Sony Mavica MVC-FD90 Digital Camera
Easiest to Operate
Need a camera that's easy to use? Sony Mavica cameras are the obvious choice. Mavicas store images on floppy disks, so getting the pictures into your computer is as easy as ejecting the disk from the camera and popping it into your computer's floppy drive. Sony lenses are great, the InfoLithium batteries last virtually forever on a charge, and the LCD screens are big and bright. Disadvantages? Because of the floppy drive, Mavicas are bigger than most digital cameras, and image resolution is generally lower than with other similarly priced cameras.
MVC-FD90. It features 1.3 megapixels for good-looking prints up to 5 x 7 inches, plus an impressive 8x optical zoom lens. Other great choices: Mavica MVC-FD73, Mavica MVC-FD85.

Fuji FinePix 1300 Digital Camera
Quality Entry-Level Camera
To really get a feel for digital photography, you'll want a camera with these key features: an LCD screen to preview and review your photos, at least 1 megapixel of resolution, and removable/expandable memory. Leave out any of these features, and you're likely to be unimpressed or disappointed.
Fuji FinePix 1300. Fuji's entry-level camera combines a 1.2 megapixel sensor, SmartMedia card storage, and even USB connectivity in a compact and extremely quick package. The 1300 gives you a lot of camera for your money--a real value.
Other great choices: Kodak DC3200, Olympus D-360L.

Olympus C3030 Digital Zoom Camera
For the Serious Hobbyist
If you currently use an SLR and enjoy having full manual control over your camera, you'll want a model with quality optics, great resolution, plus full manual controls.
Olympus C3030 Zoom. Get speedy performance and consistently great results in a compact package. Other great choices: Nikon Coolpix 990, Canon PowerShot G1, Kodak DC4800.

Olympus C-2100 Ultra Zoom Digital Camera
Super Zoom Lens
Some people love cameras with massive zoom lenses. It's taken several years for digital camera manufacturers to figure this out, but now we have a trio of cameras with great telephoto lenses to choose from. It was tough to pick a winner in this category. The Fuji FinePix 4900 has the highest resolution, and the Mavica CD1000 stores images on CD-R discs, but the Olympus will probably give you the most usable photos.
The Olympus C2100 Ultra Zoom combines a 10x zoom lens (38 to 380mm equivalent) with an amazing optical image stabilization system to let you capture great zoom shots even while hand-holding the camera. Other great choices: Fuji FinePix 4900, Sony Mavica MVC-CD1000.

Great Gadget
Sometimes, having a plain-looking camera that takes great pictures just isn't enough. If you're looking for a camera that looks cool, has lots of gee-whiz features, and takes great pictures, you have several options.
People will ooh and ahh when you pull the Fuji FinePix 4700 out of your pocket. Turn it on, and the LCD screen on the back says "Hello" while the 3x zoom lens extends. Add a clever concealed flash and 4.3-megapixel images, and you've got a camera that's sure to please even the most jaded gadget-lover. Want a more prestigious label? This camera is also sold by Leica as the Digilux 4.3.Another great choice: Fuji FinePix 40i Digital Camera/MP3 Player.

I Have Only $100 To Spend
If you want digital photos but have less than $100 to spend, you have two choices. Option one is to get a digital camera--however, at this price range, you can get only a stripped-down digital camera with no LCD screen, low resolution, and unimpressive optics. These cameras are fine if you just want to post photos on the Web (not print them out) and don't mind mediocre-quality images.

The second option allows you to continue using your 35mm camera. Just send your film to Amazon Photo Services by Ofoto for developing and scanning. This option will give you far better pictures, post them on the Web automatically, allow you to make great prints, and let you keep saving your money until you can afford a decent digital camera. The drawback? You won't get the instant gratification that digital photography provides.