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1. Benefits of Buying a Digital Camera (back to top)

 

Digital technology now dominates the scene, when it comes to buying a camera, digital cameras are more diverse than ever, delivering outstanding performance whether you are a casual or professional photographer.

 

Today's digital cameras can deliver better performance than their analog counterparts, which means sharper, cleaner, and more detailed images. You can count on them to deliver high-quality snapshots and enlargements worthy of wall space.

 

Today digital cameras provide convenience that didn't exist in pre-digital days. You can preview your work, delete the outtakes, and store the ones you want to keep. You can edit your shots until they're picture-perfect and choose the best way to capture only the good shots on paper by printing your own photos straight from the camera, letting a lab do the work, or by using an online photo-finishing service.

 

Buying a digital camera does require some research before making a final decision though. Whether you are moving to digital for the first time or want to upgrade from your current camera, here is some useful information you may want to apply to your purchasing criteria. First, think about how you will use the camera, what you will be doing with your images, and what features you may require. Second, be honest with your self about what level of knowledge you have about digital cameras, and the type of features you really need to take the kind of pictures you want. Understanding this criteria will give you a good basis for making the best decision for your needs.

 

2. Price Range(back to top)

 

Prices for digital cameras vary from $80 for basic point-and-shoot cameras, up to $2,000-plus for single lens reflex (SLR) or a professional unit. Features and capabilities increase as you go up the price scale. How much you will spend depends on how you want to use the camera and what features are really important to you.

 

3. How Digital Cameras Work (back to top)

 

Digital cameras and film cameras have some common elements. First, they look similar and both use light to record images. They both have lenses, which can be interchangeable in some models. They range from units that are simple, point-and-shoot models to more complicated ones with adjustable controls, manual overrides, color corrections, and much more.

 

One major difference between these types of cameras is in the way they record and store images. Film cameras use light-sensitive, chemically coated acetate that holds a set number of images on film, usually up to 24 or 36. Digital cameras use a Charged Coupled Device (CCD) instead of film. Light recorded by the CCD is converted to a digital value and stored on either fixed or removable storage media in the camera, much like a hard drive in a computer.

 

The CCD is an important component of image quality for any digital camera, because it is where the light is converted into a digital images, or pixels. A pixel is one spot of color. Having more pixels lets you take larger and higher quality pictures. The number of pixels, or Megapixels (millions of pixels) that a camera creates when it converts light into an image is one of the criteria to be considered when selecting a digital camera (the higher the Megapixels, the better the image quality).

 

The CCD sends the images to an internal or removable Memory Card for storage as an electronic file. These files are usually JPEG, TIFF, or RAW files with JPEG being the most common file type. JPEGs are smaller than TIFF and RAW files and are used for e-mail, Web images, and for photographs up to 8x10. TIFF and RAW are large files used for high-quality images needed to make photographs larger than 8x10.

 

Memory Cards come in different capacities, from as small as 16MB to as much as 1GB. The number of files, or images, a card can hold depends on the type of image file. A Memory Card will hold more JPEG files than TIFF or RAW files.Many cameras allow you to manually select the resolution of the images you capture providing more opportunity to get the right quality and amount of photos on your camera.

 

Another major difference between film and digital cameras is feedback??How and when you get to see the result of your shutter clicks. Before digital cameras, the most common way to see your results with a film camera was to take the film to a photo processor who would process the film and print the pictures for you. The quality of your pictures was unknown until they were developed, which allowed for the possibility that the photos may not turn out to your liking. The great thing about digital cameras is they give you immediate feedback.

 

Most digital cameras have a built-in Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen that lets you see what the image looks like right after you take it. If you don't like the picture, you can delete the image and shoot again before the moment passes by.

 

When you are ready to take the stored image and turn it into a photograph, you have a number of choices. You can connect the camera to your computer, download the image, and print it with your printer. You can also improve the photo by editing or adding special effects with a number of different photo editing software choices like Adobe PhotoShop. Alternatively, you can upload your images to an online photo service that will produce the pictures and mail you the photos within days.

 

4. Purchasing Criteria (back to top)

 

There are a number of factors to consider when narrowing the field down to the right digital camera choice. In addition to size and image quality, there are a several other features that can make a difference in purchasing the right digital camera.

 

• Size and style

Digital cameras come in many sizes and styles. First and foremost, it is important for you to be comfortable with the one that you choose. There are 3 basic types of digital cameras to choose from:

 

• Compact: Compact cameras, or pocket cameras, are small enough to put in your shirt pocket. These units are lightweight, less than 5 inches in width, and are relatively flat with depths of less than 2 inches. The smallest can be near the size of a credit card or less than an inch thick. However these models may feel awkward to some users.
• Standard: Standard, or medium sized cameras are slightly larger, especially in terms of depth and weight. Most digital cameras are in this range and are generally easier to handle than pocket units.
• Large/Professional: Professional or SLR digital cameras look like film cameras. They typically have a rectangular body with a substantial protruding lens (which is usually interchangeable) and weigh 1 pound or more.

 

• Image quality

Digital cameras are generally categorized by how many Megapixels, the image sensor contains. 1 Megapixel equals 1,000,000 picture elements. A 2 Megapixel or 3 Megapixel camera can take excellent 8x10s and decent 11x14s. There are also 4 to 8 Megapixel models for the amateur photo market which are well suited for making larger prints and for maintaining sharpness. Professional digital cameras can come with up to as many as 11 Megapixels.

