If you want to get yourself a new point-and-shoot digital camera, then this article is aimed at you. In this article I am going to first look at the most important . After that, we will then take a look at some additional features that you may want to have on your camera. Then finally, we will take a look at the key digital camera manufacturers available these days.

Key Features of a Camera

Obviously, all cameras have their own unique set of features, but without some features, a modern digital camera would be almost useless, for example:

LCD Screen: You can view your photos once you have taken them.

Various Auto Settings: Makes it easy to quickly take photographs using roughly the correct exposure settings for the particular situation.

Zoom: Allows you to get in closer to your object of focus.

Image Stabilizer: Many cameras these days have this feature, which really helps to produce sharper images in difficult conditions.

Additional Features of a Camera

As well as the most important features mentioned above, here are some extra features that you may want to look out for:

Intelligent Automation: In addition to the various automatic modes described in the previous section, some new cameras can now automatically detect the current photographic conditions and select the right settings accordingly.

Intelligent Portrait System: This is a feature of some Nikon cameras, which detects faces and can even automatically take a photo whenever a person smiles.

Automatic Panorama Mode: Quickly create wide panoramic views within the camera by taking multiple photos and then letting it automatically stitch them together.

Face Retouching: Smooth out wrinkly skin or hide a person's spots with this handy feature.

Built-in GPS Navigation: Find ideal shooting locations quickly and easily.

The Most important Manufacturers and their Camera Ranges

Canon: $89-$900. Top camera make, with quite a broad series of products (nearly 400 of them) to suit all requirements and budgets.

Olympus: $73-$1,049. As with Canon, another major digital camera company with a large assortment of cameras available (over 350 of them).

Sony: $80-$700. As with Olympus, there are over 350 products available here for a wide range of budgets and requirements.

Nikon: $75-700. Once more, like Sony, more than 350 digital cameras with a wide range of prices.

Kodak: $60-$450. Over 300 digital cameras, covering everything from simple slim point-and-shoots up to more sophisticated fully-featured cameras with full-size lenses.

Panasonic: $89-$586. Similar to Kodak, all kinds of cameras across a large range.

Fuji: $80-$1,000. Also a good brand with a large number of different cameras.

Samsung: $80-$850. Once more, also a decent brand that will be sure to have a camera to suit your needs and/or budget.

Pentax: $75-$400. A good collection of cameras to suit almost anyone.

Casio: $80-350. A decent collection of cameras at very good prices, even for high end cameras.

Vivitar: $20-$120. A good choice of low priced compact cameras. Great if you’re really low on cash.

General Electric: $60-$195. Not a huge assortment (about 70), mostly compacts.

Polaroid: $24-180. As with General Electric, not a very broad assortment, and of the compact type. However, if you're struggling money-wise, there are some extremely low budget ones here.