Whats the Best Compact Digital Camera for Me? Know Before You Buy from !

ora""" Page 1 of 6

Rent

Sell

Print

Visit

My Account

Wish List

Order Status

Help

MY CART(0

800-223-2500 / 212-741-0052
Used
Ca"eras # Lenses dorama !amera " Video $ilters

Search keywords, SKU's or Item #

dorama
Scopes # Optics Printers # &n's More

S!ARCH

(ea)s

,ra$ds
Tripods # Support

#ear$%$& !e$ter

Studio # Li%htin%

dorama #ear$%$& !e$ter " !om'act (%&%ta) !ameras " *hat+s the ,est !om'act (%&%ta) !amera -or .e/ K$ow ,e-ore 0o1 ,1y

Related Products
)ro.se products* (e)k%$ 3203 U$%4ersa) 5o'-U' Shade -or 5o%$t 6 Shoot (%&%ta) !amera #!( Scree$s - ,)ack 7ers%o$ 45167

*hat+s the ,est !om'act (%&%ta) !amera -or .e/ K$ow ,e-ore 0o1 ,1y
,ack to !om'act (%&%ta) !ameras 'a&e

*%th so ma$y com'act d%&%ta) cameras to choose -rom, th%s ;1y%$& &1%de w%)) he)' yo1 $arrow dow$ yo1r se)ect%o$2 10 Ah%$&s yo1 m1st k$ow ;e-ore ;1y%$&E
,y .aso$ ?es$%ck
@cto;er 1>, 2012

8ye-9% 8:, .o;%)e <2 S(=! !)ass > *%re)ess .emory !ard 489167

*%th so ma$y com'act d%&%ta) cameras to choose -rom, th%s ;1y%$& &1%de w%)) he)' yo1 $arrow dow$ yo1r se)ect%o$2 10 Ah%$&s yo1 m1st k$ow ;e-ore ;1y%$&E

!om'act d%&%ta) cameras 1sed to ;e s%m')e, s)ow, a$d eC'e$s%4e2 Aoday's com'act d%&%ta) cameras o--er a d%FFy%$& array o- cho%ces, -rom s%m')e, %$eC'e$s%4e 'o%$t-a$d-shoot cameras that cost aro1$d G100 to so'h%st%cated too)s &eared towards eC'er%e$ced 'hoto&ra'hers that ca$ cost %$ the h%&h h1$dreds2 *hat's the ;est com'act d%&%ta) camera/ Ahat de'e$ds o$ what yo1 $eed2

Related Articles
Article

Co"pact di%ital ca"eras at a %lance*

Outdoor and Tra(el Photo%raphy )asics A to H

Article

)e Prepared* The day o+ a location shoot

Article

,0 -e./ie 0i%ital Ca"era )uyin% Mista'es

Article

You are ready +or a 0i%ital SLR i+111

)lo%

2ill3! Announces Leather Ca"era Carry )a%s

S8 ?!= 9@? ?8# A8( ?AI!#8S ,0 A@5I!B

'hoto&ra'hy d%&%ta) camera how-to com'act '%Ce)s reso)1t%o$ com'act d%&%ta) camera com'act camera

A/out The Author .aso$ ?es$%ck %s the ed%tor o- the dorama #ear$%$& !e$ter a$d a )%-et%me 'hoto&ra'hy e$th1s%ast2 D #ear$ more a;o1t .aso$ D 9%$d more art%c)es ;y .aso$

)est suited +or* Ara4e) a$d 4acat%o$ s$a'shots I$-orma) &ro1' 'ortra%ts

http'((www"a!orama"com(alc($$$)1%$(article(B*Y+,-#-*+D.#Compact#Digital#Ca""" 11#$1#%$1&

Whats the Best Compact Digital Camera for Me? Know Before You Buy from !ora""" Page % of 6

