Recommendations for Buyers

Before purchasing a digital camera, there are some guidelines that one should keep in mind. This chapter will outline some of these guidelines.

Know what you will be using the digital camera to do.

If just want to take general photographs a then a regular 3.0 to 4.0 megapixel point and shoot digital camera with automatic modes would suffice.
For those who are a bit more advanced and want more control over the pictures that they are taking, a 3.2 to 5.0 digital camera with both manual and automatic functions would be better suited. Additionally, the camera should have a combination of digital and more importantly optical zoom.
If you were a professional photographer then a high end Digital SLR camera would be the camera for you. These cameras offer full manual controls as well as automatic controls. These cameras also allow the used to attach additional zoom lens to capture telephoto and wide-angle shots.

Choose the appropriate resolution and zoom.

This is an extension of the fist point, the megapixels and zoom needed depends on what you plan to use the camera for.

Resolution

Resolution is measured in pixels (most commonly megapixels) and determines the quality of the photograph, the more the pixels the better the photo.
If you only want to email, store pictures on CD or your PC, and print regular 4x6 or up to 8 ½ x 10 inches photographs then a 3 to 4 megapixels camera is suggested.
If you wish to make professional-quality enlargements for work presentations or simple enlargements for decoration, such as 11 x 7 inches, then you should choose a camera with 5 to 6 megapixels.
For those who are involved in professional photography and advanced photo editing then a 7 megapixel or higher camera would be best suited.

Zoom

Digital cameras typically have two types of zoom: digital and optical zoom. Optical is the most useful and important as it brings the image closer to you.
If you primarily want a camera for general picture taking, such as family get-together's and outings, then a camera with digital zoom can be used or you may opt for a camera with 1x to, at the most, 4x optical zoom.
For persons who wish to take more detailed photographs or pictures some distance away from the subject, then a 5x to 7x zoom would be better suited.
The professional photographer, who is interested in taking scenery shots, zooming in on a specific target far away, then a camera with 8x to 12x zoom would be ideal. Also, a camera with additional zoom lens would be used for this purpose.

Consider the size that fits your activities.

The size of the camera that you choose depends on two factors, namely, the features and the activities that you plan to use it for. If you always carry your digital camera and you have limited space in your bag or in your pocket then a pocket camera would be best suited for you. If you use you camera occasionally and you don’t mind carrying your camera in your hand or have the space then you may consider a larger camera. The other point to note is that certain features increase the size of a camera. The best example of this is to consider the Digital SLR that is used by professionals. These cameras usually have a larger sensor and large zoom lenses as well as additional zoom lens, which greatly increase the size of the camera.

Associated peripheral devices.

The final recommendation deals with the peripheral devices.

Memory

Most digital cameras come with internal memory, however the internal memory is very limited, typically only 16 megabytes. So purchasing external memory may be necessary. The size memory that you select will depend on the resolution of the camera and the number of pictures you plan to take.  The higher the resolution and the more pictures you take will naturally require more memory.

Power

Digital cameras use a lot of power, so the regular alkaline batteries are not recommended, as you would spend a fortune buying batteries on a regular basis. It is suggested that you buy rechargeable batteries for your digital camera.

Printing materials

You may wish to take your photographs to a photo lab for printing or you may choose to print them yourself. If you choose to print your own photographs then you will need a photo-printer or an ordinary inkjet or laser printer. You will also need to purchase photo ink, as it withstands fading much better than ordinary ink and photo paper.

A carry case

Anyone who buys a camera, whether digital or film should have a camera case. The case serves to protect the camera from scratches and dents. It also provides you with a convenient way to carry your batteries, memory cards and additional lenses.

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