Well you're not alone with the glasses performance - I've got 3 different pairs, and regardless, they'd have to make the viewing screen the size of a football pitch for me to see it clearly without glasses, so I think in realistic terms, you won't find a screen large enough. I got a Sony DSCW220 a year ago, and I like it, but my son was most displeased - apparently Panasonic's Lumix range are better, so I suggest you look at those and pick the one with the highest optical zoom. Even so, my birdwatching photographer brother in law informs me you'd need separate lenses and bits of kit on a much more expensive camera for good bird photographs.

yes I would by Nikon D3000, my grown up girls bought me one last year has a large view window at the back, plus you will need a telephoto lens. They have come down in price now ! i love bird watching to

Just adding a comment so that I see what other answers you get.
Thanks :o)

Hi Lemondog, as Bamboo says you need a camera with a high optical(not digital) zoom for taking pictures of birds and closeups of flowers. I have been doing some research on cameras as I need a new one as well but there are so many it becomes a mind boggling! There are a few compact digital cameras that have optical zoom of up to X26, so you don't have to buy a separate lens but the screen size only goes up to 3". There are websites that compare all these different cameras, if you type in digital cameras with high optical zoom into your browser you will find something that suits. These cameras cost around £150 -£250. Hope this helps.

I have two Panasonic Lumix's ZF30 & TZ7 and I love them both....!

i have a fuji finepix, not pocket size but easy and does what i want it to, got off ebay as almost £200 new, got mine for £45, everyone is different though , try going to camera shop and getting advice then check out prices online and other places to get best deal lemondog ;o)

I've got a Lumicron and frankly it's not great, but for £90ish it does the job. The biggest problem (just so you can try and avoid it) is that it has a really slow processing speed, so if for example you focused in on a bird and pressed the button, the actual photo will be taken 3 or 4 seconds later, which is enough time for the bird to scarper and you end up with a photo of a branch LOL

I can't see a screen well at all. I've got a Canon D60 digi SLR. I bought it second hand, still at great expense, to replace my film SLRs and go digital! Have several lenses but I use the macro (Flower and insect close-ups) the most. You have to use a tripod with the telephotos and the camera is very heavy. So far I've only done birds from a hide. I get the birds to come quite close in the garden so I've bought a remote trigger for it. If and when the weather settles I shall try to set it up. I have a Fuji finepix, too but much prefer the Canon. I use the viewfinder. My friend, fellow photographer, now uses a Lumix and laughs at me carting my camera around. Lumix use an excellent lens and I've had good reports from quite a few people. I'm sure this isn't much help to you except to recommend (by proxy) a Lumix.

Thanks everyone i will try and take this on board abd hopefully i will get myself a better camera, thanks again, Lemondog.

Yes I agree with Volval, I was thinking last night that I should have said feel the weight of the camera, she how it feels in your hands; if it is too heavy you won't use it. Go into the shop like Sid says and get advise. There are new cameras coming out all the time. Please let us all know which one you buy

thanks Great it is a factor with me as i have arthritus.