There you are, credit card in hand, a mouse click away from photographing you're entire life--and that of anyone else who'll hold still for just 2 seconds--click! Oh nooo! Hundreds of options come up! Let's face it, today with all the jabber about sensors and megapixels it's hard to know what really matters and what doesn't. So, let's start with a couple key questions.

First, what do you want to take pictures of? Family, flowers, your two-year old, images of your vacation to the Bahamas? Maybe a bit of everything, right? Decide which is most important to you and how much time you'll spend photographing it versus the others. Second question, how much of an expert with photography are you? Pro, serious hobbyist, just a regular Joe who wants some great shots of the kids?

Most basic digital cameras are very similar to each other (sorry Nikon and Canon). Deciding what you want to photograph the most helps you decide on those extra features like panoramics, zoom lens, macro, etc. If you primarily want pictures of the family then the ability to take extreme closeups (macro) may be an unnecessary extra. On the other hand, if you are a serious contender for this year's county fair blue ribbon in roses, a macro option that actually works well is something to seriously consider. The ability to zoom or change lenses for varying distances is a great option if you like to take a variety of photos from landscapes to people.

Knowing your camera tech level is important because the worst thing is to waste money on a camera that doesn't fit your needs. Sure that new Nikon D300 looks cool, but will it give you a better photo? Not if you don't know how to use it! If you are someone who is happy leaving the camera on auto save yourself the money and get a good quality point and shoot.

When it comes right down to it, the most important thing about a camera is the end result--the picture results. Now, a better camera will not make you a better photographer --but it will make a difference in image quality in the areas of color renditions, sharpness, user friendliness, and features.

Okay, so you still want to know how many megapixels you need? Three. Only three? Yes, just three. A good quality camera and printer will render lovely prints on only three megapixels. If you want to be safe go for five. I've shot weddings on five megapixel cameras and had drop-dead gorgeous wall sized prints from it. A couple of brands with excellent consumer level, easy to use, great results cameras are Sony and Canon. The Sony line of Cybershot cameras are awesome and have a range of features to satisfy even the serious amateur. You can't beat the colors and sharpness. Canon's Powershot line makes a great investment with vivid, accurate colors and overall beautiful output.