Doug Harman is the author of the bestselling Digital Photography Handbook and one of Britain's leading reviewers of digital cameras. Here he picks five of the very best
Click here forDigital Cameras Overview.
Best Digital SLR (Nikon D200)
The aficionados’ choice, the Nikon D200 has a professional level of specification at an enthusiast’s price; it provides enough kit and control for the most demanding professional or keen amateur. Image quality is superb; colour balance and detail are top-notch with advanced metering and auto-focus systems combining admirably.
Anyone looking for portability with paparazzi reach need look no further than Canon’s Powershot S3 IS - it's an excellent ultra-zoom compact with an amazing 12x, zoom lens, great handling, superb image quality and a good price into the bargain.
An award-winning compact, the Fujifilm FinePix F30 is a real all-rounder. It has great design and superb build, excellent image quality, fast operation and a "world first" of 3200 ISO light-sensitivity at full resolution - ideal in low light. Quite simply, this 6.3-megapixel compact makes a stunning family camera.
If the ultimate in portable photography is your bag then you need look no further than this 7.2-megapixel Casio cracker. Just 13.7mm thin, the S770 has a tough, all-metal build, responsive handling and, despite it’s small size, a busload of simple-to-use features that make it an ideal choice.
If you want a pocketable, high-resolution snapper for almost any occasion, the Pentax Optio A30 fits the bill. Its 10-megapixel sensor bags heaps of detail via a great 3x optical zoom lens while a superb feature set includes three types of anti-shake and Face Priority auto-focus - ideal when the party is in full swing.
The aficionados’ choice, the Nikon D200 has a professional level of specification at an enthusiast’s price; it provides enough kit and control for the most demanding professional or keen amateur. Image quality is superb; colour balance and detail are top-notch with advanced metering and auto-focus systems combining admirably.
Click here for 
Anyone looking for portability with paparazzi reach need look no further than Canon’s Powershot S3 IS - it's an excellent ultra-zoom compact with an amazing 12x, zoom lens, great handling, superb image quality and a good price into the bargain.
An award-winning compact, the Fujifilm FinePix F30 is a real all-rounder. It has great design and superb build, excellent image quality, fast operation and a "world first" of 3200 ISO light-sensitivity at full resolution - ideal in low light. Quite simply, this 6.3-megapixel compact makes a stunning family camera.
If the ultimate in portable photography is your bag then you need look no further than this 7.2-megapixel Casio cracker. Just 13.7mm thin, the S770 has a tough, all-metal build, responsive handling and, despite it’s small size, a busload of simple-to-use features that make it an ideal choice.
If you want a pocketable, high-resolution snapper for almost any occasion, the Pentax Optio A30 fits the bill. Its 10-megapixel sensor bags heaps of detail via a great 3x optical zoom lens while a superb feature set includes three types of anti-shake and Face Priority auto-focus - ideal when the party is in full swing.