How to Buy a Digital Camera

Digital photography keeps getting better. Higher resolution, more sophisticated controls, and better technology make getting great pictures easier than ever.

• Introduction
• The Big Picture
• The Specs Explained
• Digital Camera Shopping Tips

Megapixels still matter most to digital camera shoppers, mainly because that specification remains one of the cameras' most important features, but also because manufacturers and retailers hype that specification above all others. If you're having a hard time figuring out which camera to buy, you may be tempted to make a decision based solely on megapixel count; that's why nearly all manufacturers print the number on the front of their cameras.

But a camera needs more than just a high pixel count to take great pictures, so pay attention to other traits as well. For example, a lethargic camera that takes too much time between shots may miss the best action, and a big, heavy camera may spend more time on the shelf than in your carry-on bag. A camera with no manual controls may take fabulous shots in bright sunlight, but lousy ones in more challenging situations.

Key Features

Resolution: If you intend to take pictures only to e-mail them to distant friends or to print at snapshot size, a camera of most any resolution will do. Even so, more pixels give you greater flexibility--you can print sharper pictures at larger sizes, or crop and print small sections of pictures. Rules of thumb: A 2-megapixel camera can usually produce a pretty 5-by-7 print; a 3-megapixel camera, an 8-by-10; and a 4-megapixel (or greater) model, an 11-by-17.

Size, weight, and design: To some users, how much a camera weighs and whether it fits in a pocket may be more important factors than resolution. PC World has tested cameras that weigh as much as 2.6 pounds and as little as 4.1 ounces. Small cameras are convenient, but they frequently have tiny dials and buttons that make changing settings somewhat trying.

Zoom lens: Inexpensive cameras often lack optical zoom lenses. If we had to choose between a camera with an optical zoom and one with higher resolution, we'd take the camera with a zoom--it means you won't have to magnify your subject and then use software to crop the image (and discard some of that resolution as a result). A few cameras now offer zoom ratings of up to 10X. These lenses are great for nature or sports photography, but you may need a steady hand or a tripod to avoid blurry pictures at extreme telephoto lengths.

Be wary of advertised zoom ratings--many vendors combine the optical zoom (which moves the lens to magnify the subject) with digital zoom, which merely captures fewer pixels and magnifies those. Optical zoom gives you all the benefit of the camera's maximum resolution, combined with the ability to get closer to the action.

Manual focus: For close-ups or situations in which the camera can't get a focus lock, switching to manual focusing can help you get the shot. Low-end cameras often omit manual focusing or allow only stepped focusing, which only allows you to choose from a few preset distances.

Storage: At its highest resolution, a typical 2-megapixel camera can store eight to ten images on an 8MB "starter" memory card. The size of the memory card a camera ships with isn't terribly important, because you'll almost always have to buy another one (unless you're willing to transfer your images after every handful of shots). CompactFlash, Secure Digital Cards, and SmartMedia cards cost about $35 for 64MB, or $50 for 128MB. Sony still makes cameras that store images on floppy disks or CD-R discs. Floppy storage is slow, however, and the disks can't hold more than one or two high-resolution images; compact discs store many more images, but the cameras that use them are slow and bulky.

Batteries: Cameras use one or more of several types of batteries: AAs, either nonrechargeable alkaline ($5 for four) or rechargeable nickel metal hydride (NiMH, about $14 for four); high-capacity disposable CRV3s (around $12 apiece, and some cameras take two CRV3s); or proprietary rechargeable batteries that can cost $35 to $75 to replace.

Movies and sound: Many cameras can capture video as well as still shots, though typical-size memory cards don't hold much video footage; the option is useful for short clips when you don't have a camcorder.

Exposure settings: All digital cameras let you shoot in fully automatic mode--just press the shutter release and you get a picture. Better cameras offer aperture- and shutter-priority modes, in which you adjust the size of the lens opening or how long the shutter stays open, and the camera automatically controls the other variable to give you the proper exposure.

Typically, you'd use aperture priority to maintain control over an image's depth of field--for example, to blur the background of a shot while keeping the foreground sharp--and shutter-priority mode, for example, to capture fast-moving subjects. A camera that relies exclusively on full auto would attempt to keep both the foreground and background in focus in the former example, and it would probably blur the moving subject in the latter.

Usually, cameras that offer priority modes (such as digital SLRs) also offer full-manual exposure control, in which you set both variables. These modes make a camera adaptable to almost any situation.

