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Before you buy a camera, point and shoot digital camera reviews can help you choose the features and benefits you need. Why buy stuff you don't understand? Let us point you in the right direction.

Point and Shoot Digital Camera Reviews

Before You Shop Digital Cameras

  • Ask yourself what you're going to use the camera for.
  • This is the first question a good photo retail salesperson will usually ask you when you're shopping for a digital camera and it's a good question to ask yourself first too.

    If you want to take pictures of birds then maybe a camera with a long optical zoom lens is good for you. If you want to photograph your daughter's soccer game, maybe a fast digital SLR is a better choice than a point-and-shoot model.

    If you plan to take it out to the clubs and capture fun pictures of your friends, maybe you want a slim and sexy camera model that can slide into your back pocket. The choice is yours.

  • Make sure you take it for a test drive in the store.
  • Buying a digital camera you haven't actually held in your hands is like buying a pair of shoes you haven't tried on – sometimes it can be the wrong fit. Playing with a digital camera in a photo store and comparing it to other models first hand is the only way to truly know which one is right one for you.
  • Visit the manufacturer's website.
  • There's usually a lot of good information on a manufacturer's website to help you get the most out of your digital camera. Along with highlighting a camera's specs and features, manufacturer's websites often include sample images, downloadable manuals, suggestions for photo accessories, and online tutorials from photography experts.
  • Listen to word of mouth
  • One of the best places to hear whether a digital camera is good or not is from your friends and family. Talk to someone you know who's actually tried out a particular digital camera and get their impressions. If possible, ask them if you can borrow their camera and shoot with it to get some real hands-on experience.
  • Read and compare reviews
  • There are more places to read digital camera reviews than you could possibly have time for. Some of our favorite online spots for camera reviews are CNET, Imaging Resource, and DP Review. In print, be sure and check out Popular Photography magazine, PC Magazine, and David Pogue's column in the New York Times.
Demystifying Digital has your Digital Camera reviews,HDTV Reviews, and answers to anything digital.