Higher-resolution digital cameras are now available with more features than ever. Some at fairly reasonable prices. You can now get 640X480 resolution for well under $1,000, with some as low as $300.
For most uses, your main objective is to get decent pictures at affordable prices. Since digital cameras are still much more costly than comparable point-and-shoot film cameras, the ease of use, convenience, and instant results aspects of the digital camera must provide some incentive for deciding against the alternative - which is snapping a traditional photo, having it developed, and scanning it into the PC on one of the new generation of low-cost color scanners.
For the most part, affordable digital cameras ($400 to $600) still ask you to trade image quality for the convenience of immediate results. Digital cameras in this price range are typically limited to 640X480 resolution. This quality is perfect for images that users will view on-screen only (such as web site images) or for small(3X5) prints from an ink jet printer, but as you enlarge them they will quickly lose detail and focus.
Bottom Line : If you're looking for the best image quality, stick to film and purchase a photo or flatbed scanner ($60 to $400) for your computer. If you are only concerned with creating images for the web, you may find a digital camera to be EXACTLY what you want.
