This guide is written toward buyers who are interested or ready to step into digital photography.
Last Updated Feb 20, 2008

Here are something to consider when you are ready to purchase a consumer digital camera.

//Camera Size//
Modern consumer level digital cameras are build compact and feature packed, to carry in your pocket or in your purse for any occasions.  Although note that because of the compact design, camera lens quality and available advanced manual control functions might be compromised greatly.  Prosumer level digital cameras offers more advanced functions, better lens quality and much better picture noise control at higher iso settings, such camera would appear to have a significantly bigger lens barrel and even interchangeable lens.  Prosumer cameras would normally be build much bigger and would not fit into a pocket easily.

//Resolution//
Modern consumer level digital cameras usually have more than 5 megapixel, some prosumer level digi cam even reached 10 megapixel in resolution.  In general, even a 3 megapixel digital camera is sufficient enough to produce a neat 5x7in digital reprint.  5MP cameras are able to produce relatively good quality 8x10 prints, while 10MP digital camera can produce a 11x14in prints without too much detail loss.  Almost all modern digital cameras' picture quality is excellent for screen view and e-mailing purpose.

//Handling//
A good camera should also feel comfortable and solid when held in hand, I strongly suggest you to go personally to a camera store, best buy or circuit city to hold the camera in your hand and play for a while yourself, to see if the button layout (especially shutter release button and image preview, delete function) is comfortable for you.  Cameras with grip, even a small grip, are much better to handle and not to worry about drop it on the floor.

//Battery Life//
Cameras that come with AA or AAA size batteries better to go with one or two sets of hi-capacity rechargeable batteries. Cameras that uses specifically designed rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries (not Ni-MH) are usually even more compact, they also last much longer than cameras that use AA/AAA size batteries.  Well known digital camera manufactures almost all utilize Li-on rechargeable battery in their consumer level digital cameras.

//Memory Storage//
Buy cameras which support Compact Flash (CF) memory card and/or Secure Digital (SD, and SD-HC) memory card.  These two is generally considered standards in digital photography, they also have certain performance,capacity and price advantage compared to other medias.  Avoid cameras which use Smart Media, Multimedia Card, Memory Stick or xD memory card, they are not standards and they are very slow and will phase out of the market fairly soon!

//Prosumer level digital cameras and digital SLR(Single Lens Reflex) cameras//
Cameras in this category usually have much higher performance than lower priced consumer digital cameras, especially in low light situations because the CCD sensor in those cameras are much bigger than smaller digital cameras and the sensitivity of those sensor are much better.  They usually allow total control of all aspects of camera settings, and most of them allow interchangeable lenses to fit special situations or for general purpose use.  These are targeted for amature and/or professional photographers (or just for people who want to get serious with digital photography).  Their price range from $450 to $5000 for camera bodies and $200-over $5000 for camera lenses.  They are much bigger and hard to carry around without other people noticing you.

You can find excellent deals on some excellent entry level digital SLR cameras on eBay, such as Nikon D70/D70s, Nikon D50 and Nikon D40x series.  Or Canon 10D, or Rebel Digital series for under $400.  Now you can probably find a used Canon 20D, or Nikon D200 for under $800, they are very solid professional level digital camera that will suit all your needs. They offer excellent picture quality, low-iso(low light, night) performance, and total control of your camera.

//Care//
When you get your first camera, despite the urge to play with your camera, make sure you read the user manual completely before you do anything to the camera.  If you bought it used and do not have a manual, go to the camera manufactor's website and go to support page and download a PDF copy of the manual. Make sure you DO NOT touch the front lens element or let any thing (fingerprints, oil, water etc) get onto it. It is hard to clean the front lens element and it is very easily scratched thus reduce picture sharpness. If you do, wipe off with a piece of (lint free) lens clean cloth.  If you have a digital SLR camera, make sure to change your lens as quick as possible and void windy conditions or letting dust get into the ccd sensor chamber in anyway, it will create dust spots on your beautiful images and they are even harder to clean (requires cameras to be cleaned professionally)  Do not pull the memory card out while camera is still on.  Do not press hard on the LCD display screen.  If the camera is equiped with Lithium-ion battery, recharge it before it go completely dead, recharge it as often as you like.  If you let the Li-on battery go completely discharged for a while, it might go bad and become unusable.

If you just want a camera to capture your exciting family moment, your wonderful pet or your crazy halloween party, choose a point and shoot digital camera based on your personal preference use this simple guide.  When you had select a camera and ready to purchase, go to "Digital Photography Review" (please search Google for links, eBay do not allow external links).  It's a EXTREMELY useful website for reviews of almost all kinds of digital cameras.  I found their review to be very accurate in determine a cameras performance and value, either professional grade or consumer level.

I wish your digital camera purchasing experience a merry one.  Please vote if  you found this guide helpful so I will be able to write more guides.