But as with most things digital, the prices have dropped precipitously. And photographers have taken notice. In 1999, they bought 5.1 million digital cameras worldwide, 1.7 million in the United States, according to Newton, Mass-based Lyra Research. Not only have digital camera prices dropped, but the cost of the PCs and the high-resolution printers needed to process the images have fallen as well. Image clarity is rapidly improving without driving up the cost.
Digital pictures are ready seconds after they're shot.
High Internet bandwidth. But the expansion of broadband Internet service into American homes is making photo transfer fairly quick and easy. Digital editing tools. These are the PC programs that allow photographers to edit their shots - enhance colors, erase shadows, bring out foreground, eliminate glowing red eyes. Once complicated, they're now easy to use.