While all of us may not be into professional photography, we definitely want to capture those beautiful moments with our loved ones. Although, with the advent of high-resolution cameras on mobile phones, the point and shoot camera industry has taken a hit, there are still a lot of people out there who will always go for a camera that provides them with a host of features. In 2011, we saw the likes of Canon, Sony and Kodak leading the market with their sleek and stunning cameras, and this year too, their cameras have received great reviews for being innovative and value for money. We would also like to help you with some tips which you should keep in mind before putting your money on a camera. It is assumed that the individual who is looking to buy such a camera will be more bothered about the design and the physical appearance of the device, rather than its features. You must settle for one that is lightweight, small, easy to hold and aim and easy to navigate. It should not have many complicated features and excessive buttons. All standard features like image stabilization, high shutter speed, red-eye reduction and good ISO speeds are a part of all these cameras today, so you do not have to worry about the image quality at all. You will find a lot of similarities between a lot of the models that you come across, and this is what maintains the standardization in this particular segment. The battery life of the camera will also play an important role, and on an average, these cameras are capable of clicking between 200 - 400 images on a single charge. With these pointers in mind, let's check out the best digital cameras of 2012. Almost all of these cameras also come with a setting for auto adjustment. What this means is that the camera automatically detects the light exposure, the weather conditions and other variables, and changes its mode. These cameras are getting smarter and smarter, and this enables people to get a good shot without making any adjustments at all. Small children who are learning photography or are just interested in clicking some cool pictures will find these cameras extremely useful. The best digital cameras can be found in a variety of sources, and you will find them to be very affordable for you. The convenience and the portability that these cameras offer is unmatched, and it can turn even the most ignorant of photographers into a seemingly professional one.