Home > Digital Camera Reviews
Buying Guide
by Emily RaymondBefore you make a purchase, be sure to understand what’s available and how much it’s going to drain your pocketbook.
Types of Digital Cameras
Point-and-shoot – These are the models that boast simplicity with automatic and preset modes. Most of these can be held in one hand and many are approaching the size of your palm and the thickness of your finger. Point-and-shoot digital cameras have a lens that cannot be detached.
SLR-like – Not as simple as a point-and-shoot (most of the time), but certainly not anywhere near as complex as a true single lens reflex camera. These cameras have large right-hand grips like an SLR, but do not have the detachable lens. Sometimes there is the option of attaching a lens on top of the permanently attached lens, depending on the manufacturer and model. These allow beginners to have a little more versatility.
SLR – Single lens reflex digital cameras allow maximum versatility, but at the cost of ease of use and of course, the price. These cameras are sometimes only sold as the body, with lenses sold separately. Different wide angle, telephoto, and zoom lenses are available from each manufacturer, as well as flashes and other accessories.
Prices
Prices of digital cameras vary depending on the manufacturer and model, but most point-and-shoots hover in the $300 range. There are some as cheap as a hundred bucks and others that offer more megapixels and features for $500. The SLR-like digital cameras usually go for $350-$499, but there are outliers on both sides. SLRs are still not as popular as compact point-and-shoots, but are becoming more popular as more photographers want manual control and great image quality. The most affordable models can be purchased for about $700 now for a body and one lens. Professional digital SLRs start around $2,000 and can go up to $8,000 – and beyond.
Warranties
Most digital cameras come with a limited one year warranty from the manufacturer that covers defects only. Manufacturers’ warranties usually come in the box with the camera and require the receipt and proof of purchase to activate. You’re on your own if you drop the digital camera on the ground or into the pool – unless you purchase an extended warranty from the retailer. Retailers’ warranties vary greatly in scope and price. Most plans last 2 years, but some are good for 4 years. They can cost anywhere from $45 to $200. These usually cover normal wear and tear, water damage, dropping, etc. – pretty much anything except intentional dismemberment. If you plan on owning a digital camera for at least two years, you should think about purchasing an extended warranty. Just be sure to read through the terms and conditions to make sure it covers normal wear and tear.
Memory
Most digital cameras include some form of memory whether it’s built into the camera or included as a card. Most manufacturers will include 16MB cards or 14MB of internal memory, but usually it is not enough to satisfy the photographer’s needs. Unless you want to upload after every fifth picture, you’ll probably want to buy an additional memory card. Memory cards vary in size from 16MB to 4GB. You will need at least 256MB to really enjoy shooting still pictures and video clips. There is a variety of types and brands; some cameras specify which type of card to use and some even specify the brand.
CompactFlash – Some compact digital cameras use these, but now mostly DSLRs use them. There are two types of CF cards. Type I is 3.3 mm thick; Type II is 5 mm thick. CF cards are the largest of the memory cards. Sometimes you will see a number with an ‘X’ next to it; this is the rating system for memory cards. A 1x card can transfer 150KB per second.
MemoryStick Media – Sony digital cameras use this type of memory card. The full movie mode on Sony digital cameras requires a MemoryStick Pro.
Microdrive – This card is the same size as the CompactFlash card, but reads and writes at faster speeds. It is compatible mainly with DSLRs.
MultiMedia Card – This card is the size of a postage stamp and is designed for use in cell phones, digital music players, and other digital media devices. Many compact digital cameras will accept either SD or MMC cards.
Secure Digital – This is the most popular type of memory card. It is the same size as the MMC card.
xD-Picture Card – This type of memory card is used for Fujifilm and Olympus digital cameras. Olympus digital cameras require their own brand of xD cards for full use of the panorama feature.
All cards are not created equal, even if they are the same brand. For example, SanDisk makes a line of cheap Shoot & Store cards for basic shooting needs. You can find these for as little as $15 at the local drug store. The Shoot & Store SD card reads and writes data at a speed of 3 megabytes per second. SanDisk also makes an Extreme line of memory cards; its SD card reads and writes at 9 megabytes per second. The faster a card can record the data, the faster the camera can take its next shot. You will pay for the speed though. A SanDisk 32MB Shoot & Store SD card goes for $15; the same capacity in the Extreme line goes for $26.
Accessories
There are accompanying accessories with digital cameras, including things like battery chargers, underwater housings, slave flashes, carrying cases, neck straps, conversion lenses, remote controls, and even printers. Each digital camera model will have matching accessories that can be purchased on the manufacturer’s web site. Prices vary by product and manufacturer, of course.
Most beginning photographers will avoid the slave flashes and conversion lenses at first and instead go for the printers. Lots of people get into digital photography because they can print photos from their home printers. It is convenient and easy. However, keep in mind that printers also require ink and sometimes special paper. Sometimes it may be cheaper to have your photos printed at a retailer. For more information on accessories, see our article on accessories.