While it's true, that there are no guarantees in life, I believe in stacking the odds in my favor.
There are so many different variables involved in getting a good digital camera though, that it can be difficult to pinpoint which of those factors are the most important.
Well, start off with your gut feel for how you take pictures.
Then give some consideration as to whether or not the camera features you've been reading about seem to jive with those factors.
I'll give you one little hint to get started.
Do your best to totally ignore the megapixels rating of every camera you look at.
Here are a few more points that could help you out.
Digital zoom is just plain nonsense.
What you really want to look for is optical zoom.
That's more an indicator of the quality of the lens your getting with your camera.
You can accomplish digital zoom on your own after the picture is taken.
Simply upload the picture to your computer, and use any picture view software for zooming in on the picture.
Microsoft Window has built in programs for this.
You'll notice pretty quickly how fast the picture quality deteriorates and becomes grainy.
The resolution just isn't good enough for digital zooming in most cases.
If your moving from the world of compact digital cameras into SLR cameras, be sure you find an SLR that incorporates the feature "live view".
I know the Canon Rebel T1i, and Xsi both have this feature.
This basically allows you to frame your picture with the LCD prior to snapping the shutter.
Originally, SLR cameras didn't allow this, and you had to use the viewfinder to snap your picture.
While there are very practical reasons for this, it made for a tough transition of compact camera users to becoming SLR camera users.
Recently SLR manufacturers have relented and allow for viewfinder and LCD framing of your pictures.
If you do decide to buy your camera from an online internet website, then your probably going to get a better price than what you'll find at your local mall.
What you do need to be careful of is shipping costs and warranty policies.
Being able to return items your not happy with is important, as is low cost or even better free shipping.
Most camera stores offer free shipping for cameras above a certain price.
Make sure you know what their rules are before you buy.
If their generous to allow free shipping on return, then it may make sense to order a couple of cameras that look good, and try them both out for a week or so before returning the one you don't want.
It's nice to be able to try them out without the pressure of a sales clerk standing over your shoulder.