by Kurt E. DeSoto



Digital cameras are now one of the hottest computer accessories on the market. Like a lot of electronics, they keep getting better and cheaper. In fact, Canon and Nikon just announced new models that triple the resolution of most other cameras, to 6-megapixels! That's enough to create a 16x20 enlargement that can rival traditional film prints.

As one of the first users of consumer-grade digital cameras many years ago, I am often asked if a digital camera is really worth buying and, if so, what brand I would recommend. The answers depend on your picture-taking style and what you typically do with your photos.


Whether To Buy: If you're the type of photographer who only occasionally takes pictures, is happy with just one or two shots at each photo opportunity, doesn't care about getting your prints developed quickly, prefers traditional size or quality prints (or doesn't like to bother with printing pictures), and typically keeps them in a photo album (or, like my mom, stores them in a big box on a closet shelf), I would not recommend buying a digital camera. A point-and-shoot camera or even a traditional single-lens reflex ("SLR") camera will be cheaper and easier to use. If you ever do need electronic copies of your photographs, you can always ask your IS department or a colleague to scan your pictures to disk or you can take your photos to your local film developer to have them burned onto a CD.

On the other hand, a digital camera is right for those who:

- Want to regularly post pictures on the Internet or distribute them via e-mail;

- Would like to manipulate photographs on their PCs (e.g., repair or change their characteristics - size, shape, color or format; make cards, certificates and T-shirts; or create wallpaper or slideshows);

- Take lots of pictures or shoot multiple shots of the same view (e.g., to ensure at least one acceptable photo);

- Need to see captured shots immediately; or

- Would like to reduce or avoid the cost of film and processing.

For example, I recently used my digital camera to take over 100 photos of our softball team and, using my computer, modified about 15 of them (discarding the rest) to create a certificate for each player that contained a team photo in the middle surrounded by close-up action shots of the individual players and their names. For fun, I also downloaded images of McGwire and Sosa from the Internet (with appropriate permission) and pasted them into the empty spaces on the team picture. I did this using only the software package included with the camera. It could not have been done as easily or cheaply, if at all, using regular prints.

Digital cameras are also useful for many business purposes, for example: to post pictures of personnel on an Internet website or on an intranet; to take photographs of authors or other shots to add to internal or external publications; or to compile paper or electronic copies of pictures taken at firm functions. In fact, Callisto Corporation has developed a software package (available at www.photoparade.com) that can be used to drag and drop digital photos into easy-to-use templates to create a variety of professional and entertaining slideshows that may include captions, narratives and background music.

What To Buy: At last count, there were over 250 models of digital cameras of varying qualities ranging from about $80.00 to over $10,000. Your selection will again depend on your picture-taking style or needs and whether you will be using the camera for business or personal uses. Therefore, it would be impossible to recommend particular brands or models in this article. Nevertheless, I do have a few general buying tips to keep in mind when shopping for a digital camera.

1. Study the market. Pick up a buying guide at your local magazine stand or surf the Internet for reviews. Some sites I recommend include www.dpreview.com, www.saycheese.com, www.pcmag.com, and www.consumerreports.org. Then visit your local electronics or camera store to get a "feel" for the various models and to speak with knowledgeable salespersons. Places that keep a good selection of cameras include Penn Camera, Ritz Camera, Best Buy, and Circuit City. Note, though, that some stores have exclusive deals with their vendors and may not carry all brands; thus, you will probably need to visit several stores to get a full picture of available models.

2. Compare the basics first. Select a camera with a glass (not plastic) lens and a good optical (versus digital) zoom. The optical zoom refers to the physical ability of the device to capture an image, while a digital zoom refers to the software function in the camera that crops and magnifies what the optical lens captures. Also, get the highest resolution you can afford for your needs. Web or email photos only require a resolution of about 640x480 (VGA). For snapshots, you will need a 2-megapixel camera, and for enlargements, at least 3-megapixels. While you can reduce the quality of a better photograph (for example, to make it easier to distribute via the Internet), you generally cannot improve the quality of pictures taken at lower resolutions. But remember that photo quality is affected by the camera's storage technique, too. Some cameras significantly "compress" the data before storing, which can degrade the image. Additionally, compare the flash and lighting capabilities. Low-end cameras are greatly affected by indoor lighting and a weak flash; they're usually fine in natural light, though.

3. Consider the dimensions and features. Digital cameras come in many sizes and shapes and with numerous different functions. Choose a camera that fits your ergonomic needs. For instance, try a smaller camera if you like to travel light; indeed, some are small enough to fit in a shirt pocket. If portability is not an issue, if you need quality shots, or if you will use it for business purposes, you might prefer a larger, "prosumer" model. Also check the LCD screen; some will swivel so you can hold the camera without looking into the viewfinder yet still see the image to be captured. This option is great when you need to hold your camera above a crowd or to point it at yourself. Some cameras also have moviemaking capabilities, but these are usually time limited and low resolution. They're a nice feature as long as you aren't expecting your camera to replace your camcorder.

4. Add up the accessories. Some cameras come with very few accessories in order to keep the price competitive. For instance, a camera might be packaged with the smallest amount of memory available. You will want to buy extra storage to have on hand. Compare the prices for the various sizes of the storage media used by the camera (the most common are CompactFlash and SmartMedia, with Memory Sticks and mini-CDs a distant third and fourth). Also check whether the camera includes: (a) a docking cradle, card-reader, or direct connection accessories for uploading images to your computer; (b) a power adapter and/or rechargeable batteries (digital cameras are power hungry); (c) a printed manual rather than a CD-ROM that won't be much help when you are taking pictures away from your computer; and (d) an acceptable software package (such as Adobe's PhotoDeluxe) for manipulating photographs on your PC. Purchasing those accessories separately can add up, making a nicely priced camera seem . . . well, not so nice.

5. Buy from a reputable shop. I prefer Penn Camera, because it employs expert salespersons focused almost exclusively on cameras. But whichever shop you choose, make sure it has a good return or exchange policy. You may find that the camera operates much differently than you expected. Also, some retailers will meet the advertised prices of other stores or websites. Compare prices, which are dropping constantly, at www.mysimon.com. Keep in mind, though, that some places sell refurbished or gray-market cameras and have shipping or restocking charges.

I expect digital cameras will eventually replace traditional cameras. But I can gladly say that they won't replace oil or acrylic paintings (such as the portraits of partners, founders or judges) that appear on many firm, boardroom or courtroom walls. That should be a relief to some practitioners whose children declined to follow their parents to law or business school in order to attend art school.