In 2011, there’s no excuse for people shopping locally.  Unless you live in one of the ten biggest cities on the planet, the chances are that your local electronics store has prices that can be very easily beaten.  In fact, if manufacturers and the market allowed it, they’d probably be selling goods above the recommended retail price in the effort to make ends meet when faced with competition from global internet marketing.

It always makes sense to shop first on the internet.  There are a couple of reasons for this.  First, internet retailers don’t have to carry huge amounts of physical inventory.  If you walk into a store ask for something they’re advertising only to be told it’s out of stock you’re going to be annoyed.  And if it happens repeatedly, you’re going to stop shopping there.  But the internet retailer probably doesn’t carry any stock at all.  When you order from him, he simply takes your money and arranges for the item to be shipped to you from the distributor’s nearest warehouse, all without laying out any investment beyond the cost of his web site and office.  So he doesn’t have all those overheads of the local store.

The second reason to buy on the internet is because of the nature of global competition.  The cyber shopper doesn’t get tired tramping from shop to shop comparing prices, he can do it in minutes from the comfort of his home and because of this will make many more price comparisons than the mall shopper.  He’ll actually find the lowest price in the country, or even the world.  This is a strong incentive for internet retailers to keep their prices low, and they’re constantly checking the competition to ensure that they’re either the lowest, or very close to it.  Because of this, it really doesn’t matter where on the internet you buy, because the prices are likely to be all pretty much the same.  Where you can save is by checking very carefully what delivery costs and how long the waiting time is.

But if you’re after a serious bargain, if you want a digital camera, especially a more advanced model, at a very good price, spare a thought for the second hand dealers.  You don’t have to leave the internet, there are plenty of them around offering reconditioned cameras, often with a warranty and often at bargain price.  You’re not going to get the latest models, but unless you’re a gadget fashionista, that’s not going to bother you too much.

And that, in a nutshell, is the very best way to get a digital camera you can’t afford at a price that you can.

The GE A1250 isn’t the most compact of compacts, but it will fit in a largish pocket.  And there’s plenty of compensation for the chubby body in this camera.  First of all, it produces really sharp images from its 12.2 megapixel sensor, one of the biggest at this price range.  It’s also fast and responsive to use.  This one’s hard to beat at the price, although shooters used to modern LCD displays might find the one on the GE A1250 a bit small.

Fuji’s FinePix Z20fd is another compact that’s good value for under a hundred dollars, although the garish colours may be off-putting for some, unless you can find it in black.  Fuji has always performed well at the bottom end of the camera market and this model shows it knows its business.  The camera offers a decent range of features which include a 2.5 inch LCD, a 10 megapixel senso and a 3x optical zoom.

HP has produced a cheapie that’s unique in this price range: the CW450t’s LCD is only 2.7 inches, but it’s a touch screen which makes all the difference.  That’s an indicator of the quality in this brilliant little camera which boasts 12.2 megapixels and a 4x optical zoom.  This is a beginner’s camera that really outperforms its promise with good colours and sharp images.  The camera is also designed for one-hand operation which is a definite bonus in any compact.  It’s hard to go past this in terms of value for money.

Kodak has finally got the hang of making low-end digital compacts with its excellent EasyShare C195.  This point and shoot has a 14.1 megapixel sensor, a 5x optical zoom and a 3 inch LCD display.  For under a hundred dollars that’s a pretty good feature set.  It’s also has the ability to tag photos and upload them automatically to email or social networking sites.  Battery time isn’t a problem here either, as the EasyShare runs on two AA batteries which are easily replaced.  Like a lot of cameras in this price range, it comes in a number bright colours.

The Casio Exilim EX-Z16 is a camera for the most basic or beginner photographer.  It has a 12.1 megapixel sensor, a 3x optical zoom and a 2.7 inch display.  It’s cheap and cheerful and easy to use, but it does have one thing going for it: it takes excellent pictures.  Not bad at this price.

There are any number of under $100 digital compacts, but these are the ones to beat at this price.

