How to Buy a Digital Camera
Choosing The Right Digital Camera
If you’re having a hard time figuring out which camera to buy, you may be tempted to make a decision based solely on megapixel count. However, outside of making huge prints or blowing up small portions of an image, megapixels can be meaningless. In fact, a high megapixel count can lead to noisier, less-sharp images unless you’re using a camera with a larger image sensor (such as a DSLR or a Micro Four-Thirds system camera).
Other features are often more important, and they depend on what you’ll be using the camera for. For example, a lethargic camera that takes too much time between shots is a lemon for sports or action photographers, and a big, heavy DSLR that takes amazing photos may spend more time on the shelf than in your carry-on bag. A camera with no manual controls may take fabulous shots in bright sunlight, but lousy ones in more challenging situations.
(digital camera)Digital SLR (DSLR)
Strengths: Superb photos, videos, and low-light shooting; No shutter lag; Versatile interchangeable lenses; Manual controls for exposure and focus; Through-the-lens optical viewfinder.
Weaknesses: Expensive; Lack of portability; Not all DSLRs shoot video; Can be complex and intimidating.
If money’s no object and performance is your top priority, a digital SLR yields the best photo quality and imaging controls of any type of digital camera. The combination of a large sensor, high-quality lenses that you can swap out to achieve a wide range of effects, great high-ISO performance in low light, and lightning-quick shutter response times make it the go-to camera for hobbyists and pro shooters. A DSLR is also the only type of camera that lets you frame shots using a through-the-lens optical viewfinder, meaning that what you’ll see through the eyepiece is a true-to-life representation of your shot.
Though the prospect of using a DSLR can be intimidating for novice users, most modern models are outfitted with point-and-shoot-like features and LCD-based viewfinders to make the migration easier. Beyond user-friendly auto-exposure and scene modes, you also get room to grow as a photographer due to a DSLR’s full range of manual controls.
The only major drawback to a DSLR is its size, which makes it a tough camera to bring anywhere you go. Price is also a major consideration, even after you spend an initial $700 to several-thousand dollars on the camera alone. Additional lenses are a must when it comes to unleashing the full power of your DSLR, and they usually cost several hundred dollars a pop. If you’re interested in shooting video, make sure your DSLR supports it; these cameras capture stunning HD video, but only the newest DSLRs are video-capable.
Compact Interchangeable-Lens Camera (Micro Four-Thirds, Sony NEX, Samsung NX)
Strengths: More compact than a DSLR; Excellent photo and video quality; No shutter lag; Versatile interchangeable lenses; Manual controls for exposure and focus.
Weaknesses: No through-the-lens optical viewfinder; Can be expensive; Fewer lenses available than for DSLRs; Still a bit bulky for everyday use.
If you can live without an optical viewfinder, these interchangeable-lens cameras offer most of what a DSLR offers in a more-compact body: a large sensor, fast mechanical shutter, swappable lenses, noticeably better image and video quality that your average point-and-shoot, and manual controls.
The lack of an optical viewfinder is a byproduct of these cameras’ smaller size: by eliminating the somewhat large mirror box that lets you frame your shot through the lens, manufacturers were able to make these interchangeable-lens cameras more compact.
One of the main problems is deciding which of the emerging compact interchangeable-lens formats to buy into, because like DSLR lens mounts, they’re incompatible with other : Panasonic and Olympus both use the Micro Four-Thirds System lens mount, Samsung’s NX10 uses its own NX lens mount, Sony’s NEX series uses the new E-Mount system, and other companies are bound to release their own interchangeable-lens compacts. Because this is a newer kind of camera, there aren’t as many lens options to choose from, either. Adapters are available that let you use full-size DSLR lenses with these cameras, but they often cost a hundred dollars or more.
Megazoom (Fixed-Lens High-Zoom Cameras)
Strengths: Very high optical zoom range; Manual controls; Normally have excellent image stabilization; Better lenses than standard point-and-shoot cameras.
Weaknesses: Bulkier than a point-and-shoot camera; Slightly expensive; Not much smaller than an interchangeable-lens camera.
Megazooms don’t give you the same lens-swapping versatility of a DSLR or compact interchangeable-lens camera, but they are the most-versatile fixed-lens cameras available. They’re called “megazooms” because they offer a whopping 20x to 30x optical zoom lens, usually serving up impressive wide-angle shots and telephoto reach.
