Shopping for a Digital Camera
Top Rated Digital Cameras
Current Deals on Digital Cameras
Photo Printing Services Sales & Discounts

Welcome to the latest issue of the Digital Photos 101 Newsletter.

Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving with your family or friends. Now that the holiday shopping season has kicked into high gear, I thought a guide to purchasing digital cameras might come in handy. Digital cameras are topping the list for holiday gifts this year, and with so many models and types to choose from, it is difficult to know where to start. Here are some suggestions on what to look for when purchasing a digital camera, whether for yourself or as a gift.

Shopping for a Digital Camera

1. Who are you shopping for? Consider your gift recipient’s needs, skills and interests. A digital newbie who does not understand or want to learn about white balance and f-stop would be most comfortable with a point-and-shoot camera. Look for a camera that has good automatic settings that doesn’t require a lot of manual adjustments. It will be less expensive for you and less frustrating for the user. A photo enthusiast who plans to use image enhancement software like Photoshop Elements or FotoFinish and create digital scrapbooks would probably want a camera with some special features like good optical zoom and variable shutter speed.

2. Megapixels (MP) – helpful in judging how big an image you can print, but more megapixels is not necessarily better. For most nonprofessional users, a 4-to 5-megapixel camera is more than sufficient and will produce good quality 8x10 prints. If the user mainly wants to e-mail photos, then a 2 or 3 megapixel camera is fine. Although the 8 megapixel cameras have some exciting features, unless the user plans on making lots of 16x20 prints, buying one of these new cameras is overkill. It is probably a waste of money, when a 5 or 6 megapixel, less expensive camera would fit your needs.

3. Speed. Digital cameras tend to be slower than 35mm and this is something that can be annoying. Check how long it takes for the camera to boot (time from when you turn it on to when it’s ready to take pictures) and the recycle time (how long it takes before it’s ready to take another picture). Anything more than 4-5 seconds will drive you crazy. A camera with an internal memory buffer will hold data temporarily while you take additional photos so you can take successive photos more quickly. Also check the shutter delay—the time you press the shutter to the time the image is actually processed. This is of particular importance when taking photos of children, who never stay in one position for long.

4. Optical zoom is much more important than digital zoom, so watch out for ads hyping digital zoom. Optical zoom adjusts the lens to magnify a distant object. Super zooms have 10X or greater optical zoom. Digital zoom refers to software in the camera that gives you the ability to zero in and crop a photo as you take it, but you lose some picture quality because it reduces the number of pixels.

5. LDC display: Look for a camera with a large LDC display to make it easier to compose shots, and bright enough to see it when taking outdoor photos.

6. White balance is also important. Good white balance means the camera adjusts for for incandescent or fluorescent lighting to eliminate that yellowish or bluish hue you often get with indoor lighting. Most digital cameras come with auto white balance (for instance you can change the setting to "indoor, party etc.") and higher end cameras also have manual white balance controls for fine tuning.

7. Price. You can get a very good 4 to 5 megapixel camera for $200-300. A couple of years ago, it would have cost twice that amount. The new 8 megapixel cameras start at around $600 on up to over $1000.

8. The bottom line: Although new models are constantly coming out on the market, if you choose your camera well and get the features you need, it should last for years to come. Unlike when the first digital cameras came out and they were only 1 or 2 megapixels, most of today's digital cameras produce good quality prints, so when you find a camera you like it's not necessary to keep upgrading.

What are the most popular and best rated cameras?

Here is a list of some of the top rated digital cameras, according to PC Magazine. I've listed approximate prices where available.

Compact Cameras (good for beginners, small, few pro features):

• Canon Powershot S60 (approx $345-499) -- 5 megapixels, and my personal favorite camera
• Casio Exilim Pro EX-P600 ($450-$550)- 6 megapixels, great camera for beginners to serious amateurs
• Canon PowerShot S500
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T1 (ultra compact, small and stylish)
• Digital Elph Kodak EasyShare LS743
• Nikon Coolpix 4200 ($289-349)
• Olympus Camedia C-765 Ultra Zoom ($399)

Enthusiast (these cameras have more precise controls, tend to be more expensive, produce excellent images. For more advanced digital camera users)

• Fuji film FinePix S7000 (approx $450)
• Konica Minolta DiMage A2 (approx $530)
• Olympus C-5060 Wide Zoom (approx $600)
• Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom (approx $800-900)
• Leica Digilux 2 (approx $1800)

Digital SLRs (interchangeable lenses, pro features, gives you total control, larger camera and the most expensive. The professionals choice, produces excellent photos)

• Canon EOS Digital Rebel
• Nikon D70

Current Specials on Digital Cameras

Where to buy? Here are some recommended sites for purchasing digital cameras. Many are offering free shipping and no sales tax, so your total cost may be lower than what you'll find in a brick-and-mortar store.

RITZ CAMERA has a huge selection. Plus special offers, discounts, FREE shipping over $100 and NO sales tax, plus easy returns and exchanges. These are 4 megapixel cameras with some great prices:
Sony - DSC-T1 Digital Camera - $499, Bonus $50 Gift Coupon
Nikon - CoolPix 3200 Digital Camera - $199, Bonus $20 Gift Coupon
Kodak - Easyshare CX-7430 Digital Camera $199 - Bonus $20 Gift Coupon
FujiFilm - FinePix A340 Digital Camera, $199 - Bonus $20 gift coupon
Nikon - CoolPix 4100 Digital Camera, $249 Bonus $20 Gift coupon
FREE 128 MB Memory Card with Select Digital Cameras

CIRCUIT CITY: Free shipping on orders over $25! Save up to 10% on select digital cameras

WAL-MART has some good buys on digital cameras including Nikon Digital Cameras and Sony Digital Cameras

OVERSTOCK.COM - You can find some incredible buys on digital cameras at Overstock. Check out the Digital Camera Clearance - Save up to 70%! They carry everything from cameras and electronics to designer luggage, handbags and sheets at bargain prices. I highly recommend you check out this site. You will love it.

BUY.COM: You'll find some of the lowest prices on Cameras at Buy.com They have weekly sales, a low price guarantee and free shipping on many items.

Digital Photo Services Sales and Discounts

SHUTTERFLY: Save on everything you need to make your holidays special! Order Note Cards, Snapbook™ mini-albums, and 4×8 Photo Cards and you’ll save 20% on your purchase through December 28. Also, with Shutterfly's Jingle Bell Sale through December 8 you will:

Save 15% on wallet and 4×6s
Save 20% on 5×7 and 8×10s
Save 25% on 11×14, 16×20, and 20×30s

Just log on to Shutterfly. If you don't already have an account, you can sign up for free. 4x6 prints are just 20 cents each. New customers get 15 free prints when you join.

That's it for now. Best wishes for a great holiday season.

Valerie Goettsch
www.digitalphotos101.com

To access prior newsletters: Click on this link.