The most important thing to look for in a digital camera is the lens but be clear first about what you really want to do with your camera5. More than the zooming facility, its the aperture setting which needs to be looked into in the camera lens as it will allow you to shoot in different ligfht conditions. Many digital cameras are equipped with a 3X optical zoom lens, and some provide as much as a 6X or 10X zoom. Don't put too much stock in digital zoom, which is a software feature that has nothing to do with the lens. It merely enlarges a small portion of the image at the expense of picture detail. On the other hand, the lower the f-stop, the faster the lens and the more you'll be able to capture in low light. Most consumer digital-camera lenses are permanently attached to the camera body, but many are compatible with wide-angle, close-up, telephoto, or even fish-eye attachments. If you want to use a lens shade or a filter, make sure that the camera lens is threaded so that you can attach it.
Sensor is the next important thing to look for in a digital camera as it captures the light passing through the lens. The sensor is covered with photosensitive pixels (short for picture elements); the more pixels on the sensor, the higher the sensor resolution. And, of course, the higher the sensor resolution, the higher the resolution of the images captured by that sensor.
Media refers to the storage capacity of the camera. There are many types of media for digital cameras, but most models are compatible with only one. The most common are CompactFlash and SmartMedia. Many Sony cameras use Memory Stick and some use mini-CDs or floppy disks. MultiMedia Cards (MMC), IBM Microdrives, and some proprietary media types are also used. Make sure you get a camera that is compatible with the type of media that offers enough storage space to meet your needs. Most types of media are available with a range of capacities--and prices--and you'll probably want to purchase extra media with a greater capacity than what's included with your camera.
Viewfinder and LCD enables you to focus on the scene. Most digital cameras have an optical viewfinder that works just like the ones on film cameras: hold it up to your eye, frame the scene you want, and shoot. If you wear glasses, look for an optical viewfinder with a diopter so that you can adjust the viewfinder focus. A sharp LCD that shows a clear image in both bright and dim light is a better option. Some cameras let you adjust the brightness and backlighting of the LCD, which is helpful.
Batteries of various kinds are used in a digital camera. Alkaline batteries are convenient because they are easily available but they don't have as long a life as other power sources. Cameras that use longer-lasting, rechargeable lithium-ion or nickel-metal-hydride batteries should also come with a charging module. Some cameras can use more than one battery type, which gives you both the convenience of alkalines and the longer life of rechargeables. Most cameras also come with an AC adapter so that you can save some battery life while shooting indoors or downloading photos to your computer.
Look for a camera that offers red-eye-reduction flash for shooting people and animals. Other helpful features are forced (fill) flash, slow-sync flash, and adjustable illumination levels. Twilight-scene modes generally use a slow-sync flash to illuminate a subject in the foreground of a dimly lit scene while capturing adequate detail in the background. If you need more power and flexibility from your flash than the built-in unit gives you, you may want to purchase an external flash unit. Only cameras equipped with a hotshoe or contact are compatible with off-camera flashes.
