The age of the camera all depends on what you are trying to accomplish. I am still using a digital camera at work that I purchased in 1999! It was a $1000 camera at the time which I thought I got a good deal on for $850.
An equivalent today would probably be $150.
However, in spite of this - even though it is only a 3 megapixel camera - it still takes GREAT pics for the use for which it was intended. Good macros and it has a hot shoe on the top for adding supplemental flash - something that the majority of new point and shoot cameras do not have. Look forward to seeing those new pics of your mini phals. I have a couple (unfortunately noids) myself that are sure nice. mike