Choosing the Right Camera For the casual photographer thinking about purchasing a digital camera, the primary things to consider are the price, the resolution (megapixels) of the camera, the type of batteries it uses (built-in rechargeable or AA), and the type of zoom.
Price A low-end digital camera will range between $50 and $200. $200 to $500 will get you a good mid-range camera, and $500 on up is the high end.
Resolutions (megapixels) Resolution is important, but it is not the only feature that matters. Because low-end cameras now are able to shoot at 4 megapixels or higher, it allows the camera buyer to focus on other features of the camera, like battery type and type of zoom.
If you're thinking of printing your images, refer to the chart below to get an idea of how many megapixels of resolution it takes to produce a good printout in various sizes.
Megapixels of Resolution
Pixel Size
Print Size
2 megapixels or less
1600 x 1200 pixels
5 x 7 print
3 to 4 megapixels
2048 x 1538 pixels
8 x 10 print
4 to 6 megapixels
11 x 14 print
Batteries It is preferable to get a camera that can use AA rechargeables. Be sure to purchase rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) AAs. These will last much longer than typical alkaline AA batteries.
Zoom Optical zoom is preferable to digital zoom. With digital zoom, as the image gets bigger, the quality gets worse. 3x zoom is adequate for most casual photographers.
Helpful Links
PC World's How to Buy a Digital Camera has additional information about digital camera specifications, shopping tips, and more. Digital Photography Review at http://www.dpreview.com/ also is a good source of information for digital camera buyers.