Lab

Digital Cameras

Have you ever collected your summer holiday snaps from the developer, only to find that the first five frames are of your Christmas tree? And there are four more of unidentified ceilings. And the shot you really wanted - of little Johnny taking his first steps, say - shows nothing but an out-of-focus thumb?

If so, you're already well aware of the limitations of traditional film cameras. Digital cameras, on the other hand, produce images you can instantly check on a small LCD screen. If your thumb got in the way, or the flash didn't flash, you'll know about it straight away - and get another chance to catch that fleeting moment. And even if the first snap of that magic moment is pretty good, why not take another ten to get one really good picture - you can easily delete the rejects later.

Then, as soon as you're back home, you can transfer the pictures to your PC and print them out or upload them to a Web site. All without any of the delay of processing, or simply just getting through 36 shots.

Today's digital cameras have loads more features, can capture more detail and are lighter and more stylish than last year's models. At the same time, prices continue to fall.