I want a compact digital camera. How do I choose in regards to lens quality, CCD quality, etc?

Question

Main factors:
Lens Quality
Brand
Good CCD/CMOS
Low Purple Fringing
Low noise at high ISO

Answer 1

This is a very difficult question to answer, although after reading digital camera tech's answers, I would think twice about Sony and I would add reputation for good customer service to the list of how to choose a camera.

The only way for an individual to know the answer to most of these questions is to read reviews at several sites and ask friends. Many review sites have sample images that you can look at, including ISO tests. It's a good thing that you know about purple fringing as this is the evil among lower price digital cameras.

Some random thoughts...

Lens quality - You'll have to trust the reviews and start with the known brands. Nikon and Canon make good lenses. Schneider and Leitz are good lenses that are used on Kodak, Panasonic and Leica cameras.

Brand - The same names come up. Nikon, Canon, (even) Kodak, Olympus... I'd like to include Pentax, but it doesn't seem their film expertise has transferred over to digital yet, as they are quite conservative.

CCD/CMOS - Most are made by Sony. CMOS is Canon's. One thing that you CAN do is look for the sensor size. They are measured in a very arcane manner and their size is expressed in terms of inverse numbers. The larger the number on the bottom, the smaller the sensor. In point and shoot cameras, look for a 1/1.8 size as opposed to the more common 1/2.5. In general, a larger sensor will give better images.

Fringing and ISO noise - See reviews of the cameras that you are interested in after looking them over based on the first three items.

Here are some review sites:
http://www.dpreview.com
http://www.imaging-resource.com/
http://www.dcresource.com/
http://www.dcviews.com/
http://www.steves-digicams.com/
http://www.megapixel.net/html/reviews.php
http://www.letsgodigital.org/html/
http://bobatkins.com/photography/digital/ (esp. Canon)
http://www.kenrockwell.com/ (esp. Nikon)

Answer 2

There are lots of web sites that review digital cameras, I would start with www.stevesdigicams.com - It is nicely set up an makes it easy to compare the features of different cameras. www.dpreview.com is also good.

You also need to think about what you want in a digital camera. Everything is a compromise. - If you want a powerful 12x zoom lens, the camera will probably have more purple fringing than cameras with a zoom lens with less range. Do the size of the camera make a difference to you? - Consider whether want an optical viewfinder - I find them useful, but some people don't care about them.

Answer 3

I swear I just answered this question...

Choose what you know and love. If you never have owned a digital camera I personally (most of these type of answers are personal anyways) would choose Canon or Nikon. They are the biggest players... but that also means that cost may be higher.
Fuji and Pentax make some really excellent cameras too. Casio and Pentax digital cameras are shockingly similar and share the same lenses and chips on their boards.

As long as you don't buy the $175 or less cameras you will be fine.

I hate Sony with a passion... but it's just personal. Their customer service sucks. I hate phone computers... I hate 'Max'. I wish he was dead.

If you have ever called Sony, you know what I mean.

Answer 4

Canon really has the best digital cameras, I have 2 Nikon "L" series cameras, and though I do love them, I should have gone with Canon, as the ISO range is better, and they have better features for picture vibration, and other better features. My choice would be the Canon Powershot S3 IS, as it has 12X Zoom, and Stereo Sound, not a bad price either, about $400 average, and a lot of power for future needs for the price! :)

Answer 5

Try the reviews at cheapest prices search engine.

http://www.cheapestpricessearchengine.com