How to make digital photography cheaper

[M. Worthington]

Digital photography costs too much.

Here's how I save money when I can:

1. Buy last year's memory cards. In practice, the difference in "speed" between an 8X memory card and a 52X memory card will be measured in milliseconds, hardly enough for you to notice.

2. Purchase and use rechargeable batteries.

3. Use free or low-cost image editing, viewing, and printing software. IrfanView (http://www.tucows.com/preview/194967.html) is a very popular freeware image viewer.

4. Don't develop your own photographs. Take into consideration the cost of a photograph printer, paper, ongoing costs of inkjet refills, and the amount of time you'll spend proofing and reprinting photos, and you may decide that letting someone else handle the printing chore makes a lot of sense.

5. Resist the urge to upgrade your camera when a new model is released. Instead, focus on refining your skills as a photographer - and on improving your photographs on the computer.

[deluco]

What you say makes alot of sense. I would add that you may purchase 2nd hand digital camera's alot cheaper than new and in most cases the one or two year old technology is adequate for your needs. Pixel count isn't everything.

Low(er) cost image editing software includes Photoshop Elements. You can get this WITH some camera bodies (The Canon 20d comes with it) and if purchased separately, for about $50 or so. It has many of the Photoshop full-version features. Also, Paint Shop Pro is an excellent brand of editing software.

All of this presumes that you are not making a living at photography, as if you are, then you may be able to justify the cost savings of purchasing the higher priced software. For example, full version of Photoshop CS has some tremendous time-saving features.