You already know what kind of pictures you want to take: Maybe you’re in charge of family snapshots, or perhaps you dream about getting a perfect shot of that rare blue swallow. You also know your budget limitations. 
The cameras featured here are grouped into three categories, each aimed at a different type of photographer. In our opinion, all are top of their class, but because of their subtle differences you might find that one suits your needs better than another.
Shop around for the best deal. Your local camera shop might offer you a discount, and big retailers like Game and Makro often have specials on digital cameras. 
We checked the prices on www.sacamera.co.za – they were correct at the time of publication.

For (very) happy snappers

“Say cheeeese…”You’re the kind of person who pops up at picnic sites, scenic beaches and mountain pass lookouts for the obligatory family holiday snapshots.
You want a camera small enough to slip into a jacket pocket and basic enough to just
switch on and shoot. But you also want the picture to be sharp enough to send to go!
for our letters pages. The good news is that compact cameras are getting better and
better. Here are four that set the standard in this category where portability is everything.

Canon Powershot a720Is
The all-rounder
This camera might look as if it was designed by a team of accountants, but it’s packed with features, including a versatile zoom lens (handy for the school concert) and a variety of scene modes. It’s ridiculously easy to use, and the price is good too.
We like: It’s the Corolla of the camera world. It takes good pictures with the least amount of fuss.
We don’t like: It doesn’t seem very sturdy. You’ll have to look after this camera if you want it to last.
Price: R2460.
Sensor: 8 megapixels.
Lens: Canon 6x zoom with optical image stabiliser.
Powered by: Two AA batteries.
Go! says: Canon has a knack for turning out affordable cameras without skimping on image quality, and this one is no exception. You won’t be sorry you bought it.

Olympus MJU Stylus 850SW
Party animal
Unlike Herschelle Gibbs, you can take this camera anywhere. It’s waterproof, dustproof, shockproof… Why, you can even hide it away next to the frozen boerewors in your cooler bag, because it’s freezeproof too. It costs more than the Canon A720IS and it doesn’t have as powerful a zoom lens, but it has an enjoyment factor that is hard to beat.
    There’s something strangely satisfying about running into the sea with a camera in hand, or taking a photo from mud-puddle level. In short: It’s seriously party proof (It’s okay, Herschelle, you can come back now. – Ed.)
We like: It’s really tough. You can take it snorkelling, skiing, surfing, kloofing…
We don’t like: Ummm…
Price: R3600.
Sensor: 8 megapixels.
Lens: Olympus 3x zoom.
Powered by: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
Go! says: Drop it in the sand on the beach and rinse it off under a tap – you’ll be surprised at how much fun it is to use.

Fujifilm Finepix F31FD
The purist’s choice
The hot topic in photography circles these days is “low light performance”. This refers to the ability of a camera to take good pictures without a flash in dim light.
Most compact cameras’ sensors are tiny, so they’re pretty useless at absorbing light. Photos not taken in bright sunlight tend to be speckled (or “noisy” in digital speak).
Fujifilm got around this problem by increasing the size of the sensor in this camera. You can take beautiful pictures in low light, without losing quality.
We like: You can take a group picture at dusk without blinding everyone with the flash.
We don’t like: The lens could have had a better zoom range.
Price? R2 900.
Sensor: 6.3 megapixels.
Lens: Fujinon 3x zoom.
Powered by: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
Go! says: This 6-megapixel camera takes better pictures than all of its 8-megapixel competitors, which proves that more megapixels don’t mean better image quality.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3
The travel champ
Panasonic bills this camera as the best travel camera in the world, and they’re not far off the mark. It’s small enough to fit in the side pocket of your backpack, but its 10x zoom lens means you can use it for just about any type of photography – from children’s parties to the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti. It’s incredibly easy to operate: Just pull it out, fire it up and shoot away.
We like: You know how some digital cameras distort the picture if you zoom out completely? (So that the school choir’s smiles look like they’re reflected on the back of a tablespoon) Not so in this case. The Leica lens is distortion-free across the zoom range, which is impressive for a camera this small.
We don’t like: The hefty price tag.
Price: R4300.
Sensor: 7.2 megapixels.
Lens: Leica 10x zoom with optical image stabiliser.
Powered by: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
Go! says: It’s small enough to be inconspicuous when you don’t want to draw attention to yourself – like when you spot Leonardo DiCaprio eating out in Southbroom.

The buzzword: face detection
The latest craze is something called “face detection”. All the compact cameras featured here except the Panasonic have this function.
What is it? Clever technology that recognises a face or many faces in a scene that you are photographing, usually highlighting each face with a green square. The camera then works out the best combination of exposure, focus and flash (if necessary) to make sure each face in the frame comes out correctly. Red eyes are also removed.
Does it live-up to the hype? It’s not just a gimmick; it really works – but it’s only useful if your main subjects are people. If you want to photograph landscapes, flowers or people in the distance, you have to remember to switch face detection off, otherwise the auto focus can get confused.
The best part? It also works on Jock, if only he’d stop digging up the flower bed and sit still for a second…

For the budding enthusiast

You have a basic understanding of photographic principles, like shutter speed and aperture. And you enjoy using your camera on holidays in the Kruger Park, mostly to keep a record of what you spotted to show family and friends back home.
Because of this, you want something more than a point-and-shoot. Your camera should have a decent zoom lens to allow you to take a picture of that elephant 50 m away, but you also want something small and simple to operate, with the option of some manual control. 
This type of camera is commonly called a super zoom. It’s a good camera to choose if you’re just starting to get serious about photography.

Fujifilm FinePix S1000FD
Cheap, but nice
As super zoom cameras go, this is one of the smallest and easiest to use, and buying one won’t suck your bank account dry. If you’re in the market for an entry-level camera and you want something that has a bit of oomph at the waterhole, this is a good option. It’s cheap, but certainly not nasty…
We like: You can take a series of pictures of the Drakensberg in the distance, and patch them together using the built-in panoramic stitch function. It’s a lot of fun.
We don’t like: There’s no optical image stabliliser (that thing that guards against camera shake). Instead, the camera automatically combats blurry photos by using a faster shutter speed and higher ISO (sensor sensitivity), which sometimes leads to noisy pictures.
Price: R2 700.
Sensor: 10 megapixels.
Lens: Fujinon 12 x zoom (33 – 396 mm equivalent) with digital image stabiliser.
Powered by: Four AA batteries.
Go! says: This camera is a beginner’s dream. But stick to using the zoom in bright conditions.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8
The workhorse
It’s hard to find fault with this camera. It has everything: a great lens, shooting modes for every conceivable holiday situation (including “food”, “fireworks” and the more suggestive “soft skin”) and it’s small, light and well made.
What’s more, the optical image stabiliser means you’ll get sharp pictures at full zoom.
We like: There’s an option to shoot in RAW format (which captures as much information as possible for editing purposes later). The camera also comes with software that can convert these files into JPEGs.
We don’t like: Image quality is average in low light, but it’s no worse than its competitors.
Price: R3 700.
Sensor: 7.4 megapixels.
Lens: Leica 12 x zoom (36 – 432 mm equivalent) with optical image stabiliser.
Powered by: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
Go! says: If you’re looking for an excellent all-round camera with a superb lens, this one is for you. It comes highly recommended on the website www.dpreview.com, which says it offers a lot for the price.

Canon Powershot S5 IS
A wannabe SLR
Canon has got it right with this camera. It’s logical, easy to use and there are no irritating buttons in funny places. Every control has a purpose and is positioned accordingly. 
It’s as if the camera begs you to play around with exposure and aperture. Manual mode isn’t hidden away in the menu somewhere; it’s easily accessible.
We like: You can take surprisingly good video footage, so you don’t need to lunge for the Handycam when the buffaloes decide to take on the lions.
We don’t like: The wide end of the zoom could have been a little wider. You’ll have to get your chubby cousin on the side to shuffle closer when you take a group photo.
Price: R3 900.
Sensor: 8 megapixels.
Lens: Canon 12 x zoom (36 – 432 mm equivalent) with optical image stabiliser.
Powered by: Four AA batteries.
Go! says: You won’t need to upgrade this camera anytime soon – it’s versatile enough to grow with you as you learn more about photography.

Olympus SP -570UZ
The groot meneer
What?! A 20 x zoom lens? Nope, it’s not a typing error. This is the current world record holder for the longest zoom available in this class of camera. At its longest, it has a 520 mm lens – which will gladden the heart of any bird photographer. 
Be aware, however, that although Olympus’s image stabilisation system works well enough, it’s best to shoot with a beanbag or a tripod, because camera shake at 20 x zoom is very difficult to avoid.
We like? It takes great landscape photos too, because the wide end of the zoom is really wide.
We don’t like? It doesn’t come with a decent rechargeable battery, which is ludicrous for a camera of this price.
Price: R5 900.
Sensor: 10 megapixels.
Lens: Olympus 20 x zoom (26 – 520 mm equivalent) with optical image stabiliser.
Powered by: Four AA batteries.
Go! says: Let’s put this in perspective: If you were to buy the equivalent Olympus telephoto lens for a professional camera, it would cost R87 600…

The buzzword: Image stabilisation
If you’re going to buy a super zoom, it’s crucial to check whether it comes with some sort of image stabilisation system so you don’t spoil your pictures with camera shake. There are two kinds: digital and optical.
What’s the difference? Digital stabilisation boosts the sensor’s light sensitivity (raises the ISO), which allows for a faster shutter speed to be used. The faster the shutter speed, the less chance there is of a blurry picture.
Optical stabilisation is a mechanical system that activates a device inside the camera when you focus, keeping the lens steady as you shoot. 
Digital stabilisation often impacts negatively on image quality (a higher ISO means more “noise”). Optical stabilisation is usually more effective, which is why you’ll find it on the more expensive cameras.
When in doubt? Use a beanbag or a tripod.

For pros in training

You dream in freeze-frame. When you visit Foto First, the shop assistant scuttles to the loo to avoid your questions. 
On holiday, you usually disappear for hours around sunset, which means late braais and hungry children. But your wife usually forgives you when you show her your kudu silhouette on the LCD screen.
You fancy a digital SLR because it feels like a real camera, like one of those old Nikons that went ca-chink when you pressed the shutter. Another bonus is that an SLR can be used with a variety of lenses, which means it’s good for any type of photography. 
Digital SLRs are no longer aimed only at professionals. These days, a decent entry-level SLR is only marginally more expensive than a super zoom or a compact.
Here are the best starter options.

Pentax K100D
The right mix
Remember your Dad’s old stalwart, the K1000? That camera could double up as a weapon! Well, Pentax cameras are still robust, honest and affordable. 
This is one of the cheapest digital SLRs on the market, but its performance is hardly under par. With shake reduction technology, a sensor that delivers crisp images throughout the ISO range and a good quality lens, the K100D is peerless at its price.
We like: You can use the money you save to buy another lens.
We don’t like: The user interface menu seems to have forgotten about vowels – “Cntnuos expsr”, anyone?
Price: R5 000.
Sensor: 6.1 megapixels.
Kit Lens: Pentax 18 – 55 mm zoom.
Powered by: Four AA batteries.
Go! says: People think that Pentax cameras are less glamorous than their Canon and Nikon counterparts, which is a shame. If you’re willing to take a gamble on a smaller name, Pentax is your friend.

Nikon D40
The nice guy
Nikon’s entry-level SLR is so friendly it almost shakes your hand – all the buttons and dials sit just where your fingers instinctively reach for them. 
Nikon is renowned for building tough cameras, and the D40 feels more rugged and capable than its competitors – think Hilux bakkie, not Tata Indica.
Unless you want to print huge posters for your living room wall, the 6.1-megapixel sensor is all you’ll ever need.
We like: The LCD screen on the back of the camera is big and bright and you can see it from most angles, even in bright sunlight.
We don’t like: Nikon has ditched the traditional information panel on top of the camera and all shooting information is displayed on the screen at the back.
Price: R4 800.
Sensor: 6.1 megapixels.
Kit Lens: Nikkor 18–55mm zoom.
Powered by: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
Go! says: It has enough manual control for you to experiment and learn, but if you’re feeling lazy you can just as easily pick it up and use it like a point-and-shoot with zero hassle.

Canon EoS 400D
The big seller
Canon is the undisputed king of the market. With the launch of the EoS 300D in 2003, it became the first manufacturer to make digital SLR cameras accessible to everyone. Six years later, the 400D keeps that tradition going. 
The Pentax and Nikon were designed for people wanting to upgrade from a point-and-shoot, but the Canon is a bit more sophisticated. It’s aimed at people who know their way around a camera.
We like: Excellent pictures. The high-resolution sensor delivers quality, noise-free images – even in low light.
We don’t like: The standard (kit) lens is disappointing. Rather buy the camera body on its own (for about R6 000) and save for a better lens, such as the Sigma 18–125mm, which goes for R3 000.
Price: R6 600.
Sensor: 10.1 megapixels.
Kit lens: Canon 18–55mm zoom.
Powered by: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
Go! says: You can pick up an EOS 400D at a bargain price because two new models, the 1000D and the 450D, have just been released.

Olympus E-410D
The Ricky Januarie of cameras
It seems Olympus is concentrating on making cameras smaller and lighter. With a smaller-than-average sensor, this camera weighs in at only 375 g, which makes it brilliantly portable and easy to use.
We like: With many digital cameras it’s difficult to keep the sensor inside free of dust. This camera has something called a Supersonic Wave Filter that vibrates to shake dust off the sensor. Say goodbye to blotches all over your blue sky.
We don’t like: The battery life isn’t as good as its competitors’.
Price: R6300.
Sensor: 6.1 megapixels.
Lens: Olympus 14–42mm zoom.
Powered by: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
Go! says: With its smaller sensor, you’d expect this camera to be less responsive in low light, but it’s at least as good as its competitors in this respect.

The buzzword: SLR
What exactly is an SLR and how does it differ from a normal camera?
SL-who? Single lens reflex (SLR) refers to the mechanism that allows light through the lens and onto the sensor, as well as to your eye. So when you look through the viewfinder, you’re actually looking through the lens (via a series of mirrors). A normal camera’s LCD screen gives you an electronic representation of what the lens is “seeing”.
What are the benefits? The image you see through the viewfinder of an SLR camera is the exact image that will be exposed – there’s no electronic intervention. There’s also no time lag between pressing the button and the camera taking the picture, which is crucial for sport or wildlife photography.
Any negatives? An SLR camera is bulky. You can’t slip it into your pocket and take it to the Dros. Also, because you physically have to look through the viewfinder, your framing options are limited.
What about Live View? Only the Olympus reviewed here has this technology. It gives you the option of composing a shot using either the LCD screen or the viewfinder. The technology is still in its infancy, but it should make the transition to using an SLR camera easier for someone who hasn’t used one before.