Digital Cameras Buying Guide

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Digital cameras are increasingly becoming more common than film cameras, as they come down in price and become simpler to use. You no longer need to know about fancy photo software to move your images from your camera to an email or printer. New wireless technology is even eliminating the need for cords, making digital cameras a quick and easy way to capture and use images either for work or at play. Larger memory cards and advances in battery technology are adding to the ease of use of digital cameras -- allowing the cameras to store more photos at higher qualities. Before shopping for a digital camera, read this guide to learn more about what's on offer and what sort of camera will best suit your needs.

Why go digital?

  • Versatility: Forget about waiting for your film to be processed. Upload your images direct to your computer and either send by email or print your favourite photos. Digital cameras are both easy to use for beginners and complex enough for advanced photographers.
  • Fool Proof: Even the worst pictures can be changed into something spectacular with editing technology, and you won't wast money processing mediocre prints because you can delete the photos you don't want.
  • Quick and Easy Results: You can print your photos without leaving your house.
  • Convenience: Take more pictures without having to switch rolls of film. Never worry about improperly loading the film.
  • Cost: Digital cameras initially cost more to buy, but are very cost effective in the long run.
Most Popular Cameras (from cnet.com.au)

Compact

Advanced

Digital SLR Style

How to chose a Camera Type

The most important thing to consider when choosing a type of camera is think about what you ant to be able to do with the camera.

Choosing a digital camera by profile

  • Basic: There's no need to spend money on features that you know you won't use, such as manual controls or video recording ability. Likewise, if you're the type of person who only takes pictures once a year, don't pick something that is too costly. Try a basic compact  model that you can throw in your bag or an ultra-compact  that you can slide in your pocket.
  • Advanced Amateur: You might like to be able to control what you shoot using manual controls. If this is the case, you want a powerful camera with plenty of features that are easy to use. Tray an advanced compact  for portability, a super zoom  for improved quality, or for ability to improve your photography skills, get an advanced SLR-style digital. 
  • Professional: A digital SLR  (Single Lens Reflex) is the way to go for maximum quality, versatility and power, but digital SLRs are expensive and used mainly by serious photographers. These cameras have detachable lenses which focus manually. DSLRs are the digital equivalent of 35mm SLR predecessors.

Choose by Important Features

Still need direction? Ask yourself what are you using the camera for and what feature is most important to you. See the following guides for more detailed information on Ultra Compact Digital Cameras, Ultra Zoom Digital Cameras, and Digital SLR Cameras.

  • Price and simplicity
    • Compact cameras  are easy to use but can offer limited function control.
    • Compact cameras are simple point-and-shoot  cameras that are perfect for the occasional photographer and novice. They are simple to aim, feature image stabilisation and usually are equipped with auto-focus. Plus, they don't require you know how to adjust aperture and shutter speed to get the proper lighting for a shot.
    • Priced from Digital Camera $145-$720. 
  • Portability
    • Subcompact cameras  are ultra-compact point-and-shoot  cameras that are easy to carry, but have smaller, harder-to-use controls.
    • These are a great option for those who are looking to carry their cameras daily -- these sleek cameras can fit into even in the smallest purses.
    • Priced from Digital Camera $375-$670. 
  • Versatility
    • Super-zoom cameras  have excellent range but tend to be larger and heavier to carry. They also tend to be slightly more advanced than a point-and-shoot.
    • If you enjoy photography a lot and take photos of landscapes, cityscapes, or even travel photos, you may want to consider a camera with a zoom that will give you telephoto lens capabilities.
    • Priced from Digital Camera $350-$770. 
  • Versatility and power
    • SLR cameras  are for professional and artistic photography and they boast top-notch features, but at a price.
    • If you really want to have artistic control, plus manual override features to handle tricky lighting and a variety of other situations, you may want to opt for an SLR. However, it will cost and weigh substantially more (1kg plus). These cameras offer longer battery life, as well as shorter shutter lag, quicker shooting, and the benefit of being able to change lenses, add filters, external flashes, and more.
    • Priced from Digital Camera $800-$2000  for entry and mid-level cameras.
  • Control
    • Advanced compact cameras  are for difficult lighting settings and have a good range, but weigh more.
    • Usually these are a good choice for someone who wants to have some of the manual override features of an SLR, without the hefty price tag or bulk.
    • Priced from $180-$580.

