These days, choosing the right camera can be a difficult proposition. There are simply an overwhelming number of choices, even from the same manufacturer. Are 14 megapixel (MP) better than 10 MP? Is image stabilization important? Is a digital single lens reflex (dSLR) better than a point and shoot (P&S)? For the consumer, this can easily become very confusing!
The goal of this article is simply to help simplify the buying experience!
Which camera is the best?
The best camera is the one you have with you, whether it’s your cell phone, your 5-year old P&S, or a Nikon D3s (one of the latest professional dSLR’s). Or put another way, there is no “best” camera. Having the most expensive gear, with all the latest accessories, neither makes you a professional photographer nor helps you take better photos. Remember, a great photographer can take an amazing picture with a $5 disposable camera…this has been proven time and time again.
What will you use your camera for?
First off, you don’t need an $8000 dSLR with $10000 worth of lenses if all you want is a small, compact camera for travelling. If you are looking for a compact P&S, what price range are you looking at? Do you want more control over your picture and considering upgrading to a dSLR? Do you plan to take landscapes or people? Will you be taking pictures mostly during the day or at night? These questions are very important, as it is better to consider these goals prior to purchasing, rather than find out the camera your friend recommended does not suit your needs whatsoever.
Though dSLR’s are gaining in popularity and most manufacturers have a wide range of products to suit most skill levels, I will focus on consumer P&S, as this is still the largest market.
P&S digital cameras are appealing for a number of reasons: 1) compact and lightweight; 2) relatively inexpensive ($50 – $500); and 3) straightforward to use. As a side note, in terms of compactness, many current cell phones now offer camera capabilities that, only a few years ago, could only be found in a dedicated camera.
Some general suggestions in deciding on the type of camera to purchase:
Landscape: Look for a camera with a wide angle lens
Portraits: Large aperture lenses enable background blur (or “bokeh) such that the subject is in focus and the background is out of focus. A camera with an f/2 or f/2.8 lens is more suitable for these types of pictures (the smaller the f-number, the larger the aperture).
Macro: If you like taking close-up pictures of flowers, you may want a camera with a small minimum focus distance.
Night shots: Look for a camera with a fast lens (f/2.8 or lower) with good high ISO performance (more on this later).
Almost all cameras will allow the user to select different scene modes. However, by choosing a camera with the specifications that suit your needs, this will allow you to purchase something that is amenable to both your lifestyle and budget.
Which brand is better?
Is Sony better than Samsung? Is Canon better than Nikon? In general, the short answer is no! We are in an age where Sony makes chips for both themselves and Nikon, etc. The most important thing is to find a camera that feels good in your hands, with a design layout and software interface that makes sense to you. Most cameras these days can take nice pictures!
Different types of cameras
Point and shoot:
P&S digital cameras can range from the 8 MP units found on some current cell phones to the more conventional units that fit comfortably in a purse or waist pack. These range in price from $50 to $500 and offer a broad range in functions, from automatic only to full manual control.
Digital single lens reflex:
Very basically, this type of camera uses a mechanical mirror system and pentaprism that directs light from the lens to an optical viewfinder on the back of the camera. As such, these cameras tend to be larger and more expensive (particularly when factoring in interchangeable lenses and other accessories) than compact P&S cameras. Furthermore, these cameras also use much larger image sensors than their compact counterparts, a factor in the higher cost of entry.
Micro four-thirds and other formats:
There are a number of other formats available on the consumer market. Among them are the micro four-thirds format cameras (primarily from Olympus and Panasonic) that offer nearly the performance of a dSLR in a body that is only slightly larger than a compact camera (due to a mirrorless design). Other manufacturers, including Nikon (rumoured “EVIL” system), Canon, Samsung (NX system) and Sony (NEX system), have developed or are developing similar products. Also of interest, one particular manufacturer (Ricoh) has developed a modular system that allows the user to interchange the entire lens/sensor system. The advantage of this is that, depending on the lens/sensor module, the camera behaves entirely differently. The disadvantages are that this is costly and the image quality has not proven to be superior.
Film:
As this article deals with digital cameras, I won’t dwell on this too much. I don’t want to exclude this, as many still find film to be the best photographic medium to use. There are a number of different formats out there, including 35 mm, medium format, among others.
Megapixel myth
More is better, right? Maybe not. Unless you plan to enlarge beyond 8 x 10 inches, the difference between a 10 MP and a 14 MP may not be that large. In fact, without getting highly technical, for a given sensor size, more pixels can often result in poorer low light performance (more on this later).
Other features in P&S cameras
Software
Often, this is overlooked in favour of the number of MP or zoom capability or stylish metal designs, etc. However, this can be as important as any of those other factors. In addition to the hardware design (button placement, etc.), software can be intuitive or an eternal source of frustration, depending on the individual. So, before purchasing the camera that your best friend or the “best” camera website recommends…remember that you are the one using it…so go play with it first!
Types of lenses
Large aperture: These lenses are often f/2 or f/2.8 (smaller the f-number, larger the aperture (hole or opening through which light travels)) and are suitable for fast action, low light and portraiture. The first two are related to the fact that the larger the opening results in more light hitting the sensor, which leads to the camera taking the picture faster. The advantage is that there is less blur and sharper pictures. As mentioned previously, large aperture lenses can render background elements into a smooth blur that help highlight the subject.
Zoom lens: Most compact cameras have zoom lens that range from 3X to 5X optical zoom. Some compacts have 10X or 20X zoom lenses, but there are some optical compromises. However, for most purposes, this isn’t a huge issue.
Articulating (swivel) LCD screens vs. fixed screens
Most inexpensive compacts have fixed LCD screens on the back of the camera, however some offer articulating or swivel screens. The main advantages are for self-portraits, shooting above or below eye-level, and protecting the screen. The disadvantage is that these cameras tend to be a bit bulkier.
Image stabilization
Most manufacturers market some form of image stabilization (Canon IS, Nikon vibration reduction (VR), etc.). In general, this technology works by counteracting the movements of your hand when taking a longer exposure. This is especially critical in low-light or night settings.
ISO performance
ISO is a measure of the sensitivity to light. This was adapted from film where the higher the ISO, the more sensitive the film and often, the more grainier. In compact digital cameras, due to the small image sensor size, this often translates to poorer image quality. In comparison, due to their larger sensor sizes, dSLR’s tend to be better than P&S cameras. Incidentally, for a given sensor size, increasing the MP results in a decrease of pixel size. This often results in poorer high ISO performance.
Manual modes
Many higher-end cameras allow the user to fully control the settings for acquiring the image (shutter, aperture, ISO, etc.) This functionality is especially useful if the user is interested in moving before auto and scene modes.
RAW format capability
