What is the best digital camera to buy today?

The best camera is the one that fits YOUR budget and YOUR needs. And megapixels is only one consideration...

a) DSLR or point & shoot? DSLRs are more expensive and heavier. OTOH, you have many more options in lenses and typically have better features.

b) How big a form factor and how long should the batteries last? If you want something to slide in a shirt pocket, you would need a very big pocket to fit a Nikon D2x.

c) Image quality. This is partly megapixels but also virtually everything else -- quality of the lens, the metering, the a/f, even the image processing software on the camera. (BTW, there are at least 20 megapixel digital camera backs out there that run upwards of $15k -- that is without the camera body or any lenses!)

So what to do?
1) Establish your budget. Your budget should also include money for more/bigger digital storage cards, a case of some sort, and perhaps a spare battery.
2) Think about what you want to take pictures of, in what light and how will they be used. Megapixels is important when you start printing big (i.e., a 6mp should have no problem wih 8x10s).
3) If you go DSLR, I would stick with Nikon or Canon. P&S, I wold ook at SOny, Panasonic (probably my fav right now) and Canon.
4) WHat features are important to you? The ability to use AA batteries? Manual focus? Ability to shoot full manual? etc.
5) Read the reviews and compare the features on dpreview.com
6) Try them out in a store.

i think they are all competetive.you want to look at how high the mega pixels are.i have a 4.0 megapix kodak.,nice camera and i can print high resolution pics up to 5x7.kodak is a good name as well as sony.

I have a Panasonic FZ-20, 5 megapixels, and it rocks. Go to the Panasonic website and check it out.

it depends purely on the megapixels.

4mpx is already great.. especially the 7mpx.

i have a 4mpx kodak camera and im happy with it.. takes pictures faster compared to other cameras.

sony is also good!

i just love canon...if you want to have great photos...it the best

Canon eos 30D