There are two basic types of cameras for personal use on the market: Point-and-Shoot and Single Lense Reflex, more commonly called SLR.
By far the most common are thos
e that fall into the Point-and-Shoot category. This is due to their ease of use as well as their availability and low cost. These cameras do exactly what their name suggests - point the camera at the subject, press a button, and it takes the picture. Cameras in this section have some flexibility in that some offer more zoom, or how close it can get to something without physically moving it, while others offer clearer images. Point-and-Shoot cameras allow the photographer to easily take hundreds of photos quickly and efficiently. The main drawback to Point-and-Shoot cameras is that there is little customization to them. Whatever is built into the camera is all that it will ever have.
SLR cameras are those which provide the most flexibility in taking a photograph. They allow the photographer to change how the camera is taking the photo, as well as the format it is saved. SLRs also provides interchangeable lenses for different effects. These cameras provide the greatest range in what the photographer can do as well as better image quality, but they are therefore more complex. This creates a need to learn how to use the camera before actually taking a photograph. Another drawback to these types of cameras is that they are much more expensive than Point-and-Shoot cameras.
Here is a quick comparison:
Point-and-Shoot - Small, cheaper, less features
SLR - Larger, more expensive, greater control of the image
