Thanks for all the initial info.... helps somewhat when trying to wade (no pun intended) through the mix of equipment.
Not looking for "sports" type shots (i.e. sporting events, etc). Just want to try and document nature...outdoors...misc.
I'm still looking....
Still kinda general, but I get the idea. Assuming you are not wanting poster sized blowups of your shots. A number of point and shoots can do the job very well. Look for one with good zoom, (optical zoom, not digital zoom) and a macro setting. One that can do panoramas or easily "stitch" photos together can be fun. The so-called "bridge" cameras, can give you a step up in quality of pics, and although they look like they have - they do not interchangable lenses.
DSLR can do somewhat better - sometimes much - if you don't mind more expenditures and pieces (and weight) to carry around. Most any pro-sumer (semi-pro) camera bodies can do the trick as well as some of the consumer cameras. Do not need to go to a pro body or the expense for one. Any of the biggies can do well for you, Nikon, Canon, Sony are the easiest to find lenses and accessories locally. Pentax, Olympus, Fuju, Samsung all make DSLR's also, but the lens and accessories are limited and can be a problem to find locally. Leica, also makes a digital, but not true DSLR, but rangefinders. and with their S2 body, well let me say, my 1st house almost cost that much. One advantage to a Sony or some Olympus is that they have "on-board" image stabilization. Any lens that fits can be used and still have image stabilization.
As Ronnie said, test drive several models to see how they feel. How, a body feels in hand is actually pretty important. That is a big reason, I opt for pro cameras. I've got a relatively big hand and they feel much better to me, plus the heft makes it easier for me to hold still. Look for dedicated buttons. A totally menu driven system is not as easy to use as one with dedicated buttons to do things. The body I have has to shutter release buttons. One for normal horizontal format - the other located for vertical format. Sounds like a little thing, and it is definitely no deal breaker, but I go vertical quite a bit, and not having to reach all the way over the camera to reach the shutter is very nice.
Flash on-board or not - your choice. I personally don't like the on-board ones for various reasons. I usually buy a relatively inexpensive hot shoe flash for use.
Lenses - I'd recommend two, especially at first. Definitely a mid range zoom - say 75-210 or 80-300 - something like that. Generally that lens is great for walk-arounds, etc.... and will be on your camera probably 75 to 90 percent of the time. If you get one with a macro setting, and some work fairly, you can do some closer focusing to get maybe 1/2 size shots. If doing nature, outdoors, etc.... wide angle shots are effective. So the other lens would be a short range zoom - say something like a 14-42, 18-50, 24-85, 28-135, 35-70 (all affordable lenses) I opted for 18-200 for my zoom - instead of carrying 2 lenses, I carry one.
As you get better and more comfortable, you may opt to do wildlife shots. Then you will probably have to reach out a little further. 2 options. First is to by a teleconverter or two. They come in 1.4x, 1.7x and 2x - meaning the extend the focal lenght by either 1.4 or 2 times ( a 200mm would then be a 280 with a 1.4 or a 400 with the 2x). They fit between you lense and the camera body and do a good job, but you lose light using one - so they have limitations. The other options is long lenses or long range zooms. Warning - avoid the cheap ones say $89 to $200 or thereabouts - some people can find an acceptable one, but most don't. Mirror or reflex lenses are less expensive than normal lenses and do an acceptable job, but somewhat slow, and may object to the shape of the out of focus highlights and details (also called bokeh and is "hot" and faddish term nowadays used when one can find anything else to complain about). Of course there's the "big glass" with it accompanying high price tag. Great to have, but unless you are a super serious amateur or a pro, they are not needed. Cost and Weight are tremendous. Lens design and construction has come a long way in the last 10 to 20 years. Long zooms were hated words - but now, there are some very good and affordable options. 150-500, 50-500, 120-400 and the 300-800 (well not all that affordable, but I want one!!! or the Sigma 200-400 f2.8 that costs more than most cars). .
You might want to go macro - and there a lots of ways to get into macro inexpenxively or lots of ways very expensively.
You might also explore the secondary market. - Craigslist or a used reseller like KEH, Adorama, etc....
