Selecting a Digital Camera

Selecting a Digital Camera

So you've decided to buy a digital camera. That's great! But with the huge assortment of digital cameras to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you? Which features are most important? Where do you begin?

Digital Camera Usage

You've decided to invest in a digital camera. The great times are about to begin! But what should you look for in a camera so it does want you want it to do? Let us help. Our top five points to consider can help you determine your needs. Once you learn everything your camera can do, you'll never want to put it down again!

1. Megapixels and resolution: In clearer terms, what size pictures do you want to print?

There's lots of talk about megapixels and resolution—but what are they and what do they do? Pixels are the dots, or image points, that make up a picture. A megapixel is equal to one million pixels. The more megapixels your camera has, the larger your prints can be and still look good. And that leads us to resolution.

Resolution refers to the total number of pixels and affects the sharpness and definition of your image. High-resolution cameras have two or three megapixels or more and are perfect for making large prints. Low-resolution cameras have one megapixel and are better suited for emailing images or making prints smaller than 4x6 inches. Carefully consider the best print size for your needs and it'll help you solve the megapixel puzzle. The more megapixels in your image, the fewer you can store on your memory card—another one of those trade offs!

2. Lenses: Just focus on the kind of pictures you want to take.

Do you like to take close-up pictures with lots of great details and sharpness? Or do you want to be able to zoom in on the action even if you're far away? Your answers will help you choose a camera with the right lens system suited to your style.

Almost everyone needs a zoom lens. Zoom lenses come in two types, optical and digital. You want an optical zoom. Optical zoom allows you to follow your subject and adjust the lens forward and backward just like with a film camera. Digital zoom, on the other hand, simply enlarges or "blows up" the image and crops in on the part you see on the LCD monitor. This process reduces the quality of the image. Zoom in too close and your prints will lack clarity and sharpness.

If close-ups are your passion, you'll need a camera with a macro setting. Many digital cameras have a macro mode. This mode lets you get very close to objects and greatly enlarge the image, such as a petal on a flower or a ring on a finger. Whether you choose zoom or macro or both, be sure to experiment with your camera's lens system in the store.

3. Memory: Don't forget to buy enough.

Digital cameras don't use film. Instead, they use digital memory such as memory cards or small hard disks to store images. But, just like film, memory cards get full. When this happens, you need to free up space before you can take more pictures.

Digital cameras let you free up space by deleting them or downloading pictures from the camera onto your computer. This system works fine if you're always near a computer, but it's not always practical if you're traveling or carrying your camera with you for long periods of time. In these cases, you'll want a higher capacity memory card with lots of image storage capacity.

When choosing a digital camera, find out how many pictures can be stored on its card when images are taken at default resolution. The most popular cards on the market are very durable and come in a variety of sizes, from 4 megabytes to 1 gigabyte or higher. While higher capacity cards can be somewhat expensive, they'll give you the freedom to take as many pictures as you want.

4. Batteries: A powerful consideration.

Digital cameras go through batteries like kids eat candy. This is because the batteries have to power an image sensor, the LCD panel, and the microprocessor all at once. Add a flash and zoom to the mix and batteries become an important camera feature to consider in your decision-making process.

Batteries come in a variety shapes and sizes. Before buying a digital camera, find out what your options are. One option is alkaline batteries. While they're convenient and relatively cost-effective, they're usually not strong enough to power most cameras for more than a few dozen images. Disposable lithium batteries are a more powerful alternative, but this can be an expensive proposition if you're replacing them on a regular basis.

Another option is rechargeable batteries. In a single charge, rechargeable batteries will power a good camera long enough for you to take about 100 pictures. Many cameras come with chargers; if they do, this is an extra you should definitely consider for its convenience and cost-effectiveness. Whatever battery option you choose, understand that many things affect battery life, such as using the optical viewfinder instead of the LCD monitor to conserve power.

Battery life is worth researching and is often covered in camera reviews or the owner's manual. If you travel or plan on using your camera for long periods of time, consider buying and carrying additional batteries for it. This way you'll always be powered up to capture life's special moments.

5. Size: It should only matter to you

Everything is being made smaller these days—and that goes for digital cameras too. But is smaller better? Should you choose a larger camera over a compact model? The answer is: it depends.

Compact cameras are very popular, but the most important question to ask yourself is: how much camera do I want to carry? Obviously, smaller model weigh less and fit nicely into pockets and purses. But compact models may sacrifice some of the more advanced features you want to accommodate for their miniscule size. For instance, compact models hold smaller batteries that may not power a camera as long as larger batteries do. So if long battery life is on your priority list, a compact style may serve you better.

Full-size models offer the same trade-offs. While they hold larger batteries and are often packed with lots of advanced features, most will not fit in your pocket. A camera bag will do the job while protecting your camera and giving you the option of carrying accessories such as extra batteries or a flash.

Source: Pentax