The quality of the digital camera you choose depends on what you will be using the camera for. If you're just going to be shooting pictures of you kids birthday party or snap shots on your family vacation, then you probably do not have a need for a higher end model. But if you are a keen photographer, or want to take more detailed complex photographs, then you might want to consider higher end models which offers more manual settings and a higher mega pixel.

If you really want to learn photography, you will need a good reliable digital camera. The camera must be able to shoot in both fully manual and fully auto modes. Shutter speed, aperture, focus and white balance are just a few of the manual settings you will need to adjust on higher end digital or SLR cameras. If you buy a cheap camera with only auto features, don't expect to be able to create high quality photos. In terms of digital photography, you pay for what you get.

There are great lower end digital cameras on the market. All major manufactures such as Sony, Canon and Olympus all provide digital cameras for the average photographer. Fuji for example, Fuji released the FinePix 3.2MP Digital Camera this year. At less than $200, this camera provides great quality at a fraction of the cost of a higher end unit.

Of course if you are a more advanced photographer and need something a bit more high end, there are some great digital and SLR cameras available. Perhaps the greatest surprise of 2004, was the Digital Rebel from Canon. Equipped dozens of EF lenses, fully manual settings and boasting a 6 mega pixel resolution, the Rebel is a great starter camera for the photography enthusiast.

So before you go out and buy your new digital camera, ask yourself what you will be using it for. If you're just going to use it for "point and shoot," you likely have no need for a high end unit that has 8 mega pixels and a slew of manual functions. There is a wide range of cameras out there that meet every ones needs. With a bit of research and patience, you will find the perfect digital camera.