First Time Buyer's Guide to Digital Cameras

So you’re ready to buy a digital camera, but you have no idea where to start. Between megapixels, megabytes, optical zoom, digital zoom, and a seemingly endless array of bells and whistles, the team at DigitalAdvisor knows that choosing a digital camera can be a daunting proposition.

Fortunately, we're here to help -- this plain-English guide will explain the basics of digital cameras and help you choose the right one for your needs.

· Size Does Matter

· Resolution: Bigger isn’t Always Better

· How Much Control?

· Options & Features

· What Else do you Need?

· How Much Will it Cost?

Step One: Size Does Matter

The first question you should ask yourself is how you intend to use your camera: Are you a party-goer looking for a pocket-size point & shoot, a globetrotter who needs a durable camera that can operate anywhere, or an expert photographer intent on shooting professional-quality images? Perhaps you have another use in mind?

Size and weight do matter, and how you intend to use your camera will dictate whether you’d be better off with a tiny 3.5-ounce point & shoot or a bulky 1.5-pound SLR. Think about how the camera is going to fit into your life and how you'd like to carry it -- the smallest cameras can slip right into your pocket, while bigger ones require a bulky camera bag. Once you know what size suits you best, you'll see the list of options narrow substantially

Step Two: Resolution -- Bigger isn’t Always Better

Resolution is probably the least understood aspect of digital photography.

A camera’s resolution is measured in pixels, which are the tiny dots of light that create a digital image. One megapixel is the equivalent of one million individual pixels, so a 5-megapixel camera produces images that are made up of five million pixels.

So what does all this mean? In a nutshell, higher resolution cameras can produce larger printed photos. Unfortunately, many people fall into the trap of believing that higher resolution means better pictures, regardless of size -- this is not true.

If you are like the majority of photographers, you'll probably never print photos larger than 4x6 or 5x7 inches. If this is the case you'll be fine with a 3-megapixel camera. A 4-megapixel model will do the job if you want to print 8x10 inch pictures. If you plan on printing larger, poster-size prints, then opt for a 5+ megapixel camera.

For photographers who plan on editing their images on a computer, high resolution brings with it another benefit -- the ability to crop images and still print them with clarity. The higher a camera's resolution, the more its images can be cropped and enlarged without losing their clarity. If you anticipate editing your pictures this way, then a higher resolution camera is worth the money.

In conclusion, it is important to choose a camera that supports your needs, but be don’t be lured into thinking bigger is always better.

Step Three: How Much Control?

Next ask yourself how much control you want over the photographic process. Are you content to let your camera make the decisions and take all your pictures on automatic mode, or do you want control over focus, speed, aperture, etc.?

If you’re the type that is easily intimated by technology, or you simply want a minimum of hassle, then a simple camera with mostly automatic controls is the best choice for you. If you want more control over your photos, or think that you might in the future, you should choose a camera with a broad set of manual controls. Keep in mind that even the most advanced cameras have an automatic mode, so you’ll never be forced to use manual features.

A quick scan of the product reviews on DigitalAdvisor will reveal which models are easy to use and which are more complex. The bottom line: Choose a camera that you’re comfortable with and your transition to digital photography will be much more enjoyable.

Step Four: Options & Features

Thought it's easy to get the sense that all digital cameras are alike, the fact is that they're not! If you look closely you'll see many little differences, some of which can make a big impact when you're taking pictures. Options available on some cameras include:

Movie mode: Digital camera movie modes vary in resolution and frame rates. The higher the resolution and the faster the frame rate, the better the movies will be. Top-of-the-line movie modes currently offer 640x480 resolution and 30 frames per second speed. Some cameras limit the length of movies, while others let you record as long as your memory card will allow.

Autofocus Assist Light: An autofocus assist light helps cameras focus in low-light conditions. Similar to a built-in flashlight, an autofocus assist light briefly illuminates the subject so that the camera can focus accurately. In a perfect world, all digital cameras would have this feature -- unfortunately many do not. If you have a choice, choose a camera with this feature.

Extended Zoom: Digital cameras with extended zoom capability have greater telephoto power than other models. While most cameras offer 3- or 4x optical zoom, extended zoom cameras have 10X+ optical zoom, which is ideal for anyone that needs to take close-up shots of distant subjects.

Image Stabilizer: An image stabilizer turns what would usually be blurry images into tack-sharp shots. Whether the blur is caused by a bouncing bus or a lengthy exposure, image stabilization will correct for the movement and eliminate the shake from the picture.

Burst shooting: Burst shooting takes multiple pictures in rapid succession -- it is useful for fast-moving action shots.

Panoramic stitching function: While most image editing programs can create panoramic pictures from multiple individual photos, some cameras have a panoramic assist mode which helps you frame and sequence the pictures properly.

Weather-Proof Housing: A few of cameras have weatherproof bodies. Though they cannot be immersed in water, they will withstand rain, snow and the occasional splash of water.

Step Five: What else do I Need?

Though the list of potential accessories is quite long, there are only two accessories that you absolutely must have: memory and batteries.

All digital cameras are shipped with inadequate memory -- usually a 16- or 32MB memory card that can only hold a handful of photos. It is therefore very important that you purchase additional memory. At a minimum, DigitalAdvisor recommends buying the following amount of memory:

· 3 Megapixel Cameras: 64MB

· 4 Megapixel Cameras: 128MB

· 5+ Megapixel Cameras: 256MB

If your camera comes with disposable alkaline AA batteries, it is also essential that you purchase a set of rechargeable NIMH batteries -- the included alkaline batteries may only last for an hour or two of shooting.

Step Six: How Much Will it Cost?

If you’ve come this far, you’re probably still interested in buying a digital camera. But how much will it cost? The answer, of course, depends on what you want. Generally speaking, cost rises with resolution. Cameras with 2-megapixel resolution start around $100; 3- and 4-megapixel models are available for $200 or more; 5 megapixel cameras can cost anywhere from $250 and up, and 6+ megapixel cameras cost $500 or more. Digital SLRs with detachable lenses begin around $1000.

Additional memory and rechargeable batteries, if your camera needs them, will add additional cost, starting at approximately $25 for memory and $20-$50 for rechargeable NiMH batteries.

Step Seven: Research, Compare, and Buy!

Armed with your new-found knowledge, you can browse DigitalAdvisor's wide selection of digital cameras. Every camera is given an overall rating, and we’ve provided summaries and links to hundreds of reviews written by shoppers just like you. Find a camera that fits your needs, review the ratings, and check the prices from our qualified merchant partners. The last thing left to do is buy – welcome to the digital world!