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It seems like the Oly e-420 is the ideal camera if only because it very small. You really don't want to be carrying a largish camera round on a month long road trip if you aren't used to it (imho).

And yeah, you really need to take a *lot* of pictures with it (whatever it turns out to be) before you go.
 
I think the worst thing you could do is go on your Europe trip in a month without using your first ever DSLR camera before hand. You do not want to learn how to use the camera on your trip. You have to learn how to use it before hand. Get the camera now and take at least 1000 photos before going on the trip.

Well if nothing else we won't hear any complaints about nothing to do on the flight over (RTFM) though if there are too may practice shots there might be a diversion to the nearest jail cell when people get overly cautious and scared.
 
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