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 Buy Digital Camera Guides and Usage Tips |
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| Get the quick take on buying a digital camera |
| There are so many good cameras now there's no way to keep a list up to date. Here are a few examples of types of cameras, to give you a quick take and help you think about what type of camera you need. Once you've decided on size and features, read comments from users here!
MP means megapixel, or a million pixels. It's a measure of the resolution of the camera's sensor and picture clarity. More is better, but you can save on the camera and memory if you need only 3-4MP rather than 5MP+. Also, the physical size of the lens and the sensor have a big effect on picture quality and shooting flexibility - the super compact cameras have small lenses and small sensors.
Different types of digital cameras
Think about which type of camera suits what you'll actually use it for. Find the features, usability and size that fits:
- The latest compact, high resolution cameras take very good pictures and offer an excellent balance of size, quality and features: the 'Sony Cybershot DSCP200 7.2MP Digital Camera 3x Optical Zoom', 'Canon Powershot SD400 5MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom', 'Pentax Optio S5i 5MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom', 'Canon PowerShot S410 4MP Digital Elph with 3x Optical Zoom', or 'Sony Cybershot DSCW5 5.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom'. (The camera you carry takes a lot better pictures than the one you left at home!)
- Some may prefer better features and optics in a larger but still-compact camera: 'Canon Powershot S60 5MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Optical Zoom' or the 'Sony Cybershot DSCV3 7.2MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom'
- Super compact cameras may let you get even more snapshots: 'Konica Minolta Dimage X31 3.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom', 'Fujifilm Finepix Z1 5.1MP with 3x Optical Zoom (Black)', 'Sony Cybershot DSCT33 5.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Includes Docking Station)', 'Sony Cybershot DSC-T1 5MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom' or 'Sony Cybershot DSCL1 4MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Silver)'. For most people, the super compact cameras don't offer enough advantage to offset the compromises in the optics, flash and battery life - especially cameras without optical zoom and viewfinders. If it's critical, get a tiny camera - but you get more features and quality without much more size in the cameras above.
On the opposite end of the spectrum are cameras with far more features and much better optics:
- Closer to an SLR camera, but not as large - look for something like the 'Konica Minolta Dimage A200 8MP Digital Camera with Anti-Shake 7x Optical Zoom', Sony DSC-H1 or 'Canon PowerShot S1 IS 3.2 MP Digital Camera with 10x Image Stabilized Optical Zoom'.
- You can now find affordable digital cameras with interchangeable lenses, like the 'Canon EOS 6.3MP Digital Rebel Camera with 18-55mm Lens'.
Camera buffs may find they want one compact camera and one SLR-type camera.
How do I decide which one to buy?
Like everything, you have to decide what you want and how you will use the camera:
- Do you actually get enlargements (5"x7" or larger) now? Would you feel bad if a vacation photo isn't high enough resolution to enlarge and frame? If so, get a 5-7 megapixel (MP) camera.
- On the other hand, if you mostly take 4x6 snapshots, a 2-4MP camera may suit you fine, and your photos will take less space on your memory card and hard drive. For a child, 1-2MP may be enough. And photos you email or post on the web will probably be edited down to 0.5MP or less.
You can sometimes get a good value on older models - but the newest models often take pictures much more quickly, are easier to use, and might not be much more expensive. So focus on the best of the older models if you're looking for value, like the 'Sony Cybershot DSCP73 4.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom' or 'Canon PowerShot S500 5MP Digital Elph with 3x Optical Zoom'.
Key considerations are these:
RESOLUTION. You want roughly 300 pixels per inch (ppi) for the size prints you want. For example, if you want 5 x 7 prints, that means 1500 x 2100 or 3,150,000 or 3.15 megapixels (MP). (240 ppi is enough, but you want extra pixels for cropping/trimming the photo.) So, if you want to be on the safe side, buy 4-5MP or more.
But ... if you never get enlargements and will never print many photos; and what you really need is something small and cheap that you can carry around for snapshots - without worrying about it - then get 3MP. Even at that resolution, you can print at 4"x6"-5"x7", and email photos. The other advantage of lower resolution is that you can fit more pictures in memory and on your hard drive. (Each MP uses up about 500kb = 0.5 megabyte at high-quality settings.)
Of course, you could always buy a 4 to 7MP camera, and only use high resolution for selected photos. More pixels also lets you crop (trim) the part of the photo you want and still have enough pixels for a good print. If money and hard drive space are no object, get more MP.
OPTICAL QUALITY. More megapixels won't help you if the quality of the lenses and sensor doesn't match. Larger lenses work better in low light and generally give better quality.
CAMERA SIZE. Up to a point, smaller is better, because I'll carry it around and get photos I otherwise won't get. But at some point you lose some optical quality; flexibility in low light; and often use of filters, external flash, etc.
