| The features you should consider when | | | | and lets you set the exposure yourself. |
| purchasing your digital camera are: | | | | - Focus Controls - As well as having exposure |
| - Resolution - This is probably the most important | | | | controls, all but the least expensive digital cameras |
| feature you should consider as the resolution will | | | | has an automated focus control for sharper |
| determine how sharp your image will be and how | | | | images. More expensive cameras, of course, have |
| much you can enlarge it or crop it. | | | | more versatile focus controls that will allow you to |
| - Lens - The camera lens acts the same as your | | | | focus manually so the object you want to |
| eyes. You want a lens that gives you a good | | | | emphasize the most is the sharpest. |
| sharp image and one that has enough | | | | - Viewfinders - Most digital cameras have two |
| light-gathering ability to let you take pictures when | | | | ways to let you preview and compose your |
| you are in a darker area. The digital camera lens | | | | subjects - a color LCD panel and an optical |
| should also be capable of zooming in and out to | | | | viewfinder. If the light is too bright to view the |
| make the images appear larger or smaller, closer | | | | LCD screen then you can use the optical |
| of farther away. | | | | viewfinder. Your more expensive SLR cameras let |
| - Storage Capacity - The amount of removable | | | | you see the optical view of the picture through |
| storage in your digital camera will determine how | | | | the same lens that takes the picture. |
| many pictures you can take before you have to | | | | - Miscellaneous Equipment - You will eventually |
| reload your camera. | | | | want to add some other accessories to your |
| - Exposure Controls - All digital cameras, except | | | | photographic equipment, such as, tripods, filters |
| for the cheapest, include some form of automatic | | | | extra lenses, external flash units, printers and |
| exposure control which determines the amount of | | | | external storage devices. These extra items you |
| light that reaches the sensor depending on lighting | | | | can pick up gradually. |
| conditions.The better quality the camera, the | | | | This gives you an overview of what to look for |
| more you can specify the type of exposure to | | | | when shopping for your digital camera. I will be |
| use. If you want better control over your | | | | going into more detail about these features and |
| cameras exposure, then you should choose one | | | | what to look for in future articles. |
| that can handle several different exposure modes | | | | |