The best source for in-depth digital camera reviews is Digital Photography Review. They have a useful buying guide, where you can specify exactly what type features you want in a camera. The reviews are often ten Web pages or more in length, and feature product views, sample images, features discussions and evaluations on everything from shutter lag to movie recording to button placement, leaving virtually no stone unturned.

If you are just looking for a quick overview of top-rated digital camera, check out Consumer Search. They compile recommendations from a number of different review sources, and offer “Quick Picks”.

Pentax is introducing a compact digital camera, called the OptioWP, that can be used to shoot underwater. The camera won’t be available until March, 2005.

The seams in the camera are protected with rubber sealant and an interlocking design to resist dust, pressure and moisture. Inside, an internal 3X optical zoom captures images as close as 0.36 inches without protruding from the camera body. A water-tight locking mechanism secures the camera’s rechargeable lithium-ion battery and SD memory card slot.

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It can be a frustrating search for quality digital camera for under $200.

Many entry-level cameras are poorly built, have terrible image quality, or will only deliver acceptable results under perfect daylight conditions. Against that background, the Olympus D-540 Zoom really stands out, with great color, great flexibility, a 3.3 megapixel CCD coupled with a nice 3x optical zoom lens, and great ease of use. That said, this is an entry-level camera, so you’ll have to accept a few tradeoffs, mainly in the form of some softness in the corners of its images, and in its somewhat leisurely shutter response and shot to shot cycle times. For the price though, it’s a tough act to beat, just the ticket for new users to get their feet wet with digital.

Available from: (Search for Olympus D-540 Retailers)

Or these retailers: Amazon ($159) or B&H Photo & Video ($155)

See more digital camera reviews at Imaging Resource.