"If you're in the market for a new point-and-shoot camera—whether for yourself or for someone on your holiday shopping list—the array of choices can make it difficult to find one that's right. Here are some tips to help you narrow down the options.

First things first—do not get wrapped up in the number of megapixels. Many point-and-shoot cameras have 12 megapixels or more, which exceeds the number of pixels that many professional cameras could capture just five years ago. Increased megapixel counts on the tiny sensors used in most compact cameras just means more noise, not necessarily sharper images.

Instead, there are a few characteristics to focus on: lens focal range and quality, size, ruggedness, and ergonomics. Depending on the person you're shopping for, one or more of these criteria will narrow down the options quite a bit." | more