Fuji 16MP Digital Camera w/ 12x Opt Zoom

Excellent first camera, hard to find something better for the price. The picture quality is fantastic throughout the whole zoom range, as one other reviewer said, macro shots are not the greatest. Apart from that, it takes better pictures than some of my much more expensive cameras, is very easy to use, and has good battery life. This is one camera you can leave on auto and get consistently good results, highly recommended as a first camera or a spare. Camera is well made and has a very solid metal-ish feel to it, definitely an upgrade from most cameras in the sub-$100 range.