Tips for buying and bringing the best
digital camera on your vacation

Travelers take note: Vacation season may be nearing its end, but great photos capture memories that last far longer than a sunburn. Every road trip, family vacation or romantic escape promises a plethora of photographic opportunities, and so it's time to think about the travelworthiness of your digital camera. Here's advice to help you make the most of your camera when you're away:

Bring extra batteries. A camera that runs out of juice when you're miles from a store or power outlet ranks high on the list of photographic frustrations. If your camera accepts standard AA batteries, pack two sets and, if necessary, a charger. If your camera uses only a proprietary battery, consider buying a second one to take along. Keep it charged so it's ready should the primary battery give out. The $20 to $50 cost will be well spent if it allows you to snap an unforgettable sunset that you might have missed.

Parting tip: Don't forget to pack the charger, and to plug it in every night. If you're traveling abroad, make sure your charger is compatible with local outlets. If not, you'll need an adapter and, possibly, a converter.

Plan photo storage. A full memory card is the digital-camera counterpart to running out of film. Make sure your card (or cards) have sufficient capacity, especially if you haven't brought along a laptop onto which you can download images. For most consumers, a 1 GB card -- good for hundreds of shots from a 5 MP camera at full resolution and maximum quality -- should be plenty. Card prices have dropped of late; you can now buy a 1 GB card for $50 or so; 512 MB cards run $30 or less. If you're buying a new camera, the memory provided with it is likely too small to meet your needs. Buy at least one additional card.

Parting tip: Before heading out, make sure you transfer the shots from your last ski trip to your computer and purge them from the card, so you start out fresh.

Pack the video cable. You can share your photos with friends and family by using your camera's video-output jack to display them on the nearest TV set. Most cameras even let you set up a slide show, so you can kick back while everyone savors the day's sights.

Consider using photofinishers as you go. If getting home from vacation typically triggers a printing marathon on the home inkjet, consider using in-store photofinishers along the way, thus giving you the option to enjoy and share your shots as you go, typically with an hour or less waiting time. (CONTINUE...)