Most digital cameras come with a small capacity media card. A 2-megapixel
digital camera can usually hold about eight to ten pictures on an 8 MB memory
card. You will most likely want to buy a higher capacity memory card. Compact,
SmartMedia, and MemorySticks are three commonly used cards. Memory cards can be
purchased at reasonable prices. You can generally get a 128 MB card for around
$70. Avoid buying a camera that stores images on floppy disks or CD-R discs.
Floppy disk storage is too slow and cannot hold many images, and cameras that
use compact discs tend to be slow and bulky.
Batteries
A Digital camera will usually come with it's own battery and charger or it
will require the use of AA batteries. If the camera you are considering uses AA
batteries, be sure to purchase NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries. NiMH
batteries are rechargeable and pose no memory problems. If you choose to
operate you camera using non-rechargeable batteries, you will find yourself
needing to spend money to replace the batteries often.
White Balance
Most digital cameras enable you to manually set the white balance. By
setting the white balance you tell the camera which elements in your shot are white
and should look white in your picture. The camera can then calculate the colors
of the other objects in your shot. This feature is very good for color
accuracy. Many digital cameras have preset settings for white balance.
Features
Look for any additional features you might need or enjoy such as USB
connectivity to connect the camera to your computer, low battery indicator, an
AC adapter, voice memo, and video capture (for short video clips).
In the end, choose the digital camera that offers most
of the features and options you want, at a price you can afford. Check out
online reviews, from sources you trust, of digital cameras, to learn what
consumers think of different models. When you have narrowed it down to just a
few choices, handle the cameras and choose the one that fits best in your hands
and is easiest to operate.