Another feature to consider carefully is an optical zoom range that's greater than the 3x found on most cameras. (A zoom lens's range is the ratio of its highest telephoto focal length to its lowest wide-angle length. For example, a zoom lens that's considered equivalent to a film camera's 35-mm to 105-mm lens has a range of 3x.)

Greater zoom means greater weight and bulk, though a few pricey compacts manage to squeeze 10x into a package just a few ounces heavier than many basic compacts and slightly larger than many subcompacts. Don't compromise price, size, and weight for a zoom range greater than 3x unless you often shoot distant subjects such as wildlife and sporting events or need a very-wide-angle lens for landscapes or group portraits.

A greater proportion of this year's compacts and subcompacts have a range above 3x, some as high as 5x, enough to make a distant figure fill the frame. SLR-like cameras typically have a 10x to 12x zoom range. As with an SLR, they allow precise zoom and focus control using a lens ring. An SLR's zoom range depends on the lens mounted on it; the typical kit lens sold with most models offers the equivalent of about 3x magnification, though upgraded kit lenses offer more.