Are you buying a digital camera? Find out more about your options

Digital cameras have advanced enormously in the last few years with many clever features incorporated into them; many of these functions the average buyer has either no need for or just doesn't understand. Of all the options available, what would you ask for if you were going to buy a digital camera? If this is your first camera then you must be honest with yourself if you have no idea what functions you would want your camera to have.

Is this something that is going to be used all the time? Once you have sorted this out you will have to think about how much you are prepared to spend on this new piece of technology. If you are using you home pc to carry out photo editing you will need to think about whether you pc is up to the task. Some computer outlets can supply complete computer systems that include a digital camera, printer, software and other accessories, so you can be 'up and running' very quickly. Fortunately you won't have to pay for the image editing software when you buy a digital camera but if you are after a printer or cartridges, these will be an extra expense that will have to be catered for.

Other items, other than the printer, the ink cartridges and special paper are the memory cards which once again will need to be purchased. By adjusting the megapixel setting up to the maximum you will ensure your pictures are of a much higher quality. Many of the latest model digital cameras have a small built in memory but this will only store a few images at the highest resolution so a separate storage card will be necessary. The storage capacity of some current storage cards can go up to 32 gigabytes; most users can happily use 1 or 2 gigabyte cards to store hundreds of images.

The more comfortable your choice is, the more likely it is you will use it. Look at where all the controls are and see how easy they are to find and use. If you use your digital camera a great deal then the power source is important so try to use rechargeable types; these are a great idea and over the life of the battery can save hundreds of dollars and that's also better for the environment. Some people buy their digital camera purely on the size of the screen; it makes both viewing and taking photos much easier but they can be a drain on battery power.

Many of the sub-compact versions have decided to do away with the viewfinder and concentrate on fitting the largest screen they can because people like using them. If you enjoy close up pictures then you need a model with an optical zoom. Unfortunately digital zoom only cameras just really aren't worth the price with image quality reduced along with the printing results. Two other things to look out for are diopter adjustment for people with poorer vision and a tripod socket because both are very useful. With this information, you can now figure out what you really need and want before you buy a digital camera.

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