(PRINTWORDS NEWS)- The price of compact digital cameras have taken a nosedive in recent times and they are becoming extremely feature rich as well. Even a few years back you could boast of having a 5 MP camera but nowadays even entry level cameras feature a resolution of 12 MP.
They have also become sleek and stylish than ever before. The SLR cameras still remain the first choice for the professional photographers but for casual users the compact digital cameras are the easiest and best choice. However, there are too many models in the market these days and the buyers are literally spoilt for choice.
You also need to know what your requirement is. If you just need to take some snaps on occasions like birthday and post them on Facebook there is no need to but an expensive digital camera with super zoom. However, if you love to travel and take pictures of the places you visit or love wildlife then you can think about investing your money in a rugged digital camera. If you are among those who love stylish gadgets then you can opt for the touchscreen based digicams. Yes they are very much on the scene.
The first parameter you can consider before buying a digital camera is the resolution. However, it is a misconception that a higher resolution will result in better picture quality. Generally you will get good result with a camera with a resolution higher than 10 MP. You will get plenty of cameras in the market with 12 MP and higher resolutions these days. Another thing you need to consider is the level of optical zoom offered by the camera.
Even two years back most compact digital cameras offered a standard 3x Optical zoom. Nowadays entry level digital cameras offer 4 to 5 x optical zoom. If you are a casual user you will do fine with a camera that offers 5x optical zoom. However, if you are into nature photography get a model that offers at least 10x optical zoom. There are quite a number of models that offer more than 10x optical zoom. Do not get fooled by digital zoom. It hampers the picture quality seriously.
If you are a gadget lover who loves exploring the various features of his devices go for a camera that offers plenty of manual settings to tinker around. The digital cameras offer plenty of scene modes and an auto mode that automatically determines the best settings depending on light and scene. However, you can get models that offer a plethora of control in areas like White Balance, ISO level and shutter control.
The digital cameras have a LCD screen at their back and make sure the screen is usable in bright daylight. Some cameras have a touch screen. It definitely looks cool but remember a capacitive type screen will be easier to deal with than a resistive type one. It is also good to have some dedicated hardware buttons in case the camera has a touch screen. The 3D bug has bitten the camera manufacturers the same way it has affected the TV industry. Some cameras offer 3D. Remember that for viewing 3D you need a 3D capable TV.
Nowadays cameras are evolving into multifunctional gadgets. Some digital cameras come with inbuilt WiFi and GPS. The latter feature will come in handy if you are a traveller. Connectivity wise many cameras offer HDMI and USB. HDMI is useful if you want to play back the snaps and footage on your large screen TV without a PC.
A lot of cameras nowadays offer features like Face detection, blink detection and smile shot. These are user friendly features but one more useful feature is image stabilization. It is useful when your hand shakes or you have to capture the image of a moving object. Always opt for a camera that offers electronic and optical image stabilization.
The digital cameras also offer movie recording. The high end models offer HD movie recording as well. Some of the models also let you use optical zoom when recording video. Of course, you will have to invest in storage media, in this case SD or SDXC cards. Nowadays most cameras offer built in Lithium ion batteries. They are faster to charge and lasts longer than conventional AA batteries
