How long does it take to become completely confused and overwhelmed when shopping for a digital camera? I think the Guinness record is around three and a half minutes, but for most consumers I'd estimate around two or three hours. Digital technology has done some really great things in the realm of photography, but simplifying buying decisions is not one of them. There's really no need for the confusion, and here are a few good reasons why.
What most digital camera consumers want, is simply to take great pictures with relative ease, and without having to read a 300 page manual. The good news, is that given the quality of cameras available, that's a very achievable goal. The bad news is, that by the time many would be purchasers have waded through a plethora of techno-bable and marketing hype, they just give up and throw themselves at the mercy of the nearest salesperson. In some cases that works out great. But, you could just end up buying the camera with the best commission for John/Jane Doe Salesperson.
Getting the right digital camera really just boils down to a few simple considerations. Any camera guide (sentient or otherwise) that tells you different should be promptly ignored. First of all pick up the camera with your own two hands and shoot a bunch of pictures. Shopping online for cameras can be great for finding the right price, but it's not going to tell you how the camera feels in your own mitts. The camera weight should feel right for you, and all controls should be with easy reach of your fingers. Be sure to navigate through the menu options, and see how intuitive they are. There's no substitute for hands on research.
Image quality is probably THE most import consideration Take a few pictures (preferably before purchasing . . . see above) and see what they look like. Now don't just look at the pictures on the cameras LCD screen. Print some, and upload some to a computer. LCD screens can be very low resolution, and either hide image flaws, or obscure a truly great picture. You can read volumes about ISO settings, and image noise at those various settings. But really, what matters most, is how does the image look to your own two eyes. It's that simple.
That's really the best digital buying camera guide your going to find anywhere. Long before computer digital technology came along, camera buying was a very simple proposition. And it still can be today. Just don't get too hooked on the marketing and technology speak. People use cameras today for the same reason they did 50 or 60 years ago. They wanted to take great pictures of memorable moments to treasure and admire.
If your looking for top rated point and shoot digital cameras, there are a few things you need to consider. First of all, you need to give some consideration to where you'll be getting your rating information. Since I'm going to assume your reading this online, your already aware of one of the biggest sources for camera ratings guides.
Bear in mind though, this is the internet, and you can't believe everything you read. Except of course for this article. I read an online article a few days ago, that suggested that 86% of online web readers believed that less then half of what they read online was reliable. A healthy does of skepticism is a good thing, but this seems a little extreme.
Let's not forget about other sources of camera ratings. There are trade publications, photography magazines, and the tech section of major newspapers. While they may not be as specialized as some websites, they are a valuable source for research as well. Consumer reports magazine is one the comes to mind first.
Since we're looking for point and shoot cameras, they're are a few shortcoming that go with this market niche that you should be aware of.
Zoom lenses on point and shoots are typically not very powerful. If plan on getting a close up of the bride and groom kissing from the back pew of the church, your going to be disappointed. Your zoom lens likely won't reach that far. If this is a big concern for you, that it's time to check out a few SLR cameras.
Shutter speed is notoriously on point and shoots. Slow shutter speed is the main culprit for missed photo opportunities. With a point and shoot, you need to plan a bit ahead. Holding the shutter down halfway, allows the battery to charge the flash, and prepare the camera to take the perfect picture. When your subject is ready, you just have to press the shutter the remaining way down.
Batteries, while often the bane of gadgets in general, can be a real nuisance for digital cameras. Because point and shoots are small, the space for battery storage is limited. Resulting in smaller batteries. Consumer demands for large LCD screens, further exacerbates the problem, as this is where most of your battery juice goes. Rechargeables are the best solution here.
I mention these flaws not to talk you out of choosing a point and shoot camera, but to make you aware of their basic shortcomings. Some will be better then others, but their primary design has some common flaws. If you can live with these shortcomings, then your ultimate buying decision will be easier.
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