With so many digital camera options, it can feel overwhelming when choosing a camera. When seeking out the best camera for you, one of the most important decisions you will make is whether you want interchangeable camera lenses.

Using different lenses gives you a lot more control over the kinds of images you can capture. Cameras with interchangeable lenses, however, are bulkier and require a camera bag with space for an extra lens or two. Meanwhile, a point-and-shoot camera is compact enough to fit in a purse, which might make it the right choice for the casual user, traveler or vlogger.

If you opt for a camera body that supports interchangeable lenses, you will either go with a mirrorless camera or a DSLR camera body. Traditional film cameras and DSLR cameras include a mirror to reflect the image into the viewfinder, but digital technology has allowed for the option of going mirrorless, making the camera body smaller and lighter. So, a mirrorless camera can be a good choice if you are okay with taking photos without an optical viewfinder.

Aside from charging and inserting the camera batteries and selecting a compatible memory card, most point-and-shoot digital cameras are ready to use right out of the box. Some even come with an SD card or another image storage method ready to go.

With a DSLR or mirrorless camera body, you will need to take the extra step of choosing and attaching the camera lens that you want. Many camera bodies are sold in a package with one or more lenses, but you can also buy the camera body and lenses separately. When shopping for new camera lenses, you will have to choose between prime lenses, which provide only one length, such as 35mm, or zoom lenses that offer a range, like 16mm-50mm. You can also enhance your photography with lens accessories like filters, hoods and adapters to improve image quality and versatility.

Thanks to digital technology, most photo cameras also shoot video. If you are specifically shopping for a video camera, however, you can also consider camcorder options. Either way, you could benefit from important camera accessories, like camera tripods and stabilizers and photo editing software.