The Selection

Once you have your Category and Criteria, you can now make your Choice. It is pretty much a matter of matching the digital cameras in your category against your criteria. Now, your confidence level is much higher than you first started. A salesperson will not be able to sell you more than you need or less than you need. You should by now have narrowed down your choices to two or three digital cameras you want to personally handle and try out before deciding on the one that is right for you. More often than not, it will come down to how it handles, whether it is too small or too heavy for you, and the all important price. Do not miss this all important step to try it out first, which means a return guarantee from the vendor in case you don't like it during the trial period (it's usually 2 weeks, but get it in writing from the vendor).

Digital camera technology is advancing at an accelerated pace (perhaps even faster than the PC did) and you should not view your first purchase as your last. So don't worry too much if you make a "mistake." This also means that you cannot really afford to sit back and wait for the "perfect" model. Only you can decide what you can afford and when you can afford it. Though digital cameras in the serious and advanced categories are still high compared to their 35mm film counterparts, entry-level (point-and-shoot and beginner categories) digital camera prices have come down drastically and are now very affordable.