How to Buy a Digital Camera
posted on 20 May 2008 14:44 by technoclip in DigitalCameraDigital photography keeps getting better. Higher resolution, more sophisticated controls, and better technology all make taking great pictures easier than ever.
The Big Picture
From resolution to storage and from exposure control to white balance, we'll explain the digital camera terms you need to know.
Megapixels still matter a lot to digital camera shoppers, in part 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.
The Specs Explained
Buying a digital camera isn't all about megapixels. We'll translate the jargon and tell you just how important each specification is to your purchase.
A digital camera's megapixel count is an 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. Even a 5-megapixel camera (which is rare these days) can produce images of high enough resolution to produce crisp 11-by-14 prints. The trade-off is that higher-resolution images take up more space on your camera's memory card, so you may be able to take only 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 5-megapixel camera. If you want to create large copies of your masterworks, you'll want a camera that captures 6 megapixels or more.
Source : PC World's