Digital camera buying guide

What kind of digital camera is best for me?

In order to choose the right camera--one with the right set of features at the right price--you'll need to figure out what you'll be doing with it. Match your needs to one of these user profiles.

User profiles: Snapshooter | Trendsetter | Business user | Serious amateur | Budget buyer | Undecided

Snapshooter

I want to take photos that I can e-mail to friends and family, post on the Web, or print in sizes smaller than 8x10 inches. I'd like a digital camera that is easy enough for the whole family to use and small enough to take anywhere. I'll be printing on an inexpensive, all-purpose inkjet printer or getting photo prints from the local drugstore, though I'll consider buying a photo printer if I like the pictures enough.

The specs that matter
Resolution	It doesn't matter. Most cameras on the market today have sufficient resolution for your needs.
Price	$150 to $300
Lens	3X or greater zoom, encompassing at least 38mm to 114mm (35mm equivalent)
Storage media	SDHC/SDXC
Photo file format	JPEG
Interfaces	USB, NTSC/PAL television connection
Exposure controls	Automatic, programmed scene modes, exposure compensation (for tweaking the automatic exposure)
Focus controls	Automatic
Flash modes	Automatic, fill, red-eye reduction
Software	Photo stitching, photo album, slide show
Multimedia	VGA (640x480), 30fps video-clip recording with sound
Cool features to look for	In-camera red-eye removal, automatic exposure fix, optical or mechanical image stabilization, face detection, 720p HD movie capture with HDMI-out connector

Trendsetter

I like to buy the newest, shiniest toys before anyone else does. I want to impress my friends and business associates with the latest technologies and coolest features, but not if it makes the product too complicated to use. I care about how much I spend, though it's not one of my top concerns.

The specs that matter
Resolution	It doesn't matter. Most cameras on the market today have sufficient resolution for your needs.
Price	Less than $800
Lens	5X or greater zoom, encompassing at least 28mm to 140mm (35mm equivalent)
Storage media	SDHC/SDXC
Photo file format	JPEG
Interfaces	USB, HDMI, or component HDTV television connection
Exposure controls	Automatic, programmed scene modes, exposure compensation (for tweaking the automatic exposure)
Focus controls	Automatic
Flash modes	Automatic, fill, red-eye reduction
Software	Photo-stitching, photo album, slide show
Multimedia	720p (1,280x720) video-clip recording with sound and functioning zoom during video
Cool features to look for	Ultracompact design, interchangeable lenses, Webcam capabilities, voice recording, Wi-Fi support, geotagging support, 3-inch or larger LCD, articulated LCD, simultaneous video and photo capture, 12X or greater optical zoom, optical or mechanical image stabilization, face detection

Business user

I need to be able to shoot onsite or in the office, photograph products and people for ads and publicity in print and on the Web, and get professional-looking results without hiring a pro. I need to get prints in a variety of ways, including from a color laser printer or quick-print shop. I have to share the camera with my coworkers.

The specs that matter
Resolution	It doesn't matter. Most cameras on the market today have sufficient resolution for your needs.
Price	$250 to $500
Lens	5X or greater zoom, encompassing at least 28mm to 140mm (35mm equivalent)
Storage media	SDHC/SDXC
Photo file format	JPEG
Interfaces	USB, NTSC/PAL television connection
Exposure controls	Automatic, aperture- and shutter-priority, manual, choice of metering modes, bracketing
Focus controls	Automatic, manual
Flash modes	Automatic, fill, red-eye reduction, external flash compatibility
Software	Photo editor; collaborative image sharing
Multimedia	Voice recording, built-in speaker for audio playback
Cool features to look for	Support for digital security, Wi-Fi, geotagging, text-capture mode, world clock; HD video; HDMI output

Serious amateur

I want to use creative effects when shooting and manipulating images, have professional-level control, output prints that are 8x10 inches or larger on a high-quality photo printer, and use accessories and different lenses.

