Globetrotters and road trippers have good reason to celebrate - digital cameras have changed travel photography forever. Never again will you run out of film on the road, spend hundreds of dollars on photo developing, or waste hours separating the good shots from the bad. With the convenience of digital memory and your camera's LCD viewing screen, you'll never need another roll of film and you can review and delete unwanted pictures as you go. When you get home, you can print your pictures for albums, email them to friends, or post them online. Combine these benefits with optional video and audio capability, and it's easy to see how a digital camera can truly bring your travels to life.

Travelers looking for a digital camera should keep these factors in mind:

Memory
Like a traditional roll of film, a digital camera's memory card can hold only a limited number of images, so you should be certain to bring sufficient memory to get you through your trip. Past trips should give you an indication of how many pictures you are likely to take, and you should buy sufficient memory to accommodate that number.

For this reason, make sure you're familiar with your memory card and its storage capability well in advance of your departure. Check any Digital Camera Shop product page for a brief description of what a camera's standard memory card can do. See Digital Camera Shop's Memory Primer for more information.

Battery Life
Digital cameras consume power quite rapidly. The battery life of a camera depends on a number of factors, including the focus mode, whether you use the flash and LCD screen, and the type of batteries. If your travels take you places where electrical outlets may not always be available, you'll want a camera that accepts universally-available AA batteries.

Avoid models with poor battery life reviews and purchase at least two sets of rechargeable NiMH batteries, which have a substantially longer life than standard alkaline batteries. In a pinch, you can always use a set of standard AA's until your regular batteries are recharged. See Digital Camera Shop's Battery Primer for more information.

Durability
Travel can be tough on a digital camera. Crowded tour buses, bumpy car trips, and sand-blown camel rides can take their toll on any piece of electrical equipment, and cameras are no exception. Moving parts can break or clog with dirt, and lenses and LCD screens can scratch. Make sure you choose a camera that is compatible with your style of travel - while flip-out LCD viewfinders can be handy, they are vulnerable to damage if you drop or bang your camera. If you anticipate rough conditions, choose a model with an integrated LCD screen and a cover to protect it from scratching.

If you plan on being on or around the water, look for a weather-resistant camera; divers and beachgoers can even find cameras that have optional waterproof cases.

Size
The last thing any traveler wants is to be weighed down by a bulky camera. Fortunately, you don't have to sacrifice features for compact size with a digital camera, and many small models come with enough bells and whistles to keep the most experienced photographer happy.

If size and weight are an issue, choose the smallest model that offers the features you need. For travelers content to snap all their pictures on full automatic mode, there are some astoundingly tiny units available, which can easily be slipped into a shirt pocket and carried comfortably all day.

Recommended Digital Cameras for Travel
Canon PowerShot A70
Minolta DiMAGE S414
Nikon Coolpix 3100
Olympus C-740 Ultra Zoom
Olympus C-750 Ultra Zoom
Olympus Stylus 300
Olympus Stylus 400
Sony CyberShot DSC-P72
Sony CyberShot DSC-P92