Needing Monitor & Camera Advice.

[Triple_7]

Going to be coming into a little money soon, selling a couple things.  Few things on the list of wants that I'm considering for part of the money.

First I really need a new monitor, currently using an old IBM 15" from the stone age, it works fine, takes a lot of space, and really need something newer and clearer.  This things a little on the fuzzy side and LCD is so much better.

So, shopping around for a wide screen LCD, 19" at least.  Under $200 preferred.  Looked at a really nice Acer but my grandparents have the same one and no matter what I do to adjust it everything is just too bright.  I prefer my settings a little on the darker side, cant stand to be blinded.  Want a good brand that is going to last a long time.  Probably order from TigerDirect or Newegg.  There's several to choose from in the price range but to many brands, I haven't been in the monitor market long enough to know whats good and whats not.  

Another thing I am considering if I can find one in the right price range.  A new digital camera, mines an old 3.1mp piece of crap, its ok for basics but I really want something much better and capable of a lot more.  

Basic features I'm looking for, able to change lenses, time exposure for night shots, able to switch between black & white/color, and any other good features.  I really want to have a camera to experiment with and try new things.  Wanting one that is ready to go out of the box but can add lenses later, clear and crispy pictures.  Digital a must.  Not really sure on the price range yet, depends on what is out there.  Nothing high end by any means, but depending on the money situation when it comes around I might consider going as high as $500.  Hence why I want something I can change lenses on, can always add on later  

Cant go out and break the bank, but at most after paying off a couple things I'm going to have around $1000 to toy with.  New monitor taking say $200 of that, need a new mouse and keyboard.  Keyboard is my original IBM from our very first computer many moons ago  Considering another 2 gigs of RAM since the price has dropped quite a bit, can get the same ones that are in it now for around $50.  

Pretty much just browsing and getting ideas, will probably be a couple weeks before I start shopping.  Just want to get an idea of what is out there and what kind of prices I'm looking at.  Figured $200 budget for a monitor is a definite.  Camera is a possibility I'm looking into and really want since I miss photography.

[homebrewer]

Got my 22-inch Westinghouse at Waltermart for a skosh under $300 in March 2007. I love it. Just plugged it all in and fired it up. Works great! I've never even adjusted it; it does it all by itself. I run FS at 1650 x 1080 x 32 or something like that. Looks really good to my eyes.

I have a Canon S3 IS digicamera. I love it. it's easy to use and covers just about every photographic situation I have come across since I got it. I just got the Canon wide-angle and teleconverter lenses a few months ago. They take this camera to a level that I have yet to achieve. The S3 is probably no longer available; the S5 is just a bit better with a higher MP (6.2 vs 8.0) count and a hotshoe for an autoflash you can buy anywhere.

Have you looked in pawn shops for a camera? I was in one yesterday and saw an Nikon F5 with a small zoom lens on it for a grand. I was blown away. That camera body alone was $4,000 when it was new. I'm an old Nikon guy from the mid-1980s...