Monica, I have a Kodak 1275, 12 meg pixel, 5x zoom. It's good, but not for humming birds, or real close up views of blooms. However, I'm not a good photographer either, but I like to blame the camera! LOL
Rob

Monica

I have a canon SX10 with 20x optical zoom and 4x digital. I dont think it does as well on super closeups as my previous canon S5IS. But the optical zoom makes it better. I may have already mentioned about my camera.

Steve

I use an Olympus E510 through a glass window
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as Hummersteve mentioned in another post, once a male starts protecting his territory he sometimes won't budge for nothing enabling you to get in closer. I'm hoping to get some outside shots with a zoom lens.

Monica

You didnt mention what kind of camera you have. I am not a photographer, what I know about it couldnt fill a thimble, I know just enough to get by. I suppose in the camera world you get what you pay for. But if you know you want to take pics of moving targets such as fluttering hummers there are settings that will help you out , On my canon there is a wheel with several shooting modes, portrait, landscape , auto, sports, nightshot etc. Some cameras take more clear shots if you are farther away than 5 or 6 ft then use the zoom to focus. On the following pics I was in the shade trying to take shots of my subjects in the sunlight. I also used the zoom. Thats where this camera will do better than some with the 20x optical. In sports mode camera auto sets to 400 ISO. This was a very windy day to make things more difficult.

sun went behind a cloud shooting in sports mode
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I raised the ISO to 800 on this one
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same as previous setting
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Interesting stuff, Steve. I also have to shoot hummers in shadow with a bright background. So the hummers are dark. Thanks for the tip on ISO

I just have a kodak easyshare. I cant get a good picture of my hummers but maybe in time I can afford a better camera. But not right now. The company my husband works for has taken away all bonuses and raises for this year and next... either that or will be letting go of people. So no camera in the forseeable future.:(