Digital camera buyers' guide
When it comes to buying a digital camera, it's easy to get confused as there are so many options. Fear not. We're here to help. This guide will help you make a purchasing decision based on the specifications you'll need to examine closely (and the specs you can basically ignore) before you fork out your hard-earned cash.
Pocket Megazoom (Compact High-Zoom) Camera
Strengths: Very high optical zoom range for a pocketable camera; portable but versatile; normally has excellent image stabilization; many have manual controls
Weaknesses: Some are a bit bulky; more expensive than basic point-and-shoot cameras; some lack manual controls; normally has narrower aperture than an advanced point-and-shoot
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 up to about 18x, and although they're definitely more compact than a full-size megazoom or DSLR, some of them aren't quite small enough to slip into a pants pocket. A jacket pocket or purse should be big enough, however.
These are great cameras for vacationers or for everyday use, due to their versatile combination of zoom range and portability. They're small enough to bring anywhere, and they offer enough optical zoom to cover anything from wide-angle scenery to faraway shots of sporting events or wildlife.
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; usually has a wide aperture at wide-angle end of the zoom; good secondary camera 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
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 nod 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.
Their lenses also tend to have wider maximum apertures than most fixed-lens cameras, meaning that you can shoot at faster shutter speeds, get good shots in low light, and achieve shallow depth-of-field effects to give macro shots and portraits a more artistic look.
Although you don't get the zoom range of a pocket megazoom, image quality is often better; you don't end up with the distortion you sometimes see with a high-zoom lens.
NEXT PAGE: Ruggedised Point-and-Shoot camera
Comments
NOEL HARGOOD said: This subject should really start with How much money do you want to spend and then do you want a pocketable instant camera to take candid shots or an SLR which makes the subject either hide or pose as you pick it up unless you have a big telephoto lens shooting at a distanceI do so hope that j acker is pessimistic when he says that movies on a still camera is not practicable I have just bought a Canon Powershot S95 which this magazine said that the video mode was better than some dedicated movie cameras and it does zoom while filmingBut I am talking at the budget end of the spectrumTo complement it or to give it a fighting chance I have bought a Sandisk Extreme Pro HC 45Mbs card also reviewed here so here goes I will be exercising it when I have assimilated a couple of hundred pages of instructions which only comes on the CDBut it will be Auto mode for a start
j.acker@virginmedia.com said: A lot of good advice as far as I am concerned but if you want video buy a video camera Do not think of using a camera that claims to do both One thing with this latter you have to view the scene through a screen which is virtually impossible in bright sunlight It is essential you are able to view through the camera for filming particularly country scenery Secondly you will find you cannot zoom while actually filming At least this has been my experience when I bought a Pentax K-x A mistake I am still bitterly regretting
Matt Egan - Editor said: Hi jayprime - Im not sure I entirely accept your criticism in this case What weve attempted to do is give you all the information you need to choose the right camera for your needs and budget - breaking down the all-important specifications so you can make a informed purchasing decision Im sorry you dont feel this is useful for you That said I really like your idea of interactive multiple choice questions and thats something we should look into doing Thanks for your comment
jayprime said: How to choose the right digital cameraSorry no More a case of What to look for in a digital cameraIf it really aimed to be How to choose the right digital camera it would have an interactive series of multiple option questions leading to a final list of two or three cameras that best fit the stated needs of the readerRepeatedly I find that PC ADVISOR does NOT do what it says on the tin rarely giving advice that I as a complete novice can act on without going to several other sources of information