WHY? Media: the Blog: Things To Consider When Buying A Point & Shoot Camera.

(Note from the editor: For archival purposes (and in keeping with our DIY viral marketing philosophy), I'm reprinting a series of articles originally written for circuitcity.com.)

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Published at circuitcity.com on Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Syndicated at computershopper.com
Written by ScottyWhy?

If you're looking for an easy to use and affordable digital camera, a point-and-shoot is a great place to start. The problem can be that the large selection can make it hard to decide. Most buyers are happiest when they select a camera that best fits their specific needs. Here are a few features to consider that may help you pick the best camera for you:

Removable Storage - Digital cameras use removable memory (flash cards, sticks ect.) to store the pictures you take. The higher the resolution you plan to use, the more memory you will need. Cameras usually don't come with very much internal memory so you will need to buy more. (Here's a tip: buy two 2GBs cards instead of one 4GBs card. This will allow you to switch cards when needed and will give you a backup if you ever loss one.)

Flash - Most point-and-shoots have flash units built in. Be aware of its position. Some cameras are design in such a way that the flash creates strange shadows in photos when the lens is extended.

Image Stabilizer -This feature helps reduce image blurriness that can come from shaky hands.

Brand - Top brands of point-and-shoots include Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Samsung, Panasonic, Kodak, Fujifilm and Sony.

ISO - If you want to take photos in low-light settings, consider the ISO. The higher the ISO, the less light you will need.

Settings - Some photographers like to have a wide option of settings that will adjust the camera depending on lighting and other needs. Some prefer manual settings that can be set depending on the conditions. Identify which type you are and buy accordingly.

Battery - Most digital cameras come with their own rechargeable battery. If it is removable, it would be a good idea to get a backup.

Lens - The important thing to remember is that the optical zoom (from the lens itself) can produce a high-quality close-up image. The digital zoom creates the digital illusion of a close-up by cropping the image size (much like you would do in photo editing software.) If you want a camera that has some zoom strength, concentrate on its optical power and ignore the digital power.

Image Sensor - Larger image sensors generally capture more light with less noise. The result is pictures that are clearer, brighter, and sharper.

Mega Pixels - Resolution is measured in mega-pixels. Resolution determines the maximum size of a print that can be made from an image. Resolution also determines how much you can crop a photo. Generally speaking, most cameras on the market are over 6 MPs. That is enough to share photos online and make a print up to 11X14.

Face Detection - If you take a lot of portraits, consider a camera with Face Detection. With it the camera will recognize faces in the frame and then optimizes the color, white balance, and focus.

LCD - Large LCD screens give you a bigger view, but they also use more battery life. They also cause the camera to weigh more. Keep these things in mind when making your selection.

Size - Many people like point-and-shots because they fit in a pocket. The smaller size can often result in less features or higher price.

Cost - Simply put, more features equals more cost. The question you have to ask yourself is what features are the most important to your needs. You can generally reduce the cost by picking a camera that isn't loaded with features that you won't use.