How to choose a digital camera

he choice offered to those buying a digital camera can seem overwhelming, with hundreds of models to choose from, offered by dozens of companies and almost all boasting a long list of features. Happily, there are fewer and fewer truly bad models on the market, as ever more intense competition causes the true lemons to fall by the wayside, but even so it is best to have a general idea of what to look for when buying a digital camera.

Type of camera

Digital cameras are, for the most part, split into two groups: DSLRs and compacts. DSLRs (short for digital single lens reflex cameras) are mostly targeted at the professional and enthusiast markets. They are bulky and expensive, but tend to offer better build quality and higher photo quality than compacts, and usually allow the photographer to control many aspects of the picture-taking process. They also boast interchangeable lenses, allowing users to select optics that are precisely suitable for any given situation.

Compact digital cameras are, for the most part, cheaper and smaller. They have non-removable lenses (usually with a substantial zoom) and the compromises inherent in squeezing the required electronics into a smaller space result in lower photo quality – although it is still more than acceptable for most leisure purposes. Some compacts are aimed at style-conscious consumers and as such are available in a range of colours, or are exceptionally small or thin. "Bridge" or "superzoom" cameras also have fixed lenses, but with huge zoom ranges of up to 30x.

Brand names

Digital photography is an area where trying to save money by going for a little-known brand can be a false economy. There are always exceptions to the rule, but in general it is safest to stick with those companies who have a solid reputation in the digital photo business. These include both traditional camera brands such as Canon, Nikon and Fujifilm, and electronics giants such as Samsung, Sony and Panasonic. Indeed, Panasonic is widely considered to be the market leader in the compact camera sector at the present time.

Resolution

It is a pervasive myth that the more megapixels a digital camera can boast, the better the quality of its output. In fact, for compact cameras at least, a very high megapixel count can actually be a bad thing. The reason for this is that squeezing so many pixels into the small light sensors used on compacts results in interference, which itself can lead to the dreaded "image noise" – the usually unwanted effect whereby areas of flat colour display artefacts and roughness. Camera manufacturers like to emphasise resolution, but in fact it is by no means the most important factor.

The quality of a camera's optics is far more important with regard to image quality than the number of megapixels it can boast. A well-built 6 megapixel camera will perform substantially better than a mediocre 8-megapixel model. This is especially true when it comes to

low-light photography. For example, a few years ago Fujifilm's F10 compact was released with a resolution of a modest 6.3 megapixels – yet its low-light performance was better than almost all of its contemporaries, some of which had around twice the headline resolution.

Ease of use

Many buyers, especially those with little or no previous experience of digital photography, will welcome cameras which are easy to use. Some manufacturers – Fujifilm and Kodak being two – have built up solid reputations in this area. A few cameras, such as some HP models, even offer on-screen help systems which explain right on the LCD what a particular mode setting does; this can be very useful. When testing out a camera, make sure to try out the menu system on the camera's LCD screen, and note whether it is intuitive and straightforwardly designed.

An often overlooked but nevertheless very important aspect of a camera's ease of use is whether or not it is comfortable to hold. Some models offer very secure moulded grips, which give confidence-when shooting one-handed, but others – especially small, lifestyle-oriented cameras – can be worryingly slippery and feel as though they might fall out of your hand at any moment. Related to this, consider how easy the camera will be to carry around. DSLRs are much larger and bulkier than compacts, so a dedicated bag will almost certainly be required.

Modes and settings

Most digital cameras now offer a wide range of scene modes, which automatically set the camera up to deal most effectively with specific situations and particular subjects such as foliage, snow scenes or landscapes. It is worth checking whether the model you are considering offers a mode for the type of photos you take most commonly. Recent innovations include Face Detection, which aims to optimise portrait photos to show faces in the best light, and Smile Shutter, which will not fire until subjects are smiling.

For those who want to be more creative with their photography, most DSLRs will offer a very substantial amount of user control over things like focus, exposure and shutter speed, but these controls can be harder to find on compact cameras. In fact, consumer choice here has diminished somewhat in recent years; the Canon PowerShot A-series, for example, ceased to offer manual modes several years ago. Manual focus is useful for very precise control, but is usually fiddly and unsatisfying on a compact, whereas a DSLR's precise focus ring will allow quick and easy use.

Pricing and retailer policy

When comparing prices, make sure that you are comparing like with like. This is easier in some markets than in others: in the US, for example, some companies will not allow discounted prices to be displayed openly, necessitating an irritating process to discover the actual cost, whereas in the UK this practice (called "resale price maintenance") is not permitted. On the other hand, American retailers often have more liberal return policies than their equivalents in Britain, where taking a camera back simply because you don't like it is usually not allowed.

Conclusion

Choosing a digital camera is an exciting experience, but it can also be a scary one. However, if you bear a few simple guidelines in mind, you will give yourself the best possible chance of buying a camera that has the features you really need, rather than simply those the manufacturers shout the loudest about. Especially when it comes to budget cameras, a little careful sifting can separate the wheat from the chaff surprisingly well. Buy carefully, with your eyes open, and you can look forward to many years of shooting pleasure.