I would recommend a JBC soldering iron,their irons and stations are very good,comparing to other's than i could use...a JBC iron can be better than a cheap/no-brand soldering station...
The reason to have a JBC is than it does't is made in china(made in spain),has a good temperature raise and control and their tips have a very large lifetime...over 3-5 times the "other brands"(has advertised by JBC)
And, of course than JBC has some pretty bad thinks, the price does't is the low one,but not that expensive, and their tips are a large pain to change(regular ones,not small and SMD ones)
But i can tell than they are very worth it to have...
For a decent cheap camera i can recommend the canon SX40,very cheap and it does't is compact(so it isn't a toy),personally i don't have it but i have tryed it and it is good for the price, of course than it does't beats my old canon 500d...