How Do I Choose a Digital Camera?
By J. Adams
A digital camera might look like a film camera but they are actually quite different. Both freeze light to make a photograph. Film do this chemically using film. Digital use a light sensitive CCD or CMOS silicon chip to convert light and digital information into pixels.
Pixels are the tiniest areas of light that your digital camera can recognize and change into information. The greater amount of pixels the more detail and higher the resolution the photograph. A low resolution color printout of tree will show that it is green but in a high resolution photograph the leaves and texture of the bark will be more sharply defined.
With digital photographs your have the ability to use software like Adobe Photoshop Deluxe and Microsoft Picture to edit photos and make corrections.
Choosing Your CameraImportant considerations when choosing a digital camera are: What do you want the camera to do? What features do you require? How much do you wish to spend on your camera?
There are professional high end that cost thousands of dollars, cheap throwaway and a huge selection of mid-level available to choose from.
Will you be photographing images for the internet and for email? Will your photos be printed? For regular print size snapshots and web photos a one to two megapixel camera will do. In fact for the web a lower megapixel would be better as higher resolution photos are slow to download.
Do you want a point-and-click camera? Are you someone who just wants to get the picture taken with the least amount of bother. Do you want a camera that does everything automatically and you simply have to press a button? Or, are you someone who would rather figure out the best settings for your camera and make the adjustments manually? It's always best to find a camera that suits your purpose, need and ability.
High or Low ResolutionHigh end, high resolution are good for photographs that are to be printed. The greater the number of pixels the higher the resolution. High resolution does not make sense on the web as the extra resolution does not make images appear any sharper. Also, high resolution photos are slow to download on the web.
To print your photographs you will need a good quality color printer. If photos are to be printed, high resolution does make a difference depending how large you want the picture to be. High resolution will give a large print better definition. High resolution cost more. Expect to pay more for high resolution. You also need to check that your printer can handle high resolution prints.
LensesLow-end digital have fixed focus lenses made of plastic. With these lenses everything is focused and you don't need to make a decision what to focus on.
Variable focused lenses are made of glass or high quality plastic. These lenses focus on whatever object you are trying to capture in a photograph.
Most mid-range digital come with auto focus and manual focus built in. Auto focus is for point-and-click photos of whatever is in the middle of the frame. Or, by turning the ring over the lens, you can manually focus the camera. These allow users to switch between auto and manual focus.
Zoom LensesDigital have optical zoom and digital zoom lenses. Optical zoom costs more, give a better quality picture, and works the same way as on non-digital with lens adjustments. A digital zoom comes about when the camera makes calculations to manipulates the pixels. Digital zoom gives a less sharp image. Some include both optical and digital zoom.
View FinderThe view finder is what you look through to see what you are photographing. The view finder on both digital and regular film will approximate the picture your lens is viewing. Digital will also come with an LCD display that you can use to check your photographs and decide weather or not to keep them.
LightingWhen it comes to lighting you might not want the camera to make the decision automatically for you. On an auto setting you camera might not make the best lighting choice given the location and environment. At times like this you can appreciate being able to switch between manual and automatic settings.
Digital allow you to test exposure and view a picture on LCD prior to pressing the button fully and committing to a photograph.
FlashThere will be a built in flash that comes with your digital camera. In addition, the better have a location for a flash attachment. This is a good option for producing better quality photographs.
Connecting to Your ComputerYou will need a PC USB cable, or for Mac's - Firewire or Mac USB cable, to connect to your computer. You will also need a cable adapter for your camera's CF (Compact Flash) or SM (Smart Media) card .
The CF or SM cards are removable high capacity storage cards for your photos. Your camera will use one type of card or the other. Not both. Check to see which type of storage card your camera uses.
USB connections are fast and easy to set up. Older connect through a serial port. USB is faster and does not require that the computer be rebooted before it recognizes the camera.
