Now for some of the bells and whistles that come with these cameras:

Zoom.
Zooms are cool. The more you can zoom in or out on a subject, the more versatility you have in cropping your image. Cameras can zoom anywhere from 2x to 24x. But do you really need to zoom in 24 times? If you can get by with less, you will pay less. A 4x zoom would most likely be enough for the average user.

A word of caution here: you should understand the difference between "digital" zoom and an "optical" zoom. . Digital zooms enlarge your image by adding extra pixels so that it looks like it has zoomed in, but it really just gives you less accurate pixel information. A "digital" zoom is also called a "fake" zoom.

Image Storage
Cameras can store the pixel information a couple of ways. At first, cameras stored all current pictures on their internal "hard drive." When that internal hard drive gets full you must make space for new pictures by either deleting pictures or downloading them to your computer. Now most cameras augment their onboard storage capacity with a removable media of some kind. Just as you use floppies or CDs on a desktop computer, digital cameras currently use memory chips like SmartMedia® or CompactFlash® cards.

Each camera manufacturer tends to use the same type storage format for their entire line. Exception to the rule: Sony has it’s own proprietary storage format called the Memory Stick (which looks like a stick of gum and is lockable) and some of its cameras use mini-rewritable CDs. How cool is that? Historical note: Some older camera models use standard 1.44MG floppy disks to store pixel images, but since they are limited in the amount of pictures they can store, floppy disk cameras seem to be going the way of the dinosaur. Which is a shame because Sony offers several very nice models that still use floppies disks.

News Flash
IBM’s new MicroDrive® storage format is going to blow everything else out of the water. Where an 8MB SmartMedia® might store around 30 images, the MicroDrive® will store (hold on to your hat) over 900 images. Casio is currently using this technology, so be sure to check out their cameras!

Data Transfer
The next step is to transfer the pictures from your camera to your computer, either through the camera’s docking station (which can also server as a charger for the battery), or by a serial or USB cable, or even Infrared Port. Serial cables are more unwieldy to use and are being phased out. USB is current technology and the easiest to use. USB cables also let you move seamlessly between IBM and MAC platforms. But if you are a MAC user be sure to check that the camera model offers MAC software in its package. Infrared Port transfer downloads images without all those cables or wires, but needs some additional hardware. Infrared transmission is also known as IrDA.

Adapters are now being sold that allow you to slip your SmartMedia® or CompactFlash® chip into a special floppy disk that then goes right into the floppy drive of any computer for quick upload. This is handy if you don’t have access to your docking station or cables. Additional storage media can be bought separately and varies greatly in price and size. Of course the more information you can store on any media, the more it will cost. On the other hand, the mini-rewritable CDs that some Sony cameras use are very economical.

Flash
Just about every camera comes with some kind of built-in flash. Options include red-eye reduction, fill flash (a gentle flash used to soften shadows), and Auto flash and "forced" flash. Some of the high-end models feature a "hot-shoe" for attaching an external flash.

Reload time
Digital cameras tend to take their time recording a picture to memory and there can be considerable downtime between shots. Some cameras can make you wait up to 10 seconds before it is ready to take the next picture. It’s just the nature of the beast. This can be important when you want to take pictures in rapid succession. If this is an important consideration for you, be sure to check with the manufacturer. Some cameras offer "Burst" mode which allows multiple pictures to be taken when continually holding down the shutter button. It’s definitely something to look into if you plan to take a lot of action shots.

LCD Screen
LCD (Liquid-Crystal Display) screens are the new way to view and frame your pictures. It looks like a tiny TV screen which allows you to view your subject as you take the picture, and afterwards, to view the pictures that are currently held in the cameras memory. Some cameras have even done way with the eye piece entirely. Most LCDs range in size from 1.5 to 2.5 inches wide.

Batteries
Digital cameras use a lot of energy. So while you won’t be lugging around a bunch of film canisters, you might be hauling around bags of batteries. Digital cameras can use AAA, AA or even lithium batteries. Some cameras provide rechargeable batteries that come with a charger.

Movies
Unbelievable as it may sound, many of these digital cameras record short videos (many of them also record sound). These movies tend to be very short - 5 to 30 seconds.