In 1994, Kodak and Apple developed and sold the first digital cameras. Today there are hundreds of models to choose from, depending upon the type of pictures you need, the complexity with which you're comfortable, and what digital camera you can afford. For everyday use, most people prefer a ?point and shoot" camera that isn't complex, takes good quality pictures that can be loaded onto computers or printed for personal use and to send to friends, and is affordable. According to a number of consumer guides and customer reviews, the top ten digital cameras in the low, mid, and high price ranges are:

1. Nikon D300 (high)

2. Canon EOS 5D (high)

3. Canon EOS 40D (high)

4. HP Photosmart M547 (low, great value)

5. FujiFilm Finepix S700 (mid)

6. GE A730 (mid)

7. Nikon D200 (high)

8. Canon EOS Digital Rebel Xsi (high)

9. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 (mid)

10. Canon EOS 30D (high)

The point should be made that what constitutes a ?great" digital camera is usually in the eye of the beholder. One person's ?top ten" list is almost certain to differ from another person's. For example, a digital camera that is making devoted converts is the Casio Exilim series that sells in the mid-level price range, depending upon your digital camera photography needs. On the other end, Digital Camera.com rates the Pentax Optio E-10 as ?the worst digital camera ever."

This can also help you decide what type of camera you are looking for. If you know you will be printing a lot then you are going to want to look for a camera with a high resolution, and the bigger the print the higher the resolution you will need. The resolution you need depends on the size you will be printing.

Aside from the resolution, there are other things to consider when you want to print a high-quality photo. Proper lighting is very important for any kind of photography; you won't have a good quality photo if it is too dark or too light behind your subject. The lens quality of the camera is also important along with the steadiness of the camera.

Keep in mind, if you aren't going to print any photos, you'll be fine with a lower resolution camera without many mega pixels. Many of us do print at least every now and then; make sure you keep that in mind when purchasing your camera. Look for the resolution that will fit your needs.

Since the introduction of the digital camera, consumers have hailed the convenience and immediacy of their work. Snapping pictures and being able to view them on the camera to determine if a retake is needed, sharing them online within moments of recording images, and producing prints at home without the time involved in filling an entire roll of film, transporting them to the photo lab, and awaiting their development are among the best loved features of the digital camera.

Many years have passed however and progress has been made in developing more durable materials. Although only time will tell, in today's market, some printer manufacturers tout a life span of 75 to 100 years or longer for prints produced by their printers and materials.

In addition to the ongoing advancements in printer technology and paper/ink quality, home photographers can certainly do much to assure that their grandchildren will be able to enjoy the images that they record on their digital camera today through proper handling.

Improving your photography is not as simple as buying the best camera on the market and spending thousands of dollars on the biggest and best lens. Sure doing this will give you all the tools you need to take some spectacular images however you need to be able to understand how to use these tool (or the cheaper ones you may already own!) in order to give you the exposure you want from a scene.

Besides the economic savings when buying a used digital camera, there are other advantages to be gained. One of the obvious benefits is the savings that can be made and, although you will not get all the latest developments in digital camera technology, most used cameras will include the essentials like auto focus, zoom and various shooting.