Five Things to Consider Before Buying a Digital Camera
Size: Where cameras are concerned, bigger is usually better
The size of digital cameras goes from "slim enough to fit in your jeans pocket" to "big enough that you need a separate bag just to carry it." Of course, trading for size usually means you're giving up a bit in terms of quality: While small digital point-n-shoot cameras are capable of taking some good daytime photos that are full of great color reproduction and sharp, clean edges, they're not so capable with night photography, where it can be nearly impossible to get a clean, decently-lit image without a flash (resulting in zombie-like complexions on your subjects).
Zoom range is also usually limited on the smallest of cameras, so if you want the ability to shoot far-off subjects, you'd be better served by a fixed-lens digicam with high optical-zoom capability or a digital SLR.
All that said, sometimes you just need something you can carry with you at all times, in your pocket, for quick close-ups of friends at bars or at the pool or beach. In that case, an ultra-portable digicam – such as Canon's ELPH series or Panasonic's Lumix DMC-LZ10 – will do the trick. And though this may be sacrilege for serious photographers, you might even consider splurging for a high-end camera-phone with serious megapixel and lens specs, such as the Nokia N95 or the Sony Cyber-Shot K850i (in our brief tests, these devices are a bit slow for our taste, but nothing beats the convenience of having a decent digicam and phone in one, particularly if you like sharing images on the fly). These sorts of cameras are also perfectly adequate for taking pictures of that old chest of drawers you want to sell on eBay.
Now back to the high-end for a moment: If you have ever taken a photography lesson in your life, or plan to, or you just want to have more control over your pictures (and have the budget to boot), then we recommend getting a digital single-lens-reflex camera (DSLR) – you know, the kind with the interchangeable lenses that photographers use. The good news is that you can get a perfectly decent DLSR for less than $1,000, and most of these solidly-built, entry-level models come with dummy-proof auto-shoot settings that would help any camera klutz take amazing pictures by just clicking a button.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
kapscolvin said 9:47PM on 7-09-2008
1. Rarely mentioned, but important is that "2x zoom" is not the same as "2x telephoto." A standard 35mm lens is 50mm in focal length, and a 2x telephoto is therefore 100mm focal length. A digital camera may have a 36mm focal length(35mm equivalent)(sligthly wide angle) and a 72 mm equivalent zoom. This is indeed "2x zoom" but not 2x telephoto.
This is important because a good focal length for portrait work is a 100mm focal length (2x tele).
2. Unless you want a pocket camera to have with you at all times, at least get one with a hot shoe so you can use a separate flash. The tiny things that are marketed as flash on most digitals are a marketing gimmick only.
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david strauss said 2:17PM on 7-09-2008
Excellent commentary on "options" to purchase. Your selection of the lumix was excellent as I have just purchased a Lumix DMC-TZ5 to replace the FZ100 also recently purchased: reason for shift: Optics on the TZ5 are outstanding with excellent zoom capability; The loss of Pixels (down to 10 from 12) is completely minimized due to optical long work capability. Caution: MUST hold camera steady (when shooting) and "hang in the air" until shutter " fires" to avoid "clarity loss"...but it seems all computerized cameras, even the film ones (have several) applies this comment.
Value for value, the leicaLenses and Panasonic euip give a good buy...and this camera is about 50% less in cost than the one purchased.
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