Menus: When evaluating a camera, consider how easily you can reach common settings--resolution, macro mode, flash, and exposure adjustments--and how easily you can play back just-taken images. Too many buttons, and you waste time trying to figure out which button does what; too many menus, and you waste time digging through them.

White balance: Almost all digital cameras allow you to choose a white-balance setting via presets. This setting tells the camera which elements in a shot should look white and, by inference, what should look black and what everything in between should look like. If you're finicky about color accuracy, look for a manual calibrator in which you press a button while aiming at a white object.

LCD: Low-end models often omit an LCD screen, which is necessary for reviewing just-taken images on the camera. A good LCD is essential for knowing whether you got the shot you wanted, and can usually give you an indication of whether it was properly exposed. LCD quality varies widely: Many wash out in sunlight or become grainy in low light, or the image may change if you tilt the camera slightly. If you can, try a camera outside before you buy it.

• Introduction
• The Big Picture
• The Specs Explained
• Digital Camera Shopping Tips

A digital camera's megapixel count remains its most important spec--but it is by no means the only one. Start with pixels, but make sure to check a few other important numbers when considering a purchase.

A camera's megapixel rating is another way of expressing its resolution. The higher the megapixel number, the higher the resolution. In general, higher-resolution cameras let you produce larger, higher-quality prints. A 2-megapixel camera can produce images of about 1600 by 1200 pixels, allowing for high-quality 5-by-7 prints. A 3-megapixel camera can produce images of about 2048 by 1536 pixels, allowing for crisp 8-by-10 prints. The tradeoff is that higher-resolution images take up more space on your camera's memory card, so you may only be able to take a small number of shots before you have to download them to your computer. The solution, of course, is to purchase a larger-capacity memory card.

So if you're interested in producing mostly small snapshots or images to send via e-mail or post on the Web, you probably don't need anything better than a 2-megapixel camera. If you want to create large copies of your masterworks, you'll want a camera that captures 4 megapixels or more.

• Introduction
• The Big Picture
• The Specs Explained
• Digital Camera Shopping Tips

Ready to buy a digital camera? Here are PC World's recommendations:

• Match megapixels to your use. A 2-megapixel camera is fine for snapshots, though models with that resolution are becoming less common. If you want to produce 8-by-10-inch prints, you'll need at least a 3-megapixel camera. Four- or 5-megapixel cameras will yield even larger prints and allow you to blow up a part of an image with less likelihood that the print will be blurry.
• Look for rechargeable batteries and a charger. The cost of disposable batteries adds up over the long run. Some cameras can use AA batteries of any type--disposable or rechargeable. That capability can be helpful if your rechargeable batteries run out of juice and you don't want to wait while they replenish.
• Get at least 2X optical zoom. Nearly all cameras offer digital zoom, but it results in photos that aren't nearly as good as those produced with an optical zoom.
• Look for a low-light focusing aid. Some cameras have auxiliary lights that help them focus in dim settings. That's important for many indoor shots.
• Make sure you can use removable storage media. While the camera may have on-board memory, a memory card allows you to expand the storage capacity.
• Avoid cameras that use floppy disks or compact discs. Floppy disks are inexpensive, but they won't hold many images, and the cameras that use them typically take relatively low-resolution photos. Cameras that use compact discs are typically bulky and slow.
• Try the camera before you buy. Some cameras have commands and menus that are easier to use than others, a comparison you can only make with a hands-on trial. Also evaluate the lag time between when you press the shutter button and when the camera actually takes the picture. Try out the zoom lens--does it operate quickly and smoothly? Find out how long you must wait between taking pictures. And try the LCD viewfinder--in the sun if possible--to determine how easy it is to read.
• Give extra consideration to a camera with image-editing software. Look for useful packages like Adobe Photoshop Elements and Ulead PhotoImpact.
• Insist on a camera with an LCD display. It allows you to review your photos on the spot--and delete the ones where your cousin kept blinking when the flash went off.
• Don't base your decision on video capability. Any still camera's ability to take moving pictures is extremely limited. If you want to shoot video, invest in a camera dedicated to the job.
• Consider investing in a memory card reader. These readers act like an external hard drive attached to your PC or laptop, allowing you to download pictures directly from the storage media your camera uses. Many newer laptops have one or more memory card slots built right in. That saves time downloading images, and since the camera doesn't have to be on, saves battery life, too.

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