Guide to buying a digital camera

The digital camera market today offers buyers a large number of choices, with products in widely differing price ranges, sizes and degree of operational complexity. From miniatures the size of a credit card, to fully functional professional SLR (Single Lens reflex) systems, you can buy a digital camera from manufacturers including traditional camera brands such as Canon, Olympus, Nikon, film companies such as Kodak and Fuji, and consumer electronic companies like Sony. Then there are other options that include the mobile phone manufacturers, and webcam suppliers.

The advantages of digital photography are numerous. Topmost is the fact that there is no film processing: expensive both in cost and time. But there is also the advantage of smaller sized equipment, portable media and instant picture viewing. And if you don't like what you see, you simply delete it and shoot again: no wastage.

If you like to take pictures, being a digital photographer makes a lot of sense. But which camera is the best one for you? In a field of excess abundance, how do you narrow down what you need? How much to pay? How many megapixels? (What are they anyway?) Which brand? How much memory?

At MyShopping.com.au we recognise this fact, and so we list practically all brands and models from hundreds of suppliers. These listings include the cold hard digital data facts about each camera and a range of comparative pricings offered by different suppliers. But just as every shopper is different, every photographer is different too. And just having the facts may not make you feel any more knowledgeable about which camera is right for you.

You could begin with the question: What sort of pictures will you take with your new digital camera? This is a valid starting point because from here you can begin to qualify your requirements in terms of technical capability and price. What sort of pictures will you take with your new digital camera? Is it simply for happy snaps whenever you get together with friends and family at weekends and holidays? Or are you a serious bird watcher and you want to capture nature at its finest? Perhaps you want a camera for work to record your inventory, or recording information from a client. Maybe you're a PI on a mission. The point is, you need to begin by recognising that your reason for buying a digital camera may not be the same as that of your best friend who is recommending the model she bought.

Once you've figured out the sort of pictures you are going to take, you can then set about deciding on the type of camera that will meet your needs. If you need something highly portable that fits in your shirt pocket or your handbag and lets you take it anywhere you go, make size a big consideration. If you want to take seriously good photographs, and you want to pursue an artistic endeavour, make image flexibility your main concern.

It might also be worthwhile considering your own position in the digital photography experience. Are you a novice about to buy your first camera, do you have some intermediate experience, or are you an advanced user?

Someone new to the market will likely not want to spend a lot of money, nor have a lot of mind-boggling features that leave you confused. There are cameras ideal for beginning users that have basic 'point and shoot' features including optical and digital zoom lens, flexible storage media and built in flash. There is a huge range of cameras available with simple features at low cost.

If you consider yourself an intermediate user with some operational knowledge of digital camera technology, you may want to consider more advanced features that give you more control over the pictures you take. These features usually come in a range of automatic settings and manual settings for capturing the image and different storage options in terms of resolution and picture type (raw data, jpeg, tiff). Naturally there is some cost attached to additional features when compared to more basic cameras.

For advanced users, there are a lot of professional options you can consider; such as SLR view finding and lens interchange ability. Cameras in this range provide much greater control over the image, both before and once it is captured. These options include shutter speed and aperture adjustment, and many cameras offer the ability to manipulate images 'in camera', such as cropping, and brightness and contrast adjustments.

A further main consideration is what are you going to do with your images once you have them? The great beauty of digital photography is the simple fact that you can store them on digital media such as CDs and media cards, and view them on computer screens and in many cases, your television. You need print only when and those you want to see, or show to others. Digital photography also gives fantastic opportunities to manipulate your images using popular image manipulation programs, resizing them, altering brightness and contrast characteristics, and correcting problems such as red eye, or removing skin blemishes.

Most digital cameras are computer ready, able to plug directly into your PC or Mac using USB connectors. They usually include proprietary software allowing you to easily and instantly manage your image files in photo albums or slide shows. Many digital cameras also include a video capture facility enabling you to take short motion pictures.

What you want to do with your images after you have them can have an impact on your choice of camera. If you want to make enlarged prints for example, you will want a high megapixel capacity (also talked about as 'resolution'). If you want images for website use, you will want to get the best quality images that can be reduced in resolution without severe degradation.

Great pictures usually come from great conditions. You capture a great moment, the light is just right, the subject is at the perfect distance, the image is perfectly framed. But not every digital camera offers the flexibility to make the best of existing light conditions, or position. Most digital cameras (certainly at the budget end) come with a built in automatic flash, which is terrific for happy snaps in darkened environments. And the automatic flash automatically does not 'go off' in bright sunny conditions. But in those times when you want to use the existing light, you need a camera that gives you manual control over the operation or not, of the flash.

Moreover, most digital cameras in the lower and medium price ranges are highly automated. If you are moving from a traditional SLR film camera where you have maximum control over shutter speed, aperture and ISO speeds, it may be frustrating to not have easy access to the same range of tools to take advantage of existing light conditions.

In the more advanced (and therefore more expensive) range of digital cameras, most lens and aperture functions are available in exactly the same way as other SLR systems. What differs is how the colours and light of the image is translated through pixel capture compared to the chemical processing systems.

You may want a wide range of focus options. Most digital cameras have two different types of image magnification, lens magnification (zoom) that may be equivalent of a 35mm to 150 mm lens