NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - So, you've been thinking about buying a digital camera, but you're stuck. Instead, you look at them longingly, but always thinking, "If I buy one, a better model will come out tomorrow."

Snap out of it! If everyone felt that way, we'd still be using Kodak Brownies. Really, if you learn the lingo and spend a little time shopping, you can find a great deal on a camera that won't be obsolete by the time you take it out of the box. Besides, with the holidays rapidly approaching, buying now gives you time to get used to it so you don't end up with a bunch of high-resolution shots of your ceiling.

The first thing you need to know is resolution, which is measured in megapixels. A 1 megapixel photo has 1 million pixels, which basically translates to 1 million dots. If you think you may want to print out 8x10s, you should get a camera with a resolution of 3 megapixels, which creates a much finer, smoother image than one shot at 2.

Most cameras have a minimal amount of built-in storage (usually 8MB or 16MB), but high-resolution files are larger and take up more space. So if you find yourself shooting a lot of high-res photos, you'll need a storage card that holds an additional 64MB, at least. Different cameras use different methods of storage -- CompactFlash is the most common. Others include the SmartMedia, Secure Digital/MutiMedia, xD-Picture Card and the Memory Stick.

You also need to look at the optical zoom, measured in 3x, 4x and so on. Longer optical zooms, which use moving lenses to magnify images just like a regular film camera, cost more. You'll see a figure for digital zoom, as well, but that's basically a software trick that degrades the image as it stretches it out. Ignore it. Once you see the results, you won't use it much.

Below are some cameras I that I think you should consider buying now.

Sony DSC U20 Cyber-shot U ($270)

Digital cameras don't get much smaller -- or hipper -- than the Sony DSC U20 Cyber-shot U. (Try saying that fast 3 times.) Not only does this little beaut look good, it shoots 2 megapixel photos. While the DSC U20 has a built-in flash, there's no optical zoom (the lens is set at 35mm). That's also why it's so small. In any case, I love that I can hang the DSC U20 around my neck and slide it into my shirt pocket. Oh and by the way, it takes great pictures.

Kodak's EasyShare LS443 ($430)

I'm a big fan of Kodak's EasyShare cameras, and the brand new 4-megapixel LS443 is no exception. What separates the Kodaks from the competition is an optional dock ($75) that serves as a battery recharger and literally syncs the camera with your computer, similar to a Palm. Just put it in the cradle, press the button and watch the photo editing program import your pix. The LS433 has a built-in flash as well as automatic and creative modes. You can even shoot video complete with audio. For most users, that's more than enough.

Canon PowerShot G3 ($799)

For shutterbugs who really know what they're doing -- or like to think they do -- there's the brand new 4 megapixel PowerShot. Designed for photogs (or just plain control freaks) its 12 different modes include portrait, landscape, night scene, photo effect, and pan focus for objects on the move. Stitch Assist ties photos together to generate panoramas. Its impressive 4x optical zoom is the equivalent a 35mm to 140mm lens. The downside: this baby weighs nearly a pound, so you won't be slipping it into a shirt pocket -- unless you wear a really big shirt.

Brian Clark writes about consumer technology for Money Magazine.