Digital cameras ratings are great tools for deciding which camera best fits your needs and budget. Digital camera reviews are often just the reviewer's opinion. But ratings consider all the specifications, features, how the camera was designed and test results. These facts are then analyzed and summarized to help the reader make an objective decision.

Before reading the ratings though, we must decide which type of camera fits our needs. The four main types of digital still cameras are:

• Ultra-Compact
• Compact
• Mid-Sized
• Digital SLR

Top Rated Digital Cameras

This summary of top rated cameras is grouped by type, but in no particular ranking order.

Ultra-Compact digital cameras are pocket-sized and weigh only a few ounces, making them the perfect go-anywhere camera. Rated from three to more than seven megapixels, they produce quality photos that can be enlarged to 8" X 10" or larger. Most include optical zoom and other features.

• Canon PowerShot S410, SD200, SD300, SD400 & SD500 Digital ELPH cameras
• Casio EXILIM EX-S100 and EX-Z50
• Fujifilm FinePix F410
• Konica Minolta DiMAGE X50 and G600
• Nikon Coolpix 3700 and S1
• Olympus Stylus 400 Digital, 500 Digital and Verve
• Pentax Optio S5i
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F88, DSC-L1, DSC-P200, DSC-T1, DSC-T7 and DSC-W1

Compact digital cameras are slightly larger but will still fit in a loose pocket or purse. Some are very inexpensive and make the perfect entry level camera. Three to seven megapixels and optical zooms are standard, with advanced features on some models.

• Canon PowerShot A400, A510, A520, S60 and S70
• Casio EXILIM EX-Z750
• Fujifilm FinePix A330, A345 and E550
• Kodak EasyShare C360, CX7430, DX6340, DX7440
• Nikon Coolpix 3200, 4600, 4800, 5600 and 7900
• Olympus Camedia D-540, D-580 and D-595
• Pentax Optio 30
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S60, DSC-W5 and DSC-W7

Mid-Sized digital cameras are for the true photo enthusiast. They are a cut above the compact digital cameras, but less expensive than digital SLR cameras that professional photographers require. SLR-style TTL, six megapixels or more, image stabilization, super zooms and other advanced features are typical.

• Canon PowerShot G6, Pro1, S2 IS and S70
• Casio EXILIM PRO EX-P600 and EX-P700
• Fujifilm FinePix S5100
• Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2, A200 and Z5
• Nikon Coolpix 8400, 8700 and 8800
• Olympus Camedia C-5060 Wide Zoom, C-7000 Zoom, C-7070 Wide Zoom, C-765 UltraZoom, C-770 UltraZoom and C-8080 Wide Zoom
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5 and DMC-FZ20
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F828, DSC-H1 and DSC-V3

Digital SLR Cameras offer just about anything the serious photographer could want or need. High quality optics in interchangeable lenses, top rated sensors up to 16 plus megapixels, and advanced professional focus and exposure controls make these cameras a photographer's dream come true.

• Canon EOS 20D, EOS 300D Digital Rebel, EOS 350D Digital Rebel XT, EOS-1D Mark II Pro and EOS-1Ds Mark II Pro
• Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro
• Konica Minolta MAXXUM 7D
• Nikon D50, D70, D70s, D2x Professional and D2h High Speed Professional
• Olympus E-1 and E-300 EVOLT
• Pentax *ist D and *ist DS

Of the hundreds of digital cameras on the market, these rated at the top of their categories. Each camera has unique features, but all are best digital camera values.

Digital cameras information from A to Z: camera types & features, how they work, accessories, photo printers, comparisons and more - plus digital photo processing tips and info at A-Z Digital Cameras.com, Your Complete A-Z Resource for Digital Cameras, Accessories and Information.

This article may be re-printed in its entirety, with no changes and this resource box included.� 2005 A-Z Digital Cameras All rights reserved

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