If you are looking to buy your first digital camera that you may be wondering where to start owing the huge array of new technology about. After spending sizable amount of time at the mall and online research we finally figuring out which is the best digital camera for us. Drawing the money to pay for it out you decide on a top of the range 10 megapixel resolution, 12 times optical zoom compact camera with a two and a half inch LCD screen for excellent viewing of the images afterwards.

Unfortunately, technology doesn't ever stop for breath and your personal choice is no exception, so after months of searching you now have to have the latest version of the camera which has taken over the accolade.

We sigh because the manufacturer of this amazing gadget claims that this is the best digital camera yet out in the market. But this dilemma is very short lived because you promised yourself the best digital camera and that is what you are going to have.

Don't worry though if you are not sure what to do; just follow the guide below and you shouldn't go to far wrong. First off try and search out a model with a higher number of pixels, referred to megapixels; you ideally need over 5 although with today's cameras it would be hard to find one under that anyway.

If you are looking to print your photos then the more pixels you have the greater the image definition will be. Color depth and the ability to enlarge the image sometimes up to and beyond poster size are the two main reasons for higher megapixel cameras. LCD screens have over the years become much larger which means you can frame your shot easier and view the result with more ease than ever before. If you want to do some basic editing of the image after you have captured it then many digital cameras have some editing features to reduce red-eye and crop pieces out of the image for example.

The only downside to this great feature is it uses more battery power so always keep a fresh set with you at all times if you don't want to be caught out. More and more digital cameras are coming equipped with an optical zoom and this is the sort to try for even if it is only a three times power. However, the lower price range cameras rarely come with an optical zoom and where fitted, optical zooms range between 3x to 12x power. Images on these cameras are stored on small storage cards that can have a huge memory capacity but be sure to buy the right type.

Although there is quite a range of storage cards available. It normally boils down to one of four types: the newer XD cards from Olympus and Fuji, the SD, card, Sony's Memory Stick and the old but reliable Compact Flash. Try to obtain the largest memory you can for your camera and your budget. Prices for the large gigabyte cards now are almost the same price as one that was only 64mb only 2 or 3 years ago. After all is said and done, the best digital camera you choose should match your lifestyle as much as it should your pocket. If you enjoy taking shots with your new toy and use it regularly then that is all you can ask from a camera isn't it?