Purchasing a Camera - What to Look For When Selecting a New Camera

If you’re looking to buy a new point-and-shoot digital camera, then this is the article you should read. In this article I am going to first look at the main features of the majority of digital cameras, then the additional features you might want to look out for, and then I will take a quick look at the main camera brands on the market at the moment.

Main Features of a Camera

Needless to say, each camera has its own unique set of features, but without some features, a modern digital camera would be almost useless, for instance:

LCD Screen: Enables you to see your photos after you have shot them. Various Auto Modes: Quickly and easily take photos using the correct setting for whatever situation you are in. Optical Zoom: Allows you to get in closer to your object of focus. Image Stabilizer: A lot of digital camera now have this, which really helps to produce sharper images in difficult conditions.

Additional Features of a Camera

As well as the most important features listed in the previous section, here are some extra features that you may want to look out for:

Intelligent Automation: In addition to the various automatic settings mentioned earlier, some new cameras can now automatically detect the current photographic conditions and select the right settings accordingly. Smart Portrait Setting: Some newer cameras (such as Nikon) include this feature, which can detect faces and even automatically open the shutter whenever someone smiles. Automatic Panorama Mode: Some cameras are able to automatically take multiple photos and then stitch them together to create an ultra-wide photo. Facial Retouching: Smooth out wrinkly skin or hide a person's spots with this handy feature. Built-in Sat Nav: Find ideal shooting locations quickly and easily.

The Most important Manufacturers and their Product Ranges

Canon: $89-$900. Top camera make, with an exceptionally broad assortment of products (almost 400 of them) to suit all requirements and budgets. Olympus: $73-$1,049. Like Canon, another major digital camera brand with a broad assortment of products available (more than 350 of them). Sony: $80-$700. As with Olympus, there are over 350 cameras on the market, covering a wide range of requirements and budgets. Nikon: $75-700. Once more, like Sony, more than 350 digital cameras spread across a large price range. Kodak: $60-$450. Over 300 digital cameras, including everything from your basic compacts all the way up to high end fully featured cameras with large lenses. Panasonic: $89-$586. Similar to Kodak, all kinds of cameras across a large range. Fuji: $80-$1,000. This brand is also good, and has a large number of digital cameras. Samsung: $80-$850. Also, also a decent make with cameras to suit all budgets and needs. Pentax: $75-$400. A good range of digital cameras to suit almost anyone. Casio: $80-350. A good series of cameras at very good prices, even for high end cameras. Vivitar: $20-$120. A decent range of low budget compact digital cameras. Great if you’re really low on cash. General Electric: $60-$195. Not a huge assortment (about 70), mostly compacts. Polaroid: $24-180. As with General Electric, not a very broad series, and of the compact type. However, if you're struggling money-wise, there are some extremely low budget ones here.

Still not decided which product to buy? Visit Buy Digital Camera where we review all the top cameras, including the DMC ZS7