One of the fields in entertainment that has benefited much from the advancements in science and technology is photography. A lot of you may not know but in the old days, photographers used actual bulbs for camera flash. Only photographers carry cameras because lugging them around is not really fashionable at that time. Discoveries and development of cameras produced the digital camera, wherein taking pictures is not so cumbersome anymore. It is less expensive because you can see the images before printing them so you could choose what to actually print. The images could also be uploaded to your computer for storage and further manipulations. These days, it not unusual to carry a compact digital camera. Its perfect for capturing those random wacky moments with your friends.

The only problem it seems is finding a cheap digital camera. Can you even find one? Because of the features that are offered by digital cameras, they are often costly. That is enough to make any person have second thoughts about buying one. But for someone who considers photography a passion, affordability is relative. You just have to set a budget before buying a camera. You can find a cheap digital camera that is just right for you if you look hard enough. Do not buy one that is more than you can afford, even if it has a lot of features. Make sure that you can actually use these features so that you can get your moneys worth.

Different people have different camera needs and requirements. Consider your lifestyle and your objectives. Do you plan to spend a lot of time taking pictures or do you just want something small that can fit in your bag? If you are still a beginner, do not buy a high-end professional camera just for the assurance of image quality and zoom performance. Instead, buy a cheap digital camera that is compact but has powerful features and easy to carry around. Explore the basics before cashing out on expensive professional cameras.

Though these are very important points to ponder when buying a cheap digital camera, you also have to consider the performance and features of your camera. Check the megapixels, zoom capability, image quality, type of media and battery. These are actually features that digital cameras highlight in advertisements.

– Megapixels – This is why newbies often end up buying the wrong camera for their needs. Although they are important, megapixels are not the be-all and end-all of digital cameras. Salespeople like to throw this information to you because it promises clearer images. But this is just one factor that comprises your digital camera. You have to check the megapixels quality. Most image sensors can only find certain hues like red, blue and green. They cant detect all three at the same time.

– Zoom Capability – The zoom capability is another feature which you might want to match with your needs. You have seen advertisements like 10x digital zoom or 5x zoom capability. While it is true, advertisers often forget to highlight optical zoom, which is actually more important. The difference is that with digital zoom, your image gets broken into small pixels if you enlarge it on your computer. If your camera has high optical zoom, you would not see pixelated images if you enlarge the image.

– Image quality – To find out if the image quality suits you, check the quality of your image after you take a picture. Is it fuzzy or pixelated? Sharpness of colors is very important.

– Type of Media – This is the memory of your digital camera. Find a memory card or stick that is compatible with your other equipment so it is easier to upload your images.

– Type of Battery – If you are a field photographer, you would probably need longer stand-by time compared to those who take photos in a gallery or a studio. See to it that your cheap digital camera does not require expensive batteries or that it allows rechargeable batteries.

These points would help you decide on what kind of cheap digital camera to buy. Like what was mentioned earlier, affordability is relative for the passionate photographer. Find your niche by choosing the best but cheap digital camera.