Yellowknife (June 30/03) - If you've ever tried buying a digital camera you've undoubtedly come up against a wall of bizarre acronyms and phrases like 3CCD, 2.1 megapixels, and 4X optical-20X digital zoom.

It can be confusing for those who grew up on film, but with the plummeting prices of digital cameras, it might be time to convert.

There are many benefits to going digital. You can send pictures via e-mail, burn them onto a CD, doctor them with photo editing software and most importantly, avoid the cost of processing film. Here are few things to look out for when choosing a digital camera.

PICTURE QUALITY: The sharpness of a digital camera's picture is largely determined by the number of pixels it has (a pixel is a point of light). The more pixels a camera can process, the sharper the image will be.

Lower end cameras have around one million pixels (called a megapixel), which are ideal for making smaller prints like 5X7's and 8X10's. The files (usually JPEGs) are easy to email and store. If you want more detail for larger prints you might want to look at a two-megapixel camera. They generally retail for between $200-$600 (compared to $120-$150 for a one-megapixel), but the added versatility is worth the price. According to Consumer Reports, two-megapixel cameras like the Canon Powershot A40, the Kodak Easy Share DX 4330 and the FujiFilm Fine Pix 3800 offer the best value.

For those looking for near professional quality images at larger sizes, there are three, four, five and even six-megapixel cameras. But beware, their large file size makes them difficult to e-mail and store.

AUTO/MANUAL FEATURES: Most one and two-pixel cameras take the guesswork out of shooting by providing automatic controls for things like the focus and the shutter. All you have to do is point and click. Some higher end cameras will allow you to manually adjust things like the focus, the aperture and the white balance. These features make it possible to take a wider variety of shots, but they can be costly.

ZOOM LENS: When buying a camera one thing you shouldn't overlook is the zoom. While digital zooms are nice, they don't actually sharpen the image- they simply magnify it. That can make for a blurry, coarse picture. If you're going to be shooting objects at a distance, it's better to go for a camera that has a high optical zoom. Most cameras will have a 2X-4X optical zoom, good enough for taking candid shots and scenics.

ACCESSORIES: Once you have a camera, you'll need a few accessories before you turn your home into a photo shop.

First, you will need a way to get the pictures from your camera to your computer. Some higher end cameras will come with a cable that allows you to transfer information directly from your camera to your computer). A less expensive option is a small, removable drive (usually around $40) that reads memory cards. Just plug it into a universal serial bus (USB) port and download the pictures to your computer.

Most cameras come with easy to use software that will allow you to edit your pictures. You can reduce red-eye, adjust the color contrast and add special effects. If you want to do more, you can look into programs like Adobe Photoshop and Ulead.

But remember, no matter how sophisticated your editing system is, it can't fix out of focus or badly overexposed images. Despite the new technology, a good picture is still in the hands of the photographer.