subject: Buying A Digital Camera [print this page] It doesn't matter that type of electronics you're looking at - whether it's computer notebooks, printers, or a computer desktop - buying a digital camera presents you with a myriad of choices. Each manufacturer has dozens of offerings, ranging from the more basic "point and shoot" camera to the top of the line professional digital SLR (single lens reflex) camera. So, it's important to consider a number of factors before you buy. Here's a primer to get you started.
Cost
Just a few years ago, inexpensive digital cameras had terrible optics and were often a complete let down. That's all changed. Today, even a $149 camera has more features than a $799 camera had in the past. Of course, you can still pay well over $10,000 for a really special camera, but for most casual photographers a camera under $500 will have everything you want - and then some!
Megapixels
It wasn't that long ago that a three-mexapixel digital camera was considered state-of-the-art. Even the most basic models on the market today are starting out at 7 or even 8 megapixels which means that you end up with much more detail in your photos. This allows you to crop the photo to improve the composition without compromising the overall quality. For that reason, don't consider buying a camera that's less than five megapixels.
LCD Display
It may not seem like the most important part of a camera, but the size of the LCD display will make a big difference while you're shooting your photos. Two-inch LCD's are fairly common already but the difference that a three-inch display can make is quite surprising. Keep in mind that the larger the display, the more chance you've got of seeing at a glance if your subject is sharply focused or not. Clearly, size matters but more important than this is that the LCD is viewable in all conditions - even in bright sunlight - indoors, outdoors, and at night. If you can't see the photo you just took, it defeats the purpose of having a digital camera.
Shooting Modes
Many digital cameras offer a variety of shooting modes as well as manual settings. Many of the smaller consumer cameras, however, don't have manual overrides, and you must choose among the shooting modes provided. If all you're looking for is a simple compact digital camera, that's not an issue. On the other hand, if you want to be able to change the aperture or shutter speed, make sure you buy a digital camera that allows you to do manual settings. However, I should caution you that even if you think you'll need manual options, most modern cameras are so flexible that if you really learn how to use them, you can easily live without it.
Also consider whether you'll be using your camera for a specific purpose, such as photographing sporting events. If that's the case, make sure that this is catered for in the modes on your preferred model. Keep in mind that some digital cameras even have underwater capability or an "eBay" setting for taking photos of items you want to auction on eBay, so don't assume the way you'll use your camera is unique.
Storage Medium
Unfortunately, there's not an industry standard when it comes to storage cards. It's important that you understand the type of memory card that your camera uses and that your computer has a compatible reader for this type of card. Alternately, many cameras come with software (usually on a DVD) that will allow you to plug your camera directly into your desktop or notebooks and upload your pictures.
After You Buy
Once you've purchased your digital camera, take time to practice and play with the various settings. Most people will agree that modern digital cameras are more complex than cameras have ever been before, so give yourself enough time to really understand everything that your new camera can do before using it for anything important. Take the time to master it though, as the enjoyment that you'll get from your new camera from really understanding what it can do will truly amaze you.
