You can print pictures on a color inkjet or, better still, on a photo-quality printer. They also incorporate digital zoom beyond the optical range, for getting up close and personal, though digital zoom reduces image quality. Digital cameras are starting to take off. According to the Consumer Electronics Association, more than 2 million will be sold this year, and up to 2.6 million in 2000. But total pixel count doesn't always reflect what is used in a picture.
Higher resolutions come at a price.
Each camera lets you set the resolution and level of compression, meaning you can squeeze a file to save space, at the cost of image quality. For instance, the Olympus gives you five ways to record on its 8-megabyte removable SmartMedia card. That resolution without compressing reduces you to a single shot. Digital cameras are thirsty for power, especially if you use the LCD screen a lot. But Ricoh's battery charger is an option.