Wide zoom range and manual controls:
How important?

Cameras meant for automatic point-and-shoot photos, with a 3x-zoom lens, will serve snapshooters as well as dedicated hobbyists much of the time. The full-featured cameras in the 6- to 10-megapixel range offer capabilities that more-dedicated photographers will want to have. Two of the more important capabilities are a zoom range of 5x to 12x or greater, which lets you bring distant outdoor subjects close and also lets you shoot candid portraits without getting right in your subject's face, and a full complement of manual controls that let you determine the shutter speed and lens opening. In addition to long zoom, a wider-angle minimum focal length (a film camera equivalent focal length of 28mm) can be quite useful for group portraits and landscapes. Some models include this wide-angle feature.

Compact/Subcompact Cameras		SLR-like Cameras		SLR Cameras
All around general snapshooter. Some models include advanced features. Typical optical zoom: 3x or 4x, although models are available with 5x, 7x, 12x as well as others.		Second camera for advanced hobbyists, sports and travel photographers. Typical optical zoom: 10x or 12x or greater.		Full featured, choice of many types of lenses. Typical optical zoom: Depends on which removable lens you use. Can also accept fixed focal-length (i.e. non-zoom) lenses.