Shopping for a digital camera? Check our new Ratings first

Are you looking for a new camera for Father's Day, graduation, or summer fun? Be sure to check out our new, comprehensive digital camera Ratings, due to be published on our site in the next few days.

Here's some of what we found:

• With a basic camera, still image quality will cost you. For the best photos across the board, you'll need to pay $250 or more.
• Basic cameras' shake handling varies widely. But paying more doesn't necessarily get you better performance. For example, one subcompact, which has an Excellent score for shake handling, is more than half the price of a model that only has a Good score.
• Better video isn't always costly. Two subcompacts priced under $150 had very good standard definition video.
• On basic cameras, LCD quality could be better. But some models fared worse than others.

Here is a rundown on a few of our comprehensive new tests:

• More image quality tests. We shoot regular photos, based on handheld shots using natural light and flash, taken indoors and outdoors under a range of light conditions. We also test for how well a camera captures low-light and flash photos.
• Video quality. For the first time, we test both basic and advanced cameras' video quality, based on regular and low light video, plus audio quality and macro (close up) features.
• Shake handling. We test how well each model avoids blur, distortion, and color defects with handheld shots.
• LCD displays. We judge how images look on the display, when viewed under a number of lighting conditions.

To find out which models did well (and not so well) in these and other tests in our upcoming Ratings, be sure to check back here. In the meantime, check out our free Digital Camera Buying Guide.

—Terry Sullivan