Scenics Party pictures Not ideal for: Sports/action photography Formal portraits, Weddings and other pro applications Wildlife and bird photography Compact digital camera advantages: Easy to share images Affordable Light and small Easy to use (but many have options for photographers #$ %ideo Compact digital camera disadvantages: Lac& of optical vie finder 'ay be hard for large(handed users to hold Poor lo (light performance ithout flash Shutter lag (delay hen pressing the shutter release" is common )an*t +oom hile shooting a video Whether you*re buying your first digital camera or replacing an older model, there are more options than ever, and hile this gives you more choices, it can also ma&e the simple tas& of choosing a digital camera confusing, -n this e!clusive Adorama Learning Center buying guide, e*ll try to brea& do n the choices and help you +ero in on the compact digital camera that best meets ./01 needs, When you*ve narro ed do n your decision and are ready to buy, be sure to visit the Adorama Compact Digital Camera department.

ho ant e!posure control"

10 Camera Elements to Consider

1: Resolution Doesn't Matter An More Every compact camera on the mar&et today is capable of producing poster(si+ed pictures under ideal conditions, Since you probably on*t be ma&ing poster(si+ed prints, you needn*t orry about ho many megapi!els your camera has, -f you are a typical casual photographer, you*ll probably ma&e 2!3(inch prints, maybe an occasional 4!5 or 6!78(inch enlargement9 hen you ma&e prints, Even more often, you*ll find yourself sharing your images on Faceboo&, Pinterest, :umblr, 'ySpace or hatever the social net or&ing flavor of the month happens to be, ;one of these print si+es or screen displays re<uire the 72(73'P that is available on a typical modern compact digital camera, (-n fact, 6'P ould be fine, if they still made 6'P cameras=" So, don*t orry about resolution=
Tip: If you want the best image quality, shoot at your camera's lowest ISO even if the company brags that you can shoot at ISO 16 or higher! The higher the ISO, the worse the image quality! "ow #o you set the ISO$ %onsult your camera's manual! In the #efault setting, it may automatically choose a high ISO that will pro#uce noisy images!

!: "nderstand t#e $oom Range -f you ant to get closer to your sub>ect ithout moving, you need an optical +oom lens9something those din&y cameras on smart phones generally lac&, A ?(6! +oom is typical, ('any cameras offer digital +oom in addition to optical, but be are@ hile it may sound impressive, digital +oom merely AcropsA a reduced(si+e portion of the image and presents it at lo er resolution,"

When presented ith a +oom range, it ill be e!pressed as 2B (for e!ample" and/or as ?4(728mm (?4mm e<uivalent", A2BA means the longest focal length is 2 times that of the shortest focal length, A?4(728mm (?4mm

http'((www"a!orama"com(alc($$$)1%$(article(B*Y+,-#-*+D.#Compact#Digital#Ca""" 11#$1#%$1&

Whats the Best Compact Digital Camera for Me? Know Before You Buy from !ora""" Page 3 of 6

