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Digital Cameras - An Intoduction

Digital cameras were introduced to the world in 1991 by Kodak, although it took until the mid nineties for the domestic market to really take off. Nowadays, digital camera technology is routinely bundled into mobile phones, so there is never an excuse to miss a photo opportunity.

If, however, you wish to buy a standalone digital camera, there does seem to be an infinite range to choose from. A good place to start is to realise that most features and functionalities of digital cameras vary according to make, model and corresponding price. So, it would be helpful for you to determine what functionality you require, as well as how much you want to spend, before commencing your search. Prices can vary, starting from around £19.99, for your basic `point and click` variety – through to upwards of £1000 for a High-end professional advanced digital camera.

Some example of entry level cameras are, the Vivicam V6324 (£35) and the Canon Powershot A560 7MP Digital Camera (49.99). These cameras will give you auto-focus, built-in flash, zoom and internal and expandable external memory. You will get reasonable quality pictures and the added bonus of not worrying too much if it breaks or gets lost, so an ideal present for children too.

On the next rung up the digital camera ladder, you will find the Canon Powershot E1 10MP Camera (£159.99, available in various colours) and the Sony Cyber-shot W170 10.1MP Digital Camera (£169.99). These higher mid-range cameras will give you features such as, movie capture with sound, internal red-eye fix, face detection and anti-blur.

For the more serious photographer, splash out on Sony Cyber-shot H50 9.1MP Camera.(£299.99) tilting LCD screen, 15 times optical zoom, and an array of accessories including wireless remote control. Or the Samsung GX20 Digital SLR Camera with 18-55 Lens (£649.99) which has extremely versatile functionality including a 2.7in live view LCD screen and is weather proof.

There are so many good choices and bargains available. Read up reviews online before making a purchase and use your budget as a guide to features and functions you will require. The great thing is that with most cameras, the functions, such as focus and lighting, are automatic, so there really isn`t much for you to think about. Read through instructions, watch online tutorials and practice taking pictures and soon you will be a pro!

Most cameras will come with an installation CD and a photo editing package. These are fantastic for eliminating red-eye, editing out people or things from shot, and reducing or enlarging photograph sizes. There are some great photo printing packages available online and in supermarkets, consider also a digital picture frame.

The most important accessory will be a memory card. This will expand your digital cameras picture capacity. Different brands of camera may require different cards, for example xD Picture cards are used in Fuji and Olympus digital cameras. While Sony digital cameras require a memory stick.

To find the best place to buy your memory cards, try MEMORYCARDS.co.uk the memory card price comparison site.