The specs that matter
Resolution	12 megapixels or greater
Price	$400 and up
Lens	Supports lens converters or interchangeable lenses or zoom with widest focal range possible
Storage media	CompactFlash, SDHC/SDXC
Photo file format	JPEG, RAW
Interfaces	USB 2.0
Exposure controls	Automatic, aperture- and shutter-priority, manual, choice of metering modes, bracketing
Focus controls	Automatic with selectable focus points, manual
Flash modes	Automatic, fill, slow sync, hot shoe or contact for external flash
Software	Full-featured photo editor, software for PC-controlled capture
Multimedia	720p (1,280x720) video-clip recording; Voice annotation
Cool features to look for	Compatibility with existing 35mm-camera lenses and accessories, customizable user modes, dynamic histogram display, optical or mechanical image stabilization

Budget buyer

I want to find a basic camera costing less than $200 that will let me post snapshots on the Web; e-mail them to friends; print them in small sizes (4x6 or smaller) on my inexpensive, multipurpose inkjet printer; and get me up and running quickly without requiring me to read the manual. I want a camera that will satisfy me for a few years.

The specs that matter
Resolution	It doesn't matter. Most cameras on the market today have sufficient resolution for your needs.
Price	Less than $200
Lens	3X or greater zoom, encompassing at least 38mm to 114mm (35mm equivalent)
Storage media	SDHC
Photo file format	JPEG
Interfaces	USB, NTSC/PAL television connection
Exposure controls	Automatic, exposure compensation (for tweaking the automatic exposure)
Focus controls	Autofocus or fixed focus
Flash modes	Automatic, fill, red-eye reduction
Software	Basic photo editor
Cool features to look for	Webcam capabilities, automatic scene modes, continuous-shooting mode, autofocus assist lamp, basic video capture

Undecided

I want a camera that's easy to use but that I can grow into if I get hooked on digital photography. I want to be able to print good-looking photos at sizes smaller than 8x10 inches on my inexpensive inkjet printer, but I'd like prints that will look OK if I decide to print larger or get a better printer. I want to spend less than $500.