equivalent)" means the lens covers the same angle of view as a 35-140mm lens on a camera with a 35mmsized imaging sensor. Since com act digital cameras! imaging sensors are much smaller and as a result the lens!s actual focal length is much shorter "5-#5mm$ for e%am le$ as in the hoto a&ove)$ and since the actual focal length num&ers ma' confuse eo le$ it is common for camera ma(ers to include the more familiar 35mm equivalent in the camera!s s ecs. )t is good also to (now the focal range as well as the zoom amount* 4+ zooms are not created equal. , camera with a zoom equivalent of #--115mm is more versatile than one with a lens that goes from 35-140mm--even though &oth are 4+--&ecause the one that starts at #-mm gives 'ou a more useful wide angle view. , o ular trend toda' is the mega-zoom-t' e camera in the 10+ to 40+ o tical zoom range. .he' are &ecoming more afforda&le. .he cameras tend to &e somewhat larger and not oc(eta&le. /ead .he 0ost )m ortant Su erzoom 1ameras /ight 2ow 3: Look for Shutter Responsiveness Claims 3or man' 'ears$ the &iggest (noc( against com act cameras was Shutter 4ag5the time from when 'ou ress the shutter release until the moment the camera actuall' ta(es the icture. 6hile some lower-cost com acts still suffer from this malad'$ camera com anies are im roving their com act cameras! erformance$ and some even claim near-instant res onse time. .hat!s great when 'ou!re tr'ing to hotogra h fast-moving (ids$ ets$ or 'our 7unior 8arsit' su erstar in the ma(ing. Shutter res onse time includes two features* 3ocus acquisition and actual ress to clic( time. Sometimes &oth are rolled into one s ecification. 4oo( for a ress to clic( time of less than 0.# seconds. 0anufacturers who have gone to the e%tra effort of im roving shutter res onsiveness will ut claims in the camera!s s ecs. 4: Beware the Flash's Limitations , &uilt-in flash is standard on a com act camera$ &ut don!t e% ect much from it. , t' ical com act camera flash can reach &etween 9 and 10 feet$ so it!s reall' :ust for eo le ictures from fairl' close. ;o not e% ect to get an'thing if 'ou use 'our flash from 'our seat at a concert in a &ig concert hall* ,ll 'ou!ll illuminate is the &ac(s of the heads of the eo le in front of 'ou.

5: Some Trend Features !re !"tuall #rett $seful .he current cro of com act digital cameras offers a dizz'ing choice of features$ which 'ou can la' with when 'ou are read' to stretch 'our creative muscles$ or ignore if 'ou sim l' want to ta(e a icture and move on. <ere!s a artial list of the (inds of s ecial features 'ou might find in a current com act digital camera %&R* .he camera automaticall' shoots #-3 images in quic( succession$ then com&ines them to get the &est range of detail in &oth shadows and highlights5areas of an image a t' ical com act camera has difficult' handling. 'iniature* ,dds &lur to the to and &ottom of the screen$ ma(ing a scene loo( li(e it was shot on a ta&leto . #inhole* .he corners of the image are dar(ened to give the shot an old-fashioned loo(. Bla"k and (hite* 2o color= #astel* >entle colors are a lied$ giving an image an overall haz' loo( "conversel'$ 'ou ma' also &e a&le to choose an intense color setting for a more e%aggerated h' er color loo(). ): Si*e and (ei+ht , com act$ lightweight camera is ver' convenient--and less li(el' to &e left at home. )f 'ou have 'our camera with 'ou more often$ 'ou!ll ta(e more ictures. 2earl' ever' manufacturer has at least one model that is a&out the size of a fat dec( of cards. , standard dec( of la'ing cards is a&out # 1?4%3 3?4%3?4 inches. @ee these dimensions in mind when 'ou read camera s ecifications and 'ou!ll &e a&le to ma(e an eas' com arison. 1onventional logic would suggest that orta&ilit' comes at a rice$ &ut that!s not necessaril' true. Altra com act cameras ma' shave a few features off the menu &ut for the most art 'ou!ll find ever'thing 'ou could as( for. .he onl' draw&ac( "and this is a draw&ac( onl' for some eo le) is that the small size can ma(e the camera difficult to hold$ es eciall' if 'ou have large hands. , growing num&er of com act digital cameras$ &esides size and weight$ are now to a greater or lesser e%tent$ ruggedized and rotected against heat$ cold$ water and shoc( from accidental dro s. )f 'ou are (lutz' or adventurous "or &oth=) 'ou ma' want to seriousl' consider this su&set of com act camera. /ead the Best Anderwater 1om act ;igital 1ameras /ight 2ow. ,: Look at the Ba"k of the Camera )f 'ou are used to smart hones that are o erated via touch screens$ 'ou!ll &e ha ' to (now that ever' camera ma(er now offers at least one or two com act cameras that are o erated via a similar (ind of touch screen "see sam le at right). .hese screens can range from a&out 3 to 4.5 inches$

http())www"a!orama"com)alc)%%%*#&%)article)B+Y,-.$.+,D/$Compact$Digital$Ca""" ##$%#$&%#'

