The digital photography revolution will enrich your life, and we're here to show you how. From buying a camera and printing perfect photos to jazzing them up and sharing them, this workshop will give you the big picture. You'll learn about the technology and, some help on how to take better photos.

Here are some things to consider:

1. Resolution. The first feature to consider when determining a digital camera’s image quality is its resolution. A camera's resolution is determined by pixels—the more pixels, the higher the resolution. And the higher the resolution of a digital photo, the more you can enlarge it without losing image resolution. For example, the sensors on a 3.3-megapixel camera record approximately 3 million dots of information, which is enough detail to produce photo-quality images at sizes of up to 10" x 14"—more detail than most amateur photographers need.
   
   Today's consumer-level digital cameras typically range in resolution from 0.3 megapixels to 3.3 megapixels. A 1-megapixel camera works fine for printing smaller pictures (no bigger than 4" x 6"), e-mailing them, or posting them to the Web. But you shouldn’t settle for less than 2 megapixels if you’re planning to enlarge pictures or make a wide variety of prints. You’ll be disappointed in the long run. If you try to print lower-resolution images in larger sizes, the results will tend to look grainy, blurry or blocky.
   
   
2. Look and feel. Some digital cameras make it easy to take pictures. Others feel like you're taking photos with a bowling ball. The only way to be sure is to test drive the camera before you buy it. Look for one with buttons that are within reach and easy to use, and a viewfinder that's comfortable to look through. Go ahead, don’t be afraid to handle the merchandise. Peer through the lens of the camera you're thinking of buying. Is the image clear and crisp? 
   
   
3. Built-in memory. Most consumer cameras use external memory—a memory card (CompactFlash, SmartMedia, and Memory Stick are all common types) that you can remove when it's full. With this type of removable storage, you can simply insert a fresh memory device card and keep on shooting—a definite advantage. Avoid cameras that only have “built-in” memory and don’t have a card slot.
   
   You can increase the number of photos you can take by buying additional external memory. Most digital cameras ship with enough memory to take from 12 to 36 shots at full resolution—about the same as one roll of film in a traditional camera. 
   
   
4. Battery life. Digital cameras go through batteries extremely fast, which obviously can be very expensive. Look for a camera that accepts rechargeable batteries, and then invest in two sets of them so that you always have spares. Another way to save battery power is to get a camera that has an AC adapter, and then you can power the camera from a wall socket. This is especially useful when you're downloading photos or viewing them on your camera's screen, both of which require huge amounts of power. 
   
   
5. What kind of computer you own. Retail stores see a lot of returns from customers who buy cameras that don’t work with their computer systems. So make sure that the camera you buy is compatible with your computer system, and particularly check your connection ports (i.e., serial, USB, IR).
   
   
6. The LCD lowdown. Most digital cameras come with at least an optical viewfinder—the kind you look through on traditional film cameras. But many digital cameras also come with an LCD screen built into the back, which you can use as a viewfinder as well. The LCD screen let’s you see what your picture will look like before you take it. Of indispensable help, it also allows you to look at the photos you've already taken. But it is also a major battery consumer, so if you use it often, have extra batteries on hand.
   
   
7. Special features. The above features will all help you buy a good digital camera that will work just for you. But there are some special features that you also might want to consider if you have more specific needs.
   
   If you want to take close-ups of distant objects, for example, then you'll need a camera with high optical zoom power. If you're going to take action shots of sports or wildlife, then a camera with a continuous shooting mode would be helpful. Night photography, anyone? It’s easy if your camera has a nighttime shooting mode.