The Canon PowerShot S95 has been consistently ranked as the best compact digital under four hundred dollars.  It’s noted for its high quality pictures and its impressive low light performance.  That makes it great for social occasions when you can quietly click away without the distraction of an annoying flash.  It’s got an advanced Smart Auto focus system and can be used in a fully manual mode.  This is one that has consistently had the critics smiling.

Also a regular winner in the under four hundred dollar range is the very popular Sony Cybershot DSC-H55.  Reviewers praise this for its big 14.1 megapixel sensor and Sony’s renowned BIONZ image processor which makes this camera lighting fast.  It’s also got a full range of Sony’s advanced features which make shooting easy.  It’s also got a 10x optical zoom and a wide angle lens.  This camera is regularly rated as one of the best buys around.

Still in the under four hundred dollar category, Nikon’s Coolpix P7000 is frequently cited as one of the best point and shoot cameras on the market.  Nikon has designed it to be compact and portable but built in plenty of features to ensure that you can get really excellent results in a variety of conditions.  And if you want to do more than just point and shoot, there’s a full manual override function which lets you shoot exactly the picture you want.  And one other great feature here is the ability to use an external flash to get the lighting just right.

Samsung has one of the best reviewed cameras around with its TL500.  The specifications here look fairly ordinary, 10 megapixels, a 24mm lens and 3x optical zoom.  But what makes this Samsung gem stand out from the crowd is its amazing low light capability.  That 24mm lens is matched with a f1.8 aperture which really comes into its own when you don’t want to use a flash.  Reviewers have constantly praised the TL500 as the best camera for photographers who want to be able to shoot discreetly in intimate situations with little light.

Another compact which has won consistently good reviews is the Olympus 720SW.  This is a great go-anywhere camera.  It’s waterproof and shockproof, pocket sized and easy to use.  This is an excellent pocket camera for the serious photographer who wants a second camera.  It regularly wins points for simple operation and the ease with which you can go from playback to shutter mode.  It’s also extremely rugged.

Last but not least among reviewers’ current favourites is the tiny Panasonic DMC TZ20.  This little gem has a 16x zoom and can record HD video with stereo sound.  Not your average compact camera and it shows in consistently good reviews.

Canon leads the pack with its EOS 5D Mark II.  This is serious camera for the serious photographer.  It gives excellent picture quality when teamed with the right lens and a comfortable and hassle-free shooting experience.  It’s a worthy successor to Canon’s venerable 5D.

Nikon’s D7000 is also pretty close to the top drawer of digital cameras.  It’s an excellent DSLR for experienced photographers who will find that it delivers perfect shots and extremely ergonomic operation.  The viewfinder here is particularly excellent.  The Canon 5D Mark II probably has a slight edge on it, but it is also considerably more expensive.

For the professional or serious amateur, it’s hard to go past both of these cameras.  Serious shooters tend to be either Nikon or Canon fans and their familiarity with one or the other brand will probably be the deciding factor in their choice here (apart from the price).  But what about the other end of the market?  What are the top rated digital cameras for lesser mortals?  Once again, Canon and Nikon have pretty much got it sewn up.

Canon’s PowerShot S95 is a real gem among compact cameras.  It’s well designed and relatively compact and takes great photographs.  Despite its compact profile, this is a serious camera which is capable of great results, particularly when the shooter takes advantage of the full set of manual controls.  That’s the reason it won the hearts of a lot of professional photographers when it was released.  It’s a great second camera for the professional and a real step-up in quality for amateurs who have used less advanced compacts.

Nikon’s Coolpix S8100 is the company’s best entry in the compact field.  It’s around a hundred bucks cheaper than the PowerShot but packs enough features to make it good value for money.  Nikon learnt the lesson of the earlier S8000, which was a little on the mediocre side, to produce this new model which takes great shots and is easy and comfortable to use.  It’s only drawback is a lack of manual control, but most people buying at this price range are not going to be concerned about that.

Olympus is another manufacturer with a long tradition and just slips into this list with its E-PL2.  This is a little pricier than either the Nikon Coolpix or the Canon PowerShot, but it’s high performance and advanced features justify the price in most areas.  Flexibility is the name of the game here, with its customisable interface and interchangeable lens system.

