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Decent 4-5megapixels point-and-shoot digital cameras start from about £150, while enthusiasts looking for flexibility can buy a new fully featured digital SLR for under £600.

In general, the higher the megapixel count of a digital camera’s sensor – and the bigger the sensor’s physical size – the more detailed the images. Four to 5megapixels is good for 8 x 10in or larger prints. The quoted ‘effective’ pixels
number is the camera’s true megapixel resolution.

Forget digital zoom and concentrate on the optical zoom, which zooms in on the subject and produces a better-quality image. Digital zooms simply crop into the centre of the picture.

Also be wary of interpolation – a technique that mathematically inserts new pixels in between existing ones. It can result in blurry pictures.

The minimum optical zoom is typically 3x; about 35-105mm. If buying an SLR, multiply a lens size by 1.6 to get its true focal length, so a 100mm lens is 160mm when put on a digital body.

Look at the selection of automatic or preset picture modes for standard shots, portraits, night shots and landscapes, plus macro modes for close-up photography.

Movie modes aren’t as good as even a basic camcorder, but are fine for short movie clips to play on your PC. Check how many frames per second (fps) they offer – most are 15fps, but some are 30fps, which means the video will be smoother.

Experienced photographers will want manual controls for aperture and shutter priority, white balance and focusing. Good cameras should also provide quick and easy access to image quality, resolution and format settings.

Built-in flashes are fine for everyday shots, and many include a red-eye reduction mode, but cameras with a hot-shoe for external flashes will allow much greater illumination and control over lighting.

Check start-up time because cheaper models are likely to take longer to be ready from switch-on. And check shutter lag, as there may be a delay between pressing the button and taking the photo.

Many models use NiMH (nickel-metal hydride) rechargeable batteries, but lithium batteries typically last longer. Also, smaller cameras often mean smaller capacity batteries.

Finally, remember digicams must write the image onto flash media before taking the next shot, and the better quality the card, the faster this will happen.

Digital Cameras - recommended models

Compact
Canon Powershot A520
Perfect for those who want a versatile and easy-to-use digicam without spending a fortune
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Konica Minolta Dimage X1
8megapixels, image stabilisation and a stylish and compact design, but indoor shots can be noisy
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Prosumer
Fujifilm Finepix S9500 Zoom
A serious alternative to entry-level digital SLRs
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Fujifilm Finepix S7000
Great design and loaded with features, this camera performs well and is a delight to use
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Canon Powershot Pro1
A well-designed camera for the serious user who wants stunning photos
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Nikon Coolpix 8700
Features an impressive 280mm telephoto lens and 30fps (frames per second) movies
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Digital SLR 
Canon EOS 350D
This is a hugely capable digital SLR camera that won’t disappoint

Olympus E-500
A decent upgrade of the E-300 that easy to operate, has plenty of features and produces good quality images
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Kinoca Minolta Dynax 5D
A very usable camera, although it’s a little weighty. Anti-shake mechanism is excellent

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