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Step 1
Determine how much you can spend. Budget is crucial to any major purchase, and staying within that allotted amount of money is sometimes tough, but necessary. Keeping your fiscal wits about you will ensure you don't end up shelling out more cash for a fabulous camera that you can't afford.
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Step 2
Decide on your commitment level to your photography. Two basic types of digital cameras exist on the market: point-and-shoot and D-SLR's. Point-and-shoot models make up a vast majority of cameras on the market. They're typically relatively inexpensive and offer ease of use since everything you need is in one piece of equipment. D-SLR's or Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras come with heftier price tags, require separate lenses but offer up higher quality than their point-and-shoot counterparts. Depending on whether you're a budding Richard Avedon or casual snapshot taker will help determine the amount of camera you'll be committed to.
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Step 3
Figure in your end use and how it fits into the whole megapixel debate. Digital cameras available today range anywhere from 3 megapixels (poor quality pictures) to upwards of 20 megapixels in high priced D-SLR cameras. If you plan on making enlargements of your photos or expect to edit them with cropping, etc., it's best to aim for at least 6MP to 8MP to ensure you maintain the integrity of your shot after the edits are complete. Is professional printing in your future for clients and such? Plan on a higher megapixel rating for that type of use as well.
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Step 4
Consider lens quality. Optical zoom lenses allow for a wider variety shots, like portraits, action, telephoto, landscape and low-light photography. Choosing a camera with a single focal length minimizes photo quality and will produce poor enlargements. Also consider the zoom ratio. Optical zoom lenses are available in a variety of ratios ranging from 3x to 18x and beyond. The 3x is standard on point-and-shoot models and adequate for enlargements up to 8x10. Serious photographers should consider something a little more powerful.
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Step 5
Hold the cameras in your hands. You may choose a camera that looks good technically and "on paper" but when it hits your palms, something may not feel right. Be sure and test drive as many cameras as you need to ensure a proper, ergonomic fit.
