Feature: Camera Shopping for the Holidays

It's that time of year again. You know, "Jingle Bells" and all that jazz--if I can mix musical metaphors, so to speak. And if I know my Digital Focus readers like I think I do, then there's one burning question on all your minds: What can I buy Dave for the holidays?

It's sweet of you, really, but save your money. Unless you can somehow arrange an all-expenses-paid Caribbean scuba diving vacation for me, let's concentrate on you and your friends. What digital camera holiday treats should you be looking for this year?

Thinking About Cameras

Have a hankering for a new digital camera? This is the best year in the history of digital imaging to be shopping (or begging) for a new model. Across the board, cameras are better and more affordable than ever.

Want small and light? Try the Casio Exilim series on for size. The EX-S3 is a 4-megapixel, $350 model so thin that--excluding the lens--it's about as thick as about four credit cards sandwiched together. I can't think of a smaller, lighter, less obtrusive camera. Heck, it's a little expensive for a stocking stuffer, but it'll fit in one like a champ. (You can find it for about $300 at the PCWorld.com Product Finder.)

Then there are budget cameras--models like Kodak's EasyShare CX6200, which runs less than $100, and Hewlett-Packard's PhotoSmart 435, which costs about $150. The EasyShare CX6200 is a solid 2-megapixel camera, good for digital snapshots; the PhotoSmart 435 captures 3 megapixels, adequate for 8-by-10 prints. These are great models to introduce someone to the world of digital photography.

Big, Beefy Cameras

If you want a more powerful camera, consider the $699 Olympus Camedia C-5060, one of the best 5-megapixel cameras ever made. It has a 4X optical zoom that starts much wider than most comparable digital cameras. It's ideal for indoor and landscape photography, as well as professional applications like real estate; and it features dual memory card slots (CompactFlash and XD Picture Card).

The 5-megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F717 is a close competitor. It packs a 5X optical zoom, multiple metering options, infrared night photography, and a dozen other features. You can even edit video clips while they're still in the camera! At press time, I found the Cyber-shot DSC-F717 for around $600 at our Product Finder.

While I really like the Cyber-shot DSC-F717, it's about to be overshadowed by the soon-to-be-released Cyber-shot DSC-F828. It's so new that I haven't held it in my hands yet, but based on features alone I'm almost ready to marry it. This camera boasts a 7X optical zoom lens, an 8-megapixel sensor, and a slew of automatic and programmed exposure modes that make my own Nikon D100 already feel dated. Downside? It'll cost $1200, so if you want to put one under the tree, start saving now. You can find a thorough early look at the Cyber-shot DSC-F828 at the Digital Photography Review.

Do Your Homework

To learn more about your options, check out "Digital Cameras: Impress With Pixels," the current PCWorld.com digital camera roundup.

No matter what camera you're interested in, I suggest running it through our Product Finder. I'm not saying that just because my editor says I have to--it's a great way to find the best price on hardware and software.

I hope that look at digital cameras has helped get you into the holiday spirit. Next week I'll wrap up our shopping spree with a look at some digital photography accessories, software, and books.