Best Digi Cam for around $500?

[snakelet]

Hi all,

I know very little about digital cameras, but I have some money to spend on one, and I'm looking for something pretty affordable. Does anyone have any opinions on the Canon Powershot A70?

http://www.powershot.com/powershot2/a70-60/specs.html

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10027578&catid=10129&logon=&langid=EN&dept=14&WLBS=fs%2Dweb3

Apparently you can do some manual focusing, or use it with auto focus. I want to use it for pretty much everything, though a close up focus would be nice for shooting my snakes. What is a suitable macro ability for something like that? Also, how can i tell what the time span is between when the button is pressed to when the camera takes a picture? I've used a really crappy Kodak digi before that took 3 seconds before taking the picture, which was pretty much useless for anything involving movement.

Thanks :)

Leanne

[snakelet]

Nevermind, I'm buying the A70 :)

[Tim and Julie B]

Hi I have been researching cams for awhile now and have read a lot of info. The camera I would buy is an A 70 as well. Of all the write ups I have read is only consistant negative I have seen is that the LCD screen is easily scratched. So be carefull. You can buy a protective clears lens protector that is like a thin sticky film that sticks onto the screen. Hope this helps. TB