Finally, Flickr also showcases pictures taken with the individual cameras. So if you want to see what's possible with the camera, this is a good way to do so. Be aware, however, that this is indicative only to a point. Those images may have been retouched and they're certain to be far lower resolution for Web display than the original image that came from the camera.

So, next time you're wondering what camera to buy, take a look at what camera your fellow connected photo enthusiasts are actually using.

David Gewirtz is the author of How To Save Jobs and Where Have All The Emails Gone? For more than 20 years, he has analyzed current, historical, and emerging issues relating to technology, competitiveness, and policy. David is the Editor-in-Chief of the ZATZ magazines, is the Cyberterrorism Advisor for the International Association for Counterterrorism and Security Professionals, and is a member of the instructional faculty at the University of California, Berkeley extension. He can be reached at david@zatz.com and you can follow him at http://www.twitter.com/DavidGewirtz.