1. Select a digital camera with a maximum resolution that meets your largest typical output. If your images will primarily be used on the Web, you'll need a camera that supports a 640-by-480 (VGA) resolution. For snapshots, check out cameras that support 1,024-by-768 (XGA), and enlargements will require a 3-megapixel camera or better. Generally, 3-megapixel models give the best price/performance combination and are suited for about 85 percent of the buying public.


2. Make sure the camera has all the features you need, such as removable memory, video, and zoom lens.


3. When comparing costs, don't forget to calculate the extras that may or may not be included, such as rechargeable batteries, an AC adapter, and a larger memory card.


4. Try to buy a digital camera that has a USB interface or can be used with a camera dock or both. This will simplify the image-transfer process. With USB, the computer sees the camera as a disk drive, so all you have to do is drag and drop the images into Windows Explorer.


5. When looking at digital cameras with a zoom lens, what counts is the optical zoom is—not the digital zoom. Digital zoom is actually a software function that involves cropping and magnifying an image.


6. If you don't know an f-stop from a white balance, a digital camera that has lots of modes and settings will generally be overkill for your needs, as well as being higher in price and more difficult to use.


7. If you wear eyeglasses, make sure that your digital camera has a focusable diopter in the optical viewfinder, which allows you to adjust the focus of the viewfinder so you can see your subject clearly.


8. All things being equal, look for a digital camera that comes with a pocket-size instruction manual instead of one on a CD-ROM. It's easier to consult when you're out shooting.


9. For small, young, or arthritic hands, look for a digital camera with a limited number of buttons, and make sure they're large and easy to operate.


10.Test how fast the camera shoots. You will probably be unhappy with any digital camera that takes longer than 4 seconds to boot up or longer than 6 seconds to let you shoot again.