Do you enjoy taking lots of pictures? Taking photos is probably the single most effective way to document our lives and special occasions. In fact, you can never have too many pictures. Your photo albums are probably the most valuable possession you had.

Memories are the only things that cannot be replaced. Make sense to you? If you have been taking a lot of photos with your family, it is fun to glance back on them and see how your child was like as a newborn and when they first went to school in their cute clothes. How about how your spouse look like while courting? How those retro clothes look so funny now?

These are priceless moments. The great thing about these special times is that they can now be captured in a whole new way. I am referring to a digital camera. Now with technological advances, we can have affordable digital cameras. The sizes are getting more compact too.

A digital camera is one of those necessities in life. It’s an electronic wonder that none of us should be without. I can still remember the days before I had a digital camera. Yikes, I’m glad those are a part of the past. Film was always such a hassle. First you have to head out to the local food or drug store, buy the film and put it in the camera. Then you can take around 32 pictures, hoping that they all came out right, and then proceed back to the drugstore in order to have them developed.

This is a pain and a burden to say the least. Once you’ve been exposed to a digital camera, you’ll never want to go back to the old-school ways. Oh, and we shouldn’t forget all the money we save by not having to purchase film. This is a major bonus.

You want to know why digital cameras are so popular nowadays. I will tell you why, plain and simple. Folks love the convenience a digital camera provides. You can take as many photos as you want, whenever you want. Simply erase the ones you don’t like immediately. It’s that easy. Then you can download all of your pictures to your personal computer. I love being able to print out my own from home. It saves a lot of time, effort and cash. There’s no reason to rely on anyone.

If you want to, you can simply download the photos into a storage media and you can bring it to a local photo shop for development. If you have internet access, you could even upload your photos to an online photo development service provider. You can have the photos delivered right to your door step.

If you are in search of a digital camera, simply hop on the web for a vast selection to pick from. Just remember to get a decent sized memory card of at least 512MB if you like to click a lot.

To find out more information on What to look for in a
digital camera and buying guide, visit The
Digital Camera Explained.

If you’re an intermediate level digital photographer, you might be looking for a good advanced digital camera. I know it’s very tough to decide on which one to buy - given that these models usually cost a bomb. A good advanced digital camera should be pretty rugged and also give you as much control over the photography process as possible. I’ve compiled a list of the top 10 advanced digital cameras that are selling like hotcakes in the market right now.

Canon EOS 20D

The Canon EOS-20D is one of the best digital cameras for the advanced user. With an 8.2 megapixel resolution and a bewildering range of manual modes, this digital SLR will deliver professional looking photos.

Canon PowerShot G6

The Canon PowerShot G6 has a 7.1 megapixel resolution, a 4x optical zoom, as well as a wide range of scene modes and manual controls. Even though it lacks a digital SLR body, the images shot with this camera are nothing short of outstanding. It’s also one of the cheapest advanced digital cameras out there.

Olympus C-7000

The Olympus C-7000 zoom offers a 7.1 megapixel resolution and 5x optical zoom. It also boasts 5 scene modes and full manual options. A very attractive buy, although the optional lenses are not allowed.

Nikon D70

The Nikon D70 is one of the best-selling entry level digital SLRs. It has a solid design, a bewildering range of options, powerful speed, as well as great photo quality. With its cheap price, this 6.1 megapixel SLR is one of the best value cameras for serious photographers looking to upgrade their camera.

Canon Digital Rebel

The 6.3 megapixel Canon Digital Rebel is a direct competitor to the Nikon D70. It targets photographers at the lower end of the advanced digital SLR market. Its low price, excellent image quality and speed give the Nikon D70 a run for its money.

Sony Cybershot Pro DSC-V3

The Sony Cybershot Pro DSC-V3 is a decent advanced camera which is light and easy to use. With its 7.2 megapixel resolution and 4x optical zoom, it’s a great buy. Do note the colors can be a bit poor in some shots.

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

The Canon EOS-1D Mark II is a new digital SLR aimed at professional photographers who want excellent customization options, great photo quality and impressive speed. This 8 megapixel camera is high on my list of recommendations.

Olympus C-8080

With its 8 megapixels and a 5x optical zoom, the Olympus C-8080 represents great value for those hunting for a digital SLR. While it doesn’t sell as well as the Canon and Nikon SLRs, I think Olympus comes up with pretty decent advanced cameras too.

Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2

The Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 is a hot favorite amongst professionals. From a feature and function point of view, it’s one of the best digital SLRs I’ve seen. However, the build quality lacks that nice and heavy SLR feel.

Sony DSC-F828

Featuring a whopping 8 megapixel image resolution, the Sony DSC-F828 comes replete with a powerful 7X zoom lens and great camera optics. Very nice camera indeed.

Conclusion

There are lot of cameras suitable for the advanced digital photographer, but the list above covers some of my favorites. I particularly like the Nikon D70 and Minolta DiIMAGE A2. One shopping tip to remember is that the camera above tend to be more expensive than the average point-and-shoot model. So do consider carefully whether you need to features before buying the camera. If you’re just starting out in digital photography, you may want to try a simpler and cheaper model first.

About the Author
Gary Hendricks runs a hobby site at
http://www.basic-digital-photography.com
Read his tips on digital photography and learn to shoot better photos with your digicam.

This was emailed to me by a friend when I decided to buy a camera
Mrs. Vaidehi Ghag
http://www.davbindu.com

Who can deny the usefulness of cameras? As we all know, cameras are meant to capture our most precious memories on film. Some of those moments, however, happen to take place in less than ideal environments. Hence the camera of choice is required to be more sturdy and versatile then your average or standard camera. As you undoubtedly know, digital cameras have now all but replaced the conventional film cameras we’ve all grown up with. Since digital cameras rely on sophisticated computer boards and microprocessors that are more prone to damage by the elements such as water, the demand for waterproof digital cameras is very strong indeed.

Many occasions such as weddings, parties, and nightclubs where we want to take pictures are full of events that may endanger your precious camera. Among the more common dangers include spilled drinks, watery foods, swimming pools, toilet bowls, and sinks. These are events where a waterproof camera would be an ideal choice.

Fortunately, most if not all the manufacturers offer a waterproof version of thier most popular cameras for sale. In the event that one is not available, all is not lost. There are many protective cases and coverings, some even custom made for your camera, that you could use to protect your camera.

Of course there is the issue of the cost being higher for a waterproof camera, however, when you compare the small difference in cost, it is really not that large considering the benefits you will receive.

Given the choice between a standard digital camera and it’s waterproof counterpart, and assuming all other features are similar, it would seem that the waterproof camera would be a wiser choice. This would insure that your investment is secure and your camera will carry with it, the added peace of mind of knowing that you need not worry about the inevitable perils of water damage.

As always, be sure to check out the many resources available online to assist you in making the right buying decision.

Hanif Khaki is the acclaimed author of numerous technology related articles and the founder of the popular digital camera resource site http://www.digital-cameras.inform-about.com