If you're like most people, you don't know a megapixel from an f-stop, you just want a camera that works well and takes nice pictures. But the ads and websites are almost drowning you in computer jargon and mysterious numbers.
The good news is that today's digital cameras are much better than even a couple years ago, and most cameras from reputable brands will do a decent job. So the pressure's off; don't worry about your decision too much. Armed with just a little understanding, you'll be able to find a camera that fits your needs and won't break the bank.
Here are the things you'll want to look for, and how they'll affect your digital camera experience:
1. Megapixels
I'm listing this one first not because it's really the most important, but because it's the one the camera makers harp on the most. You're going to see a megapixel number in every camera ad and product listing, so you might as well know what it is.
In a nutshell, the number of megapixels a camera can capture describes the level of detail and sharpness you will get. A 3-megapixel camera divides a photo into three million individual dots and records the color of each one of them. A 10-megapixel camera divides it into ten million dots, so of course it is recording more details.
However, it usually stops mattering after about 6 megapixels. That's because this is already enough resolution for photographic-quality 8x10" prints, which are the largest that most people ever make.
Having a larger number of megapixels than that does give you some extra freedom - for instance, you can crop part of your photo away and still have enough for a large, high quality print.
But if you don't think you're going to be making poster-size prints, or using photo manipulation software to crop large areas out of your images before printing them, then don't worry too much about extremely high megapixel counts.
2. Zoom
Zoom comes in two flavors - optical and digital. It's usually expressed as a number followed by an "x". A zoom listed as "3x", for example, can make the subject of your photo appear three times larger. That's a typical zoom for pocket-sized cameras, but larger digital cameras may have up to 12x or more.
Optical zoom means lenses, just like with film cameras. The size of the image is increased by moving two lenses farther apart from each other in the camera. If the lenses are of good quality, then the resulting enlarged image will also be sharp and clear.
Digital zoom, on the other hand, is not so useful. Using digital zoom always decreases the quality of your image; no serious photographer would ever use it. Camera manufacturers include it because it doesn't cost them anything and allows them to claim higher zoom ratios than they're willing to provide with optics.
So it's very important to look separately at the optical and digital zoom numbers, and only pay attention to the optical zoom.
The flip side of powerful optical zoom is that it makes the camera larger and heavier. So you have to decide how much extra weight that 10x lens is worth to you.
3. Manual features
All consumer digital cameras offer fully automatic focus and exposure control. This means you usually don't have to worry about getting your subject sharply focused, or think about the level of light at different points in your shot and how that will affect the photo.
But sometimes the camera doesn't make the right guess. It may keep focusing on the wrong thing, or it may get confused by bright or dark areas, and the whole photo may come out too light or dark.
If your camera only has automatic mode, then you're stuck. On the other hand, if it has manual overrides, you can tell it exactly how to focus, or how bright to make the photo. Most people don't care, but if you think you might want to be a perfectionist, then you should look for a camera with manual focus and manual exposure controls.
4. Movie mode
These days, digital cameras don't only take still photos - almost all of them can also make movies. The movies usually aren't that great, and the length may be extremely limited (maybe even less than a minute), but sometimes it's nice to be able to capture something with motion and sound.
The most important things to look for is the maximum length of the movie - the longer the better, and unlimited is better still. Be aware that long movies can take up a lot of your camera's memory - after all, a movie is really just an awful lot of still shots, one after another. You may find that after taking a long movie, you have to move it off your camera and into your computer before you have enough room to take many photos.
You may also want to check the resolution of the movies (this is like megapixels, explained above, except that the resolution for movies is usually much lower than for still photos). 320x240 is a standard resolution, but many cameras are now offering 640x480 or even higher.
The last thing to look for is frame rate. 15 frames per second (fps) is standard, but these movies tend to look kind of jerky, especially if there's fast motion. 30 frames per second is the same as television.
5. Screen size and quality
You'll spend a lot of time looking at the little (or not so little) screen on the back of your camera, so make sure it's a good one. It should be large, have a lot of pixels and be bright.
Most current cameras have two-and-a-half inch screens, but larger ones are slowly becoming more common.
