Buying Guides:

Digital Photography

Cameras have been a particular holiday favorite, even since the days of film-based photography. Luckily we have moved beyond the hassles of film processing and development with the advent of the digital camera. It seems anyone claiming to be an electronics company has at least one digital camera model for sale these days.

The real truth of the situation is that most cameras share similar parts and internal designs, regardless of how the exterior case is fashioned.

MegaPixels

The real separation point between models is a camera’s MegaPixel rating. Without going into the boring technical details, a higher MegaPixel rating means a camera will be able to offer higher definition and larger resolution pictures. While popular models scale from under 1 MP for entry-level cameras, today’s latest generation cameras feature 6+ MP capabilities. Models in the 3-4 MP are the most popular right now, especially considering most amateur photographers have little need for a true professional model camera.

Other features to note are LCD screen size and available options like autofocus, optical/digital zoom, flash types, resolution, and focal length. The type and range of zoom are of utmost importance. Many consumer-grade models use a digital zoom feature that tries to interpolate the zoomed image from the already available data stream, which basically tries to create something from nothing, and is not as quality as optical. The preferred method is optical zooming, a technique using a series of lenses to enlarge the image before being captured by the camera’s photoelectric sensor, the same as how your old 35mm camera works. Nearly all models offer a combination of both methods, so take care when reading a camera’s specifications.

Resolution

Resolution will also make for an important difference. If you want to print images from your digital snapshots, having the proper resolution is paramount to producing a high quality printed image. While these values are open to interpretation based upon personal preferences, a simple guide would be as follows:

640 x 480 Pixels = Fine for email or Internet use
1280 x 960 Pixels = 4" x 6" Film-grade Printing
1600 x 1200 Pixels = 8" x 10" Film-grade Printing
2048 x 1536 Pixels = 8" x 10" or Larger Cropped Image Film-grade Printing
2560 x 1920 Pixels = 8" x 10" or Larger Cropped/Panoramic Film-grade Printing

The methods in which images are stored and transferred are also key aspects to examine. Any decent camera will offer storage via removable memory, often in the form of SD, SmartMedia, or Compact Flash memory cards. These cards can usually be read directly by a media reader device, plus they can be easily swapped out for more storage if desired. Even if a media reader is not included with your camera, you can buy a media reader from any electronics retailer, plus all popular current-generation cameras offer the ability to connect directly to a computer via a USB cable (avoid cameras with a serial connection as it is too slow). Be sure to make sure that the software package is Mac compatible if you are giving the camera to a person with an Apple system, as some models may not support Macs.

Digital SLR?

Single lens reflex cameras offer interchangeable lenses, required by enthusiasts and professional photographers to capture a wide range of shooting opportunities. These cameras also tend to offer higher end features such as a manual aperture setting (which varies the depth of field, or how blurry the background and foreground appear as compared to your subject), and manual shutter speed (to freeze or to blur motion). Many cameras offer you the ability to manually control either shutter speed or aperture while the camera automatically adjusts the other, which can be a very handy feature. Until very recently, these cameras cost between $2000 and $10000, but the Canon Digital EOS 300D is a new Digital SLR that can be had for under $1000, complete with lens and camera body.

Battery Life

There is nothing more annoying than a digital camera that literally eats batteries. Look for reviews of specific models that test battery life before you buy (try dpreview.com), and choose cameras with rechargeable battery packs. For a high-end digital camera, the Canon Digital Rebel 300D offers exceptional battery life and a rechargeable battery.

Find out how to shop smart by using one of our helpful guides.

- Digital Photography
- Plasma TV's
- Mobile telecom
- Desktops
- Laptops
- Motherboards
- Wireless Networking
- Flat panel monitors
- Graphics cards
- Tivo DVR

- Back to main page

Most Popular Products: