2005 Buyer's Guide: At The Camera Counter

After nearly seven years as an editor here at PCPhoto, I recently purchased my first digital camera. I’ve been shooting with digital cameras all along, but since there’s a constant flow of the latest and greatest equipment through our offices, I never felt compelled to commit myself to a purchase. Content with just borrowing a camera for a time, I was reluctant to buy because I assumed that something better would always be on the horizon.

I finally made the plunge and purchased a digital camera. Why the change of mind? I fell in love with an 8-megapixel beauty. I won’t tell you her name, as I don’t want to make the others jealous, but this camera satisfied just about every item on my digital camera wish list.

Which features are on your wish list? What do you need from a camera for a long-term relationship? The right camera for me and my photography may be a poor fit for you.

Do you want to make big prints, or would you prefer standard 4x6 enlargements? Are you a telephoto or a wide-angle photographer, or both? Will you want to set your exposure manually, or would you rather have the camera make those decisions for you? The good news is that no matter how you answer these questions, there’s a perfect match for you at your local retailer.

We’ll get into greater detail about specific types of digital cameras in the following sections, but to start, we’ve compiled the key features that you’ll want to consider before buying a new digital camera to make your shopping experience easier. Complete the quick survey on the next page and take it with you when you head to the store.