| Having trouble choosing a digital camera? This | | | | optical zoom. To me, optical zoom is very |
| article presents all of the things that you should | | | | important as it allows you to take great pictures |
| consider before you spend your hard-earned | | | | at greater distances. The minimum standard |
| money. | | | | now-a-days is 3X optical zoom, but I would |
| We all know that having great pictures of our | | | | suggest looking for cameras that have a greater |
| lives adds so much to our memories of wonderful | | | | number, such as 4X or 5X optical zoom. |
| events that have happened. Sites such as | | | | One factor that is often overlooked is the |
| Facebook and MySpace are great social | | | | portability of the camera. We are able to take |
| networking tools, but, in reality, most people visit | | | | so many pictures today because cameras are so |
| these sites to look at the latest pictures of | | | | small and portable. If you would like to take |
| themselves and their friends. The value of | | | | pictures anywhere, you must have your camera |
| having a great camera cannot be underestimated. | | | | with you at all times. Ask the question: Will it |
| The first question that you must ask is: Should I | | | | fit easily in my pocket or purse? Today, you do |
| upgrade? You probably already have a digital | | | | not have to sacrifice quality just because you |
| camera. It might be a little older and more bulky | | | | want a small camera. |
| than the current digital camera offerings. With | | | | Perhaps the most important consideration in your |
| new digital cameras coming out everyday, you | | | | purchase is the viewing screen. Why? Well, a |
| have certainly wondered whether you should | | | | good portion of the fun with new digital cameras |
| keep your existing camera or upgrade to a new, | | | | is the ability to look at the photo immediately |
| sleek model. | | | | after you take it. For this, you need to have a |
| Let's look at the facts that you should consider. | | | | great LCD screen on the camera. If you are |
| The first thing everyone looks at in a digital | | | | unable to look at a camera before you purchase |
| camera is the number of megapixels. In all | | | | it, pay particular attention to what people say |
| probability, your camera does not have as many | | | | about the viewing area. Is it large enough? |
| megapixels as the new ones on the market | | | | Does it have a bright LCD so that you can view |
| today. You may have 5 or 3.2 megapixels in | | | | the pictures in the daytime or nighttime? |
| your existing camera while most of the new | | | | So what would be my suggestions? There are |
| digital cameras have 8, 10, or even 12 megapixels. | | | | currently two new Canon cameras on the market |
| We need to ask: Is this important? | | | | that meet the criteria above. First, is the |
| The answer is yes, especially if you want to print | | | | PowerShot SD780IS. It meets all of our criteria |
| your photos. For instance, your older 3.2 | | | | above and is probably the most stylish point and |
| megapixel camera can produce decent 4X6 | | | | shoot camera that you can currently buy. And |
| photos but as you increase the size that you | | | | secondly, I would point out the Powershot |
| want to print, the quality will diminish. New | | | | SD880IS. It too meets our guidelines for quality |
| cameras of 8 megapixels or more can print just | | | | and portability and comes with a 4X stabilized |
| about any size photos. When you have more | | | | zoom, allowing great pictures from afar. |
| than 8 megapixels, the camera lens usually | | | | If you look at these criteria--megapixels, zoom, |
| becomes the limitation. | | | | portability, and quality of the viewfinder--you will |
| If you are an amateur photographer, you want to | | | | always choose wisely. Finally, if you are buying |
| take note of the optical zoom of the lens. | | | | online, be sure to read all the reviews of others |
| (You will often see a "digital zoom" specified in | | | | to ensure that they are satisfied with their new |
| advertisements but this is not important.) Your | | | | digital camera. |
| old digital camera probably has unsatisfactory | | | | |