Start small and you'll be in for a big surprise!
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Compact digital cameras at a glance
Best suited for:
- Travel and vacation snapshots
- Informal group portraits
- Scenics
- Party pictures
Not ideal for:
- Sports/action photography
- Formal portraits
- Studio photography
- Wildlife and bird photography
Compact digital camera advantages:
- Immediate feedback (back of camera LCD screen)
- Live image preview
- Easy to share images
- Affordable
- Light and small
- Easy to use (but many have options for photographers who want exposure control)
Compact digital camera disadvantages:
- Many lack optical viewfinder
- May be hard for large-handed users to hold
- Limited zoom range
- Generally poor low-light performance without flash
- Delays taking picture when you press shutter release
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Experts say there are three main reasons why digital cameras have become so popular. First, they offer immediate feedback--we can see the picture on the LCD monitor right after we take it.
Next, the images are easier to share. Digital image files can easily be exchanged as e-mail attachments or conveniently printed at home.
Finally, the cameras are superb quality and they are capable of creating very high quality images.
TEN POINTS TO CONSIDER
Whether you're buying your first digital camera or stepping up from an older model, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here are ten points you should consider. These are not in order of importance. Your personal needs, experience and the type of pictures you like to take will determine the priority.
Before we go to the list, however, you should ask yourself whether photography is likely to become an important hobby for you, or remain just an occasional activity. If you think there's a good chance you'll want to pursue picture-taking a bit more seriously, consider buying a digital SLR. DSLRs offer much greater versatility, are not hard to use and are more affordable than most people think. They are more expensive than point-and-shoot cameras, but when you spread that cost out over five years or so, it's insignificant compared to the fun you'll have and the satisfaction you'll get creating the best photos you possibly can. Read You are ready for a Digital SLR if...
1. RESOLUTION
Resolution is expressed in megapixels. The number indicates how many millions of picture elements (pixels, or dots) will be used to form the image. A camera that captures images as 3,246 horizontal pixels by 2,448 vertical pixels would be called an 8-megapixel (MP) camera (3,264 x 2,448 = 8,000,000 pixels). The higher the number or pixels, the bigger the image (and print) can be.
When I first wrote this three years ago, I said that 4MP cameras were capable of producing high-quality 4x5 prints, more than adequate for most users. The problem is, nobody is making 4MP cameras any more. Consumer-level digital cameras now range from 5MP to as high as 12MP or more, but my advice still stands: even modest resolution digital cameras will produce fine prints these days up to 8x10 or even larger. Don't let boasts of "12MP resolution!" sway you. Instead, look at other features.
One thing many folks overlook when they argue about how many pixels are necessary is the "crop factor." An 8-megapixel digital camera, for instance, allows you to enlarge a small portion of the image and still maintain good quality. With a lower-resolution camera, enlarging the same portion of the image might result in a grainy, fuzzy mess.
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Image quality: It's not just about resolution
Not all 10-megapixel images are equal. Here are three factors that could affect how your image looks overall:
- Noise: Typically found at higher light sensitivity settings (ISO). In order to make compact cameras so small, they are equipped with tiny sensors, around the size of a thumb nail. Each sensor is packed with microscopic-sized pixels, which record light. Without getting into an optical dissertation, suffice to say that larger pixels will produce better quality images. When you squeeze 9, 10, or 12 million pixels on a tiny sensor, the pixels will be really small, and this can cause digital artifacts commonly referred to as noise or digital grain, especially in low light. When you boost the sensitivity to light, this can make the visual distortion worse. Some cameras claim built-in noise reduction, and that's worth paying a bit more for. The best way to reduce grain is to shoot at your camera's lowest ISO setting.
- Color accuracy: Most digital cameras have this problem more or less solved, but if skin tones appear too blue, you may need to manually adjust the white balance.
- Contrast: Again, this can be adjustable, but some cameras may come out of the factory set for too much contrast, or too little. Most compact cameras have contrast control, as well as a way to make colors stronger or weaker, called saturation adjustment, and shadow detail boosters.
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2. ZOOM RANGE
If you want to get closer to your subject without moving, you need a zoom lens. Look for a camera that offers a 3X or 4X optical zoom. Many cameras offer digital zoom in addition to optical, but beware: digital zoom merely "crops" a reduced-size portion of the image and presents it at lower resolution.
A popular trend today is the mega-zoom-type camera in the 8X to 12X optical zoom range. They are becoming more affordable, even the models that offer some version of Image Stabilization--also known as Anti-Shake or Vibration Reduction.
Be aware of the zoom range in addition to the zoom amount--all 4X zooms are not created equal. A camera with a zoom equivalent to 28-115mm is more versatile (but less common) than one with a lens that goes from 35-140mm--even though both are 4X--because the one that starts at 28mm gives you a very useful wideangle.
3. SIZE AND WEIGHT
A compact, lightweight camera is very convenient--and less likely to be left at home. If you have your camera with you more often, you'll take more pictures. Nearly every manufacturer has at least one model that is about the size of a fat deck of cards. A standard deck of playing cards is about 2 1/4x3 3/4x3/4 inches. Keep these dimensions in mind when you read camera specifications and you'll be able to make an easy comparison.
Conventional logic would suggest that portability comes at a price, but that's not necessarily true. Ultra compact cameras may shave a few features off the menu but for the most part you'll find everything you could ask for. The only drawback (and this is a drawback only for some people) is that the small size can make the camera difficult to hold, especially if you have large hands.
