Ready to ditch the disposable or film cameras for something more sleek? If so, you're not alone. One of the most popular gifts in recent years has been the digital camera.

Life constantly offers plenty of memories to capture. But how do you chose which camera is the best fit? Fear not. Whether you are buying a camera as a gift or upgrading your own, this guide will give you the basics for your digital purchase.

Megapixels

Mega-what? If you've ever talked to an in-store representative about digital cameras, you've definitely heard about megapixels. One of the first steps to understanding what kind of camera is right for you is to figure out how many megapixels you need.

A megapixel is, essentially, 1 million pixels. Digital images are composed of thousands of these tiny, tile-like picture elements. The more pixels you have, the higher your image resolution will be. Resolution relates primarily to print size and the amount of detail an image has when viewed on a computer monitor at 100 percent.

If you're planning on printing 8x10 photos or smaller on an inkjet printer at home or at the local drug store, then you don’t need to pay for 10 megapixels of detail. On the other hand, if you're nursing a hobby for photography and digital image manipulation, 10 megapixels might be just what you need to realize your artistic vision.

Cameras

In order to choose a camera, you need to ask yourself a few questions.

What kind of picture taker are you? Are you someone who enjoys breaking out the tripod and manually adjusting the aperture and shutter speed, or would you rather just take a quick snapshot and move on? The answers to these questions will help you nail down the price range you should expect,and what type of camera to seek.

The Snapshooter: This camera is easy for the whole family to use, and is essentially an intuitive, point-and-click camera with a zoom similar to that found on a standard 35 millimeter -- though some have higher zoom capabilities. There may be a red-eye remover, but you won’t be overloaded with options, dials and buttons. Chances are you won't even need the manual. These styles of camera should run you between $100 and $300.

The Customizer: This camera is easy enough to use if you keep the photo mode set on automatic or on any other preset options, but it also gives you the ability to fiddle. This type of camera probably comes with one or two dials that let you choose between indoor, outdoor, night and fluorescent light settings. It also will offer auto-focus and preset shutter speeds for sports photography and other activities that might normally kick back blurry photos. Some cameras in this range may even let you manually set up every step of your picture, but you'll definitely need to do some reading beforehand. Most cameras in this price point also allow you to take short videos and will cost between $300 and $600.

The Big Kahuna: This camera has more functions than your stereo, more zoom than the average user knows what to do with and has fully manual capabilities. Some of these cameras even have removable SLR lenses just like in the old days; although, many have built in optical zoom lenses. These cameras tend to be more bulky, and you won’t be able to slip it into your pocket and go. In fact, you may need to spend a weekend alone with the manual before you take this one on a trip. These cameras will also cost you a pretty penny, between $600 and $1,200, but they’re built to last and can transform a hobby into a picture-perfect obsession.

Memory

Memory used to be a big concern, but now it's easy to buy gigabytes of storage space inexpensively. Most cameras are equipped to handle removable memory cards which you can then plug straight into a computer using a USB adapter or picture printer. Some cameras can also be connected to printers directly.

Tips

Two things you'll want to consider when searching for a camera are battery life and zoom type.

Most digital cameras, especially those sporting large LCD display screens, will chew through batteries. You may want to read some consumer reviews or ask about battery life before you buy. Luckily, new nickel or lithium batteries last much longer than standard alkaline batteries, and many are rechargeable too -- which is great for both the environment and your pocketbook.

Also, when reading about zoom, you'll want to distinguish between digital zoom and optical zoom. Optical zoom involves adjusting lenses, like a zoom on a film camera. Digital zoom is where the camera actually blows up the picture, and you can lose some detail or get "fuzzy" images. If you're only going to be printing 4x6 prints or smaller, it probably won't be an issue, but it's definitely something to consider.

Care

Most cameras are pretty hardy, but it's always a good idea to keep your camera cool and in a case when not in use. Try not to leave it in the car on hot days, and keep the lens protected or a microfiber cloth on hand. You'll definitely want to avoid using paper towels or other tissues that could scratch the lens if it gets dirty.

If you're still hesitant to pay full price for a new-fangled contraption, however, you could always get your start with a refurbished camera or a deal found online at tech-toy vendors like New Egg, where you can search by price range, read consumer reviews and compare specs from the comfort of your computer desk.