By Lisa Neff

Contributing writer

When was the last time you decided not to mail a postcard home because you figured you would be back before the postcard arrived in the mail?

A generation of digital cameras makes it possible for you to shoot your own picture-perfect postcard and then, with wi-fi access, send it off on the spot.

For years Nikon’s Coolpix line has made quality photography affordable and compact. The Nikon Coolpix S50c is still compact, with an effective 7.2 megapixels, a 3X optical zoom and a 3-inch LCD. The S50c also comes with a wi-fi feature that allows photographers to e-mail images directly from the camera, without the aid of a computer.

Nikon’s D40 D-SLR camera also serves today’s tech-savvy traveler. The D40 is Nikon’s smallest D-SLR camera but it comes loaded with some powerful features—an 18-55mm zoom lens, 2.5-inch LCD, a built-in speedlight, instant shutter response, a 6.1 megapixel CCD and the ability to shoot up to 2.5 frames per second. Its most unique feature is the built-in software that allows for adjusting images on the camera. www.nikonusa.com

Getting focused: For the adventurous—or the clumsiest— shutterbug, the Olympus Stylus 770 SW can be dropped from 5 feet, dunked up to 33 feet, frozen to 14 Fahrenheit, crushed up to 220 pounds and still take photos. www.olympusamerica.com

FujiFilm’s FinePix compact digital cameras have long had a rep for taking stunning photographs. FujiFilm’s Z series also has a reputation for stunning looks. The new 6.3 megapixel FinePix Z5fd is available in three colors—red, chocolate brown and brushed silver—with a sliding cover featuring an eye-catching logo that lights up during operation. A non-extending 3x optical zoom lens contributes to a streamlined styling that allows for easy stowing away in a shirt pocket. www.fujifilmusa.com

Memorize: Reliable memory is as important to today’s digital photographers as reliable film was to old school sharpshooters. The SanDisk Extreme SD card is designed for the professional photographer who works under rough conditions. Currently available in 256MB and 512MB capacities, the rugged and thoroughly tested memory card allows photographers to quickly capture, view, upload and transfer large image files with ease. The SanDisk Extreme SD card is built to perform in the most extreme environments and temperatures—from -13 degrees to 185 degrees Fahrenheit.

For back-ups in the field and transferring work, the newest Cruzer Contour from SanDisk can hold up to 4 GB or 8 GB of data. The memory bar easily slides in and out of a USB port with the push of a thumb, is designed for speedier writing and reading and comes with software for syncing up computers and calling out on Skype. www.sandisk.com

Powered: Good photographers look for good lighting to capture their images and usually the best lighting comes from the sun. Photographers can also harness the sun’s rays to help power the cameras and other tools with Brunton Solar Power batteries. The Solo 7.5 and the Solo 15.0 use lithium iron phosphate batteries to provide power wherever and whenever for a variety of electronics—cameras, laptops, TVs, cell phones. And they can get a charge for up to five hours from solar panels. www.brunton.com

Heavy armor: Lightweight and rugged, Lowepro’s Apex AW shoulder bags and pouches are convenient, their single-compartment design allowing quick access to the camera. A soft-brushed tricot guards against scratches and an all-weather cover guards against dust, dirt and sand. Lowepro’s patented all-weather cover protects against weather, dust and sand. www.lowepro.com

Kata’s new Ergo-Tech bags were designed to rest easy on the back and work well with multiple gadgets. The bags are made of Elasto-Guard, a material that resembles neoprene and is flexible, adjusting to the movements of the carrier’s body. Bend and the bag bends. But flexibility doesn’t mean diminished protection for contents because the bags contain padding and safeguard zones. www.kata-bags.com

Made Products’ Camera Armor wraps the camera like a snug glove, but is custom designed for each model so shooters can reach all the controls. Features include a clear polycarbonate lens protecting the LCD, a rubberized feel for comfortable shooting and a lens guard. www.camerarmor.com

A sensor is the heart of the digital camera. So keeping the sensor clean is vital to taking professional photographs. VisibleDust offers a line of cleaning products that are both easy-to-use and effective at removing dust, dirt and other particles drawn to the sensor by its electrostatic charges. VisibleDust’s Sensor Loupe uses “BriteVue XL” technology to locate debris on the sensor. VisibleDust’s Arctic Butterfly Sensor Brush is the only way to go when it comes to dry cleaning a digital sensor. In just minutes a photographer can go from shooting spotty to crystal clear images. www.visibledust.com

Show off: Legion Paper’s new portfolio features a variety of papers for fine ink-jet printing from digital formats. The names of the papers—Entrada Rag, Somerset Enhanced, Anasazi Canvas, LaSal Photo and Colorado Fiber—suggest their rural, naturalistic character. The slightly textured, heavyweight Colorado provides deep blacks, making it ideal for the black and white photographer who fancies herself a new-generation Ansel Adams. Somerset Enhanced is a high-quality paper made of 100-percent cotton for fine art reproduction. Somerset Velvet provides a lush texture. And the Anasazi Premium Canvas is the paper for the digi-photog seeking to stretch his artistic limits—a matte finished, water-resistant canvas for framing. www.legionpaper.com

With Blurb BookSmart software, which runs on Macs and PCs, photographers can easily and economically create a book. With the software, text and pictures get dragged and dropped into place. A 40-page softcover book, printed on semi-matte paper in four-color, starts at $18.95 and a hardcover, about $30. Self-publishing shooters can even use the software to market their book on the Internet. www.blurb.com