There are quite a few types of still cameras on the market.   It can be a bit daunting when looking to purchase a camera. Which one is right for you?  I’ll break down the basics and let you decide.  These digital cameras are listed in order of cheapest to most expensive.

**This post was last updated on November 10, 2011**

Digital Cameras

Point & Shoot / Compact Digital

Price: $100-$500

Popular Models: Nikon Coolpix, Canon Elph

Pros: Cheap, small, convenient
Cons: Generally lower quality, limited features

Advanced Digital Camera

Price: $350-$1000

Varieties: ACIL (Advanced Camera with Interchangeable Lenses)

Popular Models: Nikon 1, Canon G12

Pros: Small, moderate price, near pro features
Cons: Better quality, but not as good as a DSLR, fairly expensive

DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex)

Price: $600-$6000

Varieties: APS size sensor, Full Frame sensor

Popular Models: Canon 7D, Canon 5D Mark III

Pros: Best quality image, manual controls
Cons: Large size, cumbersome, more expensive

Other Interesting Models

Lomography Cameras (All Plastic Cameras)

Price: $30-$60, plus optional accessories

Popular Models: Holga or Dianne

Growing in popularity, this film camera is simple and can be a lot of fun or very frustrating, depending on who you ask.

Light Field Camera

Price: $399/$499

Model: Lytro

This new camera uses a new concept in photography.  All focus is determined after the image has been captured through its proprietary software.

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