Recording events and family life by taking pictures is so common that almost every household has at least one camera, and often more than one. Developments in camera technology, particularly since digital cameras came on the market, mean that we now end up buying additional or replacement models even if our old one hasn't run out of steam.

New cameras cost money, so it's worth making sure you spend wisely. To make it easier, we answer the questions you should ask yourself before you buy:

• What's my budget?
• How am I going to use my new camera?
• Should I choose film or digital?
• What quality of pictures do I want?
• How flexible do I want my camera to be?
• What else should I care about?

Alternatively, go straight to any of these to read more:

• Resolution
• Lenses
• Digital zoom and optical zoom
• Battery life
• Camera type/size
• Flash options
• Interfaces (for getting images from a digital camera)

What's my budget?

It's easy to get tempted to spend far more money than you planned so set a budget first. Even the cheapest cameras produce pictures that are good enough to send over email or print as snapshots, so if that's all you plan to do, you don't have to break the bank.

Remember to budget for extra memory or film costs, as well as software and accessories, as these may not be included in the bundle.

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How am I going to use my new camera?

If you want something you can carry around easily and use whenever you want, then you should be looking at a compact camera. But if you are more interested in taking occasional high quality photographs or pictures of special events, then you may be better off with a larger model or even an SLR.

Compact cameras

There is a huge variety of compact models on the market, many having features once found only on larger cameras, so whatever your budget there is something out there for you.

On PriceRunner you can filter cameras by weight, so you can find the lightest models if that's what you prefer. Then, on the specifications list for each camera you can find out what size it is. Make sure you will be comfortable holding the camera and using its controls if it is very small, especially if you have larger hands.

Very light cameras can be hard to hold steadily when you press down on the shutter release button, making them prone to camera shake. If you have had problems with this in the past, consider a weightier model or look for anti-shake features, also known as image stabilisation or vibration reduction.

Large "compacts"

Larger digital cameras may feature:

• A larger LCD screen
• Larger controls for easier picture-taking
• Greater optical zoom options
• More features overall

The more features a camera has, though, the longer it may take you to learn how to use it, and they can be confusing for beginners.

SLRs and professional models

The largest digital compact cameras can look very like SLR (single lens reflex) film cameras. They also pack in many of the features that make SLR cameras seem so attractive, giving you plenty of flexibility when it comes to taking pictures. These are definitely not for the beginner.

Experienced users may want to consider an SLR, which gives you the option of changing lenses, rather than being stuck with just one. If you can change lenses it opens up many creative possibilities and you may even be able to use the lenses from an existing film camera with a digital camera body. But all of this kit needs to be carried around, and so it's not a solution for people who really just want to take snapshots.

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Should I choose film or digital?

The overwhelming majority of new cameras are digital. You can, though, still buy film cameras, so here are some of their significant differences:

Digital cameras also have extra features that can't be built into a film camera, such as image editing and taking video clips.

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What quality of pictures do I want?

A number of things affect the quality of images you can get from your camera, but the main three are:

• the lens
• the resolution (number of pixels)
• the sensor

Lens

The size of the actual lens (the glass or plastic element, not the housing) and the price can make a difference to the images captured on any type of camera. Smaller, cheaper lenses are less likely to produce images that are as good as those from larger, more expensive ones, for a whole host of reasons. However, manufacturers of compact digital cameras aim to counter this by using software to eliminate the problems, and so for smaller images you often can't tell the difference. But if you want to produce very large pictures or images with high contrast, you may want to consider a camera with a larger lens.

Resolution

In a digital camera, the resolution refers to how many pixels are used to capture the image. Each pixel is a tiny square that records just a single shade of a single colour (red, green or blue). To get an accurate representation of any image, you need to break it down into as many tiny squares as possible. On a camera this means having lots of pixels on the sensor.