Camera Specification Jargon

When shopping for a digital camera you will find yourself being faced with lots of jargon. For amateurs, some of this is important, and some of it isn't. Here is an outline of the major points and what you need to know to make the right decision on which camera to buy.

Resolution

  • Resolution is measured in megapixels (MPs). Each megapixel is a million light-sensing elements that are called pixels.
  • Resolution determines the maximum size of the print that can be made from the image in the viewfinder. It does NOT directly affect print quality. A 4x6" print of a recorded image will look just as good taken with a 2MP camera as it will with an 8MP Digital Camera. 
  • A rough rule-of-thumb is 1MP image is required to make a good 4x6" print, 2MP Digital Camera  for an A5, 3MP Digital Camera  for an A4, 4-6MP Digital Camera  for an A3, etc. 1MP or less is all that's needed for pictures displayed on television or computer screens.
  • The reason some people think that the more MPs, the better the picture, is because people don't (or can't) always fill the viewfinder with the image they want to print. So when they try to make a 4x6" print of the bird in the tree that's only 1/10th the area of the viewfinder, the bird's image is made up of only 1/10 of the camera's MPs. In this example the bird would not be enough pixels big for a good 4x6" print with anything less than a 10 MP Digital Camera  (1/10 of 10MP = 1MP).
  • If your pictures will be mostly family and friends in situations that you can walk up close enough to fill the viewfinder with the image, then you can probably get by with a 2 or 3 MP camera with no optical zoom.
  • But if you're going to be taking pictures of birds, the cricket or surfing, or other places that you can't get close enough to fill the viewfinder with the image, then you'll be better off with a camera that has a higher optical zoom range instead of more MPs.
  • Refer to the following explanation of "Zoom" for more information about the tradeoffs between optical zoom and MPs.

Memory and Storage

  • Instead of film, digital cameras use removable memory, either in the form of a card, chip, or stick.
  • The higher the resolution you plan to use, the more memory you will need.
  • Most digital cameras come with a 16 MB or 32 MB memory card, or equivalent internal memory that will usually store only 5 to 10 high-resolution pictures. That's not a lot, so definitely buy extra memory.
  • See the Memory Buying Guide for more detailed information.
  • Compact flash cards
    • Inexpensive, versatile, and easy to find. Bulkier than other memory cards types.
    • Supporting manufacturers: Canon, Fujifilm, Konica Minolta, Nikon, Olympus; used mainly in digital SLRs.
  • SD  and Multimedia cards
    • Great for small cameras and they feature a write-protect switch for data security.
    • Supporting manufacturers: Canon, Casio, Epson, HP, Kodak, Konica Minolta, Kyocera, Leica, Nikon, Samsung
  • xD Picture Card 
    • Very small with big capacity.
    • Supporting manufacturers: Fujifilm, Olympus.
  • Memory Stick
    • Proprietary technology for Sony devices and cameras.

Battery

  • Most digital cameras come with their own integrated rechargeable lithium-ion battery so you won't have to bother with alkaline batteries or even standard rechargeables. Every model differs though.
  • Standard alkaline batteries and rechargeables have their pros and cons.
    • Alkalines tend to have a shorter life. That means switching batteries often. This can be a problem if you work off a tripod unless the camera has a side-loading battery compartment.
    • Even rechargeables need to be changed quite often, compared to a proprietary lithium ion battery.
    • The good thing about standard batteries is that even if you lose them or they die, you can always replace them with a trip to a camera store, chemist, or supermarket. Proprietary batteries need to be ordered and charged ahead of time so that you don't get stuck empty-handed while in the field.
  • The main concern about proprietary batteries is their capacity and their charging speed. Obviously, the larger capacity, the longer you can go without having to recharge, and the longer you can leave your screen on, etc. Recharging, however, does take time, and nobody wants to get stuck while they are on vacation with a dead digital camera. If you are a serious photographer, definitely invest in an additional battery. 

