Nikon has done it again, announcing new digital cameras with innovative features for 2009. Both Nikon digital SLRs and compact Coolpix cameras have new models coming out, and as usual, Nikon is pushing the envelope with new features while maintaining the highest quality.

Three new Nikon DSLRs have been announced recently, the Nikon D3000, the Nikon D300s and the Nikon D5000. All three cameras offer advanced features at very affordable price points, and the Nikon D300s and D5000 offer some features never before seen in Nikon DSLRs.

The strongest attribute of the Nikon D3000 is straight out value. Every serious photographer should have at least one Nikon DSLR, and for the price of a high-quality compact camera anyone can own the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D3000. It includes a bright, 3-inch, hi-resolution LCD screen with 170-degree viewing angle; high ISO 1600 for shooting in low-light conditions; 11-point autofocus; continuous shooting at up to 3 frames per second; split-second shutter response time and more.

The Nikon D5000 is a very reasonably-priced digital SLR with extremely high picture quality (12.3 mega-pixels) and many features that you used to find only in cameras costing at least twice as much. Live View allows you to compose your photo in the brightly-lit LCD monitor, and the DSLR offers four auto-focus modes (including Face-priority AF) and 11 super-fast autofocus points. Built-in ultrasonic image sensor cleaning prevents dust or other particles from appearing on your shots.

The Nikon D300s has the highest cost of the three new Nikon DSLRs, but for the premium price it offers super-fast continuous shooting up to 8 frames per second, a super high-res, 920,000-pixel LCD screen, and an amazing 51-point autofocus system which includes an on-camera scene recognition system.

Both the D300s and D5000 offer my favorite new feature for 2009 in digital SLRs: Hi-def video capture. The wide variety of Nikkor lenses available give any photographer the ability to capture almost any image imaginable. And now, a creative photographer can become a movie director, setting up and taking remarkable video that are way beyond the capabilities of anything that compact cameras can record. The Nikons can capture video at 24 fps, 720P resolution, with stereo sound input.

Every new Nikon camera and many other brands of digital cameras can be ordered now from RitzCamera.com; you can pre-order the Nikon D300s and Nikon D3000, which will be shipping out very soon.

Finding a digital camera to purchase can be a seemingly daunting task.

Most of are not artists or professional photographers by nature and so have a difficult time determining the factors that matter when purchasing a camera. Many different terms and stats are given on the various cameras and for most of us these numbers mean nothing. In addition with the new digital cameras out there they also throw in a fair dose of technical terms, which only further confuse potential buyers. As a potential buyer it can be very daunting to pick a camera. For most of us in today’s economy a few hundred dollars is a big investment and so we want to be sure we are not overspending but at the same time are picking a camera that meets our requirements. It is possible to get a loan to purchase a new, more expensive or professional SLR camera, but having clean credit is a must. It may also be possible to save some money by taking advantage of a digital camera trade-in program.

Fortunately, many buyers’ guides have sprung up both online and in magazines and books that can help you pick the right camera. These guides will step you through the various terms associated with digital cameras if you care to educate yourself and they will step you through the current cameras on the market. If you don’t want to learn all the terminology but just want a great camera recommended for your needs they will typically provide such information as well.