How to choose a digital camera

The most important step you need to take when choosing a digital camera is to try them out. Consider the size and weight of the camera. The smaller and lighter it is, the more likely you are to take it with you. Look for one that is water resistant and very easy to use. If you can't use the features there is no point in having them. You can expect to spend from $300-$1000 for a good quality camera.

Digital photographs are made up of tiny squares called pixels. The more pixels the better the detail and the sharpness of your pictures. Buy a camera with at least 1 megapixel (1 million pixels) or you will be disappointed with your results.

Make sure that your camera comes with removable photo storage. Removable media lets you remove one storage device when it's full and insert another. The number of images you can take is limited only by the number of storage devices you have. The number you can store is important because once you reach the limit you have no choice but to quit taking pictures or erase some existing ones to make room for new ones.

Also important is the lens. Lenses made from glass give you sharper images and are less likely to get scratched than plastic. Also you will want a zoom lens, but be very careful. This can get tricky because these lenses come in two types, optical and digital. You want an optical zoom. The digital zoom does not actually take a larger image of what you are shooting at, it really just blows up a smaller section of the original picture. This makes the picture grainy and decreases the sharpness. Digital zoom is not even needed because you can obtain the same effect by using your photo-editing software to crop and enlarge a regular image. Choose a camera with automatic focus. Many digital camera lenses also have a macro mode. These lenses act like any other lens until you switch them to macro mode. In this mode you can get very close to objects so they are greatly enlarged in the image.

The camera may have a choice of different flash modes. Auto-flash goes off automatically if there isn't enough light or when the light is coming from behind the subject. Red-eye reduction mode fires a quick flash to close the subjects irises before the main flash and picture are taken

Look for a through-the-lens viewfinder. They allow for better centering of your subject as well as using fewer batteries than a preview screen. Preview screens are small LCD color displays built right into the camera.

There are many additional options that are available. Burst mode lets you take one photo after another as long as you hold down the shutter button. Time lapse takes a series of pictures at specified intervals. This is very nice for botanical shots. Auto-exposure calculates the correct exposure for the scene. Automatic white balance adjusts the colors in the image to match the source of light. Auto-advance prepares the camera for the next photo.

Digital cameras are notorious battery eaters. A very important accessory is rechargeable batteries. Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries are what you need. Nickel Cadmium (NiCad) batteries are the most common type of rechargeable battery but if you use only part of the charge, then recharge it again, it doesn't take a full charge. In order to recharge your batteries you will need a battery recharger. Make sure that it will recharge both NiMH and NiCd battery cells, the recharge time is minimal, it will charge more than 2 batteries at once and that it has a 12V car power cord so you can plug it in the cigarette lighter and charge your batteries while traveling.

Last, but not least is the software included with your camera. There are many types of software that you will need and you want so be sure you know what is included and what you might need to purchase separately. In order to transfer your pictures to your computer or other device you will need download software. Photo-editing software lets you edit your images. Panoramic stitching software lets you assemble a series of images into a seamless panorama. Album software lets you organize the images stored on your system. Photo printing software lets you print a number of different sized images on the same sheet of paper.

Digital cameras are fun for the whole family and can provide you with wonderful images that are easy to take and even easier to save and share.