The specs that matter
Resolution	It doesn't matter. Most cameras on the market today have sufficient resolution for your needs.
Price	$250 to $500
Lens	5X or greater zoom, encompassing at least 28mm to 140mm (35mm equivalent)
Storage media	SDHC/SDXC
Photo file format	JPEG
Interfaces	USB, NTSC/PAL television connection
Exposure controls	Automatic, aperture- and shutter-priority, manual, choice of metering modes, autobracketing
Focus controls	Automatic, manual
Flash modes	Automatic, fill, slow sync
Software	Midrange photo editor
Multimedia	720p (1,280x720) video-clip recording
Cool features to look for	Remote control, dynamic histogram display, compatibility with lens converters and accessories, built-in help features, mechanical or optical image stabilization, face detection, 1080i or better HD movie capture, HDMI or component output to HDTV, raw file support How many megapixels should my digital camera have? As much as we'd like to give a one-word answer, this is one of the trickiest questions in digital photography, so we'll provide a short answer and a long answer. Response: The short answer | The long answer The short answer Most digital cameras these days have sufficiently high resolution that you don't need to worry about too few pixels. You may need to worry about too many, however, since the resulting larger file sizes can result in slower shooting for point-and-shoot models. Given how much confusion there still is about this, it bears stating explicitly: More megapixels does not necessarily mean better photo quality. We'll say it again: More megapixels does not necessarily mean better photo quality. Repeat after me: More megapixels does not necessarily mean better photo quality. Just because last year's model had a 12-megapixel sensor and this year's replacement has a 14-megapixel sensor doesn't mean that the new one will shoot better photos than the old. In point-and-shoot cameras, manufacturers increase resolution for marketing and cost reasons, rarely for quality reasons. The long answer It depends upon what you're doing with the picture and how you're doing it. Hint:If you're going to display or print pictures at smaller-than-actual-pixel size, resolution doesn't matter much--opt for the camera with the best color. The images below were shot with a 7-megapixel and a 10-megapixel camera, respectively, and scaled down to smaller-than-actual size. Aside from slight color differences, they should look pretty similar. 7 megapixels 10 megapixels Let's say you want to blow up a detail shot or print a picture; that's where extra resolution comes in handy, for both printing and Web display. The 8-megapixel shot (left) is a bit blurry, but the 10-megapixel (middle) and 15-megapixel (right) shots come pretty close to each other. Which could you live with? 8 megapixels 10 megapixels 15 megapixels Now, suppose you want to crop in tightly on that "20." That's where higher resolution comes in handy. Once again, here are the same shots, cropped so that the "20" fills the same size space. 8 megapixels 10 megapixels 15 megapixels The 8-megapixel shot (left) loses some cohesion, but the 10-megapixel (middle) and 15-megapixel (right) shots are pretty comparable to one another. (The 10-megapixel shot is higher contrast, so the uniformity of the straight lines in the higher resolution shot can get a little lost visually.) The key is knowing how close you're going to want to get. What kind of lens should my digital camera have? There's a lot of variety in the world of digital-camera lenses, from tiny, built-in fixed-focal-length plastic lenses to big, glass, removable zoom lenses with special optical coatings. Each lens type influences the overall design and feature set of the camera that uses it. We've broken digital-camera lenses down into four broad categories so that you can determine which lens type is best for you. Lens types: Fixed-focal-length lenses | Folded optics lenses | Retractable zoom lenses | Fixed zoom lenses | Interchangeable lenses Fixed-focal-length lenses These lenses offer no optical zoom. Look for autofocus instead of fixed focus, as well as selectable macro and landscape focus modes. Best for: snapshooter, budget buyer Advantages: Allows compact or ultracompact camera designs. Easy and quick camera operation. Inexpensive. Lenses usually offer relatively wide angle of view,which is good for landscapes and group shots. Disadvantages: Can't zoom in close to faraway subjects. Lens doesn't usually accept converters for different focal lengths or filters. Usually lowest optical quality available. Folded optics lenses Lenses in these cameras fold sideways within the camera body to maintain a slim, ultracompact design. Best for: snapshooter, budget buyer, trendsetter Advantages: Allows ultracompact camera designs. Lens is usually protected by a built-in cover. Disadvantages: Generally doesn't support lens converters or filters. Usually lower optical quality or higher cost than external lens designs. Retractable zoom lenses These zoom lenses retract into the camera body when the camera is off and extend when it's on. Best for: snapshooter, budget buyer, undecided, trendsetter Advantages: Allows very compact, portable camera design. Lens is usually protected by a built-in cover. Disadvantages: Generally doesn't support lens converters or filters. Lens extension may increase camera start-up time. Limited manual-focus controls through buttons or switches. Fixed zoom lenses These zoom lenses are fixed to the camera body and do not retract into it when the camera is turned off. Best for: undecided, serious amateur, business user, trendsetter Advantages: Zoom ranges up to 26x magnification. Lens is usually threaded to accept lens converters(wide-angle, close-up, and so on), filters, and even ring flash units. Cameras typically offer advanced controls. May offer more precise zoom and manual focus control via rings on the lens instead of buttons. Disadvantages: Camera design bulkier than with retractable lens. Camera controls may be more complicated than what casual snapshot photographers want. Interchangeable lenses Digital SLRs and so-called "hybrid" point-and-shoots use interchangeable lens systems, which means that you can detach the entire lens from the camera body and replace it with any other compatible lens. If you already own several lenses for a 35mm film camera, you might want to find out if there's a digital SLR body available that's compatible with them. For more on dSLRs, read our Digital SLR buying guide. Best for: serious amateur Advantages: Deliver the best quality optics. Provide the most flexibility to handle a variety of scenes. Don't have to buy a new camera