Choosing a camera is a bit like choosing a car. You’ll need to consider budget, needs, wanted options and the type of use it is going to get. Also you need to factor in that some buyers favour specific brands for different reasons. Try getting a Jaguar driver into a Toyota 😉
On the camera scale there are a lot of options these days, and that makes choosing difficult. First thing to do I think is to set a budget for yourself, consider what you would like to spend. If you find out at a later stage that your needs cannot be met by that budget, you could either lower your requirements, or re-evaluate with your bank/spouse/consience. For now it will narrow the field a bit, which helps.
Next thing is to evaluate your needs, what kind of photos will you be taking? If you’re into aviation photography then you will automatically need to think about a lens with a decent zoom factor. You can get this two ways: either go for a fixed lens camera with a large zoom lens (the ‘ultra zoom’ cameras) or go for an SLR. I would recommend the first option for a beginning photographer, and the dSLR for someone who already has some SLR experience, or the advanced amateur.
More megapixels does not always mean better photos. For a sensor size that stays the same, cramming more pixels onto them means that you will get more noise issues. Sensors are getting better each day of course, but the newest 11 megapixel compact would never be on my wishlist, as I very much doubt if it will deliver a smooth image. The next major quality issue (if not the most important one) is the lens. Bigger and better glass means better photos, it’s that simple. A small compact camera has a lens which rarely measures more than an inch across. Zoom this thing out to its longest setting and you’ll have a long dark tube that the light will need to travel through to find the sensor. Get a camera with a larger lens (diameter-wise) and a lot more light will get through, meaning better performance on cloudy days or indoors.
As for choosing a dSLR, you will find that there are Canon supporters, and Nikon supporters. Both can deliver a good camera that will take great photos, but each will have their own advantages and disadvantages. Argueing about this will never leave you with a firm “this one is better” opinion. Generally a more expensive camera will have more options, give better performance and also a more expensive lens will be sharper and takes better photos. This is why I mentioned the budget at the beginning! Once you have decided to go for a dSLR you will very quickly end up on the sloping road towards spending more and more on your camera gear but once you’re in this market segment there are no really bad cameras so a Canon 300D or Nikon D50 might be just as good a camera for your purposes as a top of the line 1D mkII or D2H. Read reviews, talk to people who know these cameras, try them out in shops and make sure you evaluate these cameras against your requirements, not just against the “it would be great to own one” argument. Also factor in the accessories you will need, the camera is the main part of the cost, but not the only one, especially with a dSLR where you might want another lens or a large flash.
Remember that you can still get a very nice camera without going the dSLR route. This is just an example, but a Fuji S5600 will give you a nice large 38-380mm (35mm equivalent) lens that will easily take a nice aeroplane photo. It sells for a lot less than a Canon 350D, and might therefore be a better starting point for some people.
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