There are other cameras which are good value for money, but these five really stand out from the crowd.

There’s one very important point to consider from the start when you set out buying digital camera accessories.   Unless you’re a professional photographer, you have probably bought your camera intending it to be as portable as possible.  That, after all, is the point of digital cameras, especially compacts, for the amateur photographer.  You want something that you can slip in a pocket or tuck into the corner of a bag or briefcase.  Loading yourself down with a lot of bulky accessories can soon mean you are toting the equivalent of a full photographer’s kit around with you.  This defeats the purpose of the compact go-anywhere camera and will soon discourage you from using it except on a serious photographic expedition.

There are, however, a few accessories which are essential.  First is a carrying case.  You may have one supplied with your camera or you may not, but if not you should buy one as soon as possible.  Many modern cameras are so small that you can carry them anywhere and rugged enough to take the occasional knock, but that doesn’t mean they’re not vulnerable to being dropped or scratched or getting wet.  So protect your investment, however small it may be, with a case or carry bag that will offer some protection and also make it easier to carry.  With smaller models a case with a loop that can hang on a belt is a good idea.  Most of these also come with a detachable strap so that you can carry it around your neck or on your shoulder when that’s more convenient.

You should also immediately buy a spare battery and a second memory card.  The two most common frustrations for the casual photographer are running out of power and running out of storage.  Be prepared!

The final essential accessory for any digital camera is a tripod.  Not a classic tall tripod, but a small and flexible one just a few centimetres high which will also fit easily into your pocket or camera bag.  This will screw into the bottom of your camera and allow it to stand on any stable surface.  A tripod like this can be worth its weight in gold if you’re shooting in low light and taking longer exposures as it keeps the camera still.  And while you’re at it, a remote trigger is a good idea to go with it, so you don’t jar the camera when releasing the shutter.

With these essentials, you’re set to get the best out of your digital camera.

The camera starts with a Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens which gives high speed, high resolutions and excellent low light response.  Combined with the Exmor R CMOS 16.2 megapixel sensor, this gives brilliant clarity and much less graininess.  In combination with Sony’s excellent BIONZ image processor, the Exmor R sensor is able to process image stability, an excellent Twilight mode and high quality video.  Full 16.2 megapixel resolution pictures can be captured at up to ten frames per second to ensure catching the crucial shot in a fast action sequence.  The mechanical shutter system ensures that distortion is minimised with continuous capture.

This brilliant little compact also has a huge 3.5 inch Organic LED touch screen which is vivid and clear even in any lighting conditions which takes the guesswork out of photography by ensuring that you always see exactly what the camera is capturing.  This is particularly useful for manual focusing, although with the brilliant autofocus, which works down to one centimetre distance in wide angle mode or fifty centimetres in telephoto, you’re hardly ever going to need that.  The touch screen allows easy autofocus point selection.  The nine-spot autofocus system includes face detection which can identify up to eight individual faces and distinguish between adults and children.  This also drives smile shutter and blink detection features.

The DSC-TX100V has brilliant video capability, capturing 1080p HD video at up to 60 frames per second.  This is the first compact digital which can shoot full HD to produce video which can be played back virtually distortion-free on a high definition television.

Sony has greatly improved on its Sweep Panorama function.  This camera can capture a series of photographs then composite them automatically when the lens is swept across the scene.  This produces panoramas up to an angle of 238 degrees.  It also has a single-lens 3D system which

The excellent flash has red-eye reduction and a range of up to 5.1 metres.  Other features include an adjustable delay time and a backlight correction system to control lighting contrast problems and a manual override for the nine-setting white balance system.

The new Sony Cybershot DSC-TX100V is sturdily built and rugged without sacrificing its cosmetic good looks.  This camera is smaller than a cigarette case, light enough to carry comfortably in a shirt pocket and comes in a range of stylish colours, but don’t be fooled into thinking it’s a trendy compact more for display than displaying.  The sleek good looks hide a thoroughly powerful camera which takes excellent photographs, is easy to operate, while providing adequate manual control when needed, and breaks considerable new ground in its high speed, high definition video capability.

