We’ll assume that you, the reader, are not a professional photographer. Because if you are, you should be on a specialized website. If you are reading this guide, you are most likely an amateur interested in a non-pro camera. But there is still a wide – and often confusing – variety of features to consider, depending on what you need the camera for. Are you looking for something small, cheap and easy to use? Are you a power user shopping for a digital SLR? something in-between? This is intended to be a short, simple, plain-English guide that will not make you an expert but will help you learn the few main considerations in a digital camera purchase decision. If you are in a rush and/or not into reading geeky stuff, just jump to recommendations.

Let’s go over some of digital camera’ jargon and features.

Size

For many, this is the most important consideration. If you want something that you can easily keep in your pocket or handbag, you look for a compact or even ultra-compact camera. Compact cameras typically measure 3.5 to 4" wide, 2 to 2.5" high and 0.7 to 1.2" deep and weigh 4 to 6 oz. If you, on the other hand, want to look like a professional walking around with a big camera hanging off your neck, you want a digital SLR camera (of course, there are much better reasons to buy SLR than looks – we’ll go into them later).

Resolution

A digital image is made up tiny dots called pixels. "Resolution" in digital cameras refers to the size of the digital image the camera produces, and is expressed in "megapixels" or how many million pixels it can record in a single image. For example, a camera that captures 2560 x 1920 pixels produces an image with a resolution of 4.92 million pixels and would be referred to as a 5 megapixel (MP) camera. With the current generation of cameras even the entry level models feature 10-12 MP resolutions, which should produce photo quality on prints up to 20X30". This is sufficient for vast majority of uses. Power users may choose to spend a bit more and go for 14 MP. One thing to remember is that the higher resolution, the larger the storage needed for the picture. Without getting into gory details of bits, storage formats and compressions, a high-resolution image taken with a 10 MP camera will take about 3-4 Mbytes (MB) of storage using typical camera compression.

Zoom

Zoom is, well, ability to zoom in on something. E.g., 3X means the ability to amplify 3 times. Camera descriptions talk about optical zoom and digital zoom. Optical zoom uses the optical lens to "bring" the object closer. It’s the real thing. It is also somewhat expensive because you need a lens with the ability to vary its focal length. Optical zooms used to be exclusive to digital SLR (dSLR) cameras but now they are available on higher-end compact cameras as well, usually 3X, in some compacts 10X. Lenses on compact cameras are typically fixed, while with SLRs you can usually change the lens depending on the shooting needs. A typical variable focal length camera lens may be able to change from wide-angle (28mm focal length) to telephoto (135mm focal length). You can configure an SLR camera for up to 30 times magnification.

Digital zoom is an illusion, invented by digital camera marketers. When you zoom digitally, the camera crops a portion of the image and then enlarges it back to size. You can do it yourself later with any image editing software. But digital zoom is convenient and because of that popular. It is also cheap because it’s implemented in software. You probably should not give a lot of weight to a "digital zoom" in your purchase decision. And make sure you are not being sold on a "combined" zoom (optical times digital) that some advertisers quote.

How much zoom do you need? For landscape photos, for the most part you don’t need to zoom. If you like to photograph people, 3X optical zoom should be sufficient. You’ll need 10X or larger zoom if you want to photograph people, animals, or objects from a large distance.

Storage options

Most of the cameras have built-in memory, typically on the order of 20MB to 128MB. Remember that a good quality 10MP image takes up about 3-4MB, so such storage is sufficient for only a few images. You should plan on using separate flash memory cards for most of your storage needs. Most cameras will use SD, SDHC and/or microSD cards, some use CompactFlash or Memory Stick. SDHC cards also carry "Class" designation, which refers to their writing speed – look for Class 4 or 6. Make sure you know which cards you camera takes – you can’t fit an SD card into microSD slot, etc. Another reason to look at camera’s storage is cost. SD/SDHC cards are more popular and cheaper – they now cost only $10-30 for an 8GB card that would typically store about 2,000 pictures taken with a 10-12MP camera. CompactFlash and Memory Stick cost about twice as much per GB. If you plan to upload pictures to your computer and erase them from the card, it does not make much difference. Some people like to keep photos on cards as a storage backup. With many inexpensive online storage options this is probably not necessary anymore, but if that’s your choice, you may want to stick with SD card-compatible cameras to keep the costs down.

Video

Many cameras now offer ability to record video. For older models it’s a lower quality 640 X 480 or 320 X 240 video (kind of what you find on YouTube) that won’t look good on your HDTV. Many newer models now sport 720p resolution, which compares favorably with many camcorders. This makes it possible for you to carry one compact camera (instead of a camera and a camcorder) and be able to take good still pictures and decent quality videos. You should also be mindful of the format and the bitrate as video can gobble up your storage rather quickly. Many of such cameras use Motion JPEG or similar type compression where video can easily take up 8-12GB of storage in one hour. There are other limitations as well: many cameras can record only up to 2GB of video at a time (about 10-15 minutes), plus some of the compression formats (such as Motion JPEG) may not be directly importable into popular software programs such as iMovie. All of there can be overcome, but the bottom line is that convenience of using your camera as a camcorder comes with a price. At the very least, we would recommend buying a 16GB memory card if you plan to record videos – this way you have room for about 1 hr of video plus at least 1,000 images. And make sure that the card can handle high data transfer rates - buy at least Class 4 and preferably Class 6 cards.

