No doubt this is the hardest question to answer, as every manufacturer makes their camera's look like the best thing ever made.

But that's where this guide can help, but information can only go so far, however at least you will have an informed decision.

I'll cover the common pitfalls and myths, and what to look out for, even when the description of the camera sounds very good.

The purpose of this guide is to better understand what's behind the technology of a digital camera, and come to terms with the jargon used. This really helps when you have a look at that list of Specifiations that doesn't seem to make any sense.

Once you have this knowledge, then the best way to use it is by reading reviews at major websites. A reviewed camera is the most reliable way to find out what a camera is really like without buying it, but it's hard to understand what they are on about if you don't have this former knowledge.

With the information in this guide, you can at least get a shorter list of desirable cameras. Don't worry if this sounds daunting, you'll be there in no time!

Here is a quick list of what to look for:

1. Brand	Briefly, if it is a famous brand you are more likely to be happy with it. More info about brands here.
2. Lens	You can learn how to read the numbers written on lenses to find out what they mean. More
3. Megapixels	The word with the most hype! However bigger is not always better. Learn more about megapixels here.
4. Image Quality	This is very hard to tell without seeing actual photos but there is some information that can help guess. The first is look to see how big the sensor is (it will have this information in the Specifications). The bigger the better, if it is small and the camera has high megapixels, the quality will most likely be grainier. The image is also effected by the lens so it's good to learn about that too.
5. Battery Life	Usually not even thought about, but this should be a factor in your decision as short battery life could mean you miss out on a great shot while changing batteries. Also, more cameras are using their own type of battery packs, which means you can not buy them at any corner store. Something to consider...
6. Screen Size	Tthis can effect the price of camera so weigh up how important it is to have a big screen. Generally, the bigger the screen is the less features the camera will have keep the costs down. More advanced cameras don't have enormous screens.
7. Functionality	How versatile is the camera? Does it let you take control manually? Do you want just a basic point and shoot or something more? Do you want a big zoom?...
8. Price	Some cameras are better value than others. Set your price and compare what falls in to that range.
9. Memory	Digital Cameras use different type of memory cards, some are more expensive than others. There are also different speeds. Find out more here.