How To Buy It: A Digital Camera

A quick-and-easy guide to the world of megapixels

BEGINNER

THE QUESTION How much does this camera cost?

WHY YOU ASKED IT Prices range from less than $100 to more than $1,000. Aim for the sweet spot: between $250 and $400.

WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR We've got a high-end camera that's a steal at $500, but you will get decent images with this $200 no-frills model.

[THE QUESTION] What's the camera's resolution?

[WHY YOU ASKED IT] The higher the resolution--measured in millions of pixels, or megapixels--the sharper the image.

[WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR] Lower-priced, 2-megapixel models produce fine prints, but if you like to crop or enlarge photos,...

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