 

Obviously, prices rise with the number of Megapixels. Generally speaking, expect to pay the following:

 

• $80 to $300 for 2 Megapixel cameras
• $200 to $400 for 3 Megapixel cameras
• $200 to $400 for 4 and 5 Megapixels cameras
• $400 to $1,000 for 6 to 8 Megapixel cameras

 

You can narrow the field down by focusing on the right combination of price and resolution. If you're a casual photographer who prints mainly 4x6 snapshots, look for a 2 or 3 Megapixel camera. Most cost less than $350 and are relatively compact. If you occasionally make larger prints, get a 4 or 5 Megapixel model for $300 to $400. For more serious photography including cropping and 8x10 or larger prints, consider a 5 to 8 Megapixel camera. They range in price from $300 to $900.

 

In addition to size and image quality the camera's power supply, storage methods, and zoom capacity are important aspects of your buying decision.

 

• Batteries

Digital cameras rely on batteries for power. They can use regular alkaline batteries, rechargeable nickel metal hydride (NiMH)high-capacity disposable CRV3s, or proprietary rechargeable batteries. Each type has pros and cons. Regular alkaline batteries are inexpensive, but digital cameras use them up fairly quickly. Rechargeable batteries will cut down on the amount of batteries you buy, but you can never guarantee that there will be an electrical outlet around for recharging when you need one. CRV3s and proprietary batteries may last longer but can have a high price tag.

 

If you are only using your camera at specific times or specific occasions, alkaline batteries might be the right choice. If you're using the camera often and taking lots of pictures, rechargeable batteries may meet your needs. Long lasting or proprietary batteries are probably worth the cost if you're going to be some distance from a battery source or an electrical outlet. When selecting your camera, make sure you know what types of batteries the camera can use, and what type is most compatible with your shooting style and budget.

 

• Memory

One of the big advantages of digital cameras is their ability to store a lot of images on small, reusable storage devices, or Memory Cards. These devices include CompactFlash, Secure Digital, Memory Stick, SmartMedia, MultiMedia Card (MMC), and xD Picture Card. Most digital cameras will only accept one of these types of cards. However, electronics manufacturers are beginning to use these Memory Cards in other devices like MP3 players and digital video cameras so you may find that you can use your Memory Card for a number of different applications.

 

Memory Cards come in a variety of capacities from 16MB up to 1GB or larger. Higher capacity cards cost more money, so, how you take pictures will be a key factor in what size and quantity of memory cards you will need.

 

• Camera Speed

After each shot you will have to wait as the camera processes the photo. While most cameras allow you to shoot an image every few seconds, a few models make you wait 7 seconds or more before you can shoot again. This period of time may frustrate you when you're taking photos in sequence. On the other end of the spectrum, Digital SLRs can be downright speedy??able to shoot at 3 frames per second. Cost for these models are much higher than their slower counterparts, but if you really don't need this kind of speed, you might want to consider going with a camera that has slower shutter speed in order to moderate price.

 

• Manual Controls

Manual controls allow you to set the lens of the camera to various settings to modulate the amount of light entering the camera for special effects such as 'depth of field'. Something like a manual shutter allows you to set the shutter speed yourself allowing a faster shutter speed for action photos or slower shutter speed for special effects like intentional blurring. Slower shutter speeds also allow you to open the shutter for low-light situations or times when you use a tripod.

 

Most digital cameras have either automatic or fixed focus. Manual focus allows the user to adjust the lens to more precise settings, offering more creative influence over image composition. Macro focus is a setting that allows you to take extreme close-ups, from a few inches to only 1 or 2 feet away from the subject.

 

The highest priced cameras are often the most feature-laden. Generally, the more it costs, the more control you get. If you're looking to use your images for more than just e-mail and small prints, you may be better off with a camera that offers more features. If you are looking for less hassle, or have limited knowledge, a camera with limited features may be right for you.

 

• Zoom Capability

Another thing to think about is the amount of zoom you need. Zoom capabilities are wonderful for distant pictures, in situations where you aren't close to your subjects. They are a must have for most sports and wildlife pictures. A zoom lens also makes it easier to compose your shots, and is especially useful for portraits.

 

An optical zoom magnifies the image using a real multifocal-length lens, whereas a digital zoom works by blowing up the center of the image area. Digital zoom gives you a larger picture, made with a smaller amount of information, which results in a lower quality image. Some cameras have both optical and digital zoom, however a digital zoom provides little variability. The optical-zoom range provides a higher quality photo, like that of a standard camera, whereas the image quality with an optical zoom decreases the further one shoots.

 

Optical zoom ratios are typically advertised with an 'x', as in 2x or 3x. A larger number means the zoom focuses in tighter on its subject. Most digital cameras have at least a 3x optical zoom. Many cameras have a 4x, 5x, or even as much as 10x optical zoom. Longer zoom lenses present drawbacks however, such as darker images and more difficulty shooting in low light. These are all elements that you should take into account when purchasing a digital camera.

 

• Movies

The ability to make movies with digital cameras is a nice feature to have, but really shouldn't be the basis for your purchase decision. Many cameras provide the ability to take short movies with sound, however these movies take up a lot of memory and battery capacity, while the resolution is typically low. For quick-bit films, it's a great feature to have however, the best moving photos are taken with a digital camcorder.

 

5. Making the Decision (back to top)

After you've thought through your preferences, done some research, and found some specific models that you think will meet your needs, you can conduct price and feature comparisons on the Internet at a comparison shopping site like http://www.smarter.com/. This will give you valuable information about the pricing of models you are interested in from many of the most reputable camera stores on the Internet.

 

With your price comparisons in hand, it's time to make your purchase decision. Do you think you'll be comfortable with the camera in your hands? Are the controls in the right place and easy to use? Can the digital camera do everything you want it to do? Does it come with image editing software or will you need to purchase a separate package? How much memory is built in to the camera? What kind of warranty if offered? Is it the right camera for you?

 

When you have settled on the right digital camera, just click through on your chosen Internet retailer for more info. Hopefully now you have more information to help make your purchasing decision more informed, now go take some great pics!