Batteries and AC AdaptersDigital often come with rechargeable batteries. It is best to have two sets of batteries. One set to use while the other is recharging. AC adapters make it easy to plug into an electrical outlet when you are near by one.
Main Drawback of Digital CameraThe main drawback of digital is shutter lag delays when the camera delays responding after you squeeze the button. It is possible you may miss the moment when photographing moving objects due to shutter lag. Some of the newer are beginning to address the problem.
Select a camera that does what you want it to do, has features you will use and is priced in the range you want to pay. This will be the right camera for you. If your experience is limited and you do not want to take a lot of time learning how to use the camera, go with a point-and-shoot camera. Something without too many features. If you are a camera enthusiast who wants to do more with your camera or is willing to take the time to learn how to use the feature then, by all means go all out.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 (blue, with 14-42mm lens)Although the photos look a hair noisier and overprocessed compared with many competitors, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 has a lot to recommend about it--including a flip-and-twist touch-screen and speedy performance.Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 (with 18-200mm lens)Cheaper and with better photo quality than its sibling, the Sony Alpha DSLR-A500's quirky design is the only real flaw in an otherwise solid entry-level model with fast Live View shooting and a useful tilting LCD.Fujifilm FinePix JZ300 (silver)Fujifilm offers a very good value with the compact megazoom FinePix JZ300, but you'll have to be a little forgiving of its photos.Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100 (black)Though it doesn't offer anything beyond basics, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100 is a decent AA-battery-powered entry-level compact.Canon PowerShot SX210 IS (purple)If you want a compact megazoom with manual controls and fine photo quality, the Canon PowerShot SX210 IS is a good place to start.Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 (silver)The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 has a flexible lens in a compact body and produces reliably good automatic-shooting results.Nikon Coolpix S8000 (red)A nice design and a couple extra features keep the Nikon Coolpix S8000 from being an also-ran compact megazoom.Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W370 (green)Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-W370 is an inexpensive compact camera with a long lens; however, its shutter lag and low-light photo quality keep it from earning a higher rating.Fujifilm FinePix JZ500Fujifilm offers a very good value with the compact megazoom FinePix JZ500, though you'll have to be a little forgiving of its photos.Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 (silver)A basic ultracompact point-and-shoot with a touch screen, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 can outshoot the average camera phone.Canon Powershot SD4000 IS (silver)A bright, wide-angle lens and a high-sensitivity sensor add up to very good low-light photos and fast performance for the Canon PowerShot SD4000 IS.Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX7 (silver)The fast-shooting Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX7 is a slick, feature-laden ultracompact, but its price doesn't guarantee perfection.Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 (with 14-42mm lens)How the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 stacks up to its competition depends upon your priorities: it's the speed king, with the best design for manually oriented shooters, but its image quality lags the field.Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 (black)The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 is a compact megazoom camera that is capable of taking some excellent photos, just at a leisurely pace, but at a good price.Fujifilm FinePix HS10Fujifilm's FinePix HS10 has the look, feel, and controls of a dSLR, with the photos and shooting performance of a common point-and-shoot.Sony Alpha NEX-5 (black, with 16mm lens)For a lot of people, the excellent high-sensitivity photo quality, competitive performance, and an ultracompact body will likely outweigh the Sony Alpha NEX-5's quirks and operational annoyances.Nikon Coolpix L110 (black)The Nikon Coolpix L110 definitely offers a lot for the money, but it still has the photos and shooting performance of an entry-level point-and-shoot.Casio Exilim EX-FH100 (black)The high-speed Casio Exilim EX-FH100 is a compelling compact megazoom camera for those constantly worried about missing a snapshot.Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 (silver)If you just want a decent compact megazoom, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 is one of the better options thanks to a well-rounded feature set and very good photo quality at lower ISOs.Kodak EasyShare Z981The Kodak EasyShare Z981 has attractive specs and pricing, but falls too short on photo quality to recommend it.Samsung HZ35WSamsung's HZ35W is pretty much an across-the-board improvement from its predecessor resulting in a GPS-enabled compact megazoom worth considering.
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