Tips on Choosing a Compact Digital Camera for Entry-Level User

A compact digital camera, also known as digital point-and-shoot camera, typically designed primarily for entry-level users whose use their still camera for simple operation: take pictures occasionally at vacations, family gathering events, weddings, and birthday parties.

Compact digital cameras are made with ease-of-use in mind. The type currently the best selling type of digital cameras, as they're popular and fit with people who need a simple camera for daily events. They’re small enough to fit in handbag or pocket for quick, on-the-go snapshots. Compact digital camera users don’t want to mess around with complicated features and manual controls. They just want to take pictures.

If you’re considering purchasing a compact digital camera, start by evaluating what you will be take a picture most of the time using your camera, then check if the camera features support what your needs.

The following are standard features found on a good quality compact digital camera. Make sure you select a camera that already has most of these features.

CMOS/CCD Sensor

CMOS/CCD sensor captures and converts the visual image into a digital image data. Newest compact digital cameras equipped with 12.1-megapixel CCD capture or more, like in Canon PowerShot SD780IS. It capable to captures enough detail for photo-quality poster-size prints.

Optical Zoom

Unlike digital zoom, optical zoom utilizes the physical optics of your camera’s lens to increase the lens’s focal length and zoom in. Optical zoom gives user the power to shoot distant subjects with precision. Advanced optical technology like Optical Image Stabilizer that automatically detects and corrects camera shake (may lead to blurred shots) is also a great point.

Red Eye Reduction

Red eye reduction system conducted by triggering a series of short flashes right before the shot is captured to reduce the occurrence of red eyes.

Shooting Modes

Is the camera provide advanced presets for the best possible photos under certain conditions? Most digital cameras have multiple preset shooting modes for different applications. It works by auto-adjusting various parameters, including aperture, exposure, focusing, light metering, white balance, and equivalent sensitivity. With many shooting modes available to choose, you’re ready for whatever shot comes your way.

Face Detection

Face detection system identifies faces in the scene then automatically adjusts camera focus and exposure so that people in photos are in clear focus. The face detection technology keeps every face in your photo looking its very best.

Optical Viewfinder

A high quality LCD screen viewfinder is a must have feature in digital camera, but on bright, sunny days, the image on the LCD screen can sometimes be difficult to view. Consider an optical viewfinder as a backup.

Shutter Lag Time

The time span between the shutter firing and your being able to take another picture. Particularly important when shooting high-speed action or sports.

HD video shooting capability + HDMI output

Everyone loves HD videos. HD video shooting capability in many compact digital cameras lets you record video in high definition (1280 x 720 pixels), and to enjoy HD movies or still photos on HDTV or high-definition monitor via a mini-HDMI connector.

USB Connection

Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection enables fast image upload to your computer or printer.

Image data storage (Memory Card Slot)

Is the camera compatible with SD/SDHC, MMC/MMC Plus/HC MMC Plus? Most digital cameras use memory cards having flash memory to store image data. The majority of memory cards are SD format. Buy the fastest, highest flash memory capacity within your budget. Make sure that the card format is compatible with your camera.

PictBridge and/or wireless printing support?

PictBridge is a standard for direct printing which allows images to be printed directly from digital cameras to a PictBridge-capable printer, without having to connect the camera to a computer. It is typically implemented using USB connection. User just selects the images on the camera, which the printer retrieves and prints. Wireless connectivity can also provide printing without a cable connection.