How to Choose a Digital Camera

Do you even know what a pixel is, or how it works to form a photograph? Understanding the terminology behind digital imaging is an important step in understanding how to choose a digital camera best suited to your purposed. In order to choose a digital camera that will work for you personally, it is best to begin with an overview of the technology. Here are a few basic words and definitions that will broaden your scope of the equipment, allowing you to educate yourself in order to accomplish an informed decision when you choose a digital camera.

Pixel - A tiny dot that is incorporated with others in order to make a complete image.

Compression - The process of eliminating duplicated data in order to allow for more space when saving an image.

Image Sensor - A device that converts a visual image to an electronic signal.

DPI - Dots per Inch. This is a measurement of image resolution.

With those few terms in your vocabulary, you are already better equipped to make a good decision. Understanding the technology is essential, but one need not be a computer engineer or professional photographer to purchase the equipment that best suits their needs. The first question you need to ask yourself is "What is my purpose for this digital camera?" Do you plan to take family snapshots on holidays or are you interested in wildlife photography? Will you be uploading your images to the internet or printing them for distribution to others? These are all important factors when you choose a digital camera, as the quality of the image is the main question.

If you are looking for a camera that will allow you flexibility and ease of use for snapshots of friends, family, and events you may find that a typical point and shoot camera works well for you. These cameras will not take quality long-distance photographs but are perfect for social gatherings and events. These cameras tend to be more automated, for those of us who are unfamiliar with photography and they often include sensors which automatically determine light and flash settings. Point and shoot cameras are also, by far, the most cost-effective and have the lowest image resolution making them easy to upload and email to friends or family. A personal use camera such as this is ideal for a novice who wants to learn a bit before making a huge investment. Some good examples of point and shoot cameras are Kodak's EasyShare series. This series offers various levels of zoom capabilities but are fully automated when it comes to the more daunting tasks of adjusting lighting levels and focusing. Products such as this range in price from as little as $100.00 to $250.00, however a beginner should probably try to stay on the low end of this range until they are more comfortable with the process.

For someone a bit more advanced you might choose a digital camera that is referred to as a multi-megapixel camera. This type of camera is better suited for making quality prints and a good telescopic lens will allow for increased flexibility and range in images. Any camera that allows for two or megapixels will be much more effective in printing out near photographic images. A good example of a multi-megapixel camera is Panasonic's DMC Series. These cameras range anywhere from $300.00 all the way up to $1,500.00 and more, so make sure you do plenty of thorough research about the capabilities of each digital camera versus your needs.

Varieties of digital cameras differ so widely that it is always a good choice to carefully compare your options. When you choose a digital camera be sure to ask questions regarding product guarantees, warranties, and similar service packages available. If you are still not sure which digital camera may be best for you, the best suggestion is to buy an inexpensive version until you are more comfortable with the products available on the market. Just keep in mind that, as with all advancing technology, changes are made frequently. The key to making the right decision is educating yourself and learning the terminology.