What is the best type of digital camera that to buy ?

i want it to be small and easy to carry around.

I think you forgot one criteria; it has to make you love to take pictures!

Seriously; the smallest camera around will stink for you if you hate using it. Go to your local camera store and try some cameras. The one you love to use and will make thousands of pictures with is the best pick!

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http://www.lenslenders.com/

i have the polaroid i533 digital and easy to carry. mines hot pink. it take good shots

The best small one I know is the Fuji F20. Dell has it for about $140

If you like pink, Sony has a nice camera:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/So... for under $200....

There are many choices. SpaceCowboy's suggestions are good ones. You wouldn't go wrong with a Canon SD1000 either, but frankly, there are lots of terrific compact cameras out there these days, and others that aren't quite as good.

You do pay a little extra for Canon and Sony brand names- but, they are good cameras as well. I find Fuji's and Panasonics to be a better 'deal'. And- Kodak makes many very functional, easy to use and nicely packaged cameras for a very reasonable price.

A sony or canon would be the best. Small cameras are nice but you sacrifice quality regardless of what the megapixels are. You just can do as much with a smaller lens especially in lower light. If you were going to take pictures on only a sunny day any camera would perform decently. A great site to visit is dpreview.com

It depends on what you want your camera to do...

Detailed Pictures - Get a camera with lots of megapixels
Nature Pictures - Get a camera with a bigger zoom lens
Video Clips - Get a camera with video & sound
Like to Review? - Get a camera with a big LCD

Find the best match for your needs that also fits your $$.

Read a magazine (or website) like PCWorld for camera reviews. Reviews may help you to look for particular features that you might not think of until after you've made a purchase.

Hints & Tips - Look at battery life, optical zoom is more important than digital zoom, does it have an optical viewfinder, does it require special batteries, are the controls easy to understand, is it so small that your fingers get in the way...

Good Luck

I think you answered your own question there. best type (for you) = small and easy to carry around type