Quick Guide to Buying a Digital Camera
Learn the Lingo
- SLR SLR Single-Lens Reflex, a camera design that uses complex optics to present an exact view of the resulting image through the viewfinder.
- CCD CCD Charge-Coupled Device, a standard image sensor used in most digital cameras.
- 3CCD 3CCD A type of camera that uses three CCD sensors to split an image into red, blue, and green components, providing higher quality.
- Resolution Resolution A rating that measures the total number of pixels (in millions of pixels, or megapixels) the camera is capable of capturing and recording at once.
- SD SD Secure Digital, a stamp-sized memory card that is the prevailing standard for most digital camera storage.
- CF CF CompactFlash, a memory card somewhat physically larger than SD; still used in some cameras (mainly SLR type).
- Memory Stick Memory Stick Sony's proprietary memory card format, the size of a stick of gum, used only in some Sony cameras.
- Optical zoom Optical zoom Uses optical lenses to increase magnification, measured by an "x" rating that indicates the level of zoom.
- Digital zoom Digital zoom Not a zoom at all but a way to crop, then expand photos within the camera instead of in a software image editor; results in loss of image quality.
The Basics
There are 3 main types of digital cameras :
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Compact Cameras
Pros: Best overall pricing; very good resolution and other settings
Cons: Somewhat bulky
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Subcompact Cameras
Pros: Extremely portable
Cons: Generally lower resolution; limited zoom
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Pro Cameras
Pros: Professional-grade optics; large zoom lens; loaded with features
Cons: As bulky as a traditional camera; very costly
What Matters Most
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- Resolution
- A camera's megapixels dictate how large the image is. You need 7.1 megapixels to make a quality 8 x 10-inch print.
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- Zoom
- Optical zoom is the only important zoom method; top cams have 10x optical zoom or better. Ignore any mention of digital zoom, which can degrade your image.
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- Ease of use
- In general, the more features you get, the harder the camera is to use. Consider whether you really need all the high-end features before you purchase.
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- Portability
- Ultra-slim subcompact cameras can fit easily in a shirt pocket, while pro-level cams can weigh over two pounds. So, go for a camera you're comfortable carrying.
