Ready to purchase a new point and shoot digital camera but not sure exactly what is the best choice for you? The following are some helpful hints to help make the decision an easier one and your picture taking experience more rewarding.

1. Determine how much money you want to spend. Setting a budget, or at least a budget range, will help you avoid cameras that you could never afford. You can more easily target which models are affordable for you.

2. Buy the camera with the highest resolution you can afford, at least 2 to 3 megapixels (2 million to 3 million pixels), if possible. Figure out what your photo printing needs are. For casual use and simply sharing 4x6 vacation photos with family, a basic 2-megapixel model is perfectly fine. If you plan to make larger prints, and make them frequently, you will need more megapixels.

3. Carefully consider what you will usually be photographing. Is it family pictures of the kids playing? Will you be traveling often, and shooting landscapes? Look for cameras that have the best features for your needs. For instance, if you typically shoot sports and action, find a camera that can shoot at high speeds.

4. How experinced are you? If you are a beginner, look for models that seem easy to use. Go to the stores and handle the cameras personally. Find a camera that is as automated for things like flash, aperture, and so on. If you are more experienced, you will want a camera that gives the user more control.

5. Look for a 100 percent glass lens as opposed to a plastic one.

6. Buy a camera with as much RAM as you can afford. More RAM means the camera can store more pictures, so you won't need to download or erase them as often. How do you plan to store your images? If you have a computer with very little memory available and no CD burner, I don't recommend getting that hot, cool 7-megapixel camera even if your budget allows it. The images will be too large to store. If you do have a way to convert images to CDs or have a huge hard drive, go for it.

7. Expect zoom to be the feature you will use most. Compare optical, as opposed to digital, zoom capabilities. Will you be shooting a lot of close-ups, or frequently taking photos from a distance? Find a camera with a powerful optical zoom, certainly at least 3x. I have a camera that has 10 optical zoom and have been delighted with some impressive shots taken at quite a distance.

8. Compare flash modes, if any.

9. Investigate viewfinders: Look for an optical (through-the-lens) viewfinder as well as an LCD display.

10. Consider autofocus and macro features, shutter-release lag times, and bundled software.

11. Compare additional features you might want: interchangeable lenses, steady-shot, burst mode, auto exposure, automatic white balance, voice memo, variable shutter speeds, manual focus and self-timer.

12. Compare removable media of various types (if you need more storage space for your photos). Do you already have devices that use one type of memory card? If your digital camcorder and PDA all use the Secure Digital memory card, this may be a major deciding factor when purchasing a digital camera. Why spend so much money on multiple styles of memory card when you can just use the same card with all those gadgets?

13. Investigate batteries, chargers and battery-saving features.

14. Look for additional features you might need, such as USB or IEEE 1394 (FireWire) connectivity (to connect the camera to the appropriate port on your computer), a battery-time-remaining indicator, an AC adapter or video

15. Choose about two or three of the above features, and determine which is most important. This will help you quickly narrow down models to a few that are a good fit. For example, if you need to spend less than $300 but must print quality images, find the cameras offering the most megapixels for that amount.  Do some research online to compare the handful of models you have narrowed the field down to. Many sites offer digital camera searches by features, or offer side by side comparisons. Know all the specs and details before you even hit the stores (with pressure from salespeople, you may be tempted to buy prematurely).

16. Once you are down to two or three models you like, visit the stores and handle the cameras (even if you plan to buy online). Be sure to go to a store with working models, so you can play with the features and see the quality of the LCD screen. Pay attention to how it feels in your hands. Odds are, there won't be a memory card inside to allow you to take a picture, but pretend anyway to see if it's comfortable.

17. Now that you are down to one model, shop around for the best price. Look at the Sunday sales ads for electronics stores, and visit Web sites selling digital cameras. You could save even hundreds by shopping around for the best price. Of course, especially when it comes to the Web, cheapest is not always best. Do some homework on the seller as well.

18. Before you buy, decide if you want to purchase an optional warranty on the camera. Look at the vendor's site (see my link, "Digital Camera Manufacturers"), because the factory warranty may be sufficient.

19. Now you are ready to buy the camera and have fun!

20. But don't forget to save your receipt, the camera's box and all related warranty papers. Register your purchase with the manufacturer. This will all make it easier to make a warranty claim, as many camera-makers require documentation to honor a warranty.

Tips:

1. Be sure to select a model with a good LCD screen, even if you don't think you need one at all. At the store, examine the screen in the light and be sure you can see the images well. Almost every camera has an LCD screen, so you shouldn't pay more to get it. But it's a good idea to be sure it's large, easy to see and shows good detail.

2. Determine what type of batteries the camera uses. If you are a frequent shooter and it takes AAA batteries, you will blow through them. A rechargable battery may be a better choice.

3. Ask friends and family what digital cameras they have, and what they like or don't like about theirs. This is one of the best ways to get real feedback on a model.