How does a digital camera differ from an ordinary one

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Asks cardigan

A. Digital cameras differ in many ways. The main difference is that a digital camera does not have any film, instead it stores images into electrical charges which can be translated onto you PC as picture files - which you can store on your PC, email to your friends or display on your own website. They can also be printed out on a normal laser printer. Another advantage is that you don't have to wait until your film is developed to find out how the images have turned out - you can see an immediate replica of an image as soon as it is snapped, and if you don't like it all you have to do is erase it and take another.

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Q. How much do they cost, are they still over �1000

A. No, you can pick up a good digital camera on the high street now for about �350. Consumer demand has slashed the prices and now is probably the best time to buy one.

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Q. Can you recommend any good digital cameras

A. Some of the best on the market include the following:

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Kodak DX3500 �299

Kodak DX3600 Zoom �349

Website: www.kodak.co.uk

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Kodak launched two great digital cameras in 2001�- the DX3500 (in May) and the DX3600 Zoom (in July), both cameras feature the patented Easyshare system, which lets you clip the camera into a docking station which is always plugged into your PC so you do not have to connect it up to your PC every time you want to upload photos.

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Both cameras are lightweight and easy to use, with the DX3600 being the more powerful model -which also allows you to capture continuous video and record in accompanying audio (similar to a video camera). It has 8Mb of built-in memory, which allows you to store 12 high-resolution photos or 40 low-resolution images.

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FujiFilm Fine Pix 2400 Zoom

Price: �350

Website: www.fujifilm.co.uk

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This is a really simple camera to use, with easy to follow instructions. It has some good add-ons that include continuous shooting (up to 10 shots), 10-second self-timer and superb picture quality. It too has 8Mb of memory, with pictures stored on the internal Smart Media card.

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Nikon Coolpix 775

Price: �350

Website: www.nikon.co.uk

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This is one of the smallest digital cameras on the market, and it doesn't let Nikon down on its reputation as being one of the best, if not the best, camera manufacturers in the world - it takes absolutely fantastic photographs. It has automatic controls for novices and easy to follow instructions that enable most of us to have a touch of the David Bailey's!

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This camera can also capture video and transfer photos onto your PC as soon as they are taken instead of storing them on the camera itself.

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Olympus Camedia C-200 Zoom

Price: �350

Website: www.olympus.co.uk

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This Olympus offering comes complete with 8Mb of internal memory stored on a Smart Media card and its zoom lens allows you to magnify images by up to 9 times. It can also capture video footage and it enables you to store your photos in colour, black & white or sepia.

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Toshiba PDR-M61

Price: �300

Website: www.toshiba.co.uk

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Although not such a big name in cameras like Nikon and Olympus, this Toshiba is a great camera to use for beginners as many of its controls are similar to those found on a normal automatic camera - and is therefore really easy to use. It has a zoom lens, automatic and manual shooting modes, 8Mb of memory on a Smart Media card that can hold over 100 shots at low resolution.

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By Karen Anderson