With countless guides out there, digital camera buyers still tend to make the same mistakes over and over. Below, these mistakes and solutions to them are explained.

A common mistake uninformed camera buyers do is believe that the more megapixels a camera has, the better. With the outburst of low end cameras, this is as false as it can be: there are lots and lots of models with 8 megapixels or more in the range of $150 that might not suit your needs.

See how it feels when you hold it. Is it comfortable for you? Put yourself in a situation where you are taking photos. Can you see yourself using this camera for all of your photo taking needs? If not, move onto to another camera. Repeat this process until you find the right one for you.

Right behind the most common mistake is this; buyers tend to always look for the most expensive camera. As tempting as it is to pick up the coolest looking, newest, most expensive camera, do not fall for it! If you are using the camera for general purpose, you do not need a $1000 camera with 12 megapixels. Be reasonable, and pick something that has features you will really use. Save your money for items you will actually use.

No, I’m not talking about your new computer, we are still on cameras. Yes, digital cameras are powered by a CPU, and one of the most obvious influences a slow one has on your gadget is the start up time. While often overlooked, a lazy processor can be annoying in situations where you want to catch a candid shot: by the time you reach for the camera and switch it on you have wasted 30 seconds or more, you have most likely ruined the moment.

If you need ring accessory kits or new batteries, you can look at a camera store online or locally. You can find the bargains if you take some time and compare prices.

Do you like Formula 1? Have you ever seen a picture of one of those beasts riding at 190mph taken by a professional photographer? It most likely appeared as if the car was in the garage, didn’t it? No blurs, no motion signs. Now try to take a picture of your kid running with the ball in a soccer game with your point and shoot camera and see the difference: low versus high shutter speed!

Pick something that is going to give you the whole package. There are cameras that have a good mix of all the features. If the camera is going to be for general use, something like that should be fine. For professional photographers, certain features may be more important than others.