Are you considering the leap from film to digital? Do you cringe every time you pay for film developing? Taking pictures with a digital camera has many advantages over film, but many people are still concerned about issues with digital photography like quality and ease of use.

Digital cameras have come a long way in recent years, and pictures taken digitally can rival film-based photographs much of the time. Even so, there are certain criteria you should consider before handing over your hard-earned cash for a digital camera.

The wide selection of cameras available today can be quite an obstacle for many people. With so many cameras to choose from, one can feel like they may not be making the right decision if they are concerned there might be other models they didn't consider. Simply focus on the brands and models that fit your budget and you'll be able to quickly narrow your choices if you consider the following things:

Picture quality: You definitely want to look at actual photos taken by each camera you are considering. I always suggest you ask to take some pictures using the display model in the store and ask them to email one or two from each camera to you. This way you can look at the picture detail at home, without the pressure of a salesperson hovering over you. Are the colors bright? is there good detail in the shadows? Are the highlights washed out? Pay special attention to the outer edges of a photograph -- color distortion and fuzziness are an indication that the lens isn't as sharp as it could be.

Megapixels: While not the only factor in determining image quality, the sharpness of the pictures will be impacted by the megapixel rating. The higher the number, the sharper the photos should be, and the sharper they will be when enlarged. Realize, though, that the higher the megapixels the larger the file size for each picture - so you'll need more memory (using pop-in memory cards) to store the same number of images.

Ease of use: How does the camera feel in your hand? Is the shutter in a spot that is natural? Are the controls easy to reach and simple to understand? If the camera is cumbersome to use, you won't take as many pictures. You want your new camera to be as easy to use as possible.

Shutter lag: When taking pictures, do you notice any delay between the time you press the shutter release and the time the picture is actually taken? Vast improvements have been made recently by many camera manufacturers because this hgas been one of the main complaints regarding digital cameras.

Zoom:There are two types of zoom - optical and digital. Optical zoom delivers the highest quality image (and adds to the cost.) You may be satisfied with the quality of the digital zoom function if the camera has high enough resolution (megapixel number) or you don't intend to enlarge your pictures very much.

Screen Size: The size of the screen will have a bearing on how well you can see to compose a shot or view what you've taken. Using your digital camera in bright sunlight can present viewing problems, since bright light makes the screen difficult to see. Many digital cameras have an additonal optical viewfinder you can use to compose your pictures with having to rely on a hard-to-view screen when in bright light.

Battery life: This has also been an area that manufacturers have tried to improve. Early digital cameras consumed batteries faster than you could replace them. Some cameras use AA batteries which can be replaced quickly during shooting, or a proprietary battery that must be put on a charger when it dies. The proprietary battery may be less costly to use, but you could also be unable to continue shooting if you don't have a charged spare when it dies.

Post shoot adjustments: One of the greatest advantages of digital photography is your ability to edit your pictures before printing. Your camera will come with photo editing and management software to help you, and you might end up getting more advanced image editing software further down the road. You'll be amazed at the improvements you can make to your pictures as you learn how to edit them - adjusting color balance, density, removing unwanted objects, fixing red eye, etc. You'll be able to perform the magic previously available only from expensive custom photo labs when you were shooting film.

Getting prints: This is another area many people are concerned about. I want real prints, not files on a computer I'll never look at! All photo labs can now make inexpensive, high quality prints on real photographic paper. With digital, you can shoot all you want, select the best pictures, and print only the ones you want. Why pay for the print that caught Aunt Martha blinking, or little Billy making the ugly face? You'll save a bundle since there is no cost to shooting all the pictures you want.

It can be a big step to start shooting digital pictures, but I promise you'll be glad you did. The quality of pictures, easy of use, editing capability and lower cost make switching to a digital camera a very smart choice.