But the colour information on every pixel needs a finite amount of memory to store it, so the more pixels used to record an image, the larger the size of file you will end up with. If you simply want to email your pictures to relatives in Australia or save them on a photo-sharing website, large file sizes are not a good idea as they take ages to download. Here, lower resolutions are definitely better and almost all cheap digital cameras will be OK: a 1.3 megapixel resolution is fine. This is also OK for 6x4in snaps, although you might be safer with a 2 megapixel camera to let you do the odd enlargement.

If you want to view images on a monitor or do an 8x10in print, look for at least a 2 or 3 megapixel camera. For enlargements at 11x14in, 4 megapixels is a sensible minimum. For really large prints or professional reproduction you'll need 6 megapixels or more.

In the specifications on PriceRunner look for the 'effective' resolution of a camera, as this shows the number of pixels that are actually used to record the image.

Sensor

No matter how many pixels it has, if a camera's sensor is poor quality, you are liable to get a poor image. It's not necessarily true that you get what you pay for (that is, that sensors on cheap cameras will be low quality) but you can certainly expect sensors on high-end cameras to be superior.

The size of the pixels also affects the quality of a sensor. Very tiny pixels capture less light, so aren't as sensitive and not as good at capturing detail in low light. They are also more affected by what is called "noise", which is due to the camera's circuitry. Because you need to amplify the signal more from smaller pixels, you also end up with more noise which can be eliminated by software. Larger cameras have more space to fit in a larger sensor with, in turn, larger pixels.

There is no definitive way of identifying the best sensor and lens at any price point. Instead, take time to read as many reviews as you can: PriceRunner offers links to expert and user reviews which may include comments on image quality.

ISO Mode

ISO is a measure of sensitivity and is used to distinguish between the sensitivity of different kinds of camera film to light. Higher ISO number films can be used to capture images in lower light conditions, but the trade-off is grainier images: many purists will only use ISO 100 and 200 film, and 400 only at a pinch.

Digital camera manufacturers have adopted a similar numbering system, but what you need to check is whether you can override any automatic settings, should you want to, so that you aren't forced to use a high ISO setting in low light.

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How flexible do I want my camera to be?

Cameras are getting more features all the time, and many of these filter quickly down to cheaper models over time. Among those that deserve your attention are:

• LCD and viewfinder
• Optical zoom
• Digital zoom
• Built-in flash
• Focussing options
• Picture modes
• White balance
• Interface
• Video and editing options

LCD and viewfinder

Most digital cameras feature an LCD on the back that acts as a viewfinder, as well as a way to review images you have taken and to access menus for changing settings. Look for larger LCDs which may be easier to use and special coatings to reduce glare. Some new cameras even sport touch-screen LCDs that can be used to choose focal points and to edit images.

An eye-level or electronic viewfinder (EVF) is also worth looking for as an alternative to an optical viewfinder. This shows exactly what the image will look like and although it may not be as clear as an optical viewfinder, it lets you turn off the LCD and save power.

Optical zoom

A camera's optical zoom lets you zoom in on, or magnify, a portion of your image by moving the lens in relation to the sensor or film. In digital cameras this means that all the pixels on the sensor are used to record information about your chosen section of the image, and therefore you can enlarge it as normal and get the same quality picture.

Optical zooms on digital cameras are measured as multiples of the standard image you can take, so 3x shows that you can magnify part of the image up to three times with the lens.

The focal length is the equivalent range you would get on a 35mm film camera. 50mm represents a standard lens, so in the range shown in the PriceRunner specifications, a figure less than this indicates a wide-angle suitable for landscapes (the smaller the figure, the more landscape you fit into the shot), while higher figures indicate a telephoto option suitable for magnifying images.

Digital zoom

A digital zoom uses software in the camera to enlarge a part of the image. However, this is captured on the same portion of the sensor as it was originally, and is therefore made up of less pixels than the whole. So when you enlarge it, it will start to appear grainy and of lower quality quicker than the same image taken using an optical zoom.

You can achieve the same effect as a digital zoom by cropping your images on your PC later on, if you have the right software. However, if you know you only want a small final image or don't care too much about quality, using the optical zoom can keep image file sizes smaller.

