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Choosing a Digital Camera
Choosing a digital camera is exciting
because you get to explore and play with
the latest gadgets loaded with cool
features. Your main goal is to find a
camera that lets you easily take and use
pictures and that fits in your price range.
You have to decide whether you can handle
a totally cool, techno-loaded camera or
would be better off with an easy-to-use one
or something in-between.
Considerations are:-
- Expense
- Ease-of-use
- Size & styling
- Computer questions
- Camera features
- Compare cameras
 The cost of snapshot digital cameras ranges from $100 to $1,000. Those
at the low end give low-resolution
pictures suitable for e-mail and monitor viewing but not for prints.Those at the
high end give exceptional quality pictures and often have advanced camera functionality.
You'll have to find the right balance of cost and capability. Watch the prices. When new models come out, the prices of older models are often lowered, making them a good deal. And don't forget to add in the cost ($50-$75) of a few accessories, such as extra batteries and memory cards.
Do you take family snapshots or do you photograph a variety of subjects,
from race cars to school plays to wildlife?
As capability increases so do cost and
complexity. With a complex camera you'll need to read the manual-maybe twice. You'll have to practice with the camera to learn its many features. But once mastered, you can take incredible digital pictures.
With a simple snapshot camera, you'll be taking good snapshots minutes
after opening the box. And should your Aunt Em ask to borrow it, she'll
be able to take pictures, too. But neither of you will have quite the versatility
and capability of a more advanced camera.
 Do you covet a sleek, stylish camera that looks cool
and slips into your pocket? Or do you want a practical
camera with large, well-positioned controls? Find a
camera that fits your style, but don't ignore the trade-
offs. The main trade-off of small, stylish cameras is
that the controls are harder to find and can be difficult
to manipulate.
The main trade-off of a bigger camera is its size. You'll
be less likely to take it with you. Whereas, you may
carry a small pocket camera almost everywhere you go and
get some unusual pictures.
If your computer is fairly new, the camera will
almost certainly work with it. But don't take a
chance. Before you buy a camera, review the
specs to find out what the computer requirements
are. Nearly every camera requires a USB
(universal serial bus) connection on the computer.
 Digital cameras abound with software-based
features and functions. Such features can be
useful but are usually less important than hardware
features. For example, every camera you consider
should have a built-in flash and a viewfinder for
framing the picture. Avoid cameras that force you
to use the battery-draining display screen to
compose pictures. One important software feature
is the plus/minus brightness control so you can adjust picture brightness during
picture-taking.
Of the dozens of camera features, focus on the ones described below.
 Resolution-determines picture quality
Resolution is a key factor in how big you
can print and how much you can crop your
pictures. It also affects camera cost. The
higher the resolution, the greater the cost.
For general picture-taking, we recommend
a camera with a 2 to 3 megapixel
resolution. Read on if you want to know
more about resolution.
In addition to a camera's maximum
resolution, review its other resolution
settings. Many offer a range of settings,
which can be convenient to fit more
pictures on a picture card or save time
making later adjustments. For instance, if
you know you'll only e-mail a particular
picture, you could set the resolution setting
low and not have to resize the picture later.
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Resolution
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Maximum print size
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1 megapixel
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5 x 7 inches
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2 megapixels
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8 x 10 inches
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3 megapixels
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11 x 14 inches
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4 megapixels
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20 x 30 inches
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Resolution is the digital version of square footage. In other words, how
many pixels (picture elements) are there on the sensor that creates the
picture? The sensor is the digital equivalent of film-only it is used over and
over. Resolution is expressed by the number of horizontal pixels on the
sensor multiplied by the number of vertical pixels.
Resolution for a typical sensor might be as follows: 2,160 horizontal
pixels x 1,440 vertical pixels = 3,110,400 pixels. Or in the language of
digital cameras, 3.1 megapixels (mega equals million).
 Type of lens-affects quality and versatility
Is it made of glass or plastic? Glass gives
much better quality pictures. Is it a zoom
lens or a non-zoom lens? A zoom lens
adds costs but also great versatility. With
a zoom lens, you can magnify subjects or
shrink them to include more area in the
picture. If you choose a zoom lens, what is
the zoom range? 2X? 3X? More? The
greater the zoom range, the greater its versatility.
Digital zoom shouldn't be an important factor in choosing a camera. In effect,
it crops the picture as you take it, reducing resolution of the picture and
the size you can print it.
Close-up mode-lets you photograph small subjects 
Many digital cameras have a special close-up mode that opens the door to exploring miniature worlds. You can take close-ups of flowers, jewelry, stamps,
coins, and other small objects. Not only is it a great way for online auction sellers to show their wares, it's a desirable feature for the rest of us, too
Manual mode-gives you extra creative control
Many cameras offer several creative controls so you can get better pictures
in a variety of situations. Keep in mind the more controls, the more complex
the camera, and the easier it is to make mistakes.
Here are some creative controls to consider:
- Special exposure modes, such as portrait, landscape, and close-up,
that improve your pictures in the situation they're named for.
- Manual exposure mode that lets you set shutter speed and lens
opening to get the effect you planned for.
- Burst (action) mode that lets you take a rapid sequence of pictures
(usually at a lower resolution).
- Creative effects, such as black-and-white or sepia pictures, or
built-in colored filters.
- Extra flash modes that simplify fill-flash pictures, allow attachment
of an external flash, or allow creative effects.
Other features
Here are a few other features and options
that may sway your decision.
- ISO (speed range); typically 100 to 400. A higher number
enables more picture-taking in dim light-the trade-off being lower
picture quality.
- Video capability to make short movies.
- Acceptance of add-on wide-angle, telephoto, or close-up lenses
increases versatility.
- Product bundles with a complete starter's kit or desirable items, such
as a picture-editing software, an extra picture card, and a camera bag.
But if you find a camera that seems to fit your needs, don't give it up
for a promotion on another less-desirable
camera.
Reproduced by kind permission of Kodak.com
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