Whether you're cautiously taking your first steps into digital photography, budgeting your college expenses or just enjoy a good bargain, we're pleased to say we've found some great values for you.

Today you can get a very good basic 2 megapixel to 4 megapixel digital camera for under $200 and it should serve you well for snapshots and taking photos for email and web use.

Want to get that picture of your soccer team, muddy and grinning from ear to ear after a tough win or candid shots of all the grill masters at your 4th of July party? Whatever the occasion, you'll be able to capture great moments and share them with everyone easily and economically.

Many of these cameras won't provide you with the advanced manual controls of the more expensive cameras so you may miss some shots in non-standard lighting situations, but overall, all these cameras should provide good pictures under most conditions.

Digital Camera Features to Consider

Most important on a digital camera is the resolution of the image and the quality of the optics. You'll have better quality pictures with a 4 megapixel camera than with a 2 megapixel cameras, which means that you'll be able to make larger prints -- up to 8x10 with a 4 MP camera. As extras, also look for features like 3x or greater Optical Zoom, Video Capture, or more manual exposure controls.

Also, consider the type of batteries the cameras uses. AA batteries and Ni MH batteries are less expensive, and are easy to find almost anywhere. The same goes for Compact Flash (CF) cards, which are less expensive than proprietary memory like the Sony memory stick, and prices for CF cards are sure to drop as time goes on. Many digital cameras that use CF cards come with a relatively small 32 MB card, so you should definitely consider purchasing an extra card with more capacity. Read more about Memory Cards.

Digital Photography Saves on Film and Processing

You can email those muddy images to your teammates or post the pics of the backyard chefs online witha service such as Snapfish or Kodak's Ofoto website. And yes, you can print hard copies anytime at home on your own inkjet printer for just a few cents. You'll save on film, processing and mailing costs.

One of the great advantages of a digital camera is your ability to see the photo you just snapped in the LCD screen. Did one of your cousins put her hand in front of your sister's face? If you feel that this in some way marred your attempt at a family portrait, you can delete the photo and immediately take another shot at capturing family togetherness.

Unlike traditional film cameras, you can take a host of pictures without incurring any greater expense. You have no additional film or processing expenses. And as you delete unwanted shots you free up space on your memory card for more pictures.

Digital Photo Printing Costs

If you send a roll of traditional 24 exposure film to be processed you'll have to pay for all the prints, whether you like them or not. With a digital camera you select only the images you want, deleting the one where everyone's eyes are shut or someone jostled your arm as you snapped the picture.

While the costs of processing a roll of film may vary, an average for that roll of 24 might be about $8.00. With your digital images, you can print your favorites at home for just a few cents. Including ink and paper, costs can range from $0.30 to $0.50 per photo, depending on your printer.

Matching Pixels to Purpose

A 2 to 3 megapixel camera will provide you with quality images for email, web posting and prints up to and including 5 x 7s. For 8 x 10 prints or the ability to manipulate an image with your retouching software, you'll need the higher resolution that a 4-megapixel camera can deliver.

Don't Have a Photo Printer?

Don't want to invest in a printer? Not to worry. Just use one of the web-based digital photo printing companies. Several of these companies offer you the added ability to create your own portfolio. Friends and relatives can view your portfolio and select the pictures that they'd like the company to print for them. Check out online photo services such as Snapfish or Kodak's Ofoto website.

Computer Not Needed

Don't have a computer? Look for the camera retailers in your area that offer digital print services or for digital kiosks in stores such as Long's Drugs, Walgreens, WalMart or Costco. Camera retailers will provide full service printing while the digital kiosks will supply easy-to-use touch screens that allow you to view, select, enhance and print your own pictures. And all for a just a few cents per photograph!