Whats the Best Compact Digital Camera for Me? Know Before You Buy from !ora""" Page ' of 6

and are likely the only thing you'll find on the back of the camera. More common, however, are cameras with 2.5- to 3-inch L ! dis"lays, as well as an array of chicklet-si#ed buttons and small dials to navigate menu items. Look for monitors that bright and easy to see at all times $including in direct sunlight%. heck the s"ecs& 'he more dots "er inch $d"i% in a monitor, the shar"er and more detailed the dis"layed image will be. 23(,((( dots is ty"ical but will look a bit rough. Many models have )((,((( dots or higher. 'he best models have around *2(,((( dots, and have screens that get brighter in bright light. +owever even with that, you'll "robably need to shield the monitor with your hand when shooting in bright sunlight to read the screen. ,r, you can visit Adorama's LCD Protection and Shades dept and buy an inexpensive LCD pop-up shade such as this one . -ig L !s make to more fun to share images with others. all it .shoot and show.. /ome cameras include a charging cradle that "ositions the camera so that the L ! can be used to view images--it's like having a miniature digital "icture frame on your desk.

8: Internet Connectivity 0 small but growing selection of com"act digital cameras offer some flavor of wireless 1nternet connectivity, so if you "lan on sharing images on 2acebook, 2lickr and so forth, look for this feature. /ome cameras will automatically sniff out a hot s"ot while others work as -luetooth devices and will transfer images to your smart "hone, from which you can u"load as much as your data "lan allows. -ut even if you end u" with a camera that doesn't have builtin wireless connectivity, you can buy an Eye Fi card $right%, an /! card with a built-in wireless transmitter, and set it u" so you can transfer directly from your camera to the 1nternet via a hot s"ot. : See! exposure and settin"s that #it your com#ort $eve$ 0ll "oint-and-shoot cameras make e3"osure settings automatically. /ome allow you to make them manually as well. 1f the manual o"tion is im"ortant to you, check the s"ecifications carefully. Many cameras include an assortment of "reset .scenes. that the shooter can dial in to match the circumstances. 'hese are given different names on different cameras, but usually they include standards like Landsca"e, 4ortrait, and lose-u" and /"orts. -y selecting the a""ro"riate scene you can get results like a "ro. /ome models also now have ./mart 0uto. or .1ntelligent 0uto. or some variation, in which the camera anyli#es the scene before it and chooses the most a""ro"riate scene mode and sets everything itself. 'hat's "retty cool, and scarily accurate. Learn more5 6hat's a .4ortrait. mode7 6hat do we mean when we say a camera has a .-each8/now. or .0ction. setting7 9o to our anonical List of !igital amera /cene /ettings and find out5 'he /"orts setting, for e3am"le, will make the camera shoot at the fastest "ermissible shutter s"eed so as to free#e action. 4ortrait will blur the background to make your sub:ect stand out more. 1t's like having a "rofessional "hotogra"her inside your camera, calling the shots. %&: Do you rea$$y need 'D (ideo) 0 new generation of com"act digital cameras has arrived that is ca"able of shooting high-definition videos, which means either ;(<(3=2( "i3el $=2("% or ;*2(3;(<( "i3els $;(<("%. 'hese videos will look nice and shar" on a high-definition '> monitor, although you should check your camera's s"ecs to make sure it ca"tures frames at 3( frames "er second. 6hile ;(<(", which indicates you are shooting at ? com"lete frames "er second, is ideal, most com"act cameras shoot at ;(<(i $interlaced%, or 3( frames "er second. 'hat's fine@slower than that may look :um"y. 0s with still images, the lowest 1/, setting will give you the best video image Auality. +ow im"ortant is it for you to have high Auality video in a still camera7 1f you already have a dedicated camcorder, that device may do a better :ob at video ca"ture since that's what it's built for. +owever, if you only "lan on shooting video occasionally, and you don't mind that the audio will only be average, a com"act digital camera may be the only video ca"ture device you'll need. 1f you "lan on shooting lots of video, be sure to get an /! card that can handle it. 0 class < or class ;( card will allow you to record smoother videosB make sure to get at least <9-@more if you "lan on shooting a lot of video. Cemember, memory cards are relatively ine3"ensive these days, so get more than you think you'll need.