Feel

  • Weight: Having something lightweight is always convenient, however keep in mind that you will have to sacrifice features for something ultralight and compact. Plus, lightness is usually acquired because the body itself is made of plastic. Sometimes this means a less sturdy camera. That doesn't mean you have to buy something that is poorly constructed though.
    • Choose your camera wisely depending on what you want most out of it. If you know that you are an avid photographer, don't skimp on features just because you want something that won't weigh a lot. There are plenty of advanced EVFs or entry-level dSLRs that are fairly compact and lightweight.
    • If you like to be on the go, don't waste your time with something bulky. Most lightweight portables weigh less than a pound and can fit in a purse. Some models are so small, namely the Pentax Optio S4,  that they fit in an Altoids box.
  • Grip: The camera should fit well in your hand and feel solid. The bigger the camera, the larger and more ergonomical a grip you will want. The worst thing you can do is drop your camera because it is either too big or too small.
    • Verify that the strap is adequately placed. It should not get in the way of the battery compartment, the memory card compartment, or your grip.
    • For large cameras, see if they offer a non-slip grip coating. It makes carrying an SLR much easier.
  • Settings location: Think about the features that you plan to use most and make sure the settings are located and grouped according to your needs. This goes both for the placement for taking pictures as well as for reviewing, tagging, and printing or emailing them (a feature on some models).
    • Setting buttons are sometimes quite small on ultra-compact models, which may be difficult to use for people with big hands. Beware of buttons on the sides of the lens barrel or nearby. Sometimes they can be pressed accidentally.
    • Along with buttons, there may be mode dials (found on cameras with manual functions). 35mm SLRs tend to have more features on the mode dials. Digital SLRs often depend on using the cameras menu accessed via the LCD monitor and or LCD status screen.
  • Size: If it is small enough to fit in your pocket, you may be more apt to bring it along with you. Of course, SLRs and more advanced models will all need a camera case or neck strap to carry it along.

Zoom

  • Just as with film photography, it's important to always try to fill the viewfinder with the image that you want to print or display.
  • Optical zoom accomplishes this by actually enlarging the image falling on the camera's image sensor so that the object being photographed contains more pixels in order to make the print or displayed image larger.
  • Digital zoom operates by recording only the centre part of the image falling on the image sensor, which is then enlarged to fill the viewfinder. (This can be compared to enlarging a newspaper photo by increasing the size of the dots that comprise the photo, and then cropping the photo so that only the centre of the image is viewed.)
    • Digital zoom is a marketing gimmick that should NOT be considered when comparing camera specs.
    • Digital zoom should be turned off whenever possible so that you can easily judge how many pixels you have in the image you want to print. For instance, if you know you're only going to make 5x7" prints you can probably make do by setting the 4MP camera to 2MP as long as you can fill the viewfinder. But if the bird only fills half the viewfinder you would want to change the setting to 4 MP. This practice allows you to fit more pictures on your memory card.
    • And, if you later decide you need to "blow up" the image, you can do it using your photo-editing program.
  • Optical zoom on most point and shoot digitals is typically 3-5X, but models are available with optical zoom up to 10-12X. The amount of optical zoom with Digital SLRs is dependant on the lens. One popular digital SLR comes with an 18-55mm lens, which is about a 3X optical zoom, (55/18 = 3). This is approximately equal to a 30-90mm lens on a 35mm film camera.

Compatibility

  • In order to accurately determine how much a specific model will cost you, you will need to add on the costs of any extra equipment you may need to hook up your camera to your computer, such as cables, memory cards,  Flash Memory Card Readers and Writers, and/or USB hubs.
  • You may be interested in checking out photo printers  with PictBridge,  a new technology that allows digital cameras to connect directly to printers so that photographs can be printed directly from the camera without the need for an intermediary computer.

Shutter Lag & Next-Shot Delay - Characteristics not always specified except for digital SLRs.

  • How long after depressing the shutter release before the photo is actually taken?
    • This delay can usually be minimized by holding the shutter release button halfway down so the camera can prefocus before the shutter release is pressed all the way down to take the picture.
  • How long does it take to store a picture in memory before another consecutive shot is possible?
    • This time can sometimes be reduced by using high speed memory cards
  • What is the continuous shooting burst speed in frames per second (fps)?
  • Does the camera have the ability to bracket (take multiple shots with graded exposure to capture the best lighting)?

