Before you decide to go out and buy a digital camera, you need to spend some time evaluating your immediate and future photography needs. What works today might not be a good idea for tomorrow. Digital photography technology is changing at a rapid pace and regardless the price you pay and the features you get today, there is going to be something better tomorrow. So don't worry about outdating issues as they are going to happen anyway. But you can safeguard against some of the pitfalls that changing technology can bring.

First of all, Decide on a budget. It should have some flexibility. For example if your budget is $300 and you find a great Camera for $350 that has everything you need, there is no reason not to spend that extra $50 and get it. However, if your budget is only $300, there is no reason to spend $1000 either.

Here are some of the important things to consider before you make a purchase.

1. Price Range: How much do you want to spend?

This is one of the important one. But here is a helpful advice. Do not start out with a Dollar figure and then do your research. First. go online and see what is available for different price ranges. Write them down and based on those numbers, come up with your own price range with about +/-20% flexibility. Digital cameras range in price from less than $50 to more than $4,000. Prices are based primarily on resolution and features. The newest consumer electronics products are always priced at a premium. The best bargains are usually found on last season's models. Digital cameras with less than one megapixel are inexpensive, but they usually lack key features. Remember, even cell phone cameras have over 2 Megapixel resolution now a days. So there is no reason to consider anything below that number.

Some digital camera features are only available at a specific price point. For example, digital cameras with interchangeable lenses, a relatively common 35mm film camera feature, are only available in digital SLR (Single Lens Reflex) models with prices starting at around $1,200. The vast majority of digital cameras are "point-and-shoot" models with a single, non-interchangeable lens. A $50 digital camera will not perform as well or provide the same features available with a $500 digital camera. Buying the digital camera that is best suited for your needs will help ensure that you will be satisfied with your purchase. 

2. Resolution or Megapixels: How do you plan to share your images?

Digital cameras make it easy to share pictures both online and in print. However, not all digital cameras can produce prints of the same quality. If you plan to enlarge photos or print them, be sure to buy a camera that can provide the image quality you will need. Image quality depends on the resolution of the digital camera. Resolution is a measure of image sharpness based on the number of pixels that make up the image. More pixels produce sharper, more detailed images. Digital camera resolution is measured in pixels. One million pixels equals one megapixel. Deciding how many megapixels you need is the first important step in finding the right digital camera for you. If you only want to share images via e-mail or online photo albums, or use them for personal home pages, then a digital camera with less than one-megapixel resolution is all you need. Digital cameras in this category are inexpensive, very easy to use, and more than adequate for e-mail and online use. If you want to make 4x6-inch prints as well, then you should get a two-megapixel digital camera. Cameras in this category are an excellent choice for e-mail, online use, and standard 4x6-inch prints. If you think that you may want to enlarge some of your images to 8x10 inches, consider a three-megapixel digital camera. Cameras in this category provide excellent-quality images. Digital cameras with resolution in the four to five megapixel range are capable of producing professional-quality images. Cameras with 6 megapixel range are also inexpensive now a days so I would suggest at least take a look at them to see if they can fit in your budget.

3. Digital Storage or Memory

Traditional cameras use film to store images. Digital cameras use a memory stick that store images in digital format. Unlike traditional film, however, digital camera memory is reusable. Initially, memory costs more than traditional film, but lasts longer since it can be reused. There are two kinds of memory: built-in memory and removable storage memory. Basic digital cameras have a small image storage buffer built into the camera, and once it is filled, you will have to download the saved images to your computer before you can take more pictures.

Most cameras use removable storage memory to record images. The most popular forms of removable storage memory are Compact Flash cards, Sony Memory Sticks, and Smart Media Cards. Most digital cameras come with one 128MB card. The capacity (size) of the image memory storage will determine how many images you can store. Memory is getting really cheap now a days and a 512MB or even a 1GB card can be bought for less than $50. On average, one digital picture is about 500KB is medium resolution and about 1MB in PNG format (Higher resolution picture). So with 1GB card, you can store almost 1,000 images in high resolution. However, there is a problem with big capacity cards. If you have 1,000 images to download to computer, it will take a longer time and if you do it every 50 or so images then you have to keep track of what is already downloaded and what not. So I would suggest buying couple of 256MB or may be 512MB cards and use them. In this case, if you lose your card, your not going to lose a huge number of pictures and it is going to be easy to manage with computer editing and downloading.

4. Optical Zoom & Digital Zoom

Many digital cameras provide both an optical and a digital zoom. However, using each type of zoom will produce very different quality photos. Photo quality is not compromised by optical zoom. Digital zooms use internal software applications to magnify (digitally "zoom" in on) and enlarge a small area of the picture, which causes noticeable loss of image quality. Digital zoom doesn't give you more information about a picture, it just project a larger image of a smaller area. Resolution always suffers with digital zoom. Most people don't use digital zoom for this reason. Digital zooms lower image quality. Choose a camera with an optical zoom if image quality is important. Digital zooms should be used only when image quality is not important. When looking at Zoom level, always prefer a camera with higher optical zoom.

5. Size: What size digital camera appeals to you?

There are three basic "sizes" of digital cameras, and knowing what size camera suits your needs will make your search much simpler. Compact digital cameras are designed to provide a moderate feature set, stylish looks, and a tiny, "pocketable" size. The advantage is that you are more likely to have a compact camera with you when that "great" photo opportunity occurs. However, they are generally more expensive than standard-sized cameras with similar features. Standard digital cameras are similar to 35mm point-and-shoot models in appearance and features. Some are reasonably compact, but they are usually too large to drop in your pocket. Professional If you care more about robust features like interchangeable lenses, flashes, and other accessories, you will most likely have to consider a larger-sized camera. This category includes Professional SLR (Single Lens Reflex) cameras, which are just like traditional 35mm SLRs. These cameras are designed for professional and serious amateur photographers who require manual control and the ability to change lenses easily. Only the most serious amateur photographer will demand the flexibility of these cameras, and they are usually larger and heavier than compact or standard models.

6. Computer Connectivity and Compatibility

Storing photos on your computer allows you to easily store, edit (e.g., remove red-eye), and e-mail your photos. All digital cameras come with software to download pictures to your computer. Newer computers have USB connections, which makes this process even easier. You should make sure that you are able to connect the digital camera you plan to purchase to your computer. Some digital cameras connect with a serial cable, but most new models use a USB connection. Make sure that the camera you're buying can connect using a USB port. Serial port connection is an old technology is digital photography world and take lot longer to download pictures. Also make sure, that camera software is compatible with your computer's operating system. Most people are running windows XP or even vista, but if you're still running Windows 98, make sure camera software works with it.

7. LCD Viewfinders

Most digital cameras are equipped with a liquid-crystal display (LCD) viewfinder that allows you to see what your picture will look like before you take it. LCD viewfinders also permit you to view saved images and delete the ones that you don't like. Make sure LCD display is at least 2.5 inch per side to be of any real use.

8. Battery Life/Power

Limited battery life is one of the biggest problems with digital cameras. The more you use the LCD viewfinder, the faster you will go through batteries. Many digital cameras are packed with battery chargers and rechargeable batteries, but some are not. Rechargeable batteries and a charger will typically add from $30 to $100 to the cost of a digital camera. Consider buying an extra rechargeable battery pack or have extra batteries on-hand. Also, if your camera can run on AA or AAA batteries, that's an added advantage since you can find them in any part of the world.

9. Digital Video Format/Movie Mode

Many digital cameras include a movie mode feature that lets users shoot very short low-resolution video clips. Shooting short movies with your camera is a lot of fun, but this feature won't replace a camcorder. More than likely you're not going to use this feature since you probably have a dedicated camcorder for that purpose. Even some cell phones have a short video recording feature so cell phone can take care of those unexpected short video clips. Don't stress too much for this feature. It is cool but has no real value.

10. TV Connections

Most digital cameras include a video-out cable that allows users to connect them to a television, display pictures (or create a slide show), and record pictures to a VHS tape. Again, this feature is kind of "nice to have" but not necessary