For its July issue, Consumer Reports tested 84 cameras. Based on the results, the editors say two compact cameras, the Sony CyberShot DSC-W5 ($220) and the Canon PowerShot A520 ($170) are "the best value for most people."

The magazine named both CR Best Buys because they have "excellent print quality and battery life. The have manual controls and use AA batteries."

The Canon PowerShot is a 4-megapixel camera with a 4x optical zoom. The Sony CyberShot has a 5-megapixel resolution and it comes with a charger and batteries. Consumer Reports says both Sony and Canon are highly reliable brands.

If you're looking for something a little more sophisticated, Consumer Reports recommends the Fujifilm FinePix E-900 ($360), which was the only CR Best Buy in the advanced compact category. The editors say this 9-megapixel camera with 4x optical zoom "delivered the best picture quality for midrange cameras." It has "excellent battery life" and "an extremely sharp lens."

One more tip -- don't forget to get a big enough memory card. That means at least 256 megabytes. If you're taking high-resolution shots or video, you should really consider more memory. You can get a one gigabyte card for about $50.

For More Information:

Tips on Buying and Accessorizing a Digital Camera

How Much Memory Does Your Camera Need?

First Look: Fujifilm FinePix V10

Herb's Tip on the best places to buy that digital camera