Buyer's guide - Digital cameras

Digital compact cameras - a pocketful of technology

Compact cameras are by far the most popular means of taking digital photos today. Designed for everyday use, compact cameras are lightweight and small enough to fit into your pocket, meaning you can take them with you wherever you go. Whether you’re at a party, taking a portrait shot or shooting sweeping landscapes, compact cameras capture every scene with vibrant colours and pin-sharp detail under a variety of common shooting conditions. Their reduced format is particular good for taking holiday snaps. With a compact camera by your side, you won’t miss a single photo opportunity: on the slopes, at the beach – you'll be able to capture it all! There's a wide range of compact cameras available on today's market. Whether you’re a snap-happy user or an experienced photographer, you’re sure to find one that suits your needs. Compact cameras can be divided into two groups: digital compact cameras, and ultra compact cameras. Ultra compact cameras are sleek and lightweight, making them a great choice for photographers on the move!

Bridge cameras - Zoom in…

The bridge camera fills the gap between digital compact cameras and SLR cameras, offering a variety of different features. Just like compact cameras, bridge cameras come with an electronic live-preview viewfinder, located on the screen on the back of the camera, and a non-interchangeable lens. The main advantage of the screen is the powerful zoom mode, able to magnify frames by up to 20x. In fact, this feature is sometimes referred to as a "super-zoom". With such incredible performances, the possibilities are endless with this type of camera – you’ll be able to capture distant landscapes and zoom in on all kinds of subjects, from flowers to faces. Bridge cameras are ideal for photographers looking for something with a bold design similar to that of a small SLR camera, with the advantage of a more comfortable grip and controls that are easier to use than those of an SLR. Although they are bigger than compact cameras, bridge cameras rarely weigh more than 400 grams. They can be used by photographers of all levels.

SLR cameras - the possibilities are endless

Following on from traditional SLR cameras are digital SLR cameras , which come complete with an optical viewfinder and a host of other fantastic features that make them the most upgradeable cameras on the market. With interchangeable lenses and user-friendly settings, SLR cameras really open up the possibilities. Previously destined solely for professionals, digital SLR cameras have now been brought to the masses. Whether you’re an avid photographer seeking a consumer SLR , or a practised photographer after a professional SLR , you’ll find a camera that suits your requirements, with different shooting options, exceptional image quality and unrivalled precision. What’s more, SLRs have a greater battery life than compact and bridge cameras, allowing you to take up to 800 photos on a single charge. This type of camera covers all your photography needs, whether you’re shooting family portraits, capturing sweeping landscapes or snapping sporting events - just change the lens to get the photo you want!

Memory cards - shoot, store and transfer

[#url typecms=m;id=4 ,type=pm#]Memory cards are easily the most important accessory for your camera .Without one, you can store very few pictures on your camera’s internal memory - or none at all if your camera doesn’t have a built-in memory! Memory cards serve as film for your camera. In fact, the more powerful the camera’s sensor, the bigger the photo file will be. This means you’ll need even more room to store your creations, as photo files can reach several megabytes in size. Only a few cameras come with an internal memory, which is typically small. The extra space provided by memory cards means you can carry on shooting photos and save them all. With a 4 GB memory card, you’ll be able to store over 1,000 photos taken with an 8-megapixel camera, or 900 photos with a 10-megapixel camera. Memory card formats vary according to the manufacturer. The most common types are Secure Digital (SD), Compact Flash (CF) and Memory Stick PRO Duo. Memory card capacity is a key factor to take into account. If you don’t want to compromise on the quality and number of photos you can take and be able to shoot video footage, opt for a high capacity (HC) memory card that will give you over 2 GB of storage space. Speed is also important, especially if you intend to make frequent use of your camera's continuous shooting and burst modes. Don’t forget to purchase a memory card reader! This accessory has slots for memory cards and allows you to easily transfer stored files onto your computer. You can also opt for a removable storage device such a multimedia player.

Made to be mobile

Cases/carry-alls

Digital cameras are made to go everywhere you go. To protect them from the rough-and-tumble of everyday life, you should purchase a case, a carry-all or a backpack. There is a wide range of bags available, so you’re bound to find one to suit your camera, whether it’s a compact, ultra compact, bridge or SLR camera. Some are even designed to enable you to carry camera lenses and accessories. In some circumstances, it’s best to have a waterproof case to protect your digital camera from sand, water and snow. See all cases

Batteries

A spare battery is a must-have for on-the-road photographers who don’t necessarily have a power supply to hand. It’s highly recommended if you’re planning a big trip, so you can take as many shots of those unforgettable moments as you want! See all batteries

Tripods

Tripods are a must-have for any serious photographer, as they allow you to take blur-free photos in all conditions. The optical image stabiliser on most cameras considerably reduces blur caused by trigger release, but tripods remove it completely. Tripods come in most handy if you’re using an SLR camera and when you’re using the self-timer feature. Before you make your choice, consider the tripod’s weight and size. See all tripods

SLR cameras: the key is versatility

Do you have a consumer, expert or professional-level SLR camera? The choice of lens is decisive, because the quality of your photos depends on it. Thanks to bayonet-type mounts, you can change lenses quickly and easily, without ever missing a photo opportunity! To make sure you choose a lens that’s right for you, consider the following elements before you make your decision: the focal length, which affects the magnification power of the lens; the angle of view, which determines what you see; and aperture, which tells you how much light is detected by the lens. Another important factor to take into account is the minimum focusing distance.

