www.jeffwignall.com

Buying a digital camera can be an entirely confusing process--even if it's not your first digital camera. The problem is that there are so many cameras on the market and new ones seem to pop up every day. Just when you think you have decided which camera you want, a whole new crop of "faster, sharper, better" cameras are introduced. Eventually though you have to narrow things down and make a decision--otherwise you'll just be reading photo magazines instead of taking pictures. And the reality is that virtually all of the digital cameras available take great pictures, the real question is finding one that fits your particular needs and that you can afford comfortably.

Perhaps the first thing you should consider in buying a digital camera is identifying what type of camera you're looking for (or what type of camera you should be looking for) so that you don't waste time looking at cameras that are far above (or below) your skill level or your needs. As you'll see in the following article (parts of which I originally wrote as a cover story for PC Photo Digital Magazine) trying to divide cameras into specific categories is not always easy because camera manufacturers keep redefining them. The good news is that as the manufacturers introduce new models even inexpensive cameras are getting more and more sophsiticated. Better yet, prices are continually dropping even on the higher-end cameras.

While I don't have the time (or the energy) to exhaustively review every new camera that comes down the pike (and there are several sites already doing it better than I could ever hope to), I think that this buying guide will put you onto the right path in search of that camera that is right for you. And since I owe no particular allegiance to any camera company, any suggestions I might make are genuine. If you are looking for detail reviews of specific cameras or accessories, then check out one of the sites listed below. But before you click, take the time to read the other pages in this buying guide and you'll be a much more educated consumer!

Oh, also this thought: It's easy to get caught up in thinking a better (or more expensive) camera will make you a better photographer--and good cameras and lenses are really great to have. But photographs are made in your mind and imagination and I'd rather have one great idea and a mediocre camera than a thousand good cameras and no ideas! Keep in mind too, megapixels don't make megapictures--you make pictures great. My book The Joy of Digital Photography has sold more than 50,000 copies and it was illustrated almost entirely with 5mp cameras--the quality of the photos and reproductions from those 5mp cameras is phenomenal.

Here some good review sites:

Digital Photography Review (aka DPreview---owned by Amazon)

Steve's Digicams

Digital Camera Review