by Tenebris

Created on: June 17, 2008   Last Updated: September 23, 2008

Digital cameras have improved immensely since they first entered the marketplace over a decade ago. The average memory capacity is higher, which means that many more pictures can be taken at print-quality resolutions. They now come with features that used to be exclusive to optical film cameras and even with a few entirely new features: such as being able to see the framed image exactly as it will appear in the final picture. Best of all, digital cameras are now much, much cheaper.

When buying a digital camera as a gift, first determine your intended budget. Today's digital cameras range all the way from the free promotion to the up and up and up. You alone can determine your intended gift price range. Especially if you are buying for a professional or dedicated amateur, you will quickly reach your budget ceiling.

Next, consider the person for whom you are buying this camera. Be careful to distinguish their needs and wishes from your personal wish-fulfillment! What exactly do they want in a camera? What kind of pictures are they most likely to take? You might be a tech-buff who wants complete manual control over lighting and f-stop, but maybe your intended recipient only wants to take fun, quick, auto-focus pictures of her children and share them on Facebook or the family blog.

A child won't need the same kind of sophistication in a digital camera as most adults. A cheap digital camera with auto-focus and light compensation may do very well here.

If your intended giftee is going away to college or takes many pictures while travelling, you will definitely want to consider the memory size of individual memory cards. This holds especially true if the recipient wishes to take professional quality pictures, which take up a shocking amount of memory. In this case you should ensure that the memory card that comes with the camera has a fairly high capacity; and maybe you might want to add an extra one. On the other hand, at the 72 ppi (pixels per inch) standard resolution of Internet display, many memory cards available today should be able to hold dozens of Internet-quality pictures. Memory cards can hold up to 16 gigabytes of memory.

Another consideration for the frequent traveller is the kind of batteries the camera requires. Standard battery sizes are easier to find in small towns and foreign countries. Proprietary battery brands may prove difficult or impossible to obtain in some areas, while AAs are available in most parts of the world. An increasing number of batteries are rechargeable, which may also be a consideration for the environmentally-conscious recipient. A voltage converter makes a thoughtful add-on.

Two camera features that rarely go wrong are the optical zoom and the image-stabilised lens. The first acts in the same manner as a telephoto lens, differing from digital zoom in that it does not only magnify pixels but actually increases pixel density over a smaller area: in effect bringing the image 'closer'. The image-stabilised lense can compensate for any slight movement by the photographer while taking the picture.

Finally, for the truly dedicated digital photographer, don't forget about the thousands of gadgets available for digital cameras, from simple tripods and carrying cases to dedicated lenses!

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