Most megazooms also offer DSLR-like manual controls for aperture and shutter, as well as good image stabilization to help steady full-zoom shots. Because of the versatility of their lenses, they’re good cameras for landscape photography (they can capture both wide-angle vistas and faraway details), sports photography (you can sit in the crowd and still get tight shots of in-game action), and animal photography (because you really shouldn’t get too close to that bear).
Although a megazoom camera is smaller than a DSLR, it’s about the same size as some interchangeable-lens compact cameras, and it won’t slip into a pocket or purse. You’ll probably need a backpack or camera bag to tote it along with you.
Pocket Megazoom (Compact High-Zoom Cameras)
Strengths: Very high optical zoom range for a pocketable camera; Portable but versatile; Normally have excellent image stabilization; Many of them have manual controls.
Weaknesses: Some are a bit bulky; More expensive than basic point-and-shoot cameras; Some lack manual controls.
If you’re attracted by the versatile fixed lens of a megazoom camera but want something a bit more portable, a pocket megazoom is your best option. These compact cameras offer optical zoom ranges from about 10x to 15x, and although they’re definitely more compact than a full-size megazoom or DSLR, some of them aren’t quite small enough to slip in a pants pocket. A jacket pocket or purse should be big enough, however.
Although many pocket megazoom cameras have manual controls such as aperture and shutter priority, not all of them do, so be sure to check the specs if you’d like those features. These cameras normally have very good optical image stabilization to bolster their high-zoom lenses.
Advanced Point-and-Shoot (Compact Camera With Manual Controls)
Strengths: Better image quality than most fixed-lens cameras; Manual controls over shutter speed and aperture settings; Good secondary cameras for DSLR owners; Good learning tool for novice shooters.
Weaknesses: More expensive than a basic point-and-shoot; Can be more complicated to use than a basic point-and-shoot; Smaller optical zoom range.
Examples: Canon PowerShot S90; Canon PowerShot G11
Not all point-and-shoot digital cameras can live up to the scrutiny of a DSLR-toting pro, but an advanced point-and-shoot often gets the pick as a pro shooter’s secondary, more-portable camera. These cameras have manual controls for setting the aperture, shutter, and ISO, letting you fine-tune your shot more granularly than you can with a basic point-and-shoot.
Although you don’t get the zoom range of a pocket megazoom, image quality is often better; you don’t get the distortion you sometimes see with a high-zoom lens. These cameras also often have wider apertures, so that you can accomplish a greater depth of field and shoot at higher shutter speeds.
Basic Point-and-Shoot
Strengths: Very easy to use; Inexpensive; Small enough to fit in a pants pocket; Usually have a large number of scene modes that select the right in-camera settings for your shot.
Weaknesses: Usually don’t have any manual controls; Image quality is usually mediocre, especially in low light; Inflated megapixel counts.
A basic point-and-shoot camera is a no-brainer pick for anyone who just wants a camera to have on hand at all times; most of them even shoot 720p HD video now. In-camera automation is getting better and better, meaning that these cameras basically drive themselves; you don’t get manual controls that help you fine-tune your photos, but these cameras normally have very good Auto modes and scene selections that choose the appropriate in-camera settings for your shot.
These cameras are have small sensors, so don’t fall into the trap of buying an inexpensive camera with a very high megapixel count. Packing more megapixels into a small sensor usually leads to image noise, especially when you’re shooting at higher ISO settings.
Although they won’t offer the same optical zoom reach as a more-expensive camera, a good thing to look for in a basic point-and-shoot camera is wide-angle coverage (ideally around 28mm on the wide-angle end). That extra wide-angle coverage comes in very handy for group shots, arm’s length self portraits, and landscape shots.
Ruggedized Point-and-Shoot
Strengths: Immune to drops, water, freezing, and sand.
Weaknesses: Usually have fewer features than a standard point-and-shoot camera; Sometimes have sub-par image quality.
These are the ultimate cameras for extreme-sports enthusiasts, mountaineers, snorkelers, and the just-plain-clumsy. Quite a few waterproof, freezeproof, drop-proof, and dustproof cameras are available, and they’re great for taking underwater shots of fish, lugging to the beach, or taking on a snowboarding trip.
Due to their unique looks and sometimes-barren feature sets, these cameras aren’t the first choice for everyday on-the-go use. Image quality can be a mixed bag, as well: they’re rugged, but they usually don’t have the best optics or biggest sensors. But they’re durable, and that’s sometimes a more important trait to have.
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About the Author
We specialize in substitute batteries(laptop battery, Digital Camera Battery, power tool battery) and battery packs for laptops, camcorders, digital cameras, PDAs, mobile phones, and power tools, etc. as well as battery chargers!
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