OPTICAL ZOOM. Zoom is essential for composing good photos and making the most of your pixels (by zooming in on what you want). Try to get 3x optical zoom. Unless you have a lot of MP to work with, digital zoom isn't as useful, it discards part of the picture to zoom in on one part. You can do that on a computer, or on the camera, later on.
SHUTTER LAG. Many newer models have a much shorter startup time and "shutter lag" - the time between when you click the shutter and when the camera takes the picture. Slow cameras can be frustrating to use - you can't catch that baby smiling.
MEMORY AND BATTERIES. No camera comes with enough memory, and not all have rechargeable batteries, so add that into the budget.
You will want from 128mb to 1GB (for high-res cameras) of memory. The various card formats vary widely in price per megabyte - CompactFlash is the best value. Get the right one for your camera, they're not interchangeable!
If your camera uses standard size batteries but doesn't come with rechargeables, get two sets of nickel metal hydride/NiMH rechargeables or a lithium ion battery pack. Don't get NiCad batteries. Regular alkaline batteries are useless except in dire emergencies.
A few other things:
- Cameras without a flash, an LCD and a viewfinder (for when it's too sunny to use the LCD, or your batteries are low) are best for children or limited use.
- Some compact cameras don't have manual features to control shutter and aperture. But you can get some control on most, if you use it right.
- An autofocus (AF) illuminator helps focus in low light, a common problem.
- You may want a case to protect the LCD, if it's bouncing around.
- Video modes are most useful if the camera captures sound; if the resolution is 640x480, ideally 30fps; and if the length isn't limited.
- If you want to use commercial services to print a lot of pictures, you will want a fast Internet connection. |
| Find the digital camera for you |
First off, you need to know how many megapixels you're looking for. The best way to think of it is 3 and up is for printing, but 4 or 5 megapixels will let you crop and enlarge siginicantly without compromising quality. Anything below 3 and you're in a crapshoot.
3 Megapixels:
'Casio Exilim EX-Z3 3.2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom and Dock' is your best bet for a compact, pocketable digital camera. With one of the fastest shutter speeds, and the vital quaities most semi-serious photographers want, such as manual focus and manual white balance, this camera will be there wherever and whenever you need it. Its tiny, too!
4 megapixels:
Here's where it starts to get tricky. 'Olympus Stylus 400 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom' and 'Canon PowerShot S400 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom' are the best ultra-compact cameras you'll find, but forget about any manual options. If you're willing to sacrifice that small and light feel, check out th 'Canon PowerShot S45 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom', its got the serious amature option in a casual and sleek construction. Buy some new pants with bigger pockets though, this thing is about 1.5 inches wide.
5 megapixels:
Again, the sacrifice of size for quality comes into play. For amazing quality, the 'Canon PowerShot S45 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom' will blow you away. Not only is it a great camera, it's fast too. But, if you're looking for a small 5 megapixel digicamera, expect to either seriously lack quality, such as the 'Kyocera Finecam S5 5MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom', or only gain a bit in size and lose a bit in quality, such as the 'Minolta Dimage F300 5.3MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom'. Buyers beware, the Minolta has bad shutter-lag and relatively noisy, oversharpened photos. The Kyocera just takes bad shots, period.
One last note, if you're looking to take casual shots, and dont expect to do too much to increase their quality, 3 megapixels will suit you fine. Any of these point-and-shoots lack the ability to truly take sports shots, so look into a d-SLR such as 'Nikon D100 6MP Digital SLR Camera'.
Good luck and enjoy! |
| Buy a tiny digital camera |
A few years ago they invented the first practical yet tiny digital camera. Now the tiny-camera market seems to be splitting into many subsegments -- ultra-tiny, bigger-than-tiny (but with more features), and just tiny.
The best thing about these cameras is you can take them anywhere, and you end up taking shots you would have otherwise missed. The downside of these cameras is that some lack the manual features of bigger cameras, and frequently there is a price premium vs. somewhat larger models with similar features and quality. But overall they are great -- I believe the pictures I've been taking with my "tiny" cameras are much better than the 32mm point-and-shoot photos I was taking before.
Several of cameras noted below are into their second-, third- or even fourth generations -- many of these have proven track records by now.
If you aren't familiar with these already, you will be surprised at how portable they are. Some are small enough to slip in a shirt pocket. All will fit in a purse, backpack, briefcase or glove compartment. Prices are coming down rapidly, too, making them perfect for a second, carry-anywhere camera. Amazingly, 4- and 5-megapixel cameras are common in this class (note: this is more than enough for snapshots and even quality 8 x 10 enlargements). A current roundup of models follows -- this guide updated in Feb 2004 and includes many of the new models announced for 2004 but already available for pre-order.