The more pixels the screen has, the easier it will be for you to check the quality of your pictures without having to view them on a computer monitor or print them out. 75,000 pixels is on the low end; 250,000 is currently about the best on the market.
The brightness is something you can only assess for yourself. If you get the chance, try out the camera in a shop during the daytime. Take it to the window, so there is lots of natural light, and check whether you can still see the image clearly with the sun at your back. It's frustrating trying to use a camera when the screen is washed out and dim in daylight.
6. Size and weight
Cameras keep getting smaller and smaller. Some of them, like the latest Exilim cameras from Casio, are smaller than a pack of cigarettes and still deliver good shots. But you'll pay for the privilege; the tiniest cameras cost a lot more than larger models with similar features.
When you're thinking about size, probably the most important threshold is whether or not you can fit it in your pocket. If you can, it's likely you'll find yourself carrying the camera around - and using it - much more than you would if it required toting a bag. But any smaller than that, and you're probably paying extra just to be able to show off.
7. Batteries
Some digital cameras use standard AA or AAA batteries, like you might use for a remote control or a portable CD player. These have several advantages. Probably the most significant one is that if you find yourself totally out of battery power, you can always nip into the closest convenience store and buy a new set, and be right back out taking pictures again.
Of course, it doesn't make sense to use disposable batteries all the time for these cameras. It's expensive, and bad for the environment. And they don't last very long: A set of rechargeable AA batteries may last up to twice as long in your digital camera as the most expensive name-brand disposables. And that's just on one charge - you can keep recharging them again and again.
Other cameras don't give you the choice; they use custom batteries that are specially designed for digital cameras. These batteries tend to be smaller and lighter than AAs or AAAs, packing more power into a smaller unit. On the other hand, they're also quite expensive. One will be included with the camera, but if you want to get a backup (so you can keep shooting photos after running through a full charge), you may find yourself ponying up $50 or more. Same thing if you accidentally lose it.
Well, that's it. It's still a lot to think about, but it really comes down to a few simple questions about priorities. At least now you know how to decide whether all those features are really worth the extra money. Good luck!
Max Carlton is a digital photography expert who has been advising consumers for almost ten years. His website can help you find your perfect digital camera in a snap: http://www.camera.u.nu
By Max Carlton
The good news is that today's digital cameras are much better than even a couple years ago, and most cameras from reputable brands will do a decent job. So the pressure's off; don't worry about your decision too much. Armed with just a little understanding, you'll be able to find a camera that fits your needs and won't break the bank.
Here are the things you'll want to look for, and how they'll affect your digital camera experience:
1. Megapixels
I'm listing this one first not because it's really the most important, but because it's the one the camera makers harp on the most. You're going to see a megapixel number in every camera ad and product listing, so you might as well know what it is.
In a nutshell, the number of megapixels a camera can capture describes the level of detail and sharpness you will get. A 3-megapixel camera divides a photo into three million individual dots and records the color of each one of them. A 10-megapixel camera divides it into ten million dots, so of course it is recording more details.
However, it usually stops mattering after about 6 megapixels. That's because this is already enough resolution for photographic-quality 8x10" prints, which are the largest that most people ever make.
Having a larger number of megapixels than that does give you some extra freedom - for instance, you can crop part of your photo away and still have enough for a large, high quality print.
But if you don't think you're going to be making poster-size prints, or using photo manipulation software to crop large areas out of your images before printing them, then don't worry too much about extremely high megapixel counts.
2. Zoom
Zoom comes in two flavors - optical and digital. It's usually expressed as a number followed by an "x". A zoom listed as "3x", for example, can make the subject of your photo appear three times larger. That's a typical zoom for pocket-sized cameras, but larger digital cameras may have up to 12x or more.
Optical zoom means lenses, just like with film cameras. The size of the image is increased by moving two lenses farther apart from each other in the camera. If the lenses are of good quality, then the resulting enlarged image will also be sharp and clear.
Digital zoom, on the other hand, is not so useful. Using digital zoom always decreases the quality of your image; no serious photographer would ever use it. Camera manufacturers include it because it doesn't cost them anything and allows them to claim higher zoom ratios than they're willing to provide with optics.
So it's very important to look separately at the optical and digital zoom numbers, and only pay attention to the optical zoom.
