As a teacher of digital photography I am frequently asked about buying a camera. For those of you who money is not a problem, stop reading here and go elsewhere, this blog is not for you.

SELECTING A DIGITAL CAMERA –

Before going out on your shopping venture you need to be honest with yourself, brutally honest with yourself. First establish a budget not only for the camera itself but also for the accessories that you will need for it. Items such as memory cards, extra batteries and camera case can easily cost $50 or more, probably more. The extras should include the following:
Memory cards – 2 x 1GB cards or 1 x 2GB – about $15 -$20. A 4GB card is $20-40.
Extra batteries – 4AA rechargeable - $12-15 - LiON battery run $15-30 or more
Battery Charger - $10-18 (look for dual voltage (120-240v)
Camera case $8-20

Digital cameras come in a variety of types and with a varying selection of features.
BASIC CAMERAS are simple point & shoot (P&S) with an optical zoom of up to 3x – 6x
ULTRA COMPACT CAMERAS- small cameras that easily fit into a pocket or purse.
INTERMEDIATE ZOOMING CAMERAS- zoom range up to 10x- 12x optical zoom
MINI SLR TYPE- ULTRA ZOOM CAMERAS- zoom range from 12-20x optical zoom
INTERNAL ZOOMING CAMERAS- The lens is totally enclosed within the camera body and does not extend out. Zoom range may be up to 4x optical
PROSUMER CAMERAS – designed for the advanced photographer
DIGITAL SLR- designed for the advanced photographer

Before selecting a camera type it pays to look at the various important features.
Certain camera features are critical to all types of camera users and should be used to include or disqualify possible camera choices.

1. LCD size- The LCD is the window on the back of the camera that is used for taking viewing or reviewing images. It is also the window used for setting the camera parameters and settings. The LCD should be as large and bright as possible. The standard screen size today is 2.5 inches while some of the newer cameras sport screens as large as 3”, some even larger.. Unfortunately, not all screens of the same size are identical. The LCD is made up of dots or pixels used to display the image. Pick one with at least 200,000 pixels if there is an optical viewfinder, 230,000 without. Generally, the more the better. Some LCD work better in bright light while others also work well in dim light. Check DPReview for details on the LCD. (http://www.dpreview.com/
2. Shutter Lag – This is the time interval between pressing the shutter all the way down to take the picture and when the camera actually takes the picture. Most of today’s cameras have reasonably short shutter lag, but a few still have a far too long a time interval between pressing the shutter and taking the picture. Also check the time needed to get the camera ready to shoot and the time lag between pictures. A NUMBER OF CAMERA MANUFACTURERS NOW SUGGEST THAT YOU ALWAYS HALF-PRESS THE SHUTTER BEFORE TAKING THE PICTURE.
3. Zoom Range- The standard zoom range in today’s cameras is 3x OPTICAL. Optical Zoom is the only factor you should consider since digital zoom tends to degrade the picture. All digital cameras come with some digital zoom. A 3x optical zoom means that the camera goes from wide angle to telephoto by a factor of 3x. A wide angle (28mm) allows more of the subject to be included in the picture but the subject appears smaller. Telephoto means the subject is shown larger and closer but less of the total scene is shown. The common 3x optical zoom ranges are 35-105mm. 37-111mm and 28-84mm. The 28-84mm zoom is rarer but more useable in the cramped settings of a party or a small size room..
4. Image Stabilization (IS) is important. The only 2 kinds of IS worth considering are Optical IS where a lens element moves so as to minimize camera shake and Sensor IS where the camera imaging sensor moves to minimize camera shake. Any other type of IS has minimal value and may in fact cause a degrading of the final image.

5. PIXELS –The number of pixels you need is a function of how dedicated to processing images you are after taking the pictures. The more dedicated, the more pixels, well almost. Six megapixels (6MP) are more than enough to produce very good 8x10 or even 11x14 images. 7MP or 8MP are enough for almost anyone. Note that the higher pixel count may result in increased grain (noise) in the image.
6. VIEWFINDER- A viewfinder is useful in poor or very bright light. Cameras with a 3 inch LCD rarely have optical viewfinders. Cameras with 10x or larger zooms use electronic viewfinders (EVF). Some EVF suffer from image lag, i.e., what you see is old news, in a fast moving scene the viewfinder is NOT showing what the camera is aimed at.
7. Camera controls such as shutter speed and aperture setting. If you were a dedicated film photographer you will want these, if your are not that type, this is one added feature to complicate your life. However, you can get these features without adding to the cost of the camera and can still use the camera in an auto mode. The pros hate to admit it, but many of them use the auto mode for aobut 90% of their shots.
The following are additional things to consider:
1. Battery type – AA rechargeable batteries are preferred but many small cameras purse (pocket, extended zoom) may use proprietary LiON batteries. The best AA rechargeable batteries are the ENELOOP brand by GE/Sanyo.
2. Histogram in either preview (live) or review (after the shot) mode
3. Focusing Assist Lamp – this is a light on the camera front that goes on as you try to focus. It makes focusing easier in dim light. Some cameras use the flash for this.
4. Function (FUNC) Mode – allows changing of certain picture taking parameters without going into the menu. A very handy feature if you are a “photographer”.
5. Exposure Compensation - allows you to compensate for backlit or unusual lighting.
6. Flash Compensation – Allows you to alter the strength of the flash to compensate for unusual situations.
7. Memory card type- CF and SD cards are cheaper than xD and Memory Sticks.
8. Scene Modes – Beware of overkill, too many options can be confusing.
9. Hard to define features
 The best menus explain features and settings and may even give shooting advice. Check the ease of changing camera settings..
 If possible the LCD should be readable even in very bright or dim light.
 The camera should be easy to hold securely and fit your hand size.
So what am I recommending? Canon, Nikon, Sony, Panasonic and Kodak sell the bulk of digital cameras for the basic and intermediate user. Pentax, Fuji, Olympus and Casio have loyal followers and make excellent cameras for use in most categories.
MY CAMERA RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Compact Size - Canon A650 IS, A640, A720IS, A2000 IS, Panasonic DMC-TZ3, TZ5,
2. Ultra Compact -The Canon SD series of cameras are generally well liked by their users
3. SLR type Ultra Zoom –Canon SX10 IS, Panasonic DMC-FZ28.
4. Digital SLR cameras- investigate before buying.