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How to choose a digital camera

Just point and shoot. That's how easy it is to use a digital camera. And it gets better. Now there are cameras which can detect faces, activate the shutter when a person smiles, and even differentiate between adults and children. The best part is, they are priced at a fraction of what they used to cost a few years ago. But with so many new camera models and features out there, it can be tough finding which one suits you best.

Your shooting requirements

Camera types:
To help narrow down your choices, you will have to first decide on the type of digital camera that will best complement your needs. These are the four main categories in the market today.

Ultracompact:
Cameras in this category typically sport form factors no larger than a credit card and will fit easily into pockets, making them ideal for those who like to travel light. They are mostly point-and-shoot cameras with fully automatic functions, so don't expect to find too many manual controls or advanced features that you see on higher-end shooters. Due to their small size, ultracompacts usually come with certain tradeoffs such as a limited optical zoom range, smaller LCD screen, omission of an optical viewfinder, and possibly a smaller battery.

Compact:
Though not as pocket-friendly as ultracompacts, compact cameras generally offer a better feature set in a relatively portable form factor. You will also find some manual controls on selected compact models, although the majority of operations remain fully automatic. Compacts are typically priced more affordably than ultracompacts, and appeal mainly to casual point-and-shoot users and beginners due to their ease of use and wide selection available.

Prosumer:
As its name suggests, the prosumer camera can often be seen as a professional camera for consumers. Prosumers come with lots of customizable camera controls and handle pretty much like digital SLRs (dSLRs), but are usually equipped with long zoom but non-interchangeable lenses. Experienced users who want a fair amount of control over their cameras but are not willing to invest in a dSLR are the main users for prosumer cameras.

Digital SLR:
Among the various camera types, the dSLR offers the best manual controls over the pictures captured. Unlike the other cameras, a dSLR is made up two main components: A main body and an interchangeable lens. Users also have the option to add a more powerful flash unit, though most dSLRs generally come with one onboard. For these reasons, dSLRs are often the most expensive and are relatively bulky compared to the rest. dSLRs are primarily aimed at amateur and professional photographers, though in recent years, lower prices in entry-level models have prompted many casual shooters to upgrade to dSLRs as well.

8 to 10 megapixels should suffice for most users.

Do megapixels matter?:
Most manufacturers tend to place a lot of emphasis on the sensor resolution of the camera, though in reality, megapixels hardly matter when buying a camera. After all, most digicams nowadays have a minimum capture resolution of 8 megapixels, which is sufficient for making prints as large as A3 size. Unless you are planning to make gigantic photo prints, an 8- to 10-megapixel camera should be good enough for most people.

Getting a good grip:
Most people focus too much attention on the size and aesthetics of a camera, but somehow overlook the importance of the camera grip. The fact is a good camera grip lets you hold the camera firmly, thereby resulting in less blurry images due to hand shake. A good grip is also relatively more comfortable to hold and this difference will be most visible after using the camera for a prolonged period of time.

Some digital cameras can be found with established lens brands.

Key specs that matter:
Camera specifications may tell you a lot about the product, but only some of them can help you make a better purchasing decision.

• Lens: It is worth noting that camera makers are incorporating lenses from renowned lens manufacturers into their cameras. The latest trend for compact cameras, however, is wide-angle lenses which can go as wide as 24mm. A camera with wide-angle lens lets you capture a bigger view of the subject from the same distance as cameras with standard 35mm lenses.
• Optical vs. digital zoom: Since digital zoom merely involves cropping a digitally enlarged image, which often results in poorer picture quality, you should only be concerned with the optical zoom rating of a camera. This can typically range from the basic 3x to a maximum of 20x. However, while long zooms are great for getting closer to your subjects, you'll need a tripod or a steady pair of hands to shoot at higher zoom ratings to prevent blurry pictures. Many cameras nowadays do offer various image stabilization technologies, but these minimize the effects of hand shake only to a certain extent.
• LCD viewfinder: Most cameras today come fitted with an LCD display that's at least 2 or 2.5 inches, with some models offering screens up to 3.5 inches. Keep in mind that while a bigger screen is great for framing a shot, a larger display also generally drains batteries faster. For those planning to use the camera outdoors frequently, you may want to try testing the LCD screen under direct sunlight to see if it washes out. Look out for digicams with swivel or tilt screens as these can be useful for odd angle shots as well as self-portraits. An optical viewfinder is useful for shooting in dim lighting conditions.
• Battery: The majority of cameras are powered by proprietary rechargeable batteries, though there are some, typically entry-level models, which utilize commercial AA-sized cells. Depending on your usage, most users should find rechargeable batteries (AA or proprietary) the most cost-effective for digital cameras. While some people like the convenience of buying batteries off the shelves, AA alkaline cells generally don't last very long in high-powered devices like digital cameras. Commercial AA Lithium batteries (non-rechargeable) offer a longer usage time than alkalines but are expensive.

Most digital cameras use the more popular SD card format.
• Storage options: While there are selected cameras with large onboard memory, most cameras nowadays come with a flash memory card slot in addition to a small built-in memory. The most popular flash memory card format, and possibly the most affordable, is the Secure Digital (SD) and its high-capacity variant, the Secure Digital High-Capacity (SDHC). You will also find cameras supporting Memory Stick Duo and xD-Picture Cards, but these can generally be found on specific brands of cameras. CompactFlash card slots are used only in dSLRs these days. Look out for cameras which support the same card format as your other portable electronics so you can share the same memory card on more than one device. There are also those with dual-format capabilities which offer more flexibility when choosing the type of cards to buy.
• Image file format: Digital camera images are usually saved in JPEG files which is a compressed format. Higher-end cameras including dSLRs also offer additional options for saving in uncompressed RAW and sometimes TIFF formats, which are more suitable for post-capture image processing.
• Video recording: The latest compact cameras these days can record video at a high-definition 720p (30fps) resolution, which is great for viewing on HD-capable TVs. The downside is the large memory space required to store such video footage. For most users, a decent VGA (640 x 480) resolution at 30fps will be good enough for short video clips. Be mindful that while digital still cameras can capture good-quality video, the sound recording quality is often let down by the limited range of the onboard microphones. Unless the camera comes with a port for an external microphone, camcorders are still the best for capturing good video footage.
• Connectivity: The typical camera comes with two connections--a USB link to the PC and an analog video-out to an external display. Some dSLRs also offer FireWire, while selected models in the latest breed of compact cameras also come with an HDMI connector for connection to an HDTV. Some new cameras even feature wireless LAN capabilities.
• Other extras: Camera manufacturers throw in a lot of fanciful features like face detection, smile shutter and even blink detection which may work well to a certain extent but are generally more gimmicky than practical. Instead, you should look out for shooting options such as white balance, exposure as well as shutter and aperture priority. A good range of preset shooting modes which cater to various environments is also useful for beginners.
• Basic accessories: It is always good to have an additional rechargeable battery as a backup, so you won't have to worry about running out of juice in the middle of a shoot. A compact and light tripod is also worth investing for shooting fast action scenes, night photography as well as self-portraits. With the exception of cameras designed for rugged use, most cameras are sensitive equipment that need to be handled with care. A good pouch should protect the camera from knocks and drops, and offer the option to store extra memory cards and batteries. You should also consider getting a compatible USB memory card reader to facilitate copying of images from the camera to the PC.

Your budget

Even if you only have a few hundred dollars to spend on a digital camera, there are still some great options out there. Digital camera prices have dropped greatly in the last few years, so these days you can get a decent 8-megapixel camera with 3x zoom for below S$500, while increasingly more affordable budget digital SLRs have emerged for the new photo hobbyist.