One question that I get asked often by people is what type of camera he or she should buy. In most cases, the person is looking for a simple point and shoot rather than a DSLR. So I thought that I would share the advice that I usually give when asked that question.
It is important to figure out what features are important to you when picking out a camera. Do you want a camera that shoots video? Do you want a camera with touch screen controls? Do you ever want to use the camera in manual mode? Presumably, you are looking for a camera that has more options and features than the camera on your phone. Don't worry too much about the number of megapixels in the camera. Unless you are planning to print out poster size images or larger, 10-12 megapixels is more than enough for what you will need. I've printed out 16x20 prints from an 8 megapixel camera that look stunning.
There are hundreds of compact cameras out there, with new ones being released all the time, so I have 2 pieces of advice when trying to pick out a camera (both of which I followed when helping my children pick out cameras for themselves. First, read reviews on Amazon.com or DPReview.com. On Amazon, you'll see what other people have to say about the cameras, and on DPReview, you can read a professional's review of many camera models. Second, go to your local camera store or electronics store and get a hand's on feel for the camera. Reviews are great, but until you get a camera in your hands and see what it feels like, you won't know if you'll like handling that camera. Get a feel for the size and weight of that camera. Will you be comfortable carrying it around in situations where you'll want a camera.
Ultimately, the best camera is the one you have with you when you see something (or someone) you want to take a picture of.
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