Consumer Digital Camera Reviews Article

As you could say from a look at last week's home page, the market is being inundated with digital cameras. Many employ the fantastic 5-plus megapixel CCD chips. These chips produce mad images, and now the camera companies are faced with an engaging challenge: differentiation. What can a company do to make its cameras stand out? Unfortunately, while they decide on this, many companies are dropping the ball on the basics. In this pier I want to give digital camera buyers a list of things to look for and to look out for.

Batteries. Buyers should only buy cameras that use standard cells. Currently this factor AA batteries, although I see no reason why more cameras in the future cannot use AAA batteries. The use of proprietary batteries such as those busy by Sony, Panasonic and others is a seriously bad idea for the consumer. First of all, these batteries are too extravagant when compared with standard cells, so they're a rip-off. But even if they weren't more rich, you have to examine the liberty factor. Having used digital cameras since their presentation, I can assure you that no matter how well you plan, you are going to be in a job where the camera batteries go dead and the replacement batteries are either not with you or are dead, too. With standard cells, you easily buy some non-rechargeable batteries at a store and get your shots. Even considering a digital camera that does not use standard cells is just ludicrous.

recognition. The battle over memory is not virtually as serious as that over batteries. But since the invention of Compact Flash, I have not seen a better clarification for storing JPEGs. This type of memory is cheaper, more rigorous, and convenient in higher capacities than memory using other technologies. Make sure the CF slot in the camera is type II so it can hold the small hard drives, too. The Sony recognition Stick, which the team is promoting in both still and video cameras, appears to be the runner-up. Secure Digital memory is the next survivor, but camera engineers rationalize it is better suited for MP3 players and other uses that require "security." Falling out of favor is the once-vaunted Smart Media, which I believe will disappear along with the odd xD Picture ticket developed by Olympus.

Flash. This is an overlooked aspect and one of the reasons I deflower been a jumbo fan of Olympus' camera efforts despite its xD foibles. All of the current cameras have flashes, but only a few of those flashes deflower any power. When I perceive reviews, I never see a mention of actual flash ranges. likewise, reviewers hardly comment about the flash with respect to red-eye problems—social with older Nikons. Although I put the flash on this list, I cannot give you any way of determining the relative variety of a flash, since nobody seems to care much about it until they actually get a camera and locate a rotten flash.

Fast Lens. A lot of digital cameras bear problems capturing motion, because their negligible lenses require long exposures, even with well-lit scenes. Pay deliberation to the lens speed.

Moveable Screen. Most right digital cameras enjoy LCD screens that typically serve for reviewing pictures but that photographers can also use to quell shots, because the national CCDs relay the images to the screens in solid time. The more you can move this screen and throw it around, the better.

Select Buttons. Look for a camera that makes these two things easy: surroundings the flash situation and surroundings the distance mode (to obtain macro capability or an infinity setting). I recently obtained an nominal HP 935 that has two buttons on the top with small stature lights to let you set the modes quickly and efficiently. This is the infinite best resolution. Too many cameras coerce you go through a nasty food just to turn off the flash. The best solution for the flash, though, is the flip-up type. If it is not flipped up, it cannot flash.

Big Buffers. Sub-$1000 digital cameras do not fire quickly, and this takes some getting used to. But even more frustrating is body unable to shoot another picture happy away because the camera itself cannot buffer the first bullet. The circuit time at high resolution should be a published specification. I was playing with a friend's new camera the other day and was astonished at the intolerable delay.

Elimination of Unnecessary Features. Why do any of these cameras have sepia or monochrome settings, when photo-editing software can easily create these effects? I've never understood this.

description-Name Lens. Seems like a good suspicion to me.

Tether Capability. There are too few cameras that you can tether to a computer via a USB combination and use as a short-lived Webcam or NetMeeting cam. See if yours allows this.

Remote Control. Here again, I must mention Olympus, which has a stylish remote control. You can set up a camera on a tripod, put yourself and your friends on the effigy side and click a foreign to take your own picture. Why doesn't every camera let this feature?

Video Movies. I attention this was a corny idea at first, but if you've got a lot of memoir, it's kind of interesting to assemble some short, crowded-motion videos. Typically, cameras that do this again record sound. This is a feature I think tribe will use more and more over time.

This list is a threshold. Do you have any more tips you can add? I'm interested.

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