This is a question I'm often asked by friends, colleagues, and readers. But digicams have unique characteristics that need to be evaluated as well. Image quality was high on my list because a camera's main function is to create photographs. But there's more to it than output resolution. The amount of compression was also considered.
Less compression yields the best-quality images, and no compression is even better.
Less compression also means fewer images can be stored, but for anyone interested in image quality, storage is less important. Digital media can be removed and replaced, just like a roll of conventional film. These days, most cameras use CompactFlash or SmartMedia cards. Sony's floppy disk-based camera uses an innovative design, but is ultimately limited by the media's capacity, which may be why the company introduced the innovative but proprietary Memory Stick. An LCD preview panel is indispensable for evaluating images, and all the cameras on the list have one as standard equipment.