The Basics: Digital Cameras

Digital cameras are great pieces of technology; in reality, they're almost too good. With hundreds of models available, you almost certainly can find a camera that will meet your exact needs and fit within your budget. And most of the time, digital cameras work well for many years.

The problem, however, is that manufacturers keep improving digital cameras to the point that you may find yourself wanting a new model every year, even though your current camera works perfectly well. (Okay, maybe this isn't such a bad thing -- unless your bank account has a vote in the matter, that is.) Even if you love your current camera, some of new models with new features and technologies are bound to catch your eye.

We want to let you know that it's perfectly normal to have such feelings for new cameras. In fact, with the new features, increased power, and better performance supplied by the newest digital camera models, you can convince your bank account that purchasing a new model would be a good value because you'll have better photos that need less editing.

Four of the best newer features include:

Image stabilization (IS) ensures that your photos -- especially those that are taken in low light -- aren't blurry because of camera shake. IS does not, however, prevent blurry photos from a moving subject. Optical IS, which is the preferred type of IS, involves using stabilizing hardware inside the camera body to prevent camera shake. Digital IS, on the other hand, boosts camera sensitivity and increases shutter speed to avoid camera shake, but digital IS can lead to problems with "noise" (stray pixels) in photos. Most newer cameras contain some form of IS.

Wide-angle capabilities are beginning to appear with more frequency in newer digital cameras. Most wide-angle options are pretty limited -- usually about 25mm to 30mm (when compared to a standard 35mm-lens equivalent measurement) -- but having even a limited wide-angle option is very handy, especially when paired with a large zoom lens.

Optical zoom lenses continue to improve, with newer cameras sometimes offering 10X, 12X and even 15X zoom lenses in smaller and smaller camera bodies. One thing to keep in mind with zoom lens measurements is that the "multiplier" applies to the zoom capability as measured from the point where the lens has no magnification. For example, if the camera lens is equivalent to 35mm with no magnification, a 12X zoom lens would have a maximum zoom equivalent of 420mm. But, if the camera lens is equivalent to 28mm with no magnification, a 12X zoom lens would have a maximum zoom equivalent of 336mm. In other words, if your optical zoom lens has wide-angle capability, your lens won't have as much magnification on the high end as a zoom lens with no wide-angle capability.

Face recognition technology helps the camera find the person in the frame and apply its auto-focus to that area in order to make sure the face is in focus. Although not every new camera has face recognition capabilities, some newer models now can "find" up to ten faces in a frame, ensuring the sharpest auto-focus possible.

Digital cameras continue to grow in popularity over film cameras. Film prints remain superior in quality to digital camera prints most of the time, but you probably won't notice the difference unless you're making extremely large prints. Digital cameras offer a lot of advantages, including the ability to keep and print only the photos you want, extremely small camera bodies, easy sharing of photo files and the ability to adjust image output quality to match the photography situation.

Digital cameras vary greatly in price point. You can find basic models for around $100, while advanced models can cost several thousand dollars. Most digital cameras carry a 1-year manufacturer's warranty, although many retail stores will offer extended warranty options for an additional cost.

Manufacturers offer digital cameras in three broad subcategories: Ultra-thin models, point-and-shoot models and advanced models. Although a few cameras can fit into more than one subcategory, most match the following criteria:

Ultra-thin models measure less than 1 inch in thickness and typically offer stylish camera bodies in multiple colors. Ultra-thin models usually are very easy to use and don't offer a lot of "extra" or high-end features.

Point-and-shoot models are easy to use and typically offer no manual-control features. You should be able to take the camera out of the box, load the battery and memory card and begin shooting immediately with this type of camera. Point-and-shoot models can vary greatly in size and in the types of features they offer.

Advanced models offer many manual-control features. They sometimes include interchangeable lenses and many add-on features, such as external flash units. They're usually pretty expensive and aimed at intermediate to experienced photographers.

Here are five questions regarding digital cameras that you may find yourself asking when searching for the model that's right for you:

Are more megapixels always better?
Not always. Large megapixel counts are great for making large prints, but they also tend to be more susceptible to problems with noise in low-light conditions. If you want to make large prints (13-by-19 inches and larger) of scenes shot in perfect light, large-megapixel cameras are perfect. Otherwise, anything more than 6-7 megapixels is probably overkill for most photographers, especially beginners.

What "hidden" costs will I find with a digital camera?
Very few digital cameras ship with memory cards anymore (although some do offer internal memory), so unless you have a card you can transfer from another camera you already own, you'll need to budget for a memory card. You'll probably want a second rechargeable battery and a USB cable, as well. All in all, expect to pay $50-$100 for necessary items immediately after you buy a camera. Some manufacturers offer external flashes, lens adapters, AC power adapters and editing software as "extra" items. Nonessential items such as these could run another $100-$500, depending on the camera model you choose. Finally, making prints isn't free, even if you already own a printer; you'll still have costs for paper and inks.

Should I just buy the camera with the biggest optical zoom lens I can afford?
Not always. It depends on the type of photography in which you want to engage. There are significant trade-offs with large zoom lenses. Some drawbacks to a large zoom lens include an increase in blurry photos from camera shake problems, potentially missing spontaneous photos because of shutter lag, shot-to-shot delays or waiting for the lens to extend. There is, however, nothing like being able to zoom in on far-away subjects. In short, you have to determine whether you can live with some issues in camera response speed in exchange for the zoom capabilities.

What feature is the least important in my buying decision?
Although this answer will be different for every photographer, one feature that we think shouldn't make or break your decision is the camera's video capabilities. Even though it's handy to take a 30-second video from time to time, very few digital cameras have strong enough video capabilities to make this an important aspect of choosing a camera.

What feature do people tend to overlook when buying?
It's easy to overwhelm yourself with megapixels and other specifications when comparing digital camera models -- so easy, in fact, that many shoppers forget about the usability of a camera. If you focus on megapixels and end up buying a camera that's not useable for you, you've wasted a lot of money. For example, if you want to carry the camera in a pocket, make sure you select an ultra-thin model. Check that the camera fits comfortably in your hand before you buy. Make sure that the camera's menu structure is easy to understand and that the buttons and dials are in good locations. If you don't like to use the liquid crystal display (LCD) to frame photos, select a model with a viewfinder. Usability is an important, but often overlooked, aspect of selecting a digital camera.

How to Shop

Before shopping, it's probably best to list three to five key criteria for your camera. Do you want a thin model or a camera with a large zoom lens? Do you want the fastest response times? Do you already own some lenses and memory cards for a particular brand? Such a list will greatly narrow the field of potential options. You should also set a budget, keeping in mind the cost of potential add-ons.

Because digital cameras come in so many shapes, sizes and configurations, it's important to try them on for size before you buy. Make sure a camera fits your hands comfortably; some models are too small for people with large hands, for example. Most local stores will allow you to hold and try different models.

When its time to make a purchase, you should have no problem finding the model you want at a good price. Electronics superstores, discount superstores, camera stores, Internet retailers and even some camera manufacturers sell digital cameras -- just find a retailer you trust. In some instances, a local retailer might be willing to match a price you find at an Internet retailer.