Select the right type. If pocketability is a priority, get a lightweight subcompact. A few offer advantages such as a zoom greater than 3x. They're not for serious shutterbugs, but they're far more capable than a camera phone. If you want better image quality or more control over images, get a compact. More compacts than subcompacts in our point-and-shoot camera comparison had very good image quality, and more offer zooms greater than 3x (some with wide- angle capability) or manual controls. If zoom is a priority, get a superzoom. They're bulkier than other point-and-shoots but have at least 10x zoom; some newer models go up to 18x or even 20x. A number of superzooms also include wide-angle capability, for shooting landscapes and group portraits.

Match performance to your needs. Image quality is a camera's most important performance attribute. Differences in sharpness are what's most noticeable among models of varying scores in the point-and-shoot camera comparison. Those differences are less evident if you mostly print 4x6s rather than larger prints. If you often take action shots, narrow the field to models with excellent or very good first-shot delay and next-shot delay scores. If you often shoot in low-light situations without a flash, look for the highest setting in the Ratings (available to subscribers) column labeled "Max. ISO with best quality." For landscapes, look for both wide-angle capability and excellent or very good dynamic range. Battery life is not a key buying concern in point-and-shoots; all models in our point-and-shoot camera comparison tests were either good or very good, typically delivering at least 200 shots per charge.

Consider what you'll print. If you shoot mainly 4x6s and rarely crop pictures, most cameras that have 7 or 8 megapixels should be fine. But if you print poster-sized shots or do major cropping, an 8-, 10-, or even 12-megapixel model makes more sense.

Look for the features you need. If you like a lot of control over your images, look in our point-and-shoot camera comparison for a compact or superzoom with manual controls or RAW-file capability (a format that allows greater creative control than the usual JPEG file). A glass viewfinder is useful in bright light, when sunlight washes out the LCD. Other features that are handy but not essential include a large touch-screen LCD; slide-show features; lots of onboard memory; a hot shoe, which lets you attach an external flash; wireless capability; and GPS or GPS-like capability that can tag a photo with the location at which it was shot.

Consider video. You wouldn't buy a camera just for video recording, but having the capability built in lets you record a vacation or gathering on the spur of the moment, without a camcorder's freight or cost. You won't quite get a camcorder's video quality, either, but you will be able to record any scene up to the memory card's full capacity. With 4GB cards available for less than $50, it's feasible to record hours of video with a camera.

Consider the design. How a camera looks and feels is important. Most manufacturers now offer cameras in a variety of colors, with palettes ranging from subtle pastels to bold hues. But some brands have other, fairly consistent character traits that prevail across their product lines. For example, Sony excels in sleek, minimalist designs, particularly in its subcompacts, which have a nontelescoping lens on the front and a large touch screen on the back. Nothing protrudes from the front, and no buttons clutter the back.

Other brands are more pragmatic. Casio often adds helpful captions and sample photos to scene modes in its menus. Canon, Fujifilm, and Sony offer a swiveling LCD, for difficult-to-take shots. Some larger compacts and superzoom models include a steadying handgrip.

For more digital camera shopping advice, see our complete How to choose: digital camera and watch our video buyers guide to digital cameras.