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When selecting a digital camera, consider both your personal and technical needs.

First, ask yourself is what you will be using the camera for? Will you be taking quick snapshots and emailing them to all your friends? Are you planning on taking a lot of photographs at a time, to print and place into a photo album? Will you need to be able to print to a full 8″ x 10″ print for home or work needs?

If you currently have a film camera, think back at how you have used it in the last few months to a year. Would the digital camera replace your film camera, or will you use it for the “less important” photographs?

These questions will give quick answers to many of the technical options of today’s digital cameras.

For quick snapshots, size and ease of use are most important. You should pick a camera that is small, so you can comfortably carry it with you all the time. You should also see how long the camera takes to turn on. Some digital cameras can seem like they take forever to turn on, especially when you want to take a photo of a fleeting facial expression.

For capturing more important memories, like taking photographs on trips, family get-togethers, or a child’s sporting event - image resolution and storage become more important. Look for at least a 2-3 megapixel (total number of pixels the camera is capable of capturing, ex. 2048 x 1536) digital camera. These resolutions will give you great 4×5s and will still let you print out an 8×10 photograph that looks pretty good.

You will also need to look into how many pictures you can capture onto the camera. Most digital cameras use some sort of removable storage card; digital film if you will. The prices of these cards can vary a lot between types. A hi-quality 3 megapixel image can take upwards of 2 megabytes (MB) per image. This will give you only 9 pictures on a 16MB storage card – equivalent to only 1/3 a roll of 35mm film! You should calculate the cost of a higher capacity storage card into the purchase of your digital camera.

If you currently have a Single Lens Reflex (SLR) film camera, you may now be able to get a digital camera that can use your current detachable lenses and accessories. Digital SLRs have significantly come down in price in the last year, and will continue to do so. These cameras tend to start at the 3-4 megapixel range and go up through 16 megapixels at this time.

One thing to be aware of with digital SLR cameras is the “zoom factor”. Until recently; the chip that actually captures the image (CCD) was smaller than a 35mm film frame. This means that your existing SLR lenses will be zoomed-in by the digital camera. High end digital SLRs have a “full frame” CCD that eliminates this affect.

Lastly, the most important thing you should look for in a digital camera is whether you like it or not. If something about the camera really bugs you, it won’t be used as often.

Play with a friend’s camera and take some pictures. Do you like how the camera feels? Does it fit in your hand? Can you push the button you want without pressing the ones next to it? Can you turn the camera on and take a picture quickly? Are all the buttons and options on the camera a confusing mess? Now view your pictures on your computer and print them. Do you like how the pictures look on screen? Printed out?

Go to a store where you can ask questions. Let the sales person show you the differences between the various cameras and how to use them. I think you may find that the extra $20 you spend at these stores is well worth getting a camera that you know you will like. Remember what you will actually use the camera for, not what fancy feature the sales person is trying to sell you.

So, how are you going to use your new digital camera? Remember to make sure it is at least a 2-3 megapixel camera if you plan on printing the photos. Check that there is enough storage for your pictures at the resolution you plan on taking them at. Get the extra 64MB or 128MB storage card, and keep the 16MB card in your camera bag just in case you do fill the larger card. Get a camera that you are comfortable using, so you can take wonderful pictures with it instead of flipping through the user manual.

Enjoy your new digital camera!

What would you like to ask the pro? Email your questions to askthepro@OnYourMark.com!