& few more features to consi#er when buying a compact #igital camera:

*attery Li#e 'here was a time when short battery life was the number one com"laint against digital cameras. 'his "roblem is ra"idly disa""earing. 'hree ty"es of batteries "redominate& Lithium 1on, nickel metal hydride, and alkaline. Lithium 1on batteries seem to last forever, and recharge Auickly, too. 1f you buy a camera that uses Lithium 1on you should never have a "roblem. Most cameras that use 00-si#e cells are su""lied with DiM+ $nickel metal hydride%. 1f your new camera comes

http())www"a!orama"com)alc)%%%*#&%)article)B+Y,-.$.+,D/$Compact$Digital$Ca""" ##$%#$&%#'

Whats the Best Compact Digital Camera for Me? Know Before You Buy from !ora""" Page 5 of 6

with non-rechargeable 00-si#e $"enlight% alkaline flashlight batteries, buy a set of DiM+ right away. 0nd above all else, regardless what kind of battery technology is em"loyed, buy a s"are battery and kee" it charged--that way you'll never miss a "hoto o""ortunity. 0 newcomer, ,3yrides, are claimed to offer more "ower than the more e3"ensive lithium ion or nickel metal hydrides for a""ro3imately the cost of an 0lkaline. /tay tuned5

Focus Assist !igital cameras use light to focus. 6hen it's too dark, they can run into trouble. 0s a countermeasure, camera manufacturers incor"orate a small, built-in lam" that automatically illuminates the sub:ect for focusing when the light's too low. 1f you think you'll be doing much shooting in dim light, be certain that the camera you buy has a 2ocus 0ssist system. 4arties in subdued light, for instance, are a classic e3am"le of where a 2ocus 0ssist light is needed. 0ll consumer-grade com"act digital cameras have built-in flash units, and sometimes these double as the focus assist lam". Either way, you'll get shar"er "ictures, even when the lights go down. -e warned, however, that if it's dark enough to warrant use of a 2ocus 0ssist lam" then it's too dark to shoot without flash. Fnless your camera has 1mage /tabili#ation, use the flash or a tri"od. Fashion Statement Gou want your "ictures to look good but you want your camera to look good, too, right7 'here are some ugly or "lain-looking cameras that can take great "ictures, but they're :ust not as much fun to take out in "ublic. Cemember that the "erfect style for !ad may not be ideal for Mom--everyone has his or her own taste. Hust make sure the camera has the features you want. Most fashion cameras have a full range of features, so you don't have to sacrifice substance for style. Image Quality factors $'his is more for geeksB you can skim "ast this if you're :ust looking for a good camera for casual sna"s% Noise& 'y"ically found at higher light sensitivity settings $1/,%. 1n order to make com"act cameras so small, they are eAui""ed with tiny sensors, around the si#e of a thumb nail. Each sensor is "acked with microsco"ic-si#ed "i3els, which record light. 6ithout getting into an o"tical dissertation, suffice to say that larger "i3els will "roduce better Auality images. 6hen you sAuee#e ;(, ;2, or ;) million "i3els on a tiny sensor, the "i3els will be really small, and this can cause digital artifacts commonly referred to as noise or digital grain, es"ecially in low light. 6hen you boost the sensitivity to light, this can make the visual distortion worse. /ome cameras claim built-in noise reduction, and that's worth "aying a bit more for. 'he best way to reduce grain is to shoot at your camera's lowest 1/, setting. Color accuracy& Most digital cameras have this "roblem more or less solved, but if skin tones a""ear too blue, you may need to manually ad:ust the white balance. ontrast& 0gain, this can be ad:ustable, but some cameras may come out of the factory set for too much contrast, or too little. Most com"act cameras have contrast control, as well as a way to make colors stronger or weaker, called saturation ad:ustment, and shadow detail boosters.

