Many top-of-the-line Canon digital cameras come with a 10 times zoom lens for fun manipulation. While 300 times and 400 times lenses on cheaper models purport to make great images, these out-of-proportion zooms usually butcher pictures. A modest 10 times lens is a much more useful feature for setting your shot. On newer Canon models like the XL H1 and XL 2, you can get a 20 times removable lens.

With state-of-the-art optical image stabilization, you get great apertures--f 1/1.6 and f 1/3.5. You get an enormous focal range, from about 40 mm to around 800 mm. If you're willing to go to 4:3, you can get that number up to 950 mm. Standard on the XL H1 are not one, but two filters, which you get at 1/6 and 1/32.

Canon's sophisticated internal processors determine focus lengths for you on some camera models. These processors are highly useful and intuitive. They can pretty much adjust to anything you'll encounter in normal circumstances, even really dim light. That being said, if you're taking wedding pictures (or snapshots for a graduation) and you want a perfectly consistent look, you may want to play around with manual focusing.

Given the sophistication of these Canon lenses, it's critical to keep them clean and free of dirt and debris. Manufacturer cleaning instructions should give you adequate warnings, and good lens caps come standard. High-end digital camera lenses can run into the thousands of dollars, so take extra care when shooting, particularly on sandy beaches or in adverse weather conditions.