Doing research for my most recent camera purchase (Canon PowerShot G3) was difficult. I spent a long time talking to friends, family, co-workers and anyone else that would listen about what camera to purchase, features to look, etc. I wandered the isles of camera shops and the big box stores looking for bargians and hoping to find something that fit my needs.
Long story short, I spent months trying to compare cameras without knowing what I was doing until I found
Digital Photography Review (
http://dpreview.com). For those that don't know, it is an independent resource, packed with in-depth reviews and comparisons on the latest gear and anything else having to do with digital photography.
The site helped me tremendously and I'm sure it will help you too.