If you are seeking a great compact digital camera, and feeling at a loss for all the choices, this information is for you personally. It's not so difficult to choose a great camera using the right kind of information.
Does Brand Matter?
Yes, brand matters. A business with a reputation for quality and reliability is more likely to give you a satisfactory product, one that meets your needs. Getting a decent "no name" product can be a very hit and miss process -- should you "miss," you've wasted your time and possibly your hard earned money.
This article concentrates on Canon cameras -- simply because I've had very positive knowledge about Canon products, those I own myself and people belonging to family members. My own Canon Powershot model is well-made, simple to use, produces good quality photos, and I've never had any trouble using the camera. All that results in a good reason to stick using what I know.
Lens Quality
For just about any camera, lens quality is the first element in determining display quality. Before purchasing my own Canon I read some very extensive technical reviews, and narrowed down my choice to two possible brands. I quickly looked at the big number of standardized test shots as part of that review, and also the quality of the Canon shots impressed me, confirming my knowledge about a previous Canon camera.
In my experience, Canon lenses produce the crisp color and well-defined detail that turns a great photo right into a "wow!" photo. Comparing photos from my Canon, along with a camera of a different brand, there wasn't any contest -- in color reproduction, focus, detail and overall impression the shots from the Canon were far superior.
Features
Canon cameras are designed with a fundamental group of technologies, from the smallest point-and-shoot model up to the more advanced SLR-types. You can expect to find a nice selection of features on every Canon camera without having to spend a fortune; should you just want a concise model you can still take good quality photos.
These technologies include things like
Optical image stabilization, which compensates for trembling camera.
Intelligent contrast correction and red-eye reduction lessen the need for editing.
Scene and face recognition technology **ist in improving exposure and white balance.
Face self-timer -- the timer goes off when you have moved in to the picture and it detects another face. (This can be a newer feature; double-check to ensure it's on the camera that interests you).
Optical Zoom -- preserves quality and resolution when zooming, instead of digital zoom. (Available zoom levels will be different in one model to a different.)
For simplicity of use and general setup I have found canon's models to become quite satisfactory; the controls are reasonably intuitive and there is a decent manual to describe more complex features. Use the manual for any camera you buy; if you do not you could miss out on half the characteristics!
canon digital camera models
Selecting a Specific Model
Having chosen a brandname (whether that's Canon or else you curently have a favorite brand), you can limit on the specific compact model. Do you want a totally automatic point and shoot camera? Or would you like the option for many manual settings, too? Would you like to keep it basic, or are you prepared to purchase extra "bells and whistles"? Choose the utmost you're willing to pay then apply in the models that fit in your range.
Here's a small tip. Most camera companies bring out new models frequently, with minimal changes between the new model and the previous version. With a lot of cameras on the market in the previous release the price may drop slightly, to your benefit if you do not need the "very latest" model.