Cameras Types Definition Camera: "A picture taking device usually consisting of a light-tight box, a film holder, a shutter to admit a measured quantity of light and a lens to focus the image. " Source: www.zimmerworks.com

The chart below will help you understand the many advantages and disadvantages
 of modern cameras.
 

Types	Evaluation
Point and Shoot	The point and shoot cameras have a wide range of models from the disposable to the new Advanced Photo Systems. They range in prices from $7., for the disposable, to about $200 for some of the more advanced systems.  Simplicity in taking pictures  are their hallmarks, since they remove much of the guess work and make shooting pictures fool proof. Lack of camera control is their main disadvantage. Repairing them can be a costly matter when compared to their prices. But they do provide an easy way for the average person to take moderately good pictures at a relatively good price.
35 mm SLR Camera	This is the camera that is used by most professional and advanced amateurs. They are light weight, adaptive and moderately priced. Control over lenses, exposures and flashes give this type of camera a distinct advantage. A wide variety of lenses and filters can be installed in a matter of seconds, thus giving the photographer the ability to create many different effects. Flashes and strobes can be connected to improve the quality of the finished product. The exposure controls can be changed so as to allow a great latitude in shooting under many different settings and conditions. Set up time, complexity and cost are the three main draw backs to this system.. I would recommend you take a course in basic photography with this camera.
Digital Camera	Very much like the 35mm camera. but it does not use film. It records your images on a CCD (charge-coupled device) or a CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) imaging array. You have the advantage of being able to see all your pictures before they are printed and deleting those you don't care for. Furthermore you can edit any picture using photo programs on your home computer. They come in SLR and point and shot styles and have a vast array of shooting options. I would recommend you take a course in basic photography with this camera.
120 mm Medium Format Camera	This camera uses 120 mm film and is used mostly by professional portrait and artistic photographers. They are extremely expensive and I do not recommend them to the average budding photographer.

The photographer, using an SLR camera, sees the subject through the actual lens of
the camera. This is done through a series of mirrors that reflects the image to the viewfinder.
A direct view camera  (most point and shoot ) on the other hand, sees the subject through
a small viewer to the upper left of the lens. The photographer does not see the picture as it will
become, but what it is through that viewer.
I prefer the SLR, it may cost more but  the accuracy it provides is worth the extra cost.

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