What do I need to know before purchasing a digital camera?

You'll have to figure out what you want to do with the pictures, and what you want to take pictures _OF_.

For example, if you want to email most of your pictures and/or post them to Web pages, then you won't need a camera with a lot of megapixels. Believe it or not, pictures more than about a half megapixel in size is wasted on most computer screens and are just a pain to wait to upload and transfer. Most picture software of any sophistication will allow you to cut down the number of megapixels for Web use or for just viewing on a computer, rather than for printing.

For making prints up to 8" by 10", you'll probably have a hard time telling a picture taken with a 4 megapixel or a one with more without a magnifying glass. However, 6 or more megapixels is nice if you want to make really big prints, or will allow you to make acceptable prints from photos that need a lot of cropping (say more than 50% removal of picture area).

I haven't used a digital camcorder, so can't comment on how good still pictures are from them.

I'm somewhat indifferent to the camera/printer dock bundles, since I like to use my one general purpose printer for everything from reports to making quick prints on special paper. The prices for the prints from printer docks seem to be a bit steep as compared to doing them on a general printer and just buying special photo paper separately. If I want to save money on good prints, I do them at Wal Mart or Walgreens or online or....

The best accessories I got for my camera, other than a carrying case, are rechargeable nickel metal hydride batteries with charger, and a memory card reader. The first saved me a bundle of money on disposable batteries. The latter allows me to print stuff using anybody's computer and printer, even from public terminals, without having to deal with installing camera and printer drivers. A word of warning - nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries need to be recharged every few weeks even if the camera isn't used in that time, they tend to go dead on their own. Use disposible lithium batteries if you may not use a camera frequently. Some cameras use rechargable lithium battery packs, like what cell phones and laptops use. I'd suggest staying away from those cameras - replacemet rechargeable lithium battery packs get expensive, and the originals don;t last for than a year with heavy use...

Features: look for a good zoom with a decent amount of telephoto and a "macro" (close up) feature. You'll use those sooner or later. If you can afford the extra money, look for one with "advanced" features like adjustable "sensitivity speeds," and aperture/shutter speed.

I've used a Kodak for several years, no problems with it....

sort: Sony sort: Cybershot You get what you pay for and with Sony you quite get high quality kit and high quality after sales provider. about 4 or 5 years in the past my spouse offered me a 7.2 Megapixel Sony Cybershot digital camera. properly high quality once you got it for £320. I took some photo's with it the different day for a artwork suitable difficulty, i despatched the photo's to an excellent selection of work colleagues as became required and were given an excellent bunch of reply's complimenting me on the photo's and asking what digital camera i became utilising. Many were flabbergasted at the same time as they stumbled on out how lengthy I quite have had the digital camera. The digital camera suits on your palm and in case you purchase a more suitable reminiscence card off ebay it also shoots like a camcorder. Now you'll %. up a 12 to fifteen megapixel cybershot for much less that what she paid quite. enable me sum up your decision in a unmarried note SONY desire this enables.

megapixels arent really a big deal unless you're printing out pictures. if you just want them on your computer, i'm pretty sure it only uses up to 2 megapixels.

videos are nice to have on the camera, but make sure you check to see if it comes with sound.

about the camera/printer dock bundles, i'd mainly focus on getting a good camera that has the functions that i need. make sure it can take pictures fast so it isnt blurry. you can try cameras out in the store and ask people who work there. also, you can look online for camera reviews. real people who have used the cameras will give you their opinions, so it's not biased. make sure you research before you buy.

sonys are nice, but they require a sony battery. if you dont mind that then they are good. canons are very good as well. nikons are nice but they can get expensive. make sure you get the right memory card to go with your camera.

check out canon,sony or fuji. would this be your first digi cam?

i got a sony cybershot with 8 megapixels in it. my first digi cam was a canon ixus 2.0 mega pixels. both brands are amazing.solid performance.i just outgrew the 2.0

it really depends on your needs. if its like a point and shoot an all occssion kind of camera you will be fine with 6mp.prices would be about $220-$275.

first it must be compact and have a good feature its cam should 360 degrees and a very high resolusion