It seems that most people, including many of my friends, look at the highest megapixels as a criterion to buying the “best” digital camera. This however is not always best way to select a digital camera. There are many factors that you must look at when deciding to buy a digital camera. I’ll discuss what I see as the most important three.

1) The Megapixel War

It seems that the most publicized spec of any digital camera sold on the market is its megapixel. For example, a 6 megapixel (MP) camera captures 2816 horizontal pixels x 2112 vertical pixels. I would personally recommend a 6 or 7MP camera at this point. This will give you excellent resolution when making prints up to 13x19s. If you are going to be using imaging software to experiment with cropping photos, then perhaps an 8 or more megapixel camera would be more suitable.

2) Optical and Digital Zoom

Lens quality, which determines the zoom, is a VERY important spec that you must look at before buying your digital camera. First, choose only camera models with optical zoom lenses rather than just digital zoom. Optical zooms let you take a variety of shots, including close-ups and landscapes; therefore, it is really the only way to go. Models with only digital zoom will degrade photo quality when zooming in, and you'll see the difference when you make prints of size 8x10 and larger. For casual events, I would recommend 5x optical zoom. If you are really into photography or just love taking tons of pictures, you should consider a more powerful optical zoom.
 

3) Monitor Size

Take a look at the large screen on the back. The LCD screen is one of the best benefits of digital cameras. LCD screens on cameras are measured diagonally with 2.5 inches being the common size. I prefer even larger ones, up to 3 inches. Screens are also measured in pixels, just like image size. Again, the more pixels, the better the image you'll see on screen.
 

There are other features that you should look for as well. These I might discuss in details later. Take a look at the “Ultimate Check List”.

The Ultimate Check List:

• At least a 6 or 7 MP imaging device for a D-SLR
• Optical zoom of 5x, not just a digital zoom
• A large LCD screen; the more pixels, the better the quality
• Wide range for aperture (f/stops), shutter speed and ISO
• An AF Illuminator or AF Assist mode for best flash shots in dim light
• A variety of Scene Modes for convenient shooting in a variety of situations
• Make sure you do your own hands-on test

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