Your options for choosing perfect small digital cameras are greater now than they ever have been before. And they keep improving every day.

When digital cameras first came out, they were very expensive, and they were relatively large compared to many of today's models. These cameras use an image sensor in order to capture image data and save it to the camera so you can instantly see the photos that you have taken, as well as transfer them to computers and printers. These days it is possible to get small digital cameras that work extremely well for between $200 and $600. Which of these compact type cameras is the best for you will depend on which features you find the most important.

Because there are so many choices available to you, it's necessary to do a little studying before you make a choice. First you will have to decide which features are most important to you. Do you want to have a high resolution, a very compact camera, a good optical zoom, or some of the special features like smile recognition that some of the cameras offer?

Most compact cameras are point and shoot type cameras, although there are a few that have the option to manually change the settings. These are best for amateur photographers rather than professionals.Then you will need to decide what price range you are comfortable with in order to help you narrow down your options. There are numerous websites available with reviews that you can use to get a better idea of the pros and cons of each camera that you are considering.

If you would prefer a really slim camera, the Sony Cyber-Shot T900 is one of the options you should consider. It is only a half inch thick, and very light. It has a touch screen for controls, 12.1 megapixels, and a 4x optical zoom. It does have a relatively short battery life though, so you might want to purchase an extra battery or two to have on hand.

One of the more popular options for people looking for small digital cameras is the Canon Powershot ELPH line of digital cameras. The Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS (also called the Canon IXUS 95 IS) is the latest in this line. It is an ultra compact camera with a 3x optical zoom, 10 megapixels, and a 2.5 inch LCD screen. It also comes with image stabilization and face recognition technology.

Small digital cameras continue to improve in quality. As technology continues to move forward, small sized digital point and shoot and sub sized cameras are gaining features and picture quality that only their big brothers, the DSLR's, had at one time. Check out the various mini digital cameras and slim digital cameras and after a little research you'll easily be able to find one that meets your needs and your budget.