Preview screen

  • You may think that you'd want a really big screen, however large LCD screens that are constantly left on will not only use up the battery life very quickly. In addition, they add to the size and weight of the camera load, especially if you want both a big LCD screen and a viewfinder. Most of the cameras with a 5cm LCD or bigger will not have a viewfinder.
  • Check to make sure that the viewfinder is comfortable to look through if you don't want to drain the battery or if the sun is so bright that you can't see it. You'll want to get a very bright LCD screen, if you plan to be using the camera outdoors in bright daylight. Some cameras offer a glare-resistant LCD that is perfect for outdoor shooting.
  • On SLR and advanced models the LCD screens are usually adjustable, meaning that they either flip, twist, and/or extend. Depending on whether or not you will be using a tripod often and other shooting positions, this is important to consider.
  • If you shoot with a tripod or from waist level, you will appreciate having a camera with a flip and twist LCD screen. Many models now feature this "flexible" LCD screen, but for the average user it is probably an unnecessary frill unless you want to look cool.

Special Features

  • Automatic Shutter Priority and Scene Modes (night mode, self-portrait, etc.)
    • Advanced cameras always offer these features, and the majority of point and shoots do as well.
    • For the casual photographer, these are really nice to have because you won't have to think about whether or not you need a flash, how much to zoom, or whether or not the picture will come out blurry.
    • Speaking of blurry, a number of camera manufacturers are now coming out with an image-stabilization processor that nearly eliminates all camera shake. For really high-quality shake-free technology, look for the cameras that offer stabilized optical zoom.
  • In-Camera editing
    • Many cameras allow you to resize, copy, or make other changes to your images before you download them to a computer or print via a photoprinter. Some allow you to edit video clips in-camera as well. The Olympus mju 720SW  has these features.
  • Manual Control Override
    • This feature is found in part on some point-and-shoot models, but primarily this is a feature intrinsic to dSLRs. All 35mm SLRs will certainly feature this.
  • Weather-resistant and underwater models
  • Dedicated 4x6" Printer-Docs and all Printers w/ PictBridge Technology
    • These are good for those without a computer, or simply for people who just want to have the simple convenience of printing off their pictures at home or on the go with ease.
    • The primary drawback of printing 4x6" photos on any kind of printer is that the prints will cost between 50 cents and $1 each for paper and ink, which is NOT cost effective since there are dozens of retail and web-based businesses that charge much less -- about 39 cents per print.
    • If you own one or more cameras in your household, or if you like the ability to edit without a computer, try a photo printer.  You can also hook them up to your computer if you want.
  • Video/audio capability and quality.
    • You want it to have a minimum of 640x480 resolution, plus the ability to take AVI, CBR, VBR, WMA, MP3, and/or WMV files.
    • There is also something called voice annotation, which allows you to record your voice as an attachment to the photo you take. Models that offer this feature include the Pentax Optio S  and Pentax Optio WP  series, and the Konica Minolta X  and Konica Minolta Maxxum dSLR  series.
    • One of the most recent trends are the digital camera/camcorder combos.  They are more expensive, but are very compact and powerful.
  • Anti-shake features, or image stabilization processors.
  • Wireless transfer or image stabilization processors.
    • Using Wi-Fi LAN technology, manufacturers such as Nikon are introducing wireless transfer for moving images from the digital camera to the computer and from the computer to the printer. Wireless shooting transfers photos to the computer as you take the images. Digital cameras with wireless transfer technology include Nikon's COOLPIX P1  and COOLPIX P2,  the Canon PowerShot SD430  and the Kodak EasyShare One. 
  • Videoconferencing / webcam
    • Some cameras have features that support video conferencing and or webcam uses. One example is the BenQ DC C500  camera which supports PC camera for video conferencing.

Want to Learn More?

Go to our Cameras and Photography  directory to see all we have to teach you on digital cameras.

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External Links

  • CNET: Broad digital camera coverage, including reviews (user and editorial), forums and tips.
  • ZDNet Australia: Reviews, articles and advice.
  • Photo Review Australia: Tracks the latest technology developments in the digital camera market.
  • DPreview: Glossary that is a quick and easy way to see what certain camera specification terms mean.
  • Kodak: Photography glossary. Perfect for the novice and enthusiast.
  • Imaging Resource: Comprehensive and informative digital camera reviews.