Sensor

Sensors have replaced film on traditional Cameras. Sensors are made up of millions of electronic cells, otherwise known as pixels. Pixels detect light and convert it into signals. There are two categories of sensors: the CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) and the CCD (Charge-Coupled Device). Resolutions are more important than the sensor itself. Most sensors have an 8-megapixel resolution. You’ll understand the value of the sensor’s resolution when you come to printing photos, and more particularly when you what to enlarge prints. The higher the resolutions, the sharper and more detailed the enlargements. A sensor with 8 megapixels allows you to print photos in 20x27cm format without any loss in quality. For 50x75cm enlargements, you should opt for a sensor with 10 megapixels.

Lens

Of course, the crucial factor for any camera is its lens or zoom range. These determine the quality of your photos and make framing your shots easier. It’s important to make the distinction between optical and digital zooms. Digital zooms are essentially artificial zooms, where a fixed area of pixels, usually the central part of a photo, is enlarged to appear as though the camera has zoomed in on the subject. The further you zoom in, the more detail and precision you lose. Optical zooms have a direct impact on the quality of your photos. When choosing your lens, pay close attention to the two elements constituting the zoom: the focal length and aperture size. The focal range determines the maximum magnification power of the lens, and is measured in millimetres. It corresponds to the distance that separates the sensor from the optical centre of the lens. To provide users with a handy point of reference, manufacturers refer to focal lengths by using the 35mm equivalent. This is why you find this noted in specifications sheets. Another important factor concerning focal lengths is the zoom. Zoom factors are shown in the following forms: 10x or 3x. These correspond to the ratio between the longest and shortest focal distances. The focal range determines the camera’s field of vision or viewing angle. An increasing number of cameras offer wide-angle capabilities. Wide-angle means that the focal distance is less than 35mm. In other words, the field of vision is wide, which is ideal for taking landscape shots in both large spaces and tight corners. Telephoto lenses let you get up close to your subjects. Focal lengths on telephoto lenses are longer than normal. In general, focal lengths that are greater than 200mm are considered to be telephoto lenses. Easily identifiable by their length, telephoto lenses are essential for taking shots of landscapes, sporting events and portraits. Aperture is another important element to consider when selecting a lens. Aperture is the capacity of the lens to detect light. Brightness is defined as follows: "1:2.8-4" or "f/2.8-f/4". The numbers given correspond to the maximum size of the opening in the lens. The smaller the numbers, the bigger the aperture and the brighter the lens.

Sensitivity

Everyone’s had at least one photo that’s come out dark and lacking detail. Sensitivity plays an important part in how your photos turn out. The capacity of the sensor determines how much light can be detected. Sensitivity is measured in ISO (International Standard Organisation). When the ISO setting is high, the sensor requires less light to pick out the details in a scene. The standard ISO sensitivity range (80 to 800 ISO) allows cameras to take well-exposed photos in most lighting situations. Some ISO ratings go as high as 1600 or even 3200. Higher sensitivity levels let you take well-exposed photos in low lighting conditions, even when it’s dark or when you just can’t use a flash, in a museum for example. In many situations, the use of a flash is not recommended, such as at concert halls and aquariums, or when you’re taking photos of babies. Higher sensitivity ratings also make it easier to use faster shutter speeds, thereby reducing the risk of blur.

Stabiliser

It’s difficult to prevent blur caused by the movement involved in pressing the camera’s shutter. The further you zoom in, the higher the risk of blur. This also applies for macro photography in dark environments. To reduce blur, a stabiliser is essential. There are different types of stabilisers available. Mechanical and optical stabilisers automatically compensate for hand shake during shooting. A digital stabiliser corrects an image once the shot has been taken. Although they're becoming more powerful, digital stabiliser do not provide the same performances as their optical counterparts.

LCD screen

Traditional optical viewfinders are moving aside to make way for LCD screens. Located on the back of cameras, LCD screens allow you to focus and view photos. The larger they are, the more comfortable they are to use. Most cameras come with a 2.5” screen. 2.7” screens are now becoming more common on cameras, and some models even have screens as big as 3 inches. Some cameras have a touch screen, which is especially useful for beginners because it's quicker and easier to access the camera's menus. Other screens swivel and are suited to taking photos at arm’s length or in more difficult shooting conditions, such as at festivals or sporting events.

Scene modes and special functions

Scene modes are an exclusive feature of digital cameras, designed to help users in a number of different shooting situations. They can be used to take photos of fireworks, snow and nighttime scenes, beach fun and nocturnal wildlife. The number of scene modes available on a camera varies according to the model. Manufacturers compete with each other to give their cameras the smartest, most intuitive modes, such as face detection. Some cameras even come with smile recognition! Manufacturers have taken technology in their latest cameras even further by incorporating intelligent scene recognition modes. These cameras analyse surrounding conditions and carry out adjustments to settings, ensuring your photos turn out sharp without any blemishes.