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Fast and furious: The Nikon D200 is ideal for the amateur who wants to shoot like a pro.

RARELY IN THE LAST decade have I boarded a plane with less than three cameras strung around my neck and a halfdozen lenses and several boxes of expensive film in my backpack. In my job as a professional photographer, my trusted 35mm-film cameras have been a lifeline for capturing high-quality images in unfamiliar locations under impossible deadlines. I had tested digital components over the years, but I found the only means of achieving photographs suitable for glossy travel magazines and coffee-table books was with analog cameras and slide film.

Or so I thought. A couple of years ago, I invested in a digital camera for a twoweek assignment, and the unexpected happened. By lunch on the first day, I stopped using film - cold turkey. Since then, I have rarely bought a roll.

THE MIGHTY MICROCHIP
Quite simply, a microchip revolutionized photography. Known as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metaloxide semiconductor (CMOS), this flat, light-sensitive chip has replaced those cumbersome and costly rolls of celluloid. The CCD combines with a tiny in-camera computer to offer luxuries only dreamt of in the past. For instance, a digital camera allows you to change the light sensitivity of your "film" with the flick of a switch, easing the transition from interior to exterior conditions. At the processing end, the "development" of images is instantaneous. You preview results on the screen on the back of the camera and can easily print your own images.

When it comes to photo sensors, size matters. Digital cameras typically range between 3 and 10 megapixels, although some models run as high as 16. The bigger the chip, the greater the number of sensor elements, or megapixels. Want to make poster-sized prints? Pick up a 10-megapixel camera. Oversized colour glossies? A 6-megapixel model will be more than enough. Family portraits? A run-of-the-mill 3-megapixel will do. More megapixels offer better resolution, which translates into larger and higher-quality reproductions. In the digital age, where you can process your own pictures at home, be sure your camera doesn't exceed the capabilities of your computer and printer. As you move beyond 5 megapixels or if you plan to print numerous high-quality images, you may need to upgrade both.

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