Picture perfect: taking vacation photos to keep. Tips for the right cameras, angles, and attitudes.

Flash! Suddenly, with the explosion of digital technology, it seems like everyone is a travel photographer ready to present a laptop slide show. Pocket-size digital cameras are becoming more affordable and sophisticated. But not everyone needs the instant gratification that digital provides--or the added gadgetry. Sometimes a good compact camera is all you need. Even then, the choices today are daunting. Here are tips for choosing a camera that's right for you when you travel. When posing by that waterfall in Maui, just remember to say "Thursday" (since, of course, it gives you a better smile than "cheese").

Digital or Not? Digital has caught on because it's immediate. Plus, there are no developing costs, no worries about transporting film through airport security, and there's the portability factor. Jim Franco, a freelance travel photographer, carries a Nikon Coolpix 5700 ($799) while scouting locations. "It weighs, like, a feather compared to the camera I shoot with professionally and can give impressive results," he says. Other top-rated models in a lower price range include the Fujifilm Finepix A205 ($199) and the HP Photosmart 435 ($150), The downside of digital (besides the iffy quality of the images) is the need to recharge the batteries (avoid models that run on standard AAs--they last about half an hour); they require a memory card, an added expense. Forgetting to recharge means not being able to be spontaneous, so when traveling, get into the routine of recharging your batteries before bed (and when traveling overseas, don't forget to pack your converter).

Getting to the Point Point-and-shoots are a great choice for travelers who just want to capture the moment and not spend a lot of time thinking about lenses or memory cards. Reliable models include the Olympus Stylus Epic (voted "quite possibly the best $100 camera in the universe" by Popular Photography), and the Canon Sure Shot Classic 120 ($190), a "point-and-zoom" with features that allow you to play with composition and lighting. Don't bother with the inexpensive plastic or disposable cameras--not when $70 gets you the Kodak KE60 Easyload, with sophisticated features that include a sharp wide angle lens and three-zone autofocus that adjusts to objects as close as 1 1/2 feet.

Filming It ASA 400 speed film works in almost any situation--it's a faster film, which means less chance of blurriness. If you plan to shoot close ups, ASA 200, 100, or 160 is better. "If you're in a market in Vietnam and really want those mangoes to pop, use a slower film," says Franco. When using extra-slow films like ASA 50, a tripod (or at least the hood of your car) is necessary to steady your camera. Most people opt for color film (try slide film), but black-and-white can produce more evocative images.

Never put your film in your luggage, because the X-ray security for checked bags is much more intense. At the airport, make it easy on yourself by putting your film in a plastic bag. Most domestic security checkpoints are safe, but the more times you go through a detector, the more potential for damage. Just as important is keeping your film from heat. Stash the film in your hotel's mini-fridge.

Ready for Your Close-up Contrary to popular thought, good photos can be had virtually any time of day. Of course, for the big Grand Canyon-type images, early-morning light or just before dusk is best--midday sun tends to flatten the contours. High noon can also do evil things to someone's portrait. The best advice for the traveling shutterbug is to relax and not worry about getting the perfect shot. With travel photos, go for the feeling of the image and don't let the technicalities interfere with experiencing the moment. That might even mean putting the camera down and looking through your own eyes.

Amy Weaver gets the right picture for our Travel Matters column (page 46).