So been looking at a camera.

[RC]

6. My first camera as a kid, was a Kodak Brownie Hawkeye.

I had a couple of cameras when I was in the Navy. A 120 twin lens reflex something or other and a small 35mm camera I bought in Japan. After I got out I bought a Canon AE1. I ran a lot of film through that camera. Like $50 like week for film and processing. My groceries did not run that.
My first digital camera was a Kodak EASYSHARE DX3700 Digital Camera that I bought in 2002. That was replaced with a Kodak DX7590. That was replaced by a Sony DSC-H1.
Then a Nikon 2000 pocket camera. I never did really like that one. Something was just not right. But then, I have never used a Nikon I really liked. Somehow they just seem to miss.
I replaced the Nikon with a Canon S95. The difference was like Night and Day. I am still amazed with what it can do. I always carry the Canon S95 where ever I go. I found a $20 Kodak zipper case with belt clip at Office Max that seems to be a custom fit for it.
With the exception of the S95, with each camera I kept running up against its limitations.
My latest camera is a Canon T3i. This has turned into my dream camera. It gonna be a while to become familiar with what all the adjustment can do.

I only shoot in color. If I want B/W, That is what computers are for. It is easy to remove color, it is hard to add it back in when there is no color to start with.
Even though the T3i has an 18 meg sensor, I have it set down to about 10 megs, to save space on my computer. The only advantage to the 18 meg is that I can crop and then blow the photos up bigger on long telephoto and close micro shots. It's good to know it is there, if I want it.

As for buying too much camera, until you grow into it, there is always the full auto mode. My problem was I kept running to the camera's limitations. Figure out what you want to do and buy something that can do more than that. Doing that can save you a closet full of camera gear you never use. Like shoes for a growing kid. Get more camera than you need right now. Go into the stores that sell cameras and pick up and "use" the camera you are interested in. How does it fit your hand? Are the controls reasonably intuitive? Does it feel comfortable in your hands? Camera size? Can you see through the viewfinder?

Take lots of pictures of lots of different stuff. The go back a do it again. And remember, your computer is your friend. Become familiar with the photo processing software that comes with the camera. There are also lots of excellent free photo software on the intertubes. Irfanview, Picturescape, Gimp... Irfanview is my default graphics software. Quick, simple, light.

Camera weight. There is a trade off here. A camera that is too light will be difficult to hold still when you push the shudder button. Heavier cameras are much better in this respect.
But heavy cameras are, well heavy to lug around. The can weigh you down and tire you out. But whatever, make sure your choice of camera has image stabilization.