Digital Camera Specs?

Question

I am looking for a new camera. I will use it to take pictures at family parties, get togethers, sporting events, vacations, and anywhere else the normal person goes, as well as to take some other pictures to support my love of photography(nothing major). I'm not sure what specs I should look for.

Suggestions of cameras would be a great help too...but please concentrate on specific specs. Thanks

Answer 1

What to look for depends on your needs. If you're looking for a camera that takes professional quality pictures and fits in your shirt pocket and costs less than $200, you're out of luck... it doesn't exist.
If you have a reasonably large budget (say up to $2,000) and are serious enough to want to spend time learning photography, buy a DSLR. Otherwise, stick with point-and-shoot cameras.
Assuming you're looking at P&S cameras, here's the things I would suggest considering:
- megapixels: at least 5, but anything more than about 8 is waste. Make sure they're real megapixels and not some "equivalent" or "interpolated" megapixels.
- zoom range: determines how much of a range from widest angle to closest zoom; optical zoom counts, ignore digital zoom. You want at least 3X.
- size of the camera: small is more practical, but typically smaller also means poorer quality shots, although you shouldn't use size as a measure of its quality. Similarly, bigger lenses usually mean better pictures, but don't just assume that.
- programs: cameras that have various programs (sports, portrait, landscape, etc) are generally more versatile than cameras that are just point and shoot; on the other hand, more features can mean more complexity and more time to learn how to use
- construction: does the camera look rugged enough to survive the way you handle cameras? If you're clumsy or like to just throw your camera in any old bag, look for a sturdier camera
- additional features, such as face-finding, red-eye reduction, variable ISO, etc. Some of these features are getting to be pretty standard. Think about the features and ask yourself if you'd like that in a camera.
- batteries: for some people, standard AA or AAA batteries are preferable to rechargeables that are made for the camera; for others, it's the other way around. Decide what you like, but find out how many pictures you can expect to get on a change of batteries.
- LCD display: bigger picture preview size is nicer, but uses more battery power. The picture should be bright enough to view on a sunny day.
- Brand: some brands are better than others; stick with Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc; avoid the cheap no-names.

Most important, go to a quality photography store that has demo models out and staff that actually know what they're selling. Try out various cameras and ask lots of questions.

Answer 2

One of the most important features is the megapixels. The higher the number for your money, the better - bigger numbers basically ensure better pictures. The zoom is something you would also want to take into consideration, depending on the type of photography you do. If you are into closeups, test the cameras out in a store - alot of point & shoot digitals lose focus closeup. My first digital camera was a Fujifilm and I was really happy with it - I've had others between it and my Canon, but that one was the best for non-professional cameras. If you have and are willing to spend the money, I would definently invest in a DSLR - you'll love it so much you'll never look back.
For point and shoot - I would recommend staying away from Kodak and Sony brand - they're just not very good, at least in my experience!
Feel free to e-mail if you need more info!

Answer 3

I would select a camera that has the brand name of film cameras. Companies which have produced cameras before usually have superior lenses.
If you will produce only small, say 3x4 pictures about 4 megapixels will do. If you plan on emlargements, go for 5 or 6 Megapixels.
In comparing zoom features, concentrate on optical zoom. Optical zoom of about 4 is good enough, but for the sporting events a 7 to 10 zoom would be good.

Answer 4

I'll do this kind of backwards, but I think this camera's specs meet all of your criteria. My son has it and I just recommended it to my neice this weekend.

Canon Powershot A630. Go here and read the specs. If you don't want to buy the Canon, use these specs as a guideline for choosing another camera.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Canon/canon_a630.asp

One big reason that I chose this camera for you is because you say that you want the camera to support your love of photography. Once you know what you are doing and want to exercise some control, you can do it with the A630 and you just can't with many similar cameras. (Look for "aperture priority" or "shutter priority" modes in the specs.)

Answer 5

Forget megapixels, how much ya spending? Do you want tiny or regular size camera?Lots of zoom? More zoom, more money. again what do you plan to spend? If your last camera was one of 6 or 7 major brands, it's you who took terrible pictures. Major camera companies don't put out junk, or they'd be out of business quick.

Answer 6

You will get a great answer in BabyDev.com at the Photography section. There is a very knowledgable guy who is the moderator of that section.

Web Development & Photography Forum
http://www.babydev.com

Answer 7

I will make my answer short and sweet!
This website is excellent. You can find out information about what specs are best for your particular needs, fill out a questionnaire to help you decide what camera based on your needs and use, compare several models at once, compare sample pics of various models, and read excellent reviews.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/

Answer 8

For quality photos you can enlarge, be sure it is 3.+ pixels.
High resolution cameras are much limited for your use.