Life used to be so simple. Back in the days of film cameras, all an amateur photographer had to do was take a few snapshots, drop the roll off at the developers, and wait and see what he or she got. Film wasn't cheap, and neither was getting the shots developed. And sure, sometimes photos were marred by redeye, blurriness, or subjects who blinked at just the wrong time.
Not so with digital. Now anyone can touch up and correct photos like a pro, share prints with friends and family all over the world, and even print photos in his or her own home. But life has gotten a lot more complicated too. Consumers face a staggering array of choices -- dozens of different digital camera types, a wide variety of Web sites for sharing and printing photos, and a whole range of extra accessories. So to help give some clarity in this brave new photo world, our reviewers at BusinessWeek Online have looked at several aspects of the digital-camera world.
First, there are the photo-sharing Web sites, which let users upload photos, order prints, and even make a few editing tweaks online. They aren't all created equal. Some, such as Snapfish, have excellent print quality. Others, such as Shutterfly, are incredibly easy-to-use. And Flickr, the most innovative sharing site of the bunch, is just plain addictive.
POCKET POWER. For the picture-snapper on the go, we've also looked at the most recent batch of super-portable digital cameras. These snapshot-takers are no bigger than a tin of Altoids and certainly slimmer than any roll of film. While they don't offer a lot extra features, each packs a 3x optical zoom and 5 megapixels of resolution -- not too shabby for a device you can slip into a jeans pocket.
And for those who want the convenience of creating fresh 4-by-6 glossies at home, our reviewer has taken a look at a few new snapshot printers. These models, which run around $200, can print high-quality photos for less than it costs to head over to the local Rite-Aid. Check out our slideshow that gives an overview of all of these products and shows how they stack up.
Printer-Friendly Version