Section 5.1. Digital Camera Basics

5.1. Digital Camera Basics

Digital cameras first outsold film cameras in 2003; now they've nearly pushed film cameras off the shelves entirely. Some people fondly recall pawing through the little envelopes at the developer; others recall the agony of being limited to only 24 shots during an entire day at Disneyland. Digital photos break both those barriers, freeing their owners to snap more pet pictures than ever, and view them instantly.

The following sections explain how to move those photos off your camera and into your PC, be it through a cable or card reader. You can then edit them into shape and share them with friends via email or a photo-sharing Web site.