Best digital photography camera

The next thing you'll want to look at is the zoom ratio and the focal lengths that the lens covers. Two cameras may each have a 5x zoom lens, but if the first covers a 24-120mm range and the second covers a 35-175mm range, the former will be better for wide-angle shots and the latter will have a bit of telephoto reach. I generally recommend that point-and-shoot users go for a camera with a lens that is at least 25mm wide, like the 25-100mm zoom used by the Fujifilm XQ2 . A wide lens allows for dynamic compositions, and gives you some leeway for setting up group shots. If you go for a compact with a short zoom lens like the XQ2, you can always do a little bit of cropping after the fact for shots that need it.

There are a few other things to consider. You'll want to get a model with a good-quality LCD, as it'll serve as your viewfinder. All but the lowest-end models now support image stabilization and HD video, but they are must-haves in today's world. If you think a point-and-shoot is the way to go, check out The Best Point-and-Shoot Cameras.

For Those Who Want to Get Close to the Action: Superzoom Cameras
Superzoom cameras come in two flavors—compact and standard. For the compact models, you'll basically want to handle your research just as you would a point-and-shoot. Models like the Canon SX710 HS offer a 30x zoom factor, but if you need something longer than that, a larger camera like the 65x Canon PowerShot SX60 HS is in order. Big superzooms often look like miniature D-SLRs, and generally include an electronic viewfinder in addition to the rear LCD.

One of the best models of this type we've seen actually has a short zoom for its class; the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 sports a 8.3x (24-200mm f/2.8) zoom lens, but its 1-inch image sensor is bigger than you'll find in standard long zooms. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 uses the same size image sensor, but features a longer 16x (25-400mm f/2.8-4) zoom, and Canon's G3 X goes further with a 1-inch sensor and a 25-600mm lens. The Olympus Stylus 1 sits in the middle of the FZ200 and RX10 in zoom range and sensor size; its 28-300mm f/2.8 lens is coupled with a 1/1.7-inch sensor, right in between the typical 1/2.3-inch that you'll find in most cameras and the 1-inch chip in the RX10.

When shopping for a model with an EVF, you'll want to pay attention to its clarity and size, as it is much easier to hold the camera steady at your eye than it is at arm's length. When you've zoomed all the way in—many models go beyond 1, 000mm—you'll need all the help you can get to grab a steady shot. The general rule of thumb is that you need a shutter speed of 1/1000 of a second to get a sharp photo at 1, 000mm, although good image stabilization will let you get away with longer speed. You'll still want to look for a model that does well at high ISO settings—the lenses on these cameras don't let in a ton of light when zoomed in all the way, so upping the ISO to 1600 or 3200 may be necessary to get a sharp telephoto shot in less-than-ideal light.

A large superzoom can be the perfect travel camera. It won't offer the image quality of an SLR, but it should beat smaller point-and-shoots and compact superzoom models on photo quality. Not having to carry extra lenses will cut the weight, and a lens with such a large zoom factor will ensure that you're always able to get your shot.

For Those Who Can Afford It: Premium Compacts
With smartphones eating into the lower end of the market to the point where a good, cheap compact camera is almost impossible to find, we've seen a new beast emerge. It used to be a rare occasion to see a compact camera sell for more than $500, but that's no longer the case. Sony rocked the world in 2012 with the original RX100 , a pocket-friendly cam with a 1-inch sensor that dwarfs the small image sensors found in most compact cameras. It's still on the market, selling for less than its original $650 price tag, and is still a solid choice if you're looking for a good camera that won't break the bank. Its successors, including our current favorite premium compact RX100 III and the RX100 IV , have continued to push the limits of how much a pocket camera can do, and how much one can cost.