Thankfully, you don’t have to go this route, because purchasing a high quality digital camera and spending plenty of time taking shots, you can actually learn how to get the correct exposure without too much extra work.  In order to take the best photos, you’ll first have to start with a high quality digital camera that is loaded with features.  It may take you some time to figure all the features out, but to give yourself the best head start, here are 10 digital cameras that take excellent fireworks pictures.

Canon Digital Rebel XSi – This 12.2 megapixel camera provides stunning visual displays through the use of its 18-55mm EF-s IS lens.  The large resolution allows you to print crystal clear poster size photos, while still maintaining the crisp image on smaller sized prints.  A 3.0” LCD display helps give an accurate visual representation of the shot you’re trying to get, so you no longer have to play guess work on smaller monitors.  Also included is Cannon’s Digic III image processor that provides you fast and accurate image processing, as well as an internal EOS cleaning system to make sure all of your shots are perfect.

Canon PowerShot SD890IS – The 10 megapixel digital camera provides you with a 5x digital stabilized zoom, which helps beginner photographers with their shaky hands.  The 10 megapixel CCD lens captures a high level of detail, which is able to display an accurate representation on even larger sized prints;  up to poster size.  With face detection, and motion detection, the camera can automatically eliminate blur from your shots, which is quite typical when shooting fireworks.  The 2.5” PureColor LCD screen is bright, with accurate colors and a wide viewing screen gives you a clear picture of the shot before you hit the shutter button.  You can save your images to either SD, MMC, or MMC Plus memory cards.

Canon Powershot SX20IS – Canon does a good job at taking over the top 10 list, again with the PowerShot SX20IS 12.1 megapixel digital camera.  They’ve included a 20x wide angle optical zoom, with image stabilization and a 2.5” articulating LCD display.  This isn’t just a digital camera though, because you can actually record HD video in modes up to 720p resolution.  HDMI output connects allow for incredibly easy playback using your computer or television.  The new Digic 4 Image processor and 12.1MP lens ensures that you take only the highest quality photo prints.  Supports SD and SDHC memory cards, though not included.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 – Panasonic finally lands on the list, with their Lumix model DMC-FZ35.  This 12.1 megapixel resolution camera boasts a sporty 27mm wide angle Leica Vario lens, with an 18x optical zoom to get in close on shots.  HD movies can be recorded up to 1280×720 resolution, or 720p format.  A 2.7” LCD TrueColor display helps you get a clear image of the shot before you close the shutter.  With the ability to capture images and video to both SD and SDHC memory cards, you won’t have to spend a lot of money on multiple storage options.

Nikon D90 SLR – At 12.3 megapixels, with a GX CMOS imaging sensor, crystal clear photos are a shutter snap away.  You have to purchase separate lenses, which means that you’ll need to understand the terms used to describe features on them, but once you’ve made the purchase, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the clarity provided.  Had the lenses been included, this camera may have ended up higher on the list than it did.  A 3” super density LCD display helps you view the 24fps HD video while you’re shooting it, as well as providing a visual representation of the shot you’re about to snap.

Nikon D5000 DX SLR – This digital camera sports 12.3 megapixels like the D90, but only has a 2.7” display, rather than a full 3”.  A vari-angle LCD display allows you to see the monitor from virtually any angle.  Included are two lenses, an 18-55mm VR lens, and a 55-20mm F4 ED DX Nikkor lens.  The Speedlight flash ensures that you capture every pixel in the photo, while the EL9 Li-On battery provides an incredible life span.  The camera even includes a DVD to help introduce you to the wonderful world of photography, straight from Nikon themselves.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 – At 10.1 megapixels, if you’re looking to take crystal clear fireworks pictures, then you may want to consider the DMC-ZS3.  It boats a huge 3” LCD monitor with MEGA optical image stabilization, to ensure that you receive accurate, blur free photos.  A 12x wide angle zoom allows you to get in close to your shot, no matter how far away from it you are.  Intelligent face recognition helps you center the photos, and when you’re ready to save, you can use either SD or SDHC memory cards.  They’re not included with the camera, but prices on these cards aren’t too outrageously expensive.

Sony DSC-HX5V – The Sony Cybershot DSC-HX5V packs in a 3.0” LCD display with a 10x wide angle optical zoom to provide you crystal clear photos from any distance.  Getting a visual representation of the frame will help to ensure that you are taking the entire shot, rather than cutting off the top, bottom, or sides of it.  Image stabilization helps to make sure that there is no blur, which is quite typical when trying to shoot photos of fireworks displays.  The camera sports an internal 45MB memory which may not be good for video, but should hold plenty of photos.  A wide range of recording media is supported from SD and SDHC, to Memory stick and Memory Stick Duo cards.

Canon EOS 7D – Boasting an amazing 18 megapixels, this is probably one of the clearest producing cameras on our list.  The digital SLR camera not only provides you with 18 megapixel prints, but also a CMOS sensor and dual Digic processors to provide amazingly fast image speed, and super high quality.  An advanced HD move mode with selectable frame rates, and manual exposure and zoom controls ensure that you get just the shot you were meaning to.  Intelligent view finder allows you to see the entire picture, instead of a cut off version of what is going to be shot.  Supports CF card types I and II, and UDMA compliant CF cards.
Canon VIXIA HF S100 – This isn’t necessarily a digital camera, but instead, a full blown camcorder with digital camera capabilities.  You’re able to record full video in crisp HD signals, and save them directly to your SDHC memory cards.  A 10x HD video lens with SuperRange image stabilization software means that even when you are zoomed in fully to the shot, that movements in your hands will not be transmitted through to the video.  Comes with a nice 8.0 megapixel camera as well, for delivering stunning and crystal clear fireworks pictures.  Record the whole show with this camcorder.
As you can see, the list is pretty extensive in terms of which camera may be right for you to shoot photos of fireworks with.  If you still can’t decide, even after reading this list, you’ll want to spend some time researching each model that we’ve provided.  You’re going to want to make sure that whatever camera you purchase has a high enough megapixel rating to ensure quality shots every time.  The memory cards that are supported range from incredibly cheap, to astronomically expensive, so you’ll need to account for those costs while you are planning the purchase.  At most Internet vendors, you’ll be able to find deals on the supported memory cards located just below the camera.  This helps to keep you from getting too confused with the wide range of terms given to media memory.
As far as taking crystal clear pictures are concerned, having a high quality camera will give you the best chances, but you are still going to have to educate yourself some.  One of the cameras we reviewed includes a DVD from the manufacturer to help you get started, but if you end up purchasing a different model, you’ll need to play for either a lot of time behind the lens, or getting into some local photography classes.  The learning curve can be quite steep, but if you are wanting to take high quality fireworks pictures, then you’re going to need to devote some time to the hobby.  Unfortunately, digital photography is a hobby that most people can pick up, but only a few people will ever truly master.  Good luck with your photography and we wish you great exposures on your next batch of fireworks pictures!