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Buyer's Guide

Intro Step 1: Your Requirements Step 2: Your Candidates Shortlist Step 3: Sites Visits Step 4: Trial and Buy

[Editor's note: If you are new to photography and/or digital photography, you may find that reviewing our Digital Camera Fundamentals first will help you understand the discussion in this Buyer's Guide better.]

What do you need to look for when choosing a digital camera? In the Photoxels Digital Camera Buyer's Guide, we guide you in choosing the right digital camera in a simple 4-step process.

First, ensure you fully understand what's important when choosing between digital cameras in Digital Camera Fundamentals.

Choosing a digital camera is really a simple 4-step process that you (and not someone else in a photography or digital camera forum) must go through if you want to end up with one that is right for you. Why bother? Indeed, why not just ask more knowledgeable forum members? Because we all have our favorite digital cameras, and we all have different criteria, likes and dislikes, idiosyncracies, pet peeves, and other genetic abnormalities ;o). So, chances are very good that you'll just end up much more confused than before. But, if you first find out what you want, what's available out there that meet most of your criteria, then you should ask forum members to give their personal opinions about your shortlist. Using other people's experience to help you make an informed decision is wise; depending on other people to recommend a digital camera for you is not.

This 4-step process is not restricted to selecting a digital camera -- you will find it equally applicable to any selection task you may think of.

Here, in summary, are the 4 steps that you must go through:

1. Decide what you want from a digital camera (your Requirements).
2. Make a shortlist of those digital cameras that meet some, most, or all of your requirements (your Candidates Shortlist).
3. Read detailed reviews and users' opinions about the candidates on your shortlist (Sites Visits).
4. Go to the store and try them out before you decide (Trial & Buy).

OK, now let's expand on each of these.