The answer is more of a checklist than a 'buy this' list and it goes something like this:
1) Size (Physical and Financial)
If you're looking for a compact or a point and shoot instead of a dSLR these are probably the key reasons. If you want it to be able to fit inside your pocket/purse/whatever take that pocket/purse/whatever with you when you go shopping and remember to stick to your budget.
2) Good lens/Good colours/Good Image Quality
By this I mean a camera that takes pictures that look good to you. The sensor, lens, and in camera software will be the key contributors here. Don't be afraid to take a few test shots in the showroom. Take your own memory card along if you have one and try it in a few different cameras to see which ones you like best.
3) Minimal shutter delay
The less time there is between you pressing the shutter button and the camera actually taking the picture the better.
4) Around 10 megapixels
10 is plenty of pixel power for most things short of a billboard. Don't fall into the pixel trap.
5) Zoom
If you want zoom make sure you get a camera that employs optical zoom (i.e. it zooms using the lens). Some cameras employ digital zoom instead. Digital zoom is no good as it is exactly the same as cropping a photo.
6) Flash
Point and shoots should be compact so, ideally, the flash will be built in. If the flash isn't built in (if it's one of those click on ones) think about whether this will make you less likely to use your camera, whether you can justify the extra cost and fragility, and whether the external click on flash actually provides any real benefit (i.e. is it more powerful than the flashes in competing cameras). Even if you don't like flash it's always good to have the option available.
7) High ISO performance
How does it perform in darker situations (i.e. indoors) without flash? If you usually take photos using flash then this probably isn't worth worrying about.
8) Manual control
This one is last because point and shoots and compacts are typically fun cameras where you don't want to think too much when you take the photo. Additionally if you're getting to the point where you want full manual control it's probably worth looking into getting a dSLR.
Features I would really like:
- Waterproofing/shockproofing
- A built in lens cover (harder to lose)
- Maybe video
Features I would ignore:
- Smile detection
- In camera editing - you can do this later anyway
- Digital Zoom - you can do this later anyway
Very useful tips. Would easily guide me to select a compact camera. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteCan I suggest that there are some good options like the canon s95 (or new s100) and the sony hx9v that provide full manual but its hidden away a little. That way you have the ease of full auto, but when the owner starts to learn about photography there is kind of a stepping stone up to using big-boy features.
ReplyDeleteAlso, some of the new 4 3rds cameras like the GF3 are super consumer focused and rely on touchscreens and auto modes. They will do great for compact users that like auto only and add so much in terms of image quality.
I thought if you have a really good lens then you already have an amazing camera but I may be wrong with all these great tips which you've posted! :)
ReplyDeleteThe lens is most of the battle as far as image quality goes. That being said compact cameras are usually more about size and convenience than image quality which is why it gets outranked here :)
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