There are cheaper cameras with less features, and there are much more expensive cameras with greater photographic possibilities, but the digital compact market is all about a balance between the two and that’s what Sony has achieved in this stylish compact.

This is absolutely the best way to learn some photography skills and the sooner kids picks up a camera and starts shooting, the sooner they’re going to be taking good pictures.  There are plenty of inexpensive cameras designed especially for kids on the market today and it’s easy to find a suitable one.  If your child is a little older or seems to have a serious interest in photography, then it may be worth buying one of the sturdier models of digital camera around and sparing them the limitation of these cameras made especially for kids because most of them are pretty poor in quality.

One of the most important things about a camera for kids is that it encourages creativity.  The camera is something that a kid can carry with them everywhere they go and gives them a way to interpret the world around them.  The more kids can be encouraged to make their own pictures of the world and communicate their own attitude to the things they see every day, the more they learn that life is not just about imitation.  Once they develop some confidence in their own ability to present their own images of the things and people and around them, they will quickly develop the skills to talk about and describe the world in their own personal terms.

If a child is showing a serious interest in the visual aspects of life and is always curious and giving ideas when you’re using your own camera, then it’s important to develop that interest by giving them the chance to choose their own photographic subjects and the way they shoot them.  And that’s not something they’re going to learn by you occasionally letting them take a shot with your camera and showing them exactly how to do it.  It’s important for the child to experiment.

But there’s one even more practical reason for your kid to have a camera.  There’s nothing more frustrating than being the only photographer in a family, especially if you’re away on a family holiday.  You come back from that fantastic place you’ve just visited with hundreds of photos of everyone enjoying themselves there.  Except you.  Because you’ve been stuck behind the camera the whole time.  Buy your kid a camera and pretty soon you’ll be appearing in all those family holiday shots yourself.

Digital cameras are all about compromise.  Buying one is a matter of making the best choice between the features available and the money you want to spend.  Sony have long led the pack with their Cybershot cameras which provide a huge range of features at a pretty broad range of prices.  Sony do well in positioning digital cameras in the market right at the point where features and price add up to a good buy and they’ve done this again with the Cybershot DSC-W350.

The DSC-W350 packs a pretty good range of features in an attractive and compact package at the magical price of $200.

This camera is lightweight and small enough to carry in most pockets, but feels robust and solidly built.  Despite its size, it is textured enough to feel secure in the hand without the feeling most cameras this size that you’ll drop them if you’re not careful.  It uses SD and SDHC cards for memory and these fit into the same hinged compartment which houses the battery.  The controls are simple and easy to use.  The power and shutter release buttons are on the top.  On the back, to the right of the display are a zoom rocker and a circular control pad as well as the playback, menu and delete buttons and these work together to navigate the on-screen.  The menu system is logical and easy to navigate.

It’s this simplicity that puts the W350 ahead of the pack.  This aimed at ordinary people who want a camera which can be used anywhere and everywhere and this Sony Cybershot certainly qualifies for that.  It’s not meant for the serious photographer but does offer an unusual range of manual control for this price range.  It’s simple to adjust ISO, light metering and exposure as well as white balance, autofocus targets and the Dynamic Range Optimisation system which lifts detail in shadows.  But if you want to make photography an even simpler process, there’s an Easy Mode which lets you take perfect point and click pictures under a wide variety of conditions.

The DSC-W350 takes surprisingly good photographs for a camera in this price range.  This is partly thanks to the very good Zeiss wide angle lens.  It has a 4x zoom which works well, with no distortion.  It also features optical and digital image stabilisation which functions very well for shake-free photographs.

This is an excellent camera for the ninety per cent of photographers who simply want to record events and share them with friends or family.  If you’re looking for a serious camera for art or professional work, you’ll want to look elsewhere, but as far as value for money goes it’s very hard to go past the Sony Cybershot DSC-W350.

First of all, know what you want a camera for.  Putting a little thought into this can make it much easier to whittle down the field and make your decision much easier.  In fact it’s not a bad idea to make a list of those features and then check them off one by one for every camera you look at to see how it shapes up.