For starters, three great examples: The new 'Canon PowerShot S500 5MP Digital Elph with 3x Optical Zoom', is the 5 megapixel new version of the famous Canon ELPH line, but now with a 5 megapixel sensor and 3X optical zoom. The 'Sony Cybershot DSC-T1 5MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom' has a stunning LCD viewfinder, all-metal case and a flat, easy-to-carry shape. The 'Pentax Optio S4i 4MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom' is a nice update to the Pentax S4, which was introduced in 2003 ago as "the camera that fits in an Altoids tin," which it does!
Here's a run down of current tiny cameras by class:
The originals
Canon made this class popular with its ELPHS. In addition to small size, they're known for their great picture quality and durable stainless steel cases. The new-for-2004 lineup includes the S500 shown agove the 'Canon PowerShot S410 4MP Digital Elph with 3x Optical Zoom', and the 'Canon PowerShot SD110 3MP Digital Elph with 2x Optical Zoom'. You can also find great deals on top 2003 sellers, the 'Canon PowerShot S400 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom' and the 'Canon PowerShot S230 3.2 MP Digital ELPH Camera with 2x Optical Zoom' and 'Canon PowerShot SD100 3.2MP Digital ELPH Camera w/ 2x Optical Zoom'. Quite simply, you can't go wrong with the Canons, thought keep reading for some very interesting alternatives --
Weatherproof
Olympus created the first weatherproof cameras in this class, and they really work. They're not for diving, but are great for trips to beach, skiing, or outdoor activities when you might get caught in the raing. Check out 'Olympus Stylus 400 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom', 'Olympus Stylus 300 3.2 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom', or, new-for-2004, 'Olympus Stylus 410 4MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom'. Even smaller: the "credit card" cameras
Several brands are producing cameras that are flatter than the Canons and Olympus cameras listed above. Of particular note are several cameras by Pentax, Casio and Minolta. The flatter cameras are skinny enough to fit into a man's shirt pocket (if you wear big shirts), and are just enough smaller than the Elph-sized cameras to be noticeably smaller.
'Minolta Dimage Xt 3.2 MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom' Update to the Dimage X series
'Minolta Dimage X20 2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom' Budget-priced Minolta alternative
'Pentax Optio S 3.2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom' The 3 mp introduced in 2003
'Pentax Optio S4 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom' 4 mp version, being replaced by S4i above
'Casio Exilim EX-Z4U 4 MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom and Dock' Lots of Exilim models available now
'Casio Exilim EX-S3 3MP Digital Camera and Docking Station'
'Kyocera SL300R 3.17MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom' Nice camera from smaller brand.
Something different
Some interesting twists on the ultracompact concept, cameras in colors!:
'Canon Powershot SD10 4MP Digital Camera (Black)' Beautiful 4mp camera comes in four colors, but no optical zoom.
'Sony DSC-U40/B Cyber-shot 2MP Digital Camera (Black)' Sony's ultracompacts also come in colors; this is shorter and thicker than the other cameras in this class.
'Panasonic SV-AS10A D-Snap 2MP Digital Camera (Blue)' Panasonics cameras come in multiple colors, too, and very cool and very small - though picture quality is not rated as highly as others on this list.
More features & power, just a little bigger
Even if you *think* you want a "tiny" cameras, don't overlook the class of cameras that are just a bit larger. They've got more features, more manual controls, and sometimes better lenses. The only drawback is they're just a bit larger...making themtoo small to slip into a pocket, but still small enough to easily carry in the palm of a hand or in a purse or jacket pocket. Some like them better because they're easier to hold, balance and operate, too. There are some great cameras in this class:
'Canon PowerShot S50 5MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom' Being discontinued - a great value
'Minolta Dimage G500 5MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom'
'Minolta Dimage G400 4.0 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical'
'Sony DSC-V1 Cyber-shot 5MP Digital Camera w/ 4x Optical Zoom' One of the best 5 MP cameras of 2003
'Fujifilm Finepix F700 3.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom & Docking Station' Excellent camera with new generation of chip
'Olympus Camedia C-50 5MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom'
'Canon PowerShot A80 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom' Check out the Canon A70 as well
Consider used!
This class is now old enough that there are plenty of cmaeras from 2002 and 2003 whose users are upgrading; you can frequently find great offers on used or refurbed product on these cameras. You should strongly consider used if you are just looking for a second "take-anywhere" camera for taking snapshots.
'Canon PowerShot S200 2MP Digital ELPH Camera w/ 2x Optical Zoom'
'Casio Exilim EX-S2 2MP Digital Camera'
'Minolta Dimage X 2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom' This camera was $400 in 2002.
'Minolta Dimage F300 5.3MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom'
'Canon PowerShot S45 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom'
Enjoy!
