Replacing film with digital sensors was a major change, but new combining computing with photography is beginning to transform the industry more radically.
Facing new competition, top camera maker Canon announced two SLR cameras, a top-end model with a whopping 21.1-megapixel sensor due in November and a 10.1-megapixel model for advanced amateurs arriving by the end of the week.
A large range of focal lengths to zoom through can dramatically increase your framing options, as well as simply make it possible to get recognisable people shots when you're trapped in the crowd, high in the bleacher seats, or at the back of the auditorium. See how these stabilised 12X zoomers stack up.
Image stabilisation addresses one of the common causes of blurred photographs: camera shake. You might think your lens is no good, or blame your camera's autofocus mechanism, but it's probably your unsteady hands that are at fault.
With prices in the AU$500 to AU$800 range and holidays around the corner, there's never been a better time to go for that stylish 5-megapixel camera you've been eyeing.
Whether you need a slick little snapshot camera to capture the nightlife, or you're hunting for a supercompact travel camera, you'll have a good selection of models to choose from.