There are tons of different digital cameras to choose from, and the variety can be daunting. Each camera has different features and benefits, so you should make a list of what you’re looking for in a camera to narrow down which features you actually need and want. There’s no point in buying a super fancy camera with lots of features if you’re never going to use them. But if you plan on beefing up your photography skills, you may want to invest in a good camera that will be worth the price in the long run.

For some diehard film-camera people, transitioning to digital is difficult. My parents, for example, delayed the switch for years. I even bought them a simple point and shoot digital cameras  for Christmas one year, and they let it sit in a drawer for another year before they actually used it! It just turned out that they were confused about the buttons, so I spent an afternoon walking them through how to use it, step by step. They finally understood and now they love using it. I’m glad I went with a simple camera for their first digital experience.