For the non-professional photographer, digital cameras have essentially replaced film cameras on today's market. Digital cameras are generally more practical and versatile, and cheaper in the long run. However, they're not all the same. Which camera you buy will depend on how you intend to use it, and your level of expertise as a photographer as well as your budget.

For features such as degree of resolution, camera size, storage capability, zoom, and others, you'll likely pay more. Are you planning to circulate your photos among friends and family, in print or online? If you're a casual photographer using your camera for vacations, family fun, and so on a camera of one megapixel or less will probably suffice. If you'll be using your pictures for business, or circulating your pictures to the press and the public, you might need a camera with two or three megapixels. If you're a professional or serious amateur photographer, you may need a camera with a resolution of four to five megapixels.

"You get what you pay for" is very true when it comes to digital cameras. You can find a decent two-megapixel camera for less than $300 (or a not-so-good one for less than $100), but expect to pay $2,000 or more for a professional camera. Usually, the bigger the camera, the more features it will have, but very small cameras with a good range of features are also available at a higher price. Be sure your camera has an optical zoom if you want higher-quality images.

As of now, although you can take videos with most digital cameras, you may still need a dedicated camcorder if videos are an area of importance for you.

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