Sensor size 0ll com"act digital cameras have sensors that are larger than the cameras on smart "hones, which means they will deliver better Auality images. +owever, com"ared to !/LCs and Mirrorless com"acts, com"act digital camera sensors are, with a few e3ce"tions, rather "uny@ty"ically ;82.3 inches measured diagonally. 1f you are Auality conscious, look for cameras with larger sensors@;8;.= inches, 283 inches or larger. 0 handful of com"act cameras now use the same si#ed sensors found in !/LCs, but e3"ect to "ay a "remium "rice for them. Price Everyone has a different budget. !ecide what "rice range agrees with your "ocketbook before you start studying the s"ecifications. ,ne "iece of advice& always try to buy your last cameraB that is, a camera that has enough features to kee" you ha""y for a long time.

How much should I spend? 9ood news for consumers is that com"act digital camera "rices have "lummeted in the "ast cou"le of years. 0 bare-bones basic camera now costs around I;(( or even less, although these models ty"ically have smaller L ! screens, longer lag time and may be less sturdy than "ricier versions. Most com"acts fall in the I;5(-35( range, with a few "osh models costing I5(( or higher. Cead 'he -est -udget-4riced !igital ameras Cight Dow and 'he -est /ystem om"acts Cight Dow.

0nd finally..."ut all of this information to good use5 6hen you're ready to buy a camera, be sure to get it at the Adorama Compact igital Camera department.

http())www"a!orama"com)alc)%%%*#&%)article)B+Y,-.$.+,D/$Compact$Digital$Ca""" ##$%#$&%#'

Whats the Best Compact Digital Camera for Me? Know Before You Buy from A ora!!! Page 6 of 6

Editor's note: This article originally was posted on the Adorama Learning Center in 2006. A lot has changed since then. This update, posted in cto!er 20"2, should o##er the !est up$to$date !uying ad%ice.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

For ard !"i# ar!i$%e !o a &riend Emai%

COMMENTS

Add a comment444 Comment

,acebook social plugin

About Adorama Map & Directions Workshops Learning Center Gift Cards Affiliate Program

CAMERAS & LENSES

Digital Cameras Canon Digital Cameras Nikon Digital Cameras Penta Digital Cameras Panasonic Lumi !L" Lenses

OPTICS
)inoculars "efractor *elescopes Night %ision "ifle !copes

Customer !ervice *rack 0our (rder !hipping & Deliver$ 1n2!tore Pickup 1nternational (rders "eturn Polic$ Contact +s Warranties "ebate Center

Get e clusive access to e pert tips3 special offers and coupons4

0our .mail Address

We value $our privac$

Sign Up

USED PHOTO GEAR

+sed Canon Digital Cameras +sed Canon Auto ,ocus -oom Lenses +sed Nikon Digital Cameras +sed Nikon Auto ,ocus -oom Lenses

Government Corporate

Point and !hoot Digital Cameras Canon Po#ershot Nikon Coolpi Camera Memor$ Cards

Adorama
Like 5563789 ,ollo# us on *#itter Watch us on 0ou*ube

VIDEO
Camcorders Professional %ideo Cameras &D Camcorders !on$ !'! Memor$ Cards (n Camera %ideo Lighting

MORE SERVICES
Photo Printing Camera "entals !ell +sed ./uipment )u$ +sed ./uipment

Privac$ Polic$

*erms of +se

:8 West 5;th !treet Ne# 0ork3 N0 59955

< 8955 Adorama Camera3 1nc4 All rights reserved4

http'((www!a orama!com(alc($$$)"%$(article(B*Y+,-#-*+D.#Compact#Digital#Ca!!! ""#$"#%$"&