Digital cameras: take your best shot.(ELECTRONICS: GET THE PICTURE)(Buyers Guide)

Choosing a digital camera isn't just about getting the most megapixels for your money. Even basic cameras--those costing about $200--now offer all the resolution many photographers need. Indeed, most of the cameras we tested, including inexpensive ones, produced excellent or very good prints.

When you select a digital camera, then, megapixel count may be less important than other attributes, such as the ability to fit into a purse or to zoom in on distant subjects.

Whether you're shopping for your first digital or upgrading, you'll find a more diverse array of cameras than ever. You also see the following improvements:

Reduced shutter lag. One quirk common to compact digitals is the delay between the time you press the shutter button and when the camera takes the picture. Most digital cameras have a shutter lag of about 1 second, which is briefer than last year. Note that shutter lag isn't the same as next-shot delay which we report on in the Ratings. Next-shot delay is how long it takes the camera to process one shot before you can take another.

Lower weight. Plastic parts and smaller, lighter batteries are making cameras lighter. That's a welcome improvement for users of heavy cameras, such as SLRs or others with sizable lenses.

Better video capability. More cameras can now record video clips with sound at a respectable resolution, 640x480. Some can record clips as long as an hour, depending on the memory card's capacity. More models--especially those with powerful zoom lenses--have a stabilizer to minimize the effect of camera shake. Even so, quality is nowhere near that of a camcorder. For high-quality video recording, consider the latest camcorder Quick Picks on page 21.

Better subcompacts. Major improvements are being made to subcompacts, the tiny cameras that weigh just a few ounces. Some offer 7-megapixel resolution as well as controls to set either shutter speed or aperture. All offer video recording. A few with large LCDs do away with the viewfinder entirely But using the LCD can reduce battery life. A large LCD may also leave less surface on the camera's tiny shell for you to grip.