The prices of digital cameras have dropped in recent years to a point that they are about as affordable and flexible as similarly equipped film cameras. Most digital cameras will provide the same quality or better for a similar price, so there is no important reason for the average photographer not to buy a digital camera.

Instead of recording images on film as regular cameras do, digital cameras capture images with a CCD (charge-coupled device, a light-sensitive circuit) and record them on magnetic media. The number of images you can store at once depends on the amount of memory you have (storage media come in sizes from 16MB to 256MB and more) and the resolution of the images you are taking.

The magnetic storage disks or cards are removable, and you can transfer images via special connectors to a computer for manipulation, e-mailing, Web-site posting, viewing on a TV, incorporation into an A/V or multimedia presentation, or printing. Some printers can connect directly to your digital camera for direct printing without a computer. There are three basic body styles to consider. The compact or ultra compact digital camera fits inside your shirt pocket.

There is a "wow" factor to these cameras, and they are convenient, but you will be paying a premium for the size or lack thereof. The standard camera is bigger, provides better quality for the money, and is usually able to provide all the features that a typical "point-and-shoot" photographer needs. The digital SLR camera provides the best quality shots of the three. The lenses can be changed, and the camera provides a great deal of flexibility. The cost is higher than either the compact or standard digital cameras. A pixel is a picture element, such as the dots that make up your TV screen.

A megapixel is a million such dots. The more megapixels you have, the bigger or sharper your photo will be. The more megapixels a camera has, the more expensive it will be. Figure out your usage to determine the number of megapixels you need. If you are emailing images or ordering 4x6 pictures, a 3-megapixel or 4-megapixel camera should work just fine. If you want larger prints or more flexibility, a 4- to 6-megapixel camera should be what you are looking for.