Focusing on a Digital Camera Purchase

December 7th, 2009

Are you in the market for a new digital camera? I am, and I’ve been researching the options. This is a good time of year to look, because stores are stocked for the holiday season. There are plenty of models to compare and lots of good deals to be found. You can see camera news and previews of all brands here, or see top choices, read reviews, and see sample photos here. Both sites are very thorough. But there’s more to this than meets the eye.

The most promoted feature of digital cameras today is the megapixel count, however contrary to popular belief, megapixels are not the most important factor affecting picture quality. For the most part, megapixels simply give you more detail if you decide to enlarge or use digital zoom. In fact, most of the digital cameras made in the last 2 years will have more than enough megapixels for general use.

But there are other features that I feel are important to consider.

Size and weight – If physical size and weight of the camera are of critical importance, more advanced features will have to be sacrificed. I personally prefer a small camera that I can always carry with me. Then, if I see interesting things during the day, I can capture the images and share them with family and friends later.

Ease of use – Before buying a camera, you need to actually hold it in your hand to make sure it’s comfortable and the controls are logically placed. What I usually do is run to my local electronics store and check out the camera I like for free, then shop for the best price online.

Optical & digital zoom -  The greater a camera’s optical zoom is, the closer it brings you to the action without sacrificing image quality. Digital zoom, on the other hand crops the picture and expands the available pixels to fill the space, thereby reducing image quality.  Those images work well for email and Web pages but not as well for printing. When selecting a camera, you should ignore digital zoom numbers and focus on the optical zoom. In general, your camera should at least have 3x optical zoom, but the larger the optical zoom, the better.

LCD viewfinder - Most manufacturers have said goodbye to the optical viewfinder. Today, the only way to compose a picture on most digital cameras is with the LCD. In crowded conditions, being able to extend your arm straight up and use the LCD to compose the picture is a great advantage over the optical viewfinder. On the other hand, leaving the LCD on continuously reduces battery life and using the optical viewfinder (if you have one) will help conserve power. In addition, some people are not completely comfortable using just the LCD, so you should keep that factor in mind when shopping for a camera.

Storage cards – The more megapixels your camera has, the more detail you can get in your photos, which as a result requires more storage capacity. The more megabytes a memory card has, the more photos you can store on it. On average, a 10 megapixel camera produces a 4 to 5 megabyte photo in JPG format. The current standard for digital camera storage is SD cards. With a 2GB SD card, you can roughly store about 400 pictures. One caveat to this is video. If you plan to shoot a lot of video, you will likely want a larger SD card.

Batteries – Some cameras use ordinary AA batteries, while others require a specialized battery pack, which is more expensive and harder to find, but has a longer life. The one advantage of ordinary batteries is that you can swap them pretty easily on the go, or if you forgot to charge. With a specialized battery you don’t have this freedom, unless you carry a spare. If your camera uses AA batteries, it’s a smart decision to buy rechargeable batteries to save money and environment.

Video options - Many still digital cameras allow for short film clips with audio, approaching the usefulness of a video camera without the price tag or bulk.  When in video mode, however, the resolution is lower than the still photos. Videos drain batteries fast, so if you plan on shooting a lot of videos, you might consider buying extra batteries. Some digital cameras also include a video-out function so you can hook up to a TV to display your pictures. Others can connect directly to a compatible printer to make prints, some even wirelessly.

Vibration reduction – Traditionally, the poor image of the person in front of the camera is a result of movement by the person behind the camera.  Realizing that, manufacturers have come up with anti-vibration software to eliminate this problem. This is a must-have feature on my list.

The Bottom Line

Most modern cameras have all the bells and whistles needed for everyday use. If you plan to add extras, remember to shop based on your specific needs. For example, if you are taking a lot of close-ups, invest in a more powerful optical zoom, if you plan to shoot videos, buy a larger SD card. For incremental increases in cost you can get so much more in features and performance. Don’t be caught in the trap of upgrading to the point that you’ll buy more features than you’ll use!

Entry Filed under: Shopping