Today, every mobile phone comes with a camera attached. Some of these are quite good. Most, however, cannot be relied on for shots that will provide lasting memories. In this context, it is worth shelling out for a proper, dedicated digital camera.
The good news is that prices of cameras have tumbled. Whereas a competent (five megapixel) compact camera might have cost e350 two years ago, a 10 megapixel camera now costs as little as e120. But what differences are there between the cheaper and more expensive models? How important are megapixels compared to lenses? And is it worth investing in the new ‘super-zoom’ category of digital cameras?
Megapixels
A typical compact camera will have between 8 and 12 megapixels. A megapixel is the amount of imagery that a camera can fit into a small dot. Generally, the higher the megapixel count, the more imagery is seen and the clearer the picture.
Lenses
But megapixels aren’t the only important metric for quality. The lens, through which all imagery passes, is the single most important component of any camera, digital or otherwise. Most compact digital cameras now have highly developed lenses. Many manufacturers now outsource their lens functions to specialists, such as Carl Zeiss or Leica.
Optical v digital zoom
Most compact cameras have a very limited optical zoom, represented as ‘3x’ or ‘4x’. They may boast greater digital zooms, but it is the optical zoom that counts: a digital zoom is only a digital magnification of the image. As such, it is a dilution of the actual image and so will result in a grainier or blurrier photo.
Superzoom cameras
For years, choosing a digital camera came down to price and mobility versus quality and zoom. For the latter, a bulky digital SLR camera — of the type that professional photographers use with exchangeable lenses — was necessary. Recently a new category of digital camera has been introduced: the compact superzoom. This is a camera which is about 50 per cent larger than a normal compact model, but which has a larger lens protruding from the front. It is capable of zooming in up to 20 times (‘20x’), a feat far beyond ordinary compact cameras. With most manufacturers now offering superzoom alternatives, these generally vary in price from e400 to e650.
Buyers’ guide
What cameras represent a good bet? Here are three models to consider, spanning different price ranges and categories.
Nikon S1000
Nikon is best known for its professional, lens-swappable SLR cameras. But it has created a very decent range of consumer compact models, under its Coolpix brand, in recent years. Its latest model combines a 5x optical zoom and a 12 megapixel processor with a quirky addition: the ability to project images against a screen. The only camera to be capable of such a feat, the S1000 becomes the type of camera that is perfect for those who love to show off their snaps to others en masse.
Price: €430
Panasonic Lumix TZ7
Panasonic has established itself as the compact camera brand that gives you a decent zoom in a small body. Its Lumix TZ7 is a perfect example. Despite being the size of a small compact camera, it fits in a whopping 12x zoom, which adds a lot of flexibility to a casual snapper’s photo range. The 12 megapixel camera also features an HD-video recording mode (of sorts), which allows reasonably decent quality videos to be shot.
Price: €300
Sony HX1
Sony’s 20x zoom gives is the equivalent of a 560mm telephoto lens, while it can shoot full high definition videos at 30 frames-per-second. Its three inch LCD viewer is tiltable, allowing over-the-shoulder snaps, often necessary in big crowds. The 9 megapixel camera has nice extra features, such as a panorama mode that stitches shots together automatically as you shoot. Finally, it has an HDMI output port to play videos or slideshows directly onto your high definition TV.
Price: €550
Tags: Adrian Weckler, digital cameras
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