Since digital cameras record images on reusable memory cards instead of film, there are no developing costs, so you can take as many pictures as you want and only print the ones you like. Most digital cameras feature an LCD viewscreen that lets you perfectly compose your photo and then check to make sure it came out the way you'd hoped. Because the images are stored as standard digital files, your computer becomes your darkroom, letting you crop, enlarge, and retouch your photos.

Onboard memory
Some digital cameras have built-in memory in lieu of (or in addition to) removable media to store their images. Onboard memory is less expensive (and less flexible) than removable memory, and it's usually seen only in entry-level cameras.

Optical zoom
Also known as "telephoto" or "true zoom," optical zoom works like the zoom on a traditional film camera. Elements within the lens move, reducing the field of view and making the object you're shooting appear closer.

USB (universal serial bus) output
An outgoing connector compatible with virtually all PCs made since 1998 and all "colorful" Macs. A USB port is much quicker and more user-friendly than a serial port, but it is also a more recent innovation not found on older computers.

Video output
Allows you to view your digital pictures on your TV or record them on a videocassette.