plant photogrraphy because they have such a goof close-up facility. I have the Nikon Coolpix 4300 which is down-market a bit from some of the ones mentioned. I'm not sure how it compares with the 400 you mention but I find it really straightforward. I think it's brilliant because it's a happy medium between the point-and-shoot cameras and the more complicated ones. You can just use it on auto which is dead simple or you can be a bit more adventurous if you want to. Janet