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| Know how many pictures you can store on a Compact Flash Card |
How many photos can I store on a digital storage card?
We are used to buying film based on the number of exposures it will hold. With digital cards the amount of photos a card will hold depends on resolution size and the compression option you use on your digital camera. Use the chart below as a guide to estimate how many photos you can store on a digital card.
Card Capacity
Megapixels
1 Mpixel
16MB=32pics, 32MB=64pics, 64MB=128pics, 128MB=256pics, 256MB=512pics, 512MB=1024pics, 1GB=2048pics
2 Mpixel
16MB=16pics, 32MB=32pics, 64MB=64pics, 128MB=128pics, 256MB=256pics, 512MB=512pics, 1GB=1024pics
3 Mpixel
16MB=8pics, 32MB=16pics, 64MB=32pics, 128MB=64pics, 256MB=128pics, 512MB=256pics, 1GB=512pics
4 Mpixel
16MB=6pics, 32MB=12pics, 64MB=24pics, 128MB=48pics, 256MB=96pics, 512MB=192pics, 1GB=384pics
5 Mpixel
16MB=4pics, 32MB=8pics, 64MB=18pics, 128MB=36pics, 256MB=72pics, 512MB=144pics, 1GB=288pics
6 Mpixel
16MB=0pics, 32MB=4pics, 64MB=8pics, 128MB=16pics, 256MB=32pics, 512MB=64pics, 1GB=128pics
For a printable version of the above chart goto the below link:
http://www.epmemory.com/products/capacity_print.html
Of course the quality of the photo will determine on the quality of the card you purchase, but the above is a great estimate based on the cards I have been using.
'ACP-EP Memory Mobile Storage 64MB Compact Flash CF Card - EPCF/64'
'SimpleTech STI-CF/64 64MB Compactflash Card'
'ACP-EP Memory Mobile Storage 128MB Compact Flash CF Card - EPCF/128'
'Viking 128 MB CompactFlash Card (CF128M)'
'ACP-EP Memory Mobile Storage 256MB Compact Flash CF Card - EPCF/256'
'SanDisk SDCFB-256-A10 256 MB CompactFlash Card'
'ACP-EP Memory Mobile Storage 512MB Compact Flash CF Card - EPCF/512'
'Viking CF512M 512 MB CompactFlash Card'
'ACP-EP Memory Mobile Storage 1GB Compact Flash CF Card - EPCF/1GB'
'Viking 1 GB CompactFlash Card (CF1GB)'
ACP-EP Memory (Memory Upgrades) seems to be a new company but they seem to be showing up everywhere, and with the aggressive price points along with the rebate offers, they are tough to beat.
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| What is the difference between NiCad, NiMH and Li-Ion? |
Li-ion (Lithium Ion).
This is one of the newest cell types available. It is also the lightest battery type currently available on a commercial basis and can provide more power than the other main cell types. There are no known problems of memory effect with this battery type and it is the easiest battery type to care for. The downside of this battery is that it has the highest engineering costs and therefore the price is usually considerably higher than other cell types.
NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride).
This cell type is the most common cell type currently available for laptop computers, (although Li-ion is rapidly becoming the most popular) This battery type is relatively cheap to manufacture and therefore tends to be cheaper than Li-ion. This cell type is prone to memory effect, so it is important to take good care of your NiMH battery to ensure that you obtain the best runtimes.
NiCAD (Nickel Cadmium).
This is one of the older cell types and is generally only found in older laptops. The main pro for this cell type is its ability to handle higher loads, and therefore is more commonly found in portable power tools or devices that need a lot of power to work efficiently. The main downside of this cell type is that it is notorious for suffering with memory effect so good care must be taken with this battery to ensure most effective use of battery . |
| Battery Usage Tips |
1. New battery pack must be fully charged before use.
2. New battery pack needs to be fully charged and discharged (cycled) a few times before it can condition to full capacity.
3. Rechargeable batteries undergo self-discharging when left unused. Always store a battery pack in a fully charged staged for storage.
4. Fully drain and fully recharged your battery pack every few months.
5. Turn down the LCD brightness of your portable device.
6. Use built-in power management on your portable device.
7. Turn off LCD or other unnecessary accessories when not in used.
8. Set screen saver blank to 1 to 2 minutes of your notebook
9. Add more RAM if you have extra RAM expansion slot, it will reduce the usage of hard drive and it is power exhaustive.
10. Close unused software in your notebook.
11. Remove unused PC Cards or USB devices from your notebook.
12. Don't watch DVD or play graphics intensive video games.
13. Don't short circuit terminal or store your battery pack with metal parts.
14. Don't drop or mutilate the battery pack.
15. Don't expose to moisture or water.
16. It is normal to get warm when charging or normal use. If it is getting too hot, there may be a problem with the device and qualified personnel should check it. |
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