In the nineties, film cameras where handy and no one was bothered by the fact that it was limited to the number of shots that was dictated by the film box instruction. Buying tons of film was necessary if one was to go to a certain place away from the stores. Much care was to be given to make sure they were not exposed so that they can be processed once the travel got back to civilization. But for those who were not so lucky, some shots would not come out as good as they had hoped for.

Digital cameras became a source of salvation. Being able to take pictures and see how they came out as soon as they were taken was a blissful experience. It was not until they were printed out with obscure discoloration and dots that the experience would be dampened.

For someone who travels a lot, carrying a bulky dslr may not be an option. So for a light packer there is a market that was untapped, until the release of smaller but high-powered cameras from various manufacturers that brought the bulkier cameras from the past.

There are cameras that can fit in your pouch, or even slipped into your jeans pocket. Although that might not be the best place to put them but it just comes to show the size nowadays have come to matter for consumers.

They provide immediate confirmation or results since most of them provide LCD viewers. This innovation has eliminated the need to look into such a small hole just to be able to take a picture. Auto-focus which was introduced by the SLR cameras has gained so much more ground in the digital compact camera industry. There are saved features in the camera that would simulate or adjust the compact camera to whatever setting you might be shooting. This would help an amateur take most pictures that one can encounter without having to worry too much about adjusting lenses to get the best result.

They are of course not without their disadvantages. The sharpness that is a well-known feature of the SLR cameras can be slightly compromised in the case of these compact cameras.

The cost of buying a digital SLR camera maybe a little too much for a amateur travel photographer but it is much easier to learn because it would eventually eliminate the problem of buying too much film and not getting the shot that you need. Rechargeable batteries are still better than simply having a rechargeable camera since you can have tons of batteries along rather than have to plug your camera often while you are on your trip.

Being able to take a point and shoot compact camera is great for those who don't do travel photography for a living. Nevertheless, memories captured on film or on a memry card can last as long as necessary with proper care and storage.

Who knows, you might even be able to send out e-cards with your very own images on display?