The Best Digital Compact Camera for Your Needs

Not everyone wants to carry around a large SLR camera so a digital compact camera will be ideal for carrying around in a pocket or handbag so that, when the moment arises for a perfect picture you have a camera ready. What is the best digital compact camera to buy and what should you be looking for in terms of features, megapixels and other specifications? We'll try to answer some of your questions in this and subsequent articles.

Megapixels - what are they and how many do I need?

One mega pixel is a million pixels, which are tiny squares which make up a digital image. The more megapixels the camera is rated for the better quality image you can produce. However higher rated digital compact cameras are more expensive so you need to consider what size of image you will need and buy a camera that will produce good quality images for that size.

Most compact digital cameras have a pixel count of between 1 million (1MP) and 14 million (14Mp. The pixel range of the most popular is usually between 2MP and 7MP. In order to make prints of 4"x6" a 3MP will be adequate. For 5"x7" you will need a 4Mp or 5MP camera. A poster size image can be made with reasonable quality from a 7MP camera.

Optical or Zoom lenses - which is best?

Digital zoom give poorer quality than optical zoom. Digital zoom works in much the same way as zooming n image on a computer. Software fills in the detail between pixels so the result can be a fuzzy image that lacks fine detail. Optical lenses work in the same way as the lens on an SLR camera an produce superior images. Most of the compact digital cameras on the market have 3x zoom lenses which are adequate for most shots. Some of the best compact digital cameras have up to 12x zoom lenses. an example is the Canon PowerShot S5 IS which also features an image stabilisation system.

More features

Most compact digital cameras work well by 'point and shoot' without you having to change settings. If you want to produce more specialised effects you can choose a camera that lets you change lens aperture, shutter speed, white balance etc. The no of features varies and increases, of course, with the price of the camera. The best compact digital camera to choose depends on how familiar you are with these features and how much time you are willing to spend learning how to use them properly.

Sensitivity

Sensitivity ratings are similar to the familiar ISO rating used on film cameras. Settings of most compact digital cameras range from ISO 100 to ISO 200 with the more expensive cameras having a higher settings. Below ISO 100 noise becomes a problem and in general there is really no advantage in going below ISO 100. The best compact digital cameras are very efficient at automatically choosing the ISO level suitable for the lighting conditions.

LCD Screens

A bright LCD screen that is usable in all lighting conditions is preferable although some are poor when it comes to use in dim conditions. A separate viewfinder would then be required.

Best Compact Digital Cameras Top 5

We've put together our best compact digital camera list. The cameras below have consistently received the best reviews.

Canon PowerShot A2000 IS

Another digital compact camera with 10 MP resolution, the Canon PowerShot A2000 IS has a 6x optical zoom with excellent image stabilisation. No wide angle lens coverage however but it zooms in to 216mm which is more than many other comparably priced cameras. Image quality is very good under a wide range of conditions.


Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5

The very popular T23 just got better it's successor the T25. It has a 10x optical zoom lens complete with image stabilisation and 9.1 MP resolution. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 has a flexible zoom range and is fully featured. Not so slim as other compact cameras but the features and high quality image put more than makes up for the slightly larger size. Also included HD video.



Canon PowerShot SD880 ELPH

The Canon PowerShot SD880 ELPH has a 10 MP resolution, a 3" LCD screen and 4x zoom lens with 28mm wide angle and image stabilisation. The DIGIC processor is excellent at face recognition and the overall quality of the camera is very good. Changing settings is easy with a thumb wheel on the back and gives consistent results with good picture quality over a wide range of light settings.



Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX35

A slim 10 MP digital compact camera with a 4x optical zoom lens with image stabilisation. The zoom reaches 25mm which is excellent for shots of large groups. It features Intelligent Auto Mode which also includes scene recognition. Works best in ISO ranges below 200. Also included HD video.

What Makes The Best Compact Digital Cameras So Popular?

The best compact digital cameras on the market these days are incredibly popular with consumers. With such a wide array of models and designs available compact cameras have become very affordable for many households. Because the best digital cameras have been designed to be quite fashionable and offer users a decent amount of features they are able to offer much more capacity and provide superior results to more traditional film based cameras.

Compacts appeal to a wide variety consumers because they are incredibly similar to entry-level cameras. They offer photographers of all skill sets the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of designs, models and a wide array of features when they are choosing a digital to purchase. You are certain to find that there are several other types of digital camera that will provide superior results as compared to a compact. However compacts remain the popular choice for many consumers, especially those headed on a holiday that need a camera capable of quickly taking lots of pictures.

The best stay at the top of the digital camera market because while they lack many features of other digital cameras they are able to provide point and shoot style photography. By providing this convenience most people are more likely to want to purchase one, so that they are easily able to transport and have it available when a photo opportunity should arise.

While many might pass up a digital camera of this sort because of the limited features there are several models of compact digital cameras that are equipped to be able to record sounds and video.

Here are a couple examples of the best digital cameras on the market today.

The Canon Powershot SD20 is a very compact digital camera that comes packed with features including a one and a half inch LCD screen and a 6.5x digital zoom. This little powerhouse of a camera is highly rated by consumers because of its advanced performance abilities.

The Kodak EasyShare V1233 is a slightly larger then the Canon Powershot SD20. The V1233 is a part of Kodak's premium line of compact digital cameras. With a two and a half inch LCD screen, 3x optical zoom and the ability to capture high definition pictures in 16:9 format the Kodak EasyShare V1233 is one of the best performing on the market.

These are only two of the best compact digital cameras that are available on the market today. All you need to do is determine what features that you want your camera to perform and you are sure to find a compact digital camera that will meet your needs.

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