Snap judgment: whether you're a vacation chronicle or an amateur Ansel Adams, digital cameras have leaped in power and shrunk in size—here are some great options

If you're really serious about the digital thing, then it's time to invest in the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT ($899 for body kit, $999 for kit with lens), the best entry-level single-lens reflex camera out there. Use your existing Canon EOS lenses and prepare to be blown away by the results.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Now that you've got your camera, it's time to set up the digital darkroom. Start with Canon's Pixma MP760 ($249), a scanner-printer that prints and makes copies of photos directly from your memory card--and even from slides and negatives.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Everyone sells a camera phone nowadays, but not everyone offers the quality of the VX6100 by LG ($149.99), a 640- by 480-pixel cellular with a 4x zoom, a flash ... and probably some phone stuff too.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Now that your cell phone fits in your pocket, it's about time your camera did too. The Sony DSC-T33 ($349) is light on manual options and other bells and whistles, but it is very portable. Though tiny, it still gives you a giant LED viewing screen.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The 30-gigabyte version of Apple's iPod Photo ($349) not only plays your music but now lets you view all your photos on the go. You can even transfer pics directly from your camera to the iPod using a Camera Connecter ($29). Perfect for long vacations when 500 pics just isn't quite enough space.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

COPYRIGHT 2005 Liberation Publications, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group