to upgrade quality of lens. Disadvantages: Expensive to implement and buy. Lenses tend to be big and heavy. Focal lengths generally differ for the same lens mounted on a film camera, which can be confusing and cause vignetting. Battery types When it comes to power, the ability to use a variety of battery types can be more important than any single type a camera may use. For instance, lithium-ion rechargeable batteries generally last the longest, but if you're out in the woods, you have no way to recharge them, and you'd probably rather have a backpack full of disposables. Your best bet is a camera that interchangeably supports rechargeables and long-life disposables. Battery types: Model-specific | Universal rechargeable | Disposable Model-specific Proprietary batteries come in all shapes and sizes, to best fit a given camera. Batteries designed specifically for a particular model or product line. Chemistry: Lithium-ion or nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) Advantages: Tend to last the longest. Make ultracompact designs possible. Allow for more intelligent battery gauges that more   accurately measure remaining capacity. Better for the environment than disposables. Less expensive in the long run than disposables. Disadvantages: Require electricity to recharge. Need to keep charged extras on hand. Can't use in other cameras or electronic devices. Don't always have third-party alternatives. Universal rechargeable Most rechargeable batteries for cameras come AA-size. Rechargeable batteries that adhere to standard conventions and sizes. Chemistry: Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) Advantages: Long-lived. Better for the environment than disposables. Can be bought from many sources. Less expensive in the long run than disposables. Disadvantages: Usually require at least two AA-size units to power a camera, which adds to weight. Disposable Disposable Lithium batteries last far longer than their alkaline counterparts. Single-use batteries adhere to standard conventions and sizes. Chemistry: Lithium, alkaline, oxy-alkaline Advantages: Lithium tend to last the longest and make cameras speedier. Readily available in stores. Light. Disadvantages: Alkalines don't last long. Not good for the environment. What else can my digital camera do? Most digital cameras can do more than just take pictures. Here are some of the extra features you might find in the model you have your eye on: Extra features: Video-clip recording | Voice recording | Videoconferencing | Music playback | In-camera editing | Special image modes | World time/alarm clock | Wireless transfer Video-clip recording To capture a video clip, select the video-mode icon and press the shutter release button. A cool feature for: snapshooter, trendsetter, business user, undecided Many digital cameras can capture video clips. While none of them will produce the quality of a dedicated camcorder, some are substantially better than others. The best video-clip quality currently available from a digital still camera is 1080p HD--though 720p is far more common--with sound. Some cameras allow you to record a continuous clip up to the capacity of your memory card, while others shoot only 30 seconds or so at a time. And not all cameras that shoot video capture sound, so pay attention to the specs if you want your clips to be talkies. Only a handful of cameras can zoom while shooting video, so check the product information before buying if that capability is important to you. And if you'll want to connect to an HDTV to play HD movies directly from the camera, optimally you'd want an HDMI connection; some cameras provide component output and cables, but they tend to have proprietary connectors with unwieldy hydra-like cables. Voice recording To record an audio clip with most cameras that offer this feature, you simply press the button with the microphone icon. A cool feature for: trendsetter, business user, serious amateur Some cameras let you record brief voice annotations to accompany photos. A few double as voice recorders, allowing you to record hours of audio if your memory card is large enough. Look for a camera with a built-in speaker in addition to the microphone if you want to be able to play voice recordings back on the camera. Videoconferencing Some cameras work as Webcams and come with USB cradles. A cool feature for: trendsetter, business user, budget buyer, undecided Some cameras may be used as Webcams and come with the requisite videoconferencing software. If you'd like to use this feature, look for a camera with a built-in microphone so that you don't have to attach a separate one to your computer to videoconference with sound. Some cameras come with a USB cradle or offer one as an optional accessory--obviously, a more convenient option than propping your camera up with a book. Music playback A few cameras double as MP3 players and come with earphones. A cool feature for: trendsetter, snapshooter A few cameras can play MP3 and other audio files and come with earphones. These models are generally aimed at gadget lovers more than at shutterbugs or audiophiles, so don't expect top-notch photo quality or extensive audio controls from them. In-camera editing Most digital cameras let you make a few basic changes to your images in-camera. A cool feature for: trendsetter, snapshooter, business user Many cameras allow you to resize, copy, or make other changes to your images before you download them to a computer. Some even let you edit video clips in-camera on a small timeline. Special image modes You'll need your 3D glasses for this one. A cool feature for: trendsetter, business user, serious amateur Some cameras have special shooting modes to capture stop-motion animation, 3D pictures, and other special types of images. World time/alarm clock Traveling to Helsinki with a Pentax digicam? You can leave your alarm clock at home. A cool feature for: trendsetter, business user Some cameras borrow from the world of cell phones and PDAs to provide features such as alarm clocks and displays of the time in world capitals. We don't recommend choosing a camera just to get these extras, but they can come in handy if the model you buy happens to have them. Wireless transfer A few digital cameras allow you to transfer photos wirelessly. A cool feature for: trendsetter, business user, serious amateur A few consumer cameras allow you to send images wirelessly to a compatible device or upload them to a photo-sharing service via a hotspot. Eye-Fi also makes SD cards which add that capability to cameras and camcorders. Some professional SLRs are compatible with wireless transmitters that you attach to the camera.