[Skybird]

Pixels are overestimated. More important is the size of the CCD sensor. More pixels squeezed into the same sensor size - can mean degrading instead of increasing picture quality. The picture becomes looking blurred.

If having the coice between bigger CCD and more pixels, go for the bigger CCD.

With 12 Megapixels, you are shooting overkill if you are no pro with special needs. If you have no special photographic needs, you do not need them - that means if finding a model that also looks fine but has only 10 or 8 megapixel, it is okay to take that one. Even more if the CCD sensor of the 12 MP camera is not bigger than that in the camera with 8 or 10 megapixel.

My current camera has 8 megapixel. The one before that had 3 megapixel - and I paper-printed pictures of almost Din A4 size with that - sharp.

The one good thing in higher megapixels is if you want to zoom into a piocture and only porint a part of it. More opixels give you more reserves for zooming, before the pictures starts to become pixelated. But for a Din A4 printout, 12 megapixel already is overkill.

Pay attention to the camera's performance in low light conditions, and how many ISO you can set. Pixelating starts to set in early with bad cameras if light is low.

Look out for a camera that is about to be faded out from the shelves, there is nothing wrong in having a model that is 1 or 2 years old. But you can save a lot of money if getting a smile price retirement offer. If you want to headlessly waste money, and plenty of it, buy the newest of the new stuff.