4. LCD MONITOR AND VIEWFINDER
Most digital cameras today have 2.5- to 3-inch LCD displays. The bigger monitors are bright and easy to see at all times. Menus are easier to read, too. They also make it easier to review images in playback mode. Smaller LCD monitors can be difficult to see, especially in bright sunlight. If you have this problem, make sure the camera you buy has an optical viewfinder as well. Check the specs: The more dots per inch (dpi) in a monitor, the sharper and more detailed the displayed image will be. 230,000 dpi is typical, but some pricier cameras have 400,000 dpi or higher.
Big LCDs make to more fun to share images with others. Call it "shoot and show." Some cameras include a charging cradle that positions the camera so that the LCD can be used to view images--it's like having a miniature digital picture frame on your desk.
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Where did the optical viewfinder go?
While larger LCD viewfinders are great for previewing and sharing images already shot, they are coming at the expense of optical finders on smaller cameras. This can prevent you from getting the sharpest picture possible with your camera. Here's why:
 The ideal way to handhold a camera is with your elbows braced against your torso, and the camera against your face, as you can see here. Before LCDs, this was how most photos were taken, and it was a natural shooting position. The two elbows and face acted as an effective support and reduced likelihood of camera shake.
A built-in flaw: It's impossible to hold the camera properly when you have no optical viewfinder and you're composing with an LCD screen. To shoot with an LCD screen, you need to hold the camera almost at arm's length, as shown here. This takes away the natural camera-supporting handheld position. The result? If you're not using flash, odds are greater that your picture will be shaky.
Alas, almost all digital point-and-shoot cameras are lacking an optical viewfinder. You are more likely to find them either on lower-end models or on some high-end System Compact cameras such as the Canon G or Nikon P series.
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5. EXPOSURE AND SCENE SELECTION
All point-and-shoot cameras make exposure settings automatically. Some allow you to make them manually as well. If the manual option is important to you, check the specifications carefully. Many cameras include an assortment of preset "scenes" that the shooter can dial in to match the circumstances. These are given different names on different cameras, but usually they include standards like Landscape, Portrait, and Close-up and Sports. By selecting the appropriate scene you can get results like a pro.
The Sports setting, for example, will make the camera shoot at the fastest permissible shutter speed so as to freeze action. Portrait will blur the background to make your subject stand out more. It's like having a professional photographer inside your camera, calling the shots.
6. BATTERY LIFE
There was a time when short battery life was the number one complaint against digital cameras. This problem is rapidly disappearing. Three types of batteries predominate: Lithium Ion, nickel metal hydride, and alkaline. Lithium Ion batteries seem to last forever, and recharge quickly, too. If you buy a camera that uses Lithium Ion you should never have a problem.
Most cameras that use AA-size cells are supplied with NiMH (nickel metal hydride). If your new camera comes with non-rechargeable AA-size (penlight) alkaline flashlight batteries, buy a set of NiMH right away. And above all else, regardless what kind of battery technology is employed, buy a spare battery and keep it charged--that way you'll never miss a photo opportunity.
A newcomer, Oxyrides, are claimed to offer more power than the more expensive lithium ion or nickel metal hydrides for approximately the cost of an Alkaline. Stay tuned!
7. MOVIE CLIPS
If you want digital movies more than you want high-quality still images, buy a digital video camcorder. Point-and-shoot digital still cameras are built to shoot one image at a time. However, many offer surprisingly good video capability. A growing number of compact digital cameras these days even offer high-definition video capture at 30 frames per second. The downside? These videos will fill up your memory card very quickly. The upside? Memory's cheap.
8. FOCUS ASSIST
Digital cameras use light to focus. When it's too dark, they can run into trouble. As a countermeasure, camera manufacturers incorporate a small, built-in lamp that automatically illuminates the subject for focusing when the light's too low. If you think you'll be doing much shooting in dim light, be certain that the camera you buy has a Focus Assist system. Parties in subdued light, for instance, are a classic example of where a Focus Assist light is needed.
All consumer-grade compact digital cameras have built-in flash units, and sometimes these double as the focus assist lamp. Either way, you'll get sharper pictures, even when the lights go down. Be warned, however, that if it's dark enough to warrant use of a Focus Assist lamp then it's too dark to shoot without flash. Unless your camera has Image Stabilization, use the flash or a tripod.
9. FASHION STATEMENT
You want your pictures to look good but you want your camera to look good, too, right? There are some ugly or plain-looking cameras that can take great pictures, but they're just not as much fun to take out in public. Remember that the perfect style for Dad may not be ideal for Mom--everyone has his or her own taste. Just make sure the camera has the features you want. Most fashion cameras have a full range of features, so you don't have to sacrifice substance for style. Read The Best Fashion Compact Digital Cameras Right Now.
10. PRICE
Everyone has a different budget. Decide what price range agrees with your pocketbook before you start studying the specifications. One piece of advice: always try to buy your last camera; that is, a camera that has enough features to keep you happy for a long, long time.
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How much should I spend?
Good news for consumers is that compact digital camera prices have plummeted in the past couple of years. A bare-bones basic camera now costs around $100 or even less, although these models typically have smaller LCD screens, longer "lag times" ("lag time" is a delay from the moment you press the shutter until it actually takes the picture) and may be less sturdy than pricier versions. Most compacts fall in the $150-350 range, with a few fancy models costing over $500.
If you are looking for a simple snapshot camera, and know you'll never make anything larger than standard 4x6-inch prints, a lower-resolution model, 5-7 megapixels, will be sufficient. You may be pleasantly surprised at how little a good digital compact costs these days. |
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© 2009 Adorama Camera