Built-in flash

Most cameras have a built-in flash, but check that this is the case if you need one. The flash on smaller cameras is unlikely to be as powerful as on larger models, so won't illuminate images at longer distances.

Look for the option to change the settings on your flash (for example, to force it to come on so you can light up someone's face when it is in shadow). A red-eye feature, where the flash goes off before the picture is taken to reduce the size of people's pupils, is definitely worth having, although don't expect it to achieve the desired effect every time.

Focussing options

Almost all cameras offer auto-focus as standard. This means that before you take the picture, one or more places within the image are chosen to be in focus. Check whether you can override the auto-focus, should you want to, and look for alternatives, such as 'face priority' modes, where software aims to identify face shapes and focus on them.

Picture modes

Portrait, landscape, close-up (macro), sport and other special modes alter settings which affect how much of the image is in focus, how fast the picture is taken and so on. Be honest about how many of these you will you really use before paying extra for them.

White balance

White balance refers to how the camera records images under different kinds of light; that is, how it makes sure that a white piece of paper looks the same when photographed outside or when illuminated by a standard lightbulb or fluorescent light, and so on. Some cameras have options to adjust this, which helps with the accuracy of all the colours in the final image.

Interface

The interface refers to how you move your images from the camera to a PC (if you are not physically removing the memory card, that is). There are several options:

• Firewire or IEEE 1394 is fast but not a standard interface on all PCs
• USB is a common PC interface so a good option (new cameras will sport USB 2.0 - this should work with PCs with older USB 1.1 ports, but at a slower speed)
• Infrared means no cables, but the connection is more easily broken.
• Serial is an old interface that is very slow.
• Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11 are fast wireless connections that are worth looking for if you have the right PC.

Consider getting a card reader as this can be simpler and faster for downloading images. You may also want to look for a Video Out port so that you can show your pictures on a TV.

Video and editing options

Some digital cameras can be used to take short video clips - look at the specifications for each camera on PriceRunner to check what video options you have and whether the camera can record and play back audio.

You can also find various editing options, such as being able to create slideshows.

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What else should I care about?

Batteries and battery life

Some digital camera batteries are specific to a particular camera or range and these tend to have the longest life, while others are universal and therefore easier to replace. Rechargeable batteries can save you money in the long run, but think about carrying a spare and remember to take your charger on holiday. Disposable batteries generally don't last as long and are not good for the environment.

Memory

Digital cameras use removable media to store pictures, but check what is included in the package you buy, as you may only get some internal memory and have to buy the removable media separately. The options range in physical size, which has implications for the size of the camera, available capacities and industry support, which affects how easy it is to buy extra media for more storage.

If you have a card reader it's worth taking this into account when deciding on the memory type you want. Also consider the cost of extra media, especially if you want to take lots of pictures and will need to buy a larger capacity card: look on PriceRunner for costs.

Image formats

Images are generally stored on the camera in one of three formats: JPEG, which is most common, TIFF or RAW. Unless you are a keen photographer, don't worry about being able to take TIFF or RAW images.

• JPEG - images are compressed, so they are smaller but may feature some degradation of quality. Some cameras offer a choice of compression rates which affects how many images you can fit on your memory card.
• TIFF - compressed without any file information loss, so larger files that are slower to process, but no quality problems
• RAW - smaller than TIFF files as images are completely unprocessed (no white balance or colour adjustments are made, for example), but they usually need proprietary software, and time, to process afterwards.

Casing and design

Do you care what your camera looks like? Would you prefer a waterproof or weatherproof camera? Some models even swivel in the middle so that you can view the LCD from one angle while taking a photo at another.

Software and Accessories

Check what software is included in the bundle you buy, as 'Lite' or old versions of well-known applications may be thrown in, which will make it easier to do some basic editing on your PC and save you some money. You should also look for cradles (for recharging and/or connecting to your PC), chargers, bags, cables and so on.

Free online space for sharing images is another nice touch, although not essential.

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