Not too long ago, purchasing a camera was relatively simple. For good results with minimum fuss, you went for a point-and-shoot digital camera. If you were more into the art of photography and wanted to play around with different lenses and controls, you went ahead and purchased a DSLR. Today, however, buying a camera is a complex affair. Basic point-and-shoot cameras and DSLRs are still around, of course, but now, there are others who borrow features from this twosome. Then, there are some more that come with entirely new feature sets. To add to this, smartphone cameras keep improving — every handset manufacturer now touts his smartphone’s camera as one having ‘DSLR-like quality’.

So, which camera should you opt for if you are in the mood to take some pictures? Here is what you could keep in mind while making the big decision: