Colorful camera options. Many of the latest point-and-shoot camera lines branch out from basic black and silver, and come in a variety of colors. It's fun to choose your favorite color, or the one that best fits your personality and style. If everyone at your family gathering has a uniquely hued camera on the counter, it's easier to keep track of whose is whose and make sure that the one you take home is your own.

Waterproof and weatherproof. If you like to take pictures of all your adventures, you might want a camera that's specifically designed for use in the great outdoors. You can take a waterproof camera into the pool or onto the ski slopes, and snap pictures without worrying about harming the camera. Some waterproof cameras are even operational down to 30 feet or more. In addition to waterproof casings, many of these more rugged cameras have airtight bodies to protect against dust and sand. And in most cases, they're also freeze-proof and shock-proof, making them an ideal choice if you tend to be tough on your gear.

Slim and sleek. These point-and-shoot cameras are often less than an inch thick, with low-profile designs that make them easy to slip into a pocket or purse. Some of these models have an internal optical zoom lens that doesn't extend out from the body when you zoom, so the camera maintains its sleek shape. We generally see cameras of this type offering a large LCD and a model-specific rechargeable battery as well. Their streamlined design can result in a somewhat higher pricetag. This style is right for you if you want solid automatic shooting in a cool-looking camera that's easy to take everywhere.

Classic point-and-shoot. There's a wide range of digital cameras that don't fit into the ultra-slim category, but nevertheless offer small size and plenty of features. Perks like a flip-out LCD or a slightly larger lens are also more common with these cameras. This style is right for you if you need a good beginner camera, or if you want a feature-packed camera but don't want to pay extra for a space-age silhouette.

Old-school styling. There are also digital cameras which eschew the pop-it-in-a-pocket profile in favor of a solid handgrip and a larger protruding lens. These cameras, while not particularly large, are still significantly larger than ultra-slim models. Their advantages tend to be a larger lens and a wider array of features. This type of camera makes sense if you want more extensive zoom, more manual control, or both. It's also a good choice for photographers who have a hard time with the tiny buttons on smaller cameras.

Digital SLR. The digital SLR is more than just a size and shape — it's a different approach to photography. It's notable for being the largest digital camera style available to consumers today, while simultaneously offering the most features and flexibility. (You can read this article to learn all about digital SLRs.) A digital SLR design makes sense when you need maximum manual control and lens quality, and don't mind carrying a camera bag with space for an SLR and one or more lenses.