After buying the Kodak 8500, I realized that me digital camera wasn't as good as I thought it was. My old printer was not as sharp, so the details would never be as apparent. Now that I have a really crisp printer, I realize that, though my camera is good, it's not even close to a 35mm quality.

So, I started looking around at "Professional" cameras. I like cameras. I would like to have a Medium format digital camera. A medium format digital camera (Which is a digital back for a medium format camera) is $12,000 just for the back (that is assuming that you already have a medium format camera). The next step down is the Kodak DCS 14n Pro. It is a 14 megapixel camera, which shoots a true 35mm. It uses standard Nikon lenses. Still too rich for my blood- it's $5,000 for the camera body. (You then need a lens, flash, and storage devise).

So, I take another step down to the Fuji Finepix S2. Now, this is more in my price range (though I will have to sell my soul for it) at $2,000 for the camera body. But, it all gets confusing at this point. It is a 6.17 megapixel camera. *But* it has a technology that allows it to make these friggin' huge 12.1 megapixel files. It also takes regular Nikon lenses. *But* there is a 1.5 conversion. So, a 28-200 zoom lens is not 28 - 200, it is actually a 42 to 300 zoom. So confusing. However, the camera accepts tons of common accessories and functions very close to the 35mm cameras that I am used to. Camera, lens, microdrive (I have a flash) is less than $3,000. The 14 megapixel camera would cost about $6,000 for the same setup.

I think I will give the Fuji a go. I just can't justify $3,000 for an extra 2 megapixels. But, in the end, it's still hard to tell if I am comparing apples to apples, and what camera ends up the best value. (You can bet that there will be a review of that camera if I get it.....)