Finally giving in...

After years of holding stubborn and insisting on using a 35mm camera, I am waving the white flag and splurging on a camera. This one was given good reviews by kakaku.com - the ultimate electronics review site in Japan.

My friend just recently bought a Sony digital camera and told me to steer clear from them. In less than 6 months, she was already experience abnormalities with the camera. What a shame.

For those of you unaware, Sony products are often not so user-friendly because you have to by SONY-compatible parts and other accessories, often at a premium. Take Sony IC recorders, for example - they only record in Sony sound files and after you have uploaded that onto your PC you can then convert it into an mp3. What a royal pain in the butt!

Like my friend Chigusa advised me, you should buy a camera just before the new model is coming out. The old model will sell at a substantially lower price. The store clerk was honest enough to tell me that over 5 or 6 megapixels was more than sufficient for taking quality photos. This one is 7.1mpx - not bad at all for the price@ 24,000yen plus a 5000 yen 512MG memory chip.

What is your experience with digital cameras? Are there any brands you dislike or are loyal to?