Number 1. The most popular type, the compact camera.
Number 2. The "Prosumer" or "Bridge" camera, these are a midpoint or "Bridge" between a compact and a DSLR.
Number 3. The Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera.
First I will list the pros and cons of the compact camera:
Pros.
Small, you can carry it around in your pocket, it doesn't take up much space, and you can quickly produce it from your pocket for that once in a lifetime snapshot!
Most modern compacts have very high resolution sensors for the price you pay, for example a ?600 DSLR camera may have a 12MP sensor whereas you can purchase a 14MP compact camera for around ?200.
Simple, most modern compact digital cameras are very easy and simple to use, therefore newbies to the photography world won't be thrown in at the deep end!
Fully Manual, a lot of compact digital cameras now have fully manual functions so if you wish you can easily start to learn the world of photography in more depth and gain more control over your images.
Cons.
Very small lens, because of the size of the lens of compact digital cameras, very little light is let in compared to DSLRs and your aperture range is much more limited.
Unsubstantial optical zoom, your optical zoom range is often very limited on digital compact cameras.
Small sensor, even though the sensor might be able to record images made up of lots and lots of Mega Pixels compared to DSLRs for the price you pay, the sensor is physically, very small because it has to be compact, therefore digital compact cameras are effected quite badly by noise, compared to DSLRs.
Now the "Prosumer" or "Bridge Camera"
Pros.
Large sensors, because they are much larger than compact cameras, they often have larger sensors (physically) so are generally less effected by noise at high ISO values.
Bigger lens, Because the lens' on these cameras are much bigger than on compact digital cameras, they are able to let in much more light, this also means this type of camera has a greater aperture range.
Much greater zoom range than on most digital compact cameras.
Cheaper than a DSLR.
Cons.
Not quite a DSLR, this means you are greatly hindered by the inability of being able to change your lens, therefore these cameras are not as flexible as DSLRs.
Not as fast or responsive as a DSLR.
Most of them don't have real views through the viewfinder, a lot of these types of cameras simply have a digital replica of the LCD projected through the viewfinder.
Now Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras.
Pros.
Larger sensor again, DSLRs normally have the largest sensors (physically) of all three camera types and therefore suffer the least from noise at high ISO values.
Ability to change your lens, there is a massive range of lens' you are able to purchase for DSLR cameras and therefore they have amazing flexibility, with a DSLR you are able to delve into any type of photography you desire! (although it may cost you quite a bit of money).
Great image quality, DSLR cameras usually have great processors and offer some of the best post processing, therefore creating spectacular images.
Extremely fast and responsive compared to the other two types of camera.
Cons.
Very expensive, as if the camera body itself doesn't cost enough, you have to also purchase expensive lens' which can sometimes cost more than the camera body itself, although some DSLR bodies are available in a kit, meaning they come with a lens (usually 18-55mm), which saves you money.
Not very compact, DSLRs are usually very bulky and heavy compared to compact cameras.
I hope this article has helped you make your mind up about what type of digital camera to purchase.
It seems like everyone has a digital camera these days and digital cameras have revived the art of photography as a hobby. As digital camera manufacturers improve equipment in quality and price, more people are embracing the benefits of digital photography and putting their film cameras on the shelf. If you're looking to make the move to a digital understanding the basics of a digital camera can help guide you through understanding how the differences and similarities with film cameras can provide you with a digital camera that fits your needs.
My first digital camera has a 640 by 480 pixel resolution and saved images to floppy disks. It was a little clunky, but it worked well and I was happy with the results. Today, the quality of that camera would barely qualify as a web cam for some people. The technology curve continues to move along for digital cameras but today most digital cameras should be able to provide you with a simple ?point and click? experience and provide enough resolution to print 4 by 6 inch prints that you'll be happy to archive in a scrapbook.
The resolution of most digital cameras is measured today in ?mega pixels.? This is a measure of the number of dots which are available to digitally describe the image as a computer file. A digital camera with a 3.1 mega pixel resolution is usually enough to produce pictures that look like a film print on a 4 by 6 print. Moving up to a digital camera with a 5.1 mega pixel resolution will provide a sharper image at the same print size. Can everyone tell the difference? No they can't. When shopping for a camera, don't be mesmerized by claims that you must have the very highest resolution to be happy with your digital pictures. Look at samples and select the camera that meets your price range and quality desires.
Generally, digital cameras with a resolution lower than 1 mega pixel are good for images you plan on emailing to people, or posting on the web, but the resolution is not high enough for quality prints. If you plan on making film-style prints of your pictures, you should make your minimum 3.1 mega pixels.
The next issue with digital cameras is how it gets the electricity it needs to function. Many cameras today use rechargeable batteries but some still use AA size batteries. If you plan on taking lots of pictures, a camera that uses disposable batteries can become a very expensive camera, but if the camera has a rechargeable battery with a short life between charges, you might find yourself without power when a great photo opportunity presents itself or you may be stuck buying an extra, and often expensive, rechargeable battery which is custom designed to only fit that specific camera. When you have made you short list of digital cameras meeting your quality requirements, be sure to compare battery life statistics from the manufacturer.
As with film cameras, most digital cameras have automatic settings that adjust to provide a ?point and shoot? experience. Some cameras also have manual settings which mimic advanced film camera settings such as aperture and exposure. Digital cameras often have additional features which allow for special effects and even picture taking in very low light settings. These features may or may not be important to you in a digital camera. How often did you load black and white film in your film camera? Chances are these nice-to-have features are not a high priority for most digital camera owners.
Most of the digital cameras feature an LCD view screen. This lets you shoot the image perfectly and then to check it. and is probably one of the most appreciated features of a digital camera over a film camera. The LCD does use up electricity though and by turning your camera off when you are not shooting pictures will preserve battery life.
Most digital cameras use a removable memory card on which pictures are stored. If you have a computer with a built-in reader of a memory card, checking to see if the digital camera uses a compatible type of memory card can make it much easier for you to transfer images to your PC and reduce the expensive of a separate memory card reader. If your digital camera comes with a data transfer cable, keep in mind that the memory card readers are usually much faster and provide greater flexibility. It's best to keep the data transfer cable in the box.
Overall, most digital camera manufacturers have done an excellent job in making the transition from film cameras to digital cameras a painless one. By knowing some small details about the minor differences, you should have no problem finding a digital camera that you will enjoy and use frequently.
Both Tryoverthere & Dave Saunders are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Tryoverthere has sinced written about articles on various topics from Digital Camera, Broadband. . Tryoverthere's top article generates over 2400 views. to your Favourites.
Dave Saunders has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Computers and The Internet and Nutrition. Dave Saunders is a certified nutritional educator and lifelong technologist. He lives in the Washington, DC area with his wife, Irene and writes about his many passions. While pursuing his own enjoyments in broadly experiencing life, Dave Saunders special. Dave Saunders's top article generates over 246000 views. to your Favourites.