Consider what you'll be shooting (for instance, family vs. sports), the purpose of the pictures (website postings vs. printed photographs), and so on. Then ask yourself, what fits your lifestyle and how creative do you want to be? Can I carry a larger camera with lenses around or do I need to keep it simple? Do I want or need to override the camera’s exposure settings?

If sheer ease of use is what you're seeking, then point-and-shoot cameras are models of simplicity. Point-and-shoots are ideal for the absolute beginner, or for the amateur who wants to take casual party pictures. Samsung’s point-and-shoot cameras offer a decent zoom for close-ups and have similar capabilities to an interchangeable lens camera— like manual override of a few settings that affect the image quality. But if you're looking to take quick, quality pictures, these cameras will be just fine.

Point-and-shoot cameras can also appeal to experts as well—those who like to capture "the decisive moment." Because it's an agile, easily portable camera, with no need for elaborate technical adjustments or additional equipment. Keep a point-and-shoot camera handy for when you require a “lean and mean” approach to photo-taking.

The innovative Samsung DualView MV800 Camera is designed for self portraits and couple shots. It gets you out from behind the camera and into the picture. This camera has two screens that help you frame up shots—a 1.5" front LCD screen for self portraits and a rear LCD touch screen with easy access to your photo library.

In addition to having two screens, the DualView MV800 has a 26mm wide angle lens. The 5x optical zoom gives you a wide shooting range from a short distance so you can capture the subject in the image with great detail with great flexibility.

The SH100 with its jumbo 14.2 megapixel sensor is Wi-Fi capable, allowing you to email and post pics directly from Wi-Fi hotspots. Upload directly onto FacebookTM, PicasaTM, YouTubeTM or Samsung.com at the touch of a button and share your moments with friends and family almost instantly. Have easy access to your smartphone too using the SH100’s Remote Viewfinder functionality, enabling remote previews and control of zoom, flash, resolution and more.

*Wifi internet connection is required. Data download and usage charges may apply.

Long optical zoom cameras allow you to focus in on your target with precision and maximum pixels.

The NX System is designed to allow interchangeable lenses, but is engineered to be compact through the elimination of an optical viewfinder and mirror box.

Do you tend to shoot in low light or need edge to edge sharpness? Then look at a lens with a large aperture (FStop) such as the 30mm NX Pancake Lens . Lenses such as these also use an aspherical element in its optical design to help improve sharpness and keep distortion at a minimum.

Shooting sports outdoors and need to be close? A telephoto zoom lens such as the T50200SB 50-200mm gives the versatility to pull back for images such as portraits, but zoom into the field to capture the action. This lens also incorporates ED glass in its optical design helping to minimise colour distortions.

In addition, shooting modes that permit the manual choice of shutter speeds (Shutter Priority AE) or aperture (Aperture Priority AE) unleash your creativity by allowing you to choose how movement is captured and the range of focus within your scene. Just like a Point-and-Shoot however, you can also shoot in Auto for ease of use.

When shopping for cameras, make sure that your camera uses a standard memory size card such as SD or MicroSD (like SD, but smaller). Some cameras use proprietary memory card formats, which can be hard to find and may be costly to purchase. There are multiple ways to clear memory and transport photos: move the SD card from the camera to a computer or printer; use cables to connect the camera to the computer directly; or ideally, use Wi-Fi* to send images to your computer or email directly to friends and family.

*Wifi internet connection is required. Data download and usage charges may apply.