So what are some of the questions you should be asking about the purpose of your camera?  If you’re like most people, you probably want to be able to take snapshots mainly for fun and sharing.  And sharing these days usually means digital transmission at fairly low resolution. So let’s look at the features you really need and a few other factors that affect your choice.

Most digital camera companies shout loudly about the number of megapixels in the sensors of their cameras.  But the truth is that you don’t need fifteen or even ten megapixels.  This is important only for high resolution photography that’s going to be used in fine printing or be blown up for large scale prints.

Zoom range can be pretty important for impromptu photographs if, for instance, you see something in the distance that you want to bring closer.  It’s important here to distinguish between optical zoom, which is magnifying your subject and digital zoom which is just making the pixels bigger.  Basically, anything you can do with an optical zoom can be done later on the computer when you’re editing your shots.  But for flexibility you should look for a minimum optical zoom of 5x.

Simplicity.  The chances are that if you’re reading an article like this you’re pretty unsophisticated when it comes to photography.  That’s fine, and modern digital cameras are designed to be simple to operate.  So you should make sure that the camera you choose has good automatic settings which let you take pictures without having to worry about the technical details.  Conversely, if you can imagine situations in which you would need more control, make sure that you can override the automatic settings.

There are literally hundreds of extra features offered by various digital cameras, and it’s unlikely you’re going to use many or even any of them, so make sure you’re not paying for features you don’t need.  Macro settings are a good example of this.

Lastly and probably most important is the question of price.  Before you sit down to make your choice, make a firm decision about how much you can afford to spend.  Without this it’s too easy to be seduced by advertising and sales hype into buying a camera that’s way beyond your price range.

Samsung has a serious entry in this list with the brand new TL500.  It boasts an advanced CCD sensor, is RAW capable and has an excellent lens.  This is slightly bigger than pocket size, but is excellent for low light photography.

Also excellent for low light situations is Canon’s very reliable PowerShot SX230.  This produces vivid, sharp images and has brilliant colour reproduction.  It also features

Samsung’s older NX-10 shouldn’t be overlooked among the current top ten.  With 14.6 megapixels and most of the features usually only found on an SLR camera, this is a very good buy.

Panasonic has an entry in this list too, with the Lumix ZR3.  This is an amazingly compact camera which packs a lot of punch with its 14.1 megapixel sensor and brilliant 25mm Leica lens.  It’s also worth noting that, despite its size, this nifty little Panasonic also has excellent video recording.

The new Nikon Coolpix P500 is also great value with a 36x wide-angle optical zoom.  However this otherwise excellent camera lacks image rotation and does not export in RAW format.

Canon’s also got you covered if you’re thinking of moving up to an SLR.  Best value in their digital SLR range is the Rebel XS 10.  This is not a high megapixel camera but is excellent value.  For most amateur photographers this is more than adequate.

If you’ve already cut your teeth on an SLR and want to tackle something more serious, there’s also Canon’s excellent EOS 60D.  This has an 18 megapixel sensor and will be a perfect solution for anyone but the most demanding professional.

Olympus is a brand which should never be overlooked and there’s certainly room on this list for the PEN E-PL1 Micro.  This is a tiny DSLR camera with a 12.3 megapixel sensor and an amazing range of features.

The Olympus SP 800UZ is also a contender with its 30x wide-angle optical zoom and a three inch display that’s very easy to see under all lighting conditions.

The nine cameras above are all excellent in their own right.  Each of them has its own strengths and weaknesses, and it’s important for the buyer to decide exactly what he or she needs in a camera before making a choice.

But when it comes to flexible and cameras which have a wide range of features and are simple to use, it’s Sony that has been leading the field in digital cameras for the past few years and.  For quality, value and features, it’s hard to go past their new Cybershot DSC-W370, which comes with a range of innovations not the least is the Sweep Panorama feature for assembling panoramic shots.  This 14 megapixel compact has a huge 14 megapixel sensor.  For sheer versatility and good value, it’s hard to beat.