There are many different digital cameras on the market, though most people look for three main things when making their choice: resolution, storage capacity, and special features. Considering your own specific needs and situation is also an important part of the equation. Cameras can be small enough to fit into a pocket or purse or large enough to need their own dedicated carry bag, and the price range can also be quite large. Finding the best model is usually a matter of identifying the device that can do the most important things really well while fitting into your lifestyle.
Resolution
One of the most important things most people care about in a camera is the quality of the photos it takes. In the digital realm, quality is usually described in terms of “resolution,” which in turn is measured in pixels. A pixel is a very small piece of the larger image. Cameras with low resolution capture images using a smaller number of pixels than do those with high resolution. The higher the resolution, the clearer and crisper the image is, and the easier it is to be enlarged and formatted, too.
Digital cameras generally range from 2.0 megapixels to 5 and above. In general, the newer the camera the higher its resolution, as consumers seem to be increasingly looking for detail and color accuracy in their images. Older digital technology and some of the earliest camera models typically used under 2.0 megapixels. Some cell phone cameras also have very low resolution ratings.
Storage Capacity
You’ll also want to think about how much memory a camera has, which is to say, how many photos you can store on the device at any given time. Digital photography doesn’t use standard film, but rather relies on internal disk storage. Most mid-priced cameras do not contain very much storage space, and as a result users have to download their images to a computer or other hard drive somewhat regularly in order to keep taking new shots.
People who know they’re going to be shooting a lot of photos at once — people who travel a lot, for instance, or those who regularly take entire photo shoots of things like weddings — often buy cameras with a lot of storage to start with. You can also add memory later on, just as you can for a computer. It’s usually pretty inexpensive to add memory by using a small card that pops into the camera. These disks can frequently be purchased with capacities between 64MB all the way up to 2 gigabytes. Many people store photos on memory cards on a more or less permanent basis, swapping the cards out with new ones rather than downloading and deleting the images.
Special Features
Digital cameras come with an assortment of options and features that you’ll also want to evaluate. Some can use wide-angle and telephoto lenses for added flexibility, for instance, and others have the ability to shoot video or panoramic shots as well as standard photos. It’s also important to determine how easily the photos can be downloaded for storage or sharing and how easy they are to print. Some models come with docking systems that easily transfer the digital images to the computer. The images can then be modified using special editing software, stored to the hard drive or CD-ROM, and even emailed directly.
Factor in Your Lifestyle
Things like overall size and price are also important factors for many people. You’ll need to determine how you think you’ll be using the camera as well as what you can afford, then find a camera that fits both criteria. The sheer number of choices can make shopping overwhelming if you don’t enter the process with some idea of what you want and what’s most important to you.