Digital cameras.(RATINGS)(Buyers guide)

Almost all cameras in our Ratings took decent pictures. Your choice will depend a lot on whether you want small size or extra photographic power and flexibility. Compact cameras, too big for a pocket but small enough to fit easily in a bag, remain the best choice for most people, especially if your budget is tight.

A growing number of cameras now are subcompacts that fit in a pocket. They cost a bit more for the same capabilities and often come with compromises: shorter battery life, smaller controls, a narrower zoom range, and no viewfinder.

Small cameras continue to shrink and grow sleeker, and many have an LCD that dominates the back and has better screen resolution than ever. Some models have LCDs that swing out from the camera body and swivel, helping to compensate for the lack of a traditional viewfinder on many models.

Other features trickling down from large models to quite a few small ones include manual controls and the ability to save images in the RAW format, which stores the captured image before it has been processed and converted into a file by the camera's built-in software.

That improves your ability to control characteristics such as sharpness and color balance.

Consider a high-priced compact or SLR-like camera if you want lots of control over exposure and composition or you want to shoot close-ups of distant subjects. Spring for an SLR if you want those attributes and more, and can afford a variety of lenses.

Guide to the Ratings