Shops are filled with a dazzling array of cameras to choose from. While this may at first appear somewhat daunting, this guide, together with the help of an experienced photo retailer, will help you find the best camera for you.

As has been reported in the travel columns of the national press, most Australian travellers are now finding that tax-free prices in Australia are extremely competitive.

This is true even when Australian prices are compared with legendary shopping areas such as Hong Kong and Singapore.

Most Australian camera stores can sell sales tax free before you leave Australia. This makes a great deal of sense for a number of important reasons.

· When you buy before you go you know the warranty will be honoured in Australia. This may not be the case with equipment purchased overseas and if problems arise it can be expensive to fix.

· You will be able to enjoy Australian after-sales service and get advice or help in understanding the equipment's operation.

· In Australia you know exactly what you're spending. Foreign currency charges to your credit card can be exacerbated by downward currency fluctuations and when your bill is finally converted to Australian dollars you may well find it was not quite such a good deal.

· Buying the right camera in an overseas country can be a lengthy and time-consuming process. You have to be prepared to bargain for considerable time and then everything has to be checked very carefully. To be safe, you really need to know exactly what you should be getting in your box as sometimes key items are omitted to be sold as extras. Given that your time overseas is limited, is all this really how you want to spend your holiday?

· It's more fun to arrive with the camera loaded and ready for action so that you can get out there and check out the local colour outside of the shops.

©This material is the copyright of Paul Curtis, Executive Director of the Photographic Imaging Council and is for free use by the media. Accreditation to the council is appreciated. So that we can keep our activities up to date, we like to know where and when this information is used, so please click here to send us this information.