I bought a Kodak digital camera about 3 years ago and I still love it. It was the best at the time with 1.2 Megapixels. One thing I have noticed- always have batteries. The viewing screens on the back take up a ton of battery power.
I was looking with my bro a couple days ago and didn't even know where to start- so I found this website on yahoo.com (best digital camera under $500)
http://pcworld.shopping.yahoo.com/ya...,106151,00.asp
If you want to spend more- I will recommend whatever my roommate just got. It takes (10) 30 sec MPEGs and like 50 pics all on one disk or whatever his cartridge is. I'll get the name of it when he gets back later. I think it was about $750. But none the less, BAD ASS.
Good luck -
Roln 20s