But before you head out and pick up a model, it's important to do some extensive research and weigh the pros and cons that various models possess. There are a number of factors you should take into account before ultimately deciding to buy a camera. Below, you'll find some of the features we think are important when looking for a digital camera and Web cam.

When you begin shopping for a digital camera, keep in mind what your intended purpose for the camera will be. You don't need a powerful, high-end model if all you're going to be doing is posting snapshots to a Web page or exchanging images by e-mail. A camera with a shooting resolution of 1,024 x 768 pixels will give you more than enough image quality for these tasks.

A camera's resolution refers to the number of pixels (or single dots) it uses to create images. In general, resolution is often used to describe the sharpness and clarity of an image. Typically, the higher resolution a camera has, the better its images will be. However, it's important to remember that a higher resolution often results in a higher price tag.

A digital camera with a megapixel resolution means it has a resolution of at least 1 million pixels. A camera with two-megapixel quality has a resolution of approximately 2 million pixels, such as 1,600 x 1,200 pixels. Most two-megapixel cameras are capable of producing quality 5 x 7 inch photo prints.

If you're planning to print 8 x 10 inch photos, resolution becomes more important. A quality two-megapixel camera should get the job done. Cameras with three-megapixel quality have recently become available in consumer models.

Beside resolution, you'll need to consider what features you need and want from a camera. Like resolution, the more features a camera has, the more it will typically cost. In addition, beware that high-end cameras with a wide variety of features can be considerably more difficult to use and adapt to than lower-end cameras.

If your needs are minimal, consider sticking to a lower-end model.Cameras in this price range have enough basic features to accommodate most users and are still easy to use. Cameras in these categories generally have automatic focus and white balance, a built-in flash with several manual settings, a limited zoom lens, a self-timer, and a 1.8-inch to 2.5-inch LCD (liquid-crystal display) to frame and view shots and set menu controls.

High-end cameras might add such features as the ability to capture video and sound. They also typically have burst or continuous shooting modes, manual focus, flash synchs or hot shoes, a threaded lens, various focus and white balance settings, greater storage capacities for saving snapshots, and more.

Other buying factors to keep in mind include the camera's design, how it stores images, the power source, how images are transferred to the computer, and how intuitive the menu is. Beware of cameras that omit an optical viewfinder for framing shots. These models may feature useful swiveling lenses, but they also tend to let you use only the LCD for framing shots, which consequently zaps battery power very quickly.

Cameras that use rechargeable Li-Ion (lithium-ion) or NiMH (nickel-metal hydride) batteries are preferable. Also, check if the camera ships with an A/C adapter and charger. The adapter will save the batteries from draining while you're transferring snapshots to a computer.

For storage, most consumer models ship with a removable 8MB (megabyte) to 16MB SmartMedia or CompactFlash memory card. Either card type is a viable choice. SmartMedia cards are smaller, but CompactFlash cards currently have a larger storage capacity. Other cameras, such as Sony's Mavica models, use standard diskettes. Finally, cameras that use a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection to transfer images are faster and easier to use than cameras that use a standard serial cable.