Power

Most cameras use batteries: AA’s, AAA’s, NiMH, CRV3’s, in some cases proprietary. CRV3’s are light but expensive. Proprietary batteries can be even more expensive. Some cameras use rechargeable (typically Li-on) batteries. Make sure you know how many shots you can take with one charge. If you think you may find yourself without access to power for prolonged time, make sure you have some spare and fully charged batteries with you.

Interfaces

Most cameras now have a USB interface that you can use to upload your pictures to a computer. Some cameras now offer an HDMI port and/or composite video/audio output so you can connect them to a TV without going through a computer.

Image Stabilization

Helps to eliminate blur. There are two types of image stabilization: optical (done within the lens or sensor) and electronic (increases speed of sensor when motion is detected). Optical stabilization is a better approach.

LCD Display

All digital cameras have a display, typically ranging from 1.8" to 3.5". Besides the size, focus on the resolution and whether there is a viewfinder. For an average 2.7" display you want at least 230K pixels resolution. Having a viewfinder is generally helpful.

SLR

SLR stands for single-lens reflex, a semi-automatic moving mirror system that permits the photographer to see exactly what will be captured by the camera. Most of the digital cameras now have similar capabilities but interchangeable lenses, far less shutter lag, the clarity and shadow detail of a direct-viewed optical SLR viewfinder make SLR still the camera of choice in high-end and professional applications.

Recommendations

There are other features to consider, but we have covered the most important basics. Ultimately, the right camera for you depends on what you plan to do. If you want to be able to take complex, art-quality photos, you probably want an SLR. If you want something small and simple, look for an ultra-compact. We have divided our recommendations into three groups: ultra-compact, compact point-and-shoot, and consumer dSLRs (if you are looking for a "prosumer" or professional SLR, you should go to a specialized website). The recommendations are based on reviews and ratings from such sites as CNET, PC Reviews, DP Review, Digital Camera Info, Digital Camera Review, etc. It’s a crowded field and there are many other good cameras out there. Since prices at retailers change daily, we provide a "good price" range guidance, for a new product from a well-rated retailer. If you ar looking at a quote higher than the range, you'll probably be paying too much. We’ll update the list and the prices periodically.

Best Ultra-Compact Cameras

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3: simple, inexpensive, easy-to-use. 14MP, 4X optical zoom, 2.7" touch-screen LCD, HD Video capability. Size: 3.9" X 2.3" X 0.7". Weight 4.4 oz. Good price: $150-170.

Casio Exilim EX-S12: if you want the thinnest and the lightest, you found it. 12MP, 3X optical zoom, 2.7" LCD, HD Video capability. Size: 3.7" X 2.2" X 0.6". Weight 4 oz. Good price: $120-130.

Canon Powershot SD1400: if you want more capability in an ultra-small body, this might be your choice. 14MP, 4X optical zoom, 28mm wide-angle lens, 2.7" LCD, HD Video capability. Size: 3.7" X 2.2" X 0.7". Weight 4.7 oz. You’ll pay more though: good price is $190-200.

Best Compact Cameras

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3: you get a lot for your money. 14MP, 8X optical zoom with 25mm equivalent wide-angle lens, 2.7" LCD, HD Video capability. Size: 3.9" X 2.2" X 1.0". Weight 4.8 oz. Good price: $200-220.

Samsung DualView TL225: for people who like to be in front of the camera. Has two LCDs: a 3.5" touch-screen plus a front-facing 1.5" view for self-portraits. In addition, it’s a good camera. 12MP, 4.6X optical, HD Video capability. Size: 3.9" X 2.4" X 0.7". Weight 5.8 oz. Good price: $200-220.

Canon Powershot S90: for advanced amateurs that want a compact camera. Has most of the SLR camera features except for the ones that only SLR technology can currently provide (e.g., faster shutter speed). 10MP, 3.8X optical zoom with 28mm wide-angle lens. Size: 3.9" X 2.3" X 1.2". Weight 6.2 oz. You’ll pay more though: good price is $330-350. The latest S95 improves in some respects but not enough to justify the extra $50-60 you'll pay.

Sony Cybershot DSC-WX1: another almost dSLR. Also almost an ultra-compact. Known for excellent low-light performance. 10MP, 5X optical zoom, HD Video. Size: 3.7" X 2.1" X 0,8". Weight 5.3 oz. Good price: $200-230.

Pentax Optio W90: if you want a rugged camera, this is it. Waterproof, shockproof, dustproof. And it takes good pictures too. 12MP, 5X optical zoom, 2.7" LCD, HD Video. Size: 4.3" X 2.3" X 1". Weight 5.1 oz. Good price: $210-240.

Best Budget dSLRs

Nikon D3000: 10.2MP, 2.7" LCD, HD Video. Good price with 18-55mm lens: $450.

Canon Rebel XS: 10.1MP, 3.0" LCD, HD Video. Good price with 18-55mm lens: $500.

Honorable mention - Pentax K-X: 12.4MP, 2.7 LCD. Good price with 18-55mm lens: $500.