Top 10 Digital Cameras

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.

Top 5 Point-and-shoot Cameras:

1- 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.


2- 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.

3- 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.

4- 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.

5- 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 next
seriously responsive models.

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

6- 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.


7- 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.

8- 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.

9- 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.


10- 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.