How To Choose A Digital Camera

Buying a digital camera is a great investment for many people, since it allows them to take as many photos as they want without ever having to buy film again. However, with so many of them on the market, it's tough to decide how to choose a digital camera. However, if you pay attention to a few key factors the decision gets much easier.

Perhaps the most important factor in deciding how to choose a digital camera is the camera's resolution. A camera's resolution, measured in megapixels, is probably the best reflection of how good the photos from the camera will be. If you're just taking photos to post on the web or send via email you don't need to worry about resolution quite so much, but if you plan on printing any of your photos you should get the highest resolution you can afford.

You're probably going to use your zoom a lot, making it another important factor to consider when choosing a digital camera. In general, more is better, but be sure you're comparing the optical zoom between cameras, not the digital zoom. Digital zoom only makes objects appear closer by cropping off the edges of the photo and expanding the image, resulting in lower resolution.

Next, consider the camera's size. What do you plan on using it for? If you're planning on using it for more formal portraits or high-resolution, big zoom shots, then you may want a full-on digital SLR (single lens reflex) camera similar to those used by professional photographers. Though they're expensive, retailing around $1000, they take the best photos of any digital camera. However, they're bulky and heavy, and awkward if you want to carry them around in your purse or backpack. If you'll be using your camera for party or social photos, carrying it around with you often, then an ultra light camera may be best. Though the resolution and zoom won't be as good as standard compact digitals, you'll be able to take your camera anywhere.

Finally, consider any other options you may want like a large screen, interchangeable lenses, or manual photo controls. There are lots of different digital cameras to choose from, so you should be able to find something that will fit your needs perfectly. Granted, there are lots of factors to consider when deciding how to choose a digital camera, but resolution, zoom, size of the camera, and the size of your budget, are by far the most important.