this is completely off topic, but James do you take alot of photos? is that why you chose the camera avatar?
The things I considered highest are interchangeable lenses, image quality 24 MP or better, and reliability. The only piece of Canon equipment I ever lost was a Canon printer that went dead after a lightening strike/power surge. I lost a computer, printer, converter cord from USB to Parallel (which saved my HP LASER printer), two TVs, a router, cable modem, and a few other things. Everything but the TVs were protected by surge protection devices which didn't help. All the surge protection devices used have now been replaced.
I moved to California with my second engineering job out of college. I bought my first camera then and got hooked on film photography. That was in 1975. I tapered off shooting film about 10-15 years ago for a variety of personal reasons. My lovely wife convinced me to get back into photography and this is the digital SLR I bought in December. Other avatars I've used over the years include a chess pawn, pictures of my dogs, a jet engine, and a handgun on a well-worn Bible. The two Christian forums I am somewhat active on show two different views of this camera.
Hello brothers and sisters;
I'm enjoying reading this discussion, Psalm 82, please keep it going. I'm in San Diego this week and am in and out with my family. I want to join in later.
I also noticed Jame's Canon avatar - serious camera producing great quality shots. I know the lens alone can be expensive. I bought my wife a Coolpix for Christmas a couple of years ago at Costco but it broke less than a year. lol! I'd like to get her a Canon for a beginning photographer.
God bless you all.