Most aspiring photographers enjoy being challenged by more than just the point-and-shoot simplicity of many of today's digital cameras. Advancements in image resolution, lenses and manually set features can now be found on affordable models as well as expensive ones. Here's a look at a few digital cameras that come in a wide range of megapixel resolutions, optical and digital zooms, and price levels to meet the interests and budget of just about any photo enthusiast.


Fujifilm FinePix S9500

At about $599.95, the Fujifilm FinePix S9500 is a pro-quality camera that combines some top-end SLR features with the ease and flexibility of compact digital cameras. It offers 9 megapixels of resolution, which is enough to rival many entry-level SLR cameras. And it also comes equipped with Fujifilm's Real Photo Technology, a feature that enhances the image resolution beyond the simple pixel count. A bright 1.8-inch LCD adorns the camera, and the lens zooms 10.7x optically or 2x digitally.


Canon PowerShot S2 IS

The Canon PowerShot S2 IS starts at around $449.00, and for that you get 12x optical zoom and great image stabilization, along with 4x digital zoom, a 1.8-inch LCD, 5.3 megapixels of resolution and a 64MB SD memory card. The Powershot S2 IS has advanced over its sibling, the Powershot S1 IS, by providing some improvements such as a higher-powered lens, enhanced movie features and shortened start-up and response times.

Canon PowerShot S2 IS digital camera

Canon EOS 5D SLR

The Canon EOS 5D SLR digital camera is the pro model in this group, and at a price tag of around $3,299.00, you can expect the best. It provides 12.8 megapixels of resolution -- enough for any application -- a 2.5-inch LCD, and a host of challenging features that can be manually set. This means that enthusiast photographers can put their skills to the test. The 9-point AF system and Picture Style color control deliver superior images, and the DIGIC II Image Processor and wide-angle capability offer the chance to take some truly breath-taking photographs.


Kodak EasyShare V570

At about $399.95, the Kodak EasyShare V570 is the most affordable camera of this group, but that's not its only selling point. The compact yet elegant V570 is the first-ever dual-lens digital camera; it offers a built-in ultra-wide-angle lens as well as an optical zoom lens for a total of 5x optical zoom range. What's more, these lenses never protrude from the camera body, so all this is bundled up in a neat little camera package. It also comes with a bright 2.5-inch LCD, 5.3 megapixels of resolution and 32MB of internal memory.


Olympus Stylus 800

The Olympus Stylus 800 offers a detailed 8.0 megapixels of resolution for less than around $450.00 -- and this compact model is fully featured. It provides a large and clear 2.5-inch LCD, 3x optical and 5x digital zoom, and 32MB of internal memory. The design of the Stylus 800 is not only cute but also rugged enough to take on the elements, so you can bring this digital camera anywhere with you and not miss any situation for a great shot.


Sony Cybershot DSC-R1

The Sony Cybershot DSC-R1 starts at about $999.95 and comes with an array of high-end features. It lets you preview the live scene before you take your picture, so you can accurately select the white balance, framing and exposure. The 10.3 megapixels of resolution make for excellent picture taking, and the 2-inch LCD can be adjusted to let you shoot from practically any angle. The DSC-R1 also provides 3x optical and 6x digital zoom capabilities.