While it hardly compares to buying a house or a car, selecting a new digital camera is a relatively significant decision. Prices for Canon point and shoot cameras range anywhere from $100 to $500 or more, so we are talking about a bit of an investment. With so many to choose from, however, how do you choose?
The key is to focus on three things: your level of experience, what type of photos you plan on taking, and of course, your budget.
Has the shutterbug bitten you just recently, are you a seasoned photographer, or do you fall somewhere in between? This is an important factor to consider in select your new Canon.
If you have a lot of experience and like to be in control, then a model like the PowerShot SX10 IS would be an ideal choice, as it features a ton of manual options, including the ability to adjust shutter speed, aperture, white balance ... you name it. And its 20x zoom lens provides yet another outlet for you to be creative. If this is a bit beyond your budget, however, all but the most inexpensive Canon point and shoot cameras have at least some of these manual capabilities.
At the other end of the spectrum, selecting the best Canon point and shoot camera for a beginner is extremely easy, as virtually all of them provide a multitude of automatic settings that make taking great pictures a breeze. All of them also feature optical image stabilization, which assists in producing sharp photos even if the camera is jiggled a bit. Finally, the buttons and controls on Canons are inevitably very simple and easy to use. For someone just starting out in digital photography, selecting a specific model will hinge more on price and what they plan to use it for.
Which brings us to the next question: what type of pictures do you intend to take, and how often?
Will you only be snapping photos on vacation or at family events? A very functional, but less expensive choice like the PowerShot SX110 IS might be a good choice, featuring a 10x zoom lens. Do you want something that will fit easily into your back pocket? Check out the PowerShot SD1200 IS, weighing in at a tiny 4.2 ounces. Both have a nice mix of automated and manual features and produce the high image quality that Canon is famous for.
On the other hand, are you an avid photographer who spends much of your free time experimenting and getting creative? The SX10 is likely your best choice, but if you are on a tight budget, you can still make a lot of manual setting adjustments with the SX110, and still have the flexibility of the 10x zoom.
Finally, inevitably, you end up have to look at the price. How much you can afford to spend is up to you to determine, of course, but with so many choices, even a more advanced enthusiast who is strapped financially should be able to find a Canon point and shoot camera that meets most of his needs without giving up a lot. The SX110 and SD1200, for instance, are very similarly priced toward the more affordable end of the spectrum. As for the beginner, as mentioned before, all Canons have the ability to take beautiful pictures in fully automatic mode.
So, before shopping for a camera, give some thought to where you are on the digital photography learning curve, how often and where you intend to use your new "toy", and how much you can afford to fork over. Once you've done this, choosing the best Canon point and shoot camera for your needs should be a piece of cake.
