A guide to get the perfect digital camera

Today, the cameras include compact models reinforced pocket cameras with powerful zoom, compact luxury models, semi-professional models or mirrorless interchangeable lens SLR models. The best choice will depend on your budget, your requirements for size and your style to take the pictures.

This guide for buying digital cameras will help you decide on a given device specifications what you need to consider before buying.

Number of megapixels: For everyday pictures, with a camera of any resolution will be enough and today almost every camera has a resolution of less than 10 pixels.

Image Quality: Cameras with lenses and larger sensors typically take better pictures, regardless of the number of megapixels. A larger sensor will also have a higher cost. If you can not run some practical tests with the camera before you buy, look at the sensor size specifications.

Shutter delay and start time: There are several ways in which the shutter delay can prevent you from taking that perfect picture: too much delay between takes, too late to take the first photo and slow autofocus.

To get an idea of the time between an outlet and one with the camera, find the number of frames per second that the camera takes in the "burst mode" or mode "continuous shooting". For action or sports photos, looking for a continuous shooting mode at least three frames per second.

Also check the time it takes to turn on the camera and take the first photo. Check out the time the camera takes to achieve auto focus after pressing the shutter button halfway.

Size, weight and design: For some users, the weight of a camera and the ability to carry in a pocket may be more important than resolution. But thin cameras can have tiny dials and few buttons, or simply lack of manual controls, so you rely on automated configuration within the chamber. So you have to make a balance between comfort and functionality.

Zoom lens and image stabilization: Among the new generation of cameras in the $ 200 price scale there are some pocket megazooms offering up to 10X optical zoom. This means that you may expand your subject and then use the software to trim.

A few models SLR and interchangeable lens compact with integrated image stabilization, which means that your pictures will be stabilized by the camera mechanism.

The fixed lens cameras now offer zoom sizes greater than 40X. But unless the camera has good image stabilization or a shutter so fast, you need a steady hand or a tripod to prevent blurry photos.

Pay attention also to the wide-angle end (the lower number) of the optical zoom range. The lower the number, the wider the lens angle. Find preferably an optical zoom, giving you the full benefit of the maximum resolution of the camera, combined with the ability to focus on distant subjects.

RAW mode: Many models DSLR, mirrorless cameras with interchangeable lenses and luxury compact cameras let you take pictures in RAW mode, preserving all data from your images without any compression. File sizes, then, will be much larger. .

Manual focus: For close-up photos which autofocus does not work, it may be desirable to change to manual focus mode. For this, make sure your camera has this option.

Image Storage: If you have a storage card you want to use with your new camera, make sure it is compatible. Most cameras today use SD (Secure Digital) or SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity). The latter cost more, with up to 32GB storage, but are not compatible with standard SD slots.

Battery Life:

Usually newer cameras use rechargeable batteries for replacement exclusive can cost between $ 150 and $ 400. The cheaper cameras and oldest use standard AA batteries or high capacity disposable CRV3 (costing about $ 10 each, some cameras require two).

The battery life and the camera cost are often not related: some cheap cameras have excellent battery life, while some expensive models are quickly depleted.

Movies and sound: Most of today's cameras can capture High Definition video at 1080p. To take videos, see if you can use manual exposure, optical zoom and manual focus or continuous autofocus while shooting.

Exposure settings: All digital cameras let you shoot in Auto mode, just press the shutter button to capture an image. Some cameras also offer modes aperture priority and shutter priority, where you yourself adjust the size of the lens opening or how long the shutter stays open, and the camera automatically controls all other variables to give the proper exposure.

Wireless Features: More and more cameras with Wi-Fi features incorporated to help you quickly share photos from a camera. If you like upload photos as you can, as you do with a smartphone, maybe this is a key factor when making your purchase.

• Find a good performance in low light: The bigger the sensor, your photos will look better in low-light.

• Pay attention to the battery: Some newer cameras require the battery to charge full camera connected to a USB port or a wall adapter.

• Beware the megapixel is used: If you only plan to print your photos in standard 4x6 inch model, you have to take them with the highest resolution of the camera or fetch one with many pixels, so you can put more photos on your card memory.

• Forget digital zoom: Most cameras offer an optical zoom of at least 5X. But the digital zoom produces photos that are lower than those produced with an optical zoom.