Traveler Editors: Why Digital Cameras Shine

Heather Morgan Shott
National Geographic Traveler

January 26, 2004

In 2003, digital cameras outsold film cameras in the United States for
the first time ever. While film sales are expected to decline by 36
percent by 2006, many major camera companies are unveiling affordable,
easy-to-use digicams. That means photographing your vacation has
never been so convenient, says Traveler senior editor Scott
Stuckey, who wrote "21 Great Reasons to Go Digital Now" in the
magazine's January/February 2004 issue. Here Stuckey and Traveler
senior photo editor Dan Westergren talk about the advantages of digicams, how to find the right one for you, and more.

What are the advantages of going digital now?

Scott Stuckey: Digicams are more convenient. Airport x-rays don't damage digital images. You can buy one tiny 512-megabyte memory card that holds the equivalent of many rolls of film, so there's much less to lug around. You can see your images right away, so if you miss a shot you can keep trying until you get it. You never waste prints because you print only those images you really want. It's simple to share digital shots by e-mail. Even if you're an amateur photographer, digicams offer an easy way to crop images and sharpen the focus.

Dan Westergren: Digicams also let you take really nice pictures in mixed light. Say you're trying to take a picture inside of a cathedral. If you're using film, you're always thinking about how the lighting will affect the image, whether you'll get weird colors. Digicams eliminate that problem with their automatic white balance function.

Any tips for first-time digicam buyers?

Stuckey: It all depends on the kind of photographer you are. If you're an entry-level photographer, all you really need is a point-and-shoot camera with at least three megapixels, starting at about U.S. $250. The image quality will be good enough for you to make prints up to 8 by 10 inches [20 by 25 centimeters] in size. [Megapixel indicates a digicam's strength of resolution.] If you're a serious shutterbug then you may want to buy a five- or six-megapixel camera because the image quality will be comparable to photos taken on 35-mm film. The six-megapixel EOS Rebel by Canon, for example, is the first digital "SLR" with a list price under U.S. $1,000. Like its film counterparts, it accepts interchangeable lenses and allows through-the-lens viewing.

Westergren: A lot of manufacturers sell four-megapixel cameras that are nearly identical to their three-megapixel cameras but they cost U.S. $100 more. I would recommend buying the four-megapixel camera, especially if you want to make large prints. But if you don't have the money, you can buy the three-megapixel one and know that you're still getting a great camera. I like the three- and four-megapixel models from Olympus's digital Stylus line.

Do the credit card-size digicams work as well as the larger ones?

Westergren: The quality is questionable …

Stuckey: But if you typically leave your larger camera at home because you think it's too cumbersome, you might try one. Taking a small digicam traveling is no trouble at all, and at least you'll have some pictures of your trip, even if the quality isn't great.

What are some important things to consider before using your digicam for the first time?

Westergren: Even if your camera didn't come with rechargeable batteries, you need to buy some. Always treat your camera like you treat your cell phone, and charge it every night. The memory card that comes with a digicam is not sufficient. So you really need to buy a bigger one before you start to take pictures. For a three- or four-megapixel camera, a 128-megabyte card is sufficient. But it's even better to get a 256-megabyte one. You can justify the extra cost when you consider what the cost of film and picture developing would be if you were to take the same number of pictures on 35-mm film.

You also need to manage your pictures. If you've got an older PC at home with, say, only an 8- to 12-gigabyte hard drive, and you start storing digital images on it, your computer could be toast within a few weeks. The files will fill the storage space. To avoid that, you'll need to regularly delete unwanted files or consider upgrading your computer. A lot of times it's as easy as getting an auxiliary hard drive.

How are digital prints made?

Westergren: You can find photo kiosks, where you can print your own photos from memory cards or disks, at stores like CostCo, Walmart, and Target. Usually the kiosks at these large discount stores are state-of-the-art because there's so much competition for this type of business. Right now you can make a 4 by 6 [inch/10 by 15 centimeter] print for as low as 19 cents [U.S.]. You can also make prints at home by using a digital printer. But those are best if you're making larger shots, 8 by 11 [inch/20 by 28 centimeters] or 8.5 by 11 [inches/22 by 28 centimeters] in size.

Is there such a thing as digicam etiquette?

Westergren: Yes. Always downsize images to 75 kilobytes or less before you e-mail them. For Christmas my brother-in-law got a digital camera and e-mailed pictures to everyone. It took 45 minutes for his e-mail to download at my house, because he just took the images straight from the camera and sent them out.

Are there any creative ways to show off your digital images?

Stuckey: You can create a professional-looking photo album using Apple's iPhoto software or the website www.mypublisher.com, and then order a hardbound copy. You can create an online album using www.snapfish.com, www.ofoto.com, or www.shutterfly.com. All three sites let you store your images for free, and you can send links to family and friends, who can pick out their favorites and order their own prints.