So... my 21st birthday is coming up and I was hoping to ask various members of the family to club together for a 'decent' camera.

I would preferably like a good digital SLR but they're too pricy so any recommendations of cameras that are good for catching moving subjects? I'd like one with a multishoot option and one that won't blur when photographing moving subjects.

My main subjects are my dogs and animals that we see whilst out on a walk - really want to catch them at their antics so any recommendations would be gratefully received!

Cheers,
Lottie

Look for 'shutter lag' in the specs of cameras, lower = better.
It refers to the delay between pressing the button and the camera actually taking the image.

The blur on moving objects can be reduced by finding a camera with:
- decent high-ISO (sensitivity of sensor) performance.
- wide maximum apertures (eg. f3.5 lower f-number = wider apeture)
- faster max shutter speed (look for 1/500 sec or faster)

No idea what sort of budget you're looking at, but would you consider 2nd hand/slightly older models?
If so, that will open up a world of DSLR for you. A lot of people sell off cameras to upgrade to latest + greatest models meaning if you're happy a generation behind the current then you may find one cheap.

You may also find new (previous generation) SLR cheap if you look hard enough.
Current generation start at £300 ish, but you will end up wanting to spend more on more lenses etc ;)

oh yeah will definitely consider second hand/slightly older! I'm currently working with a fujifilm compact that takes the picture the day after you press the button!

Thanks for the advice - will take a look around :D

For a camera to keep in the glovebox all the time, instead of lugging my SLR's around, i've just bought one of these off of ebay for £52 (£400 when new, not long ago).
It had only taken just over 100 photo's.
Something similar may be ideal for you

http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews_panasonic_lumix_dmc_fz7.php

Take a look at what they have to offer. Sony and Panasonic have really good lenses by Carl Zeiss and Leica respectively. High ISO is good for capturing fast moving objects, but the smaller the sensor, the higher the noise ratio and will make your pictures look blurred and discoloured.
If you can stretch to a Panasonic G1 (http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Panasonic-Lumix-G1-10577), it's like a DSLR but doesn't have a mirror box or shutter meaning it's smaller however the lens is interchangeable. It gives great pictures but could be pricey.
If you need a zoom, look at a bridge camera such as the Olympus SP570 UZ (http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Olympus-SP570UZ-9609), Fujifilm S100fs (http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Fujifilm-FinePix-S100fs-8735) or the Pentax X70. If not, look more towards prosumer (a compact with all the features of a DSLR such as RAW recording) such as the Canon G10 (http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Canon-Powershot-G10-10488), Panasonic LX3 (http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Panasonic-Lumix-DMCLX3-10188) and Ricoh GRD2 (http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Prosumer-Group-10207).

Good luck

you can get something like a nikon d40 with 18-55 lens and case for around 300 quid. excellent starter dslr

Nikon D40, On offer at Argos bargain at £246.29