What kind of digital camera is best for me?

We wish we could give you quick answer. But that is like asking what is the one best food. While there are over 400 digital cameras on the market, there is no single best digital camera for everyone.
To get a good fit with a digital camera that matches your needs, price range and personality, requires a considered study of your purposes, preferences and budget. We need to answer the following questions: What kind of traditional camera do you current using? What kind of pictures do you need and want, and how will you use them? How experienced are you as a photographer? Are there any specific features that are necessary for your work? How much money do you wish to spend? And etc...

1.You are a snap shooter:

I want to take photos that I can e-mail to friends and family, post on the Web, or print in sizes smaller than 8x10 inches. I'd like a digital camera that is easy enough for the whole family to use and small enough to take anywhere. I'll be printing on an inexpensive, all-purpose inkjet printer.
It's the digital camera specification for you:

Resolution	3 megapixels or greater
Price	$150 to $500
Lens type	Zoom (range encompassing at least 38mm to 114mm, 35mm equivalent)
Storage media	Internal memory, CompactFlash, Memory Stick, xD-Picture Card, or Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard
Photo file format	JPEG
Interfaces	USB, NTSC/PAL television connection
Exposure controls	Automatic, programmed scene modes, exposure compensation (for tweaking the automatic exposure)
Focus controls	Automatic
Flash modes	Automatic, fill, red-eye reduction
Software	Photo stitching, photo album, slide show
Multimedia	Video-clip recording with sound
Cool features	Direct-to-printer output compatibility and in-camera red-eye removal

2.You are a budget buyer:

I want to find a digital camera that costs less than $300 that will let me post snapshots on the Web; e-mail them to friends; print them in small sizes (4x6) and get me up and running quickly without requiring me to read the manual. I want a camera that will good enough for a few years.

Resolution	3 megapixels or greater
Price	Less than $200
Lens type	Fixed (between 38mm and 55mm, 35mm equivalent) or zoom (range at least encompassing 38mm to 76mm, 35mm equivalent)
Storage media	Internal memory, CompactFlash Type I, Memory Stick, xD-Picture Card, or Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard
Photo file format	JPEG
Interfaces	USB, NTSC/PAL television connection
Exposure controls	Automatic, exposure compensation (for tweaking the automatic exposure)
Focus controls	Autofocus or fixed focus
Flash modes	Automatic, fill, red-eye reduction
Software	Basic photo editor
Cool features	Webcam capabilities, automatic scene modes, continuous-shooting mode, autofocus assist lamp

Somep points to consider:

• Look for cameras that can save files in a raw state. Saving your image as a RAW,TIFF will provide you with a higher quality image to work from.
• Choose a camera with an eye-viewer rather than just a screen. LCD screens use up a lot of battery and inaccurate
• Find a camera with minimal 'shutter lag'. An annoying feature of some digital compacts is the lag between clicking the shutter and the camera taking the shot
• Ensure that the camera has a good quality lens. Ideally not plastic and good brand
• Choose a camera with a large buffer memory. This allows a number of images to be taken before writting into camera storage