i got my bfa in photography pre-digital revolution, but i currently work in a camera store, so i'm pretty much caught up (even though i'll always prefer real film - but that's another story.). i dunno exactly what kind of resolution you really need; the 4 megapixels that the 4300 has are very good for most purposes. and if you're not gonna use the extra zoom that the 5700 has, either, than it doesn't make sense to get it. but nikon pisses me off in general, 'cause their functions are mostly hidden in dials that you have to switch while holding buttons, etc., etc.... the 4300 is much easier to use than the 5700, though. but in general, i'm a canon person. their cameras are very user friendly 'cause they're based on their slrs, and have all of their main functions on a dial on the top of the camera, which not only makes for ease of use, but for speed in getting the pic you really want (not having to go through all the trouble of going to this menu and that, blahblahblah). i'm not at work, so i don't have everything in front of me to tell you the pros and cons, but here's the canon g3, which is pretty dope: personally, i'm waiting till the digital slrs (interchangable lenses) get affordable . p.s. - something to consider: the 5700 and the canon g3 both have hotshoes for an extra flash, and the 4300 does not.