Which is the best brand of digital cameras?

I've been very reluctant to buy a digital camera, but now I've realized they are very practical, more than my 35mm SLR. Which brand should I choose, and which features should I pay more attention to? I'm looking for something just to point and shoot, small (so I can take it anywhere) and below $599.

Since you have a SLR you could go to the D-SLR world. However, they are not so small to take anywhere. Personally, I have experience with the Canon and Nikon world. I use Nikon at work. And Canon for my personal use. I recently bought a Canon PowerShot, for the same reason. I carry SLR's around all day and wanted something to slip in a pocket or purse. The PowerShot or Elph would be a great option. With around 6mp you'll be getting qualit pictures that are acceptable for editing and cropping later. If you go below that you're getting into the gray area. Definantly pay attention to speed. The speed that the camera turns on and how quickly it can autofocus. Shutter speed if a big one. Well the delay from the shutter button to the release. Many cameras now have continuous shooting. If that's an option that really important, then maybe you would want a DSLR. Look at the zoom too. 10-12x optical zoom is great. Usually manufactuers put a digi zoom on top of the optical zoom which is a great plus. Consumer Digest is a good place to start if you're just looking to see which has fewer problems etc.

My opinion is a Canon P&S (point and shot). If you really want compact and versitle, then go that way. You can always upgrade to a DSLR later if you find that's what you need then. Prices have come down a lot and depending on mp and zoom, usually you can get a great camera within your price range.

Also, if you go to a retailer like cicuit city, look into their protection plans. Luckily for my husband we bought one. He dropped the camera and they replaced. Always better safe than sorry.

Canon

Sony by far cyber shot dsc-h2 about 350.00,Stay away from Nikon!!!!

Personal experience says Canon or Nikon. Both make high quality cameras with excellent lens. Can't go wrong with either of them. Some models are extremely small and thin. You could put them in a shirt pocket and hardly tell you have anything there. But, you sacrifice a little on the zoom range. Another thing to watch out for is shutter lag. That is the difference between when you push the shutter button and the picture is actually taken. Check them out with a card in the camera and try to take several pictures as fast as you can. Some delays are several seconds, others (like my Canon SD550) are almost zero. Usual rule of thumb is the cheaper the longer lag.

Norm

Norm

i would say either sony,cannon or kodak. all are verry good brands. hope i helped :)

There are plenty of choices in your price range. In fact, plenty of choices in the $200 to $300 price range.

The best manufacturers are- IMHO, and in this order:

Canon (good quality and consistency, you pay for them tho')
Panasonic (yes- they're that good! 28mm leica lenses and OIS built in!)
Fuji (The only compacts that have really been pushing the light sensitivity issue- F20/F30F31fd)
Sony

Features you should look for:
More megapixels doesn't mean a better picture, necessarily. A 6Mp Fuji will resolve more detail than most other's 8Mp cameras, and way way more than a 5Mp on a tiny 1/2.5" chip.

IS/OIS- they really work and are handy.

High ISO capability. Fuji wins here, hands down by 2-3 f-stops.

Speed: How quickly they start up and autofocus.

Canon makes some of the best point & shoot cameras鈥?

Look for optical zoom 鈥?at least 3x鈥檚鈥?preferable 10x鈥檚.. and at least 5 mega pixels unless you want to be able to make print larger than 8x10 鈥?them go bigger鈥?br> I prefer Fiji ;) and i love my Fujifilm FinePix S5100 BUT its SLR style - a little bulky, but better versititily than a compact - it cost me about $350.00

To replace a SLR you would need a DSLR which is not that compact. I am very happy with my Canon 350d/XT rebel which you can point and go or take to a whole other level

Go D-SLR. I went through the same transition.
You will miss the fast focus and lens quality of your SLR.
You will miss the powerful flash.

Check out the Nikon D40. The entry level DSLR from Nikon is light years ahead of point&shoot.