Top 10 Digital Cameras

Source: ConsumerGuideProducts@howstuffworks.com

Whether you want a simple point-and-shoot camera for family photos or you're a serious photographer who wants greater creative control, there's a digital camera that's right for you. We've rounded up 10 of the most popular and feature-packed models out there. Click on the pictures to compare prices.

Top 5 Point-and-shoot Cameras

Canon PowerShot A620 Packing a host of features into an easy-to-use, compact point-and-shoot, the Canon PowerShot A620 is tops in its class. This high-performance camera has a 7.1- megapixel CCD and customizable shooting settings that let you decide how much control you want and how much to leave on automatic. Its large 2-inch LCD screen has a grid option to help you line up and center your subject. You can also shoot movies up to 1GB in high-quality video mode or up to 60 seconds in fast-frame mode.

	Canon PowerShot A610 If you don't really need 7.1 megapixels, you can save money with the Canon PowerShot A610, which has the same features as the A620 but only 5 megapixels. That's still plenty for most people to zoom, crop and print richly detailed photos as large as 8 by 10 inches. Like the A620, the A610 offers 4X optical zoom, a 2-inch LCD and a number of shooting modes to make picture-taking simple, even if you're a novice.
	Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-P200 Small camera; big LCD. The compact Sony DSC-P200 is only 4 inches wide, 2 inches high and 1 inch deep but has a high-resolution 2-inch LCD so you can instantly enjoy viewing and sharing photos. It also has a robust 7.2-megapixel CCD and a quick auto-focus, 3X optical zoom lens to help bring your subject closer. Pre-flash metering sets exposure and reduces red-eye for great flash shots. You can also shoot in movie mode, recording as much as your selected Memory Stick can hold.
	Kodak EasyShare Z740 If you want to shoot close-up subjects and still enjoy the simplicity of a point-and-shoot camera, consider the Kodak EasyShare Z740, which gives you a powerful 10X optical zoom. If that's not enough, there's also 5X digital zoom for a total of 50X zoom capability. The exclusive Kodak Color Science Chip gives your pictures vibrant color even under difficult lighting conditions. Choose one of 16 shooting modes to get your perfect shot, whether it's a beach scene or a self-portrait.
	Fuji FinePix S5200 Toeing the line between point-and-shoot and digital SLR is the Fuji FinePix S5200. It's larger and heavier than the average pocket-friendly point-and-shoot, but just the right size if you like to use a long lens and have more control than the typical weekend snapshooter. Its 10X optical zoom and 5.7X digital zoom give you a total of 57X total zoom range. Intuitive controls on the body allow you to set up shots quickly without navigating through menus.

If you feel confident in your shutterbug skills and you want a faster-shooting camera that's compatible with a variety of lenses, you'll want a digital SLR. Check out the seriously responsive models below.

Top 5 Digital SLR Cameras

Ready to move up from the point-and-shoot minor leagues? Here are our top five digital SLR cameras.

	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT A great camera for amateur digital SLR photographers, the EOS Digital Rebel XT offers the easiest operation in its class. It features an 8.0-megapixel CMOS sensor, Canon's own DIGIC II Image Processor and compatibility with more than 50 EF Lenses. Improving on its predecessor, the Digital Rebel, the Digital Rebel XT has an all new lightweight and compact body, nearly as small as digital SLRs get, with the responsiveness of a bigger semi-pro model.
	Canon EOS-5D The new Canon EOS 5D boasts a full-frame 12.8-megapixel CMOS sensor in a relatively compact magnesium-alloy body. Canon's DIGIC II Image Processor provides outstanding image quality, and "Picture Style" color control gives you superior command of color balance, contrast and sharpness. Pictures look great from almost any angle on the large 2.5-inch LCD, and easy-to-use menus simplify shooting operations so you can focus on your vision.
	Olympus EVOLT E-500 Never worry about dust on the image sensor interfering with your pictures with the Olympus EVOLT E-500. This easy-to-handle digital SLR camera uses an exclusive vibrating filter to eliminate dust and produce spotless pictures no matter where you change lenses. It has an 8-megapixel CCD and 25 shooting modes so you can take great pictures with a minimum of effort. A high-resolution, 2.5-inch LCD lets you view and share your shots from a wide viewing angle. And it's all housed in a lightweight, portable chassis.
	Konica Minolta Dynax 5D It's called the Maxxum 5D in North America, the Dynax 5D elsewhere, but no matter which name it goes by, this is a great little digital SLR camera from Konica Minolta. It employs an exclusive built-in anti-shake technology, enabling blur-free shooting in just about any situation, even at slower shutter speeds. Its 2.5-inch LCD displays detailed, easy-to-read information about settings and exposure values. And it has a wide variety of customizable settings so you can control color balance, contrast, saturation and sharpness in every shot.
	Nikon D50 Compact and lightweight, the Nikon D50 can go anywhere you do, and its lithium-ion battery lets you shoot about 2,000 images before needing to be recharged. It has a high-performance 6.1-megapixel CCD and is compatible with Nikon's wide variety of high-quality Nikkor lenses. High-speed continuous shooting allows you to shoot for up to 137 uninterrupted frames, depending on the type of SD card used, and a new small-picture function lets you choose the resolution you want when saving each shot, maximizing your storage capability.