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Digital cameras come in a wide variety of different sizes, shapes and colors. Features and quality also vary greatly form one model to the next. It's no wonder that choosing a digital camera can be a very confusing experience for many people. However, there are simple ways to make this process easier and to ensure that you'll find a digital camera that will satisfy your needs and fall within your budget.

Here are five criteria to help you choose a digital camera that's appropriate for you and your photography needs.

Cost

It's helpful to first consider the amount of money you can set aside towards purchasing a new digital camera. You can then limit your research to just those digital cameras in your price range. This will help you to avoid becoming distracted by a lot of fancy features you may never need or that are unsuitable for your current level of experience.

Your Photography Needs

What kind of pictures do you want to take? Will most of your pictures be portraits? Or do you favor landscapes and nature photography? Will you use the camera mostly indoors or outdoors? If you will be taking a lot of the pictures of people, it can be helpful to have a camera with face recognition and red eye reduction features. However, if you will be taking a lot of pictures of moving objects, such as at sporting events, you may want a camera with high speed burst shooting.

Printing Your Pictures

The way you share or print your pictures can help you determine the quality of camera and how many megapixels you will need. For example, if you plan on printing poster size pictures, you will probably want to a camera with ten megapixels are more. However, you won't need that many if your printing needs are more modest. If you only share your pictures online or by e-mail, then you can get by with even fewer megapixels.

Who Will Use Your Camera?

You might not mind learning the advanced features of an expensive camera, but if your friends, spouse or children will be using it, then you may want to choose an easier to use camera with automatic program settings and image stabilization features. Some of these cameras are even easy enough for children to use.

How Serious a Photographer are You?

Do you expect to always remain an amateur photographer or do you plan on become an advanced user or even a professional who earns income from photography? If you want to grow in your photography skills, then look for a camera with features that will grow with you. For example, a camera which allows you to set your own aperture, shutter speed, focus and other settings will give you plenty of room for experimentation and the ability to gradually improve your photography skills.

You can use these criteria to make a short list of digital cameras that will meet your needs and expectations. You can then take this list to a nearby electronics store and personally look at the cameras on your list. You will want to pay attention to how each camera feels and how easy it is to reach the buttons. Be sure to consult the salespeople if you have any questions. I hope your new digital camera will bring you many years of enjoyable use.