Digital Camera: Research your needs

In order to end up with the digital camera best suited to your needs, you have to clearly understand what you are looking for and what options are available to you. This is done by researching in two areas.

Firstly, you research the market to find out what kinds of digital cameras are available, familiarizing yourself with the different features, styles and price ranges etc. Secondly, you examine your own unique requirements in a digital camera.

Research the Market: Digital Camera essentials

The first part of the research step is to investigate just what's available in the digital camera market. The range of options can seem daunting, but you can make a good start by understanding the following major features:

Resolution: This is expressed in megapixels. If you will be printing 8 x 10 inch (20.3 x 25.4cm) prints or larger photos, you will want higher resolution. If you will be printing snapshots and occasionally 8 x 10 inch photos, you will be fine with 3 to 4 megapixels. As a general rule, the higher the resolution the higher the price tag.

Battery type & life: Digital cameras can use standard disposable, standard rechargeable, high capacity disposable, or proprietary rechargeable batteries. Digital cameras can gobble up battery life so you will want to consider average life, and cost. Generally speaking cameras that accept AA disposable and rechargeable will be cost effective options.

Memory: Digital cameras can come with only a 128 megabyte flash memory card. This does not hold many pictures so you will likely want to upgrade. Other memory cards used are CompactFlash, Secure Digital (SD), Smart Media, MemoryStick, xD picture card and a few cameras offer CD-R or CD-RW drives.

Automatic or Manual control: Full manual control allows you to control the shutter speed and aperture (regulates the amount of light that passes through the lens). This is useful for shooting action, like sporting events, or in tricky lighting situations (i.e. nighttime concerts).

Lens: A zoom lens enables you to zoom in on your subject when you are not close. A zoom wide angle provides the ability to get a zoom and wider angle.

Optical and Digital Zoom: Optical zoom lenses physically extend to magnify the subject and increase picture detail. Digital zoom crops your image and magnifies the result of the cropping which effectively allows you to get 'close up' but you sacrifice image quality. Optical zoom is superior to digital zoom.

Image Stabilization: This feature compensates for “camera shake,” as a result of your hands being unsteady.

Continuous Shooting Mode: Also known as burst mode. This is helpful when shooting action or moving objects. You can hold the shutter button down and a rapid succession of shots are taken.

Size/weight: Cameras come in a range of sizes and weights from ultra compact to large (similar to an SLR camera).

Wireless download: This capability allows you to connect to a wireless network. You can upload to your computer and print without wires. You can even share photos via cellular network just like a camera phone.

Research your needs: Questions to ask yourself

Now it's time to determine what your requirements are in a digital camera. For example, will you use the digital camera only for preserving those special moments or are you studying to be a photojournalist?

You can start this process by considering the following questions - as well as any others you think of yourself - and recording your answers.

Have I used a digital camera before?
	If you have used a digital camera, work out what you did or didn't like about the camera. You may be looking for one exactly like it, hoping to upgrade, or even trying to avoid any particular features that you found inconvenient.

How will I be using the camera?
	You may be a hobbyist or casual picture taker. You might want to shoot moving objects in low light or shoot fast moving objects, i.e. sporting events.

How much control do I want (exposure, composition)?
	You may prefer a simple point and shoot camera or you might want to control the zoom range, shutter speed and lens opening.

How will I process the pictures?
	You can print them at home on a photo printer or send them out for professional processing.

Will this purchase be an upgrade from another digital camera?
	If so, you may prefer a camera compatible with accessories or equipment you already have, such as memory cards.

Will I be editing pictures?
	If so, you may have existing software or you might need to purchase stand-alone software or a photo-shop plug in.

How will I store my photos?
	You may choose to upload them to your computer or just keep them on a memory card.

Understanding your needs is the key to a successful purchase and you can revisit your list of needs at any time during the buying process.

Once you complete this Research step, having informed yourself about the essentials of digital cameras and identified your needs, you are ready to move on to the next step: Evaluation.

Video Links

Samsung Nv 24 Hd Digital Camera - Promo
With its 24mm wide angle lens and an OLED screen, this camera shoots photographs and videos that directly transfer to your TV or computer screen. (1m 55s)