Looking for a sub 500$ camera...

I would suggest an S3is

S3IS is probably the way to go. You can pick up a G7 camera for right around $500. It only has 6x optical zoom. Depending on how much you want to get into photograpy the Rebel Xt would be around the same price range maybe a little more depending on where you shop. The nice thing about going that route is that you can pick up different lenses to achive different effects. This camera would be a camera you can grow with which is nice. I guess one thing to consider is what you intend to photograph. Any thoughts of what you want to photograph?

The XT has the same fully-automatic modes of the S3 or G7. The real operating difference is that it can be taken beyond them when you're ready. Physically, it's going to be noticeably bigger, if size is important.

Tuskir wrote in post #2676965
Italypa99, I sent you a PM. How hard is the XT to use? Remember, I'm a beginner and was looking for a simple point and shoot camera for vocations and such... are SLR's more for professional photographers?

they are a more professional but it is very user friendly i have had it for only like 2 months and didnt know anything about them before i had it and i know more now then i thought i would this site is a great help in learning as well just reading the post's for like an hour a day i know more about photography then i thought i would ever know but its a great camera i sent you a pm back

Tuskir wrote in post #2676965
Remember, I'm a beginner and was looking for a simple point and shoot camera for vocations and such... are SLR's more for professional photographers?

Remember, many full time professionals who are dedicated SLR users, use a good point and shoot for "vacations and such". If you took an SLR on vacation, you just wouldn't believe the weight of the gear you would have to carry with you to match the zoom of the S3 or other similer cameras.

JustShootin wrote in post #2678732
=JustShootin';2678732]​Remember, many full time professionals who are dedicated SLR users, use a good point and shoot for "vacations and such". If you took an SLR on vacation, you just wouldn't believe the weight of the gear you would have to carry with you to match the zoom of the S3 or other similer cameras.

Thats debateable. I've brought only my SD700 on vacations to Europe and wished I had a DSLR for the IQ difference to really capture the things I was seeing.

august23 wrote in post #2678839
Thats debateable. I've brought only my SD700 on vacations to Europe and wished I had a DSLR for the IQ difference to really capture the things I was seeing.

I said "many" professionals. Also, when I said aim and shoot, I was thinking of the more advanced models like the S3, which have lots of manual control, yet still small with lots of zoom power.