The flip side of powerful optical zoom is that it makes the camera larger and heavier. So you have to decide how much extra weight that 10x lens is worth to you.
3. Manual features
All consumer digital cameras offer fully automatic focus and exposure control. This means you usually don't have to worry about getting your subject sharply focused, or think about the level of light at different points in your shot and how that will affect the photo.
But sometimes the camera doesn't make the right guess. It may keep focusing on the wrong thing, or it may get confused by bright or dark areas, and the whole photo may come out too light or dark.
If your camera only has automatic mode, then you're stuck. On the other hand, if it has manual overrides, you can tell it exactly how to focus, or how bright to make the photo. Most people don't care, but if you think you might want to be a perfectionist, then you should look for a camera with manual focus and manual exposure controls.
4. Movie mode
These days, digital cameras don't only take still photos - almost all of them can also make movies. The movies usually aren't that great, and the length may be extremely limited (maybe even less than a minute), but sometimes it's nice to be able to capture something with motion and sound.
The most important things to look for is the maximum length of the movie - the longer the better, and unlimited is better still. Be aware that long movies can take up a lot of your camera's memory - after all, a movie is really just an awful lot of still shots, one after another. You may find that after taking a long movie, you have to move it off your camera and into your computer before you have enough room to take many photos.
You may also want to check the resolution of the movies (this is like megapixels, explained above, except that the resolution for movies is usually much lower than for still photos). 320x240 is a standard resolution, but many cameras are now offering 640x480 or even higher.
The last thing to look for is frame rate. 15 frames per second (fps) is standard, but these movies tend to look kind of jerky, especially if there's fast motion. 30 frames per second is the same as television.
5. Screen size and quality
You'll spend a lot of time looking at the little (or not so little) screen on the back of your camera, so make sure it's a good one. It should be large, have a lot of pixels and be bright.
Most current cameras have two-and-a-half inch screens, but larger ones are slowly becoming more common.
The more pixels the screen has, the easier it will be for you to check the quality of your pictures without having to view them on a computer monitor or print them out. 75,000 pixels is on the low end; 250,000 is currently about the best on the market.
The brightness is something you can only assess for yourself. If you get the chance, try out the camera in a shop during the daytime. Take it to the window, so there is lots of natural light, and check whether you can still see the image clearly with the sun at your back. It's frustrating trying to use a camera when the screen is washed out and dim in daylight.
6. Size and weight
Cameras keep getting smaller and smaller. Some of them, like the latest Exilim cameras from Casio, are smaller than a pack of cigarettes and still deliver good shots. But you'll pay for the privilege; the tiniest cameras cost a lot more than larger models with similar features.
When you're thinking about size, probably the most important threshold is whether or not you can fit it in your pocket. If you can, it's likely you'll find yourself carrying the camera around - and using it - much more than you would if it required toting a bag. But any smaller than that, and you're probably paying extra just to be able to show off.
7. Batteries
Some digital cameras use standard AA or AAA batteries, like you might use for a remote control or a portable CD player. These have several advantages. Probably the most significant one is that if you find yourself totally out of battery power, you can always nip into the closest convenience store and buy a new set, and be right back out taking pictures again.
Of course, it doesn't make sense to use disposable batteries all the time for these cameras. It's expensive, and bad for the environment. And they don't last very long: A set of rechargeable AA batteries may last up to twice as long in your digital camera as the most expensive name-brand disposables. And that's just on one charge - you can keep recharging them again and again.
Other cameras don't give you the choice; they use custom batteries that are specially designed for digital cameras. These batteries tend to be smaller and lighter than AAs or AAAs, packing more power into a smaller unit. On the other hand, they're also quite expensive. One will be included with the camera, but if you want to get a backup (so you can keep shooting photos after running through a full charge), you may find yourself ponying up $50 or more. Same thing if you accidentally lose it.
Well, that's it. It's still a lot to think about, but it really comes down to a few simple questions about priorities. At least now you know how to decide whether all those features are really worth the extra money. Good luck!
Max Carlton is a digital photography expert who has been advising consumers for almost ten years. His website can help you find your perfect digital camera in a snap: http://www.camera.u.nu
By Max Carlton
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