The Ratings show these cameras to be fairly closely matched in the main criterion of print quality, even at the 8x10 size we use for our tests. Many people might not notice the difference in quality between cameras, unless the photos have been manipulated before printing by, say, enlarging only a part of the image.

The 2-megapixel cameras offer the least flexibility to manipulate images without a loss in quality; their forte is snapshots. The 3-megapixel cameras are good entry-level cameras: compact, light, easy to use to make snapshots and enlargements. The somewhat bulkier, heavier 4-megapixel models offer additional resolution and, in some cases, extra features such as manual controls and more powerful zoom lenses.

Cameras in the 5- to 8-megapixel range provide maximum flexibility for taking and altering images. Typically they have lots of useful features, and more powerful zooms. But they are also heavy and costly.

The Ratings rank cameras by overall performance. The Quick Picks also consider other factors, such as size, reliability, features, and price.

Quick Picks
Best for many photographers; lightweight, inexpensive, and simple to use:    1, 7 Canon, $177-$265    4 Kodak, $240    5, 8 Olympus, $249-$309 Any of these are fine choices if you're a casual photographer, the kind who shoots mainly 4x6 snapshots, with little cropping. They differ in price and some nuances that might affect your choice. The Canon PowerShot A60 (1) has very long battery life. The Kodak EasyShare DX6340 (4) and Olympus Camedia C-740 Ultra Zoom (5) have a longer zoom range than the others. The Canon PowerShot A70 (7) and Olympus Camedia D-560 (8) are among the lighter cameras. The Olympus is also very simple to use.		For more serious photographers:    26 Kodak, $443    29, 46 Nikon, $340-$598    32 Pentax, $394    33, 47 Canon, $350-$539    38, 50 Minolta, $330-$702    40 Olympus, $519    41 Sony, $608    49 Hewlett-Packard, $349 These are among the best values if you routinely make 5x7 or larger prints or take photos for artistic purposes. All have 4- or 5-megapixel resolution with excellent or very good print quality. Most have manual controls that let you compensate for tricky lighting, plus a more powerful zoom than most 3-megapixels. Among the 4-megapixel cameras, the large Kodak EasyShare DX6490 (26) has a secure grip, an ample LCD screen, and 10X optical zoom, but its battery life isn't great; the lighter Nikon Coolpix 4300 (29) and Pentax Optio 450 (32) have much better battery life. Among 5-megapixel models, the Olympus Camedia C-5050 Zoom (40) and Canon PowerShot G5 (47) have outstanding battery life and an ample flash range. The full-featured Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F717 (41) has a 5X zoom and permits night shooting without a flash. The Nikon Coolpix 5400 (46) is among the lighter cameras that we recommend in this group, and it has a 4x zoom. The Hewlett-Packard PhotoSmart 935 (49) is a very basic but attractively priced camera. By contrast, the Minolta DiMAGE A1 (50) is large, heavy, and loaded with features; it's also among the more expensive 5-megapixel models.
For the highest resolution among point-and-shoot digitals:    61 Nikon, $997    62 Olympus, $849    64 Konica Minolta, $997    65 Sony, $899 All are heavyweights and very expensive. But they offer excellent image quality, a wealth of features, and ample zoom lenses. The Nikon Coolpix 8700 (61) is the lightest of these 8-megapixel models, with the greatest zoom-lens ratio. The Olympus Camedia C-8080 (62) has the longest flash range. The Konica Minolta Dimage A2 (64) has the shortest delay between shots. And the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F828 (65) has the best battery life.
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