Dating Advice

What are the three most important features to look at when comparing digital cameras? They may not be as obvious as you think. Believe it or not, the number of megapixels is not one of them. Amidst all the marketing propaganda and technical confusion there are a few simple things to consider. Any good salesman will be sure to point them out. Any guesses yet? When considering which digital compare is best for you, be sure to keep the following in mind.At one time megapixels would have made the top three, probably even the number one factor. Due to the rapid advance of digital photography, that time has come and past. Any camera with more than 5 or 6 megapixels will be more than adequate for the average (and higher) photographer these days.Compound that, with the fact it's virtually impossible to buy a new digital camera with less than 5 megapixels and it becomes a non factor in your purchase decision.The number one consideration when comparing digital cameras, is your own skills and desires as a photographer. What do you value most? If it's ease of use, portability, and reliability then you probably want to be looking at the ultra compact lineup of digitals. This class of camera take some pretty good images, but are easy to take along just about anywhere, and even easier to use. They have minimal camera settings to fiddle with, and don't mind sharing the bottom of your backpack with whatever paraphernalia you have stashed there. Cameras like the Olympus Stylus 790SW would serve you well.Be prepared to spend extra for memory cards (more than one, if you frequently take lots of outdoors shots and can't bring a laptop with you to download the pictures once the card gets full), spare batteries (also, you should get more than one set, just to be on the safe side), tripods, filters and lenses (if you are buying a DSLR) and external flashes.Battery life is often better, as rechargeable battery packs is an option with this group of cameras. High resolution LCD and optical viewfinders are often both available with these cameras. It's good to have both options for framing pictures.Do your homework. Read up as much as you can on the model you plan to buy. Usually you will find such testimonials on discussion forums.If you know professional photographers you might also want to ask them for a piece of advice. Don't simply rely on the recommendations the sales person gives you: sometimes they want to get rid of old stocks or get a higher incentive for selling a certain model that doesn't necessarily suit your needs.If your the type that gets lost navigating through Google's home page, your gonna have a blast with digital camera menus. Digital cameras have plenty of features, and they're all buried in some geek programmers vision of user accessible menus. For the sake of your sanity, look for a camera that has dedicated buttons on the case for all features you find important. You'll be thanking me later.Well, with those few points in mind, your well armed in any future battle with camera sales clerks everywhere. Just remember to make sure you pay for the things that matter. Good image quality, ease of use, and a good lens are your best chances for good pictures. Don't pay for extra bells and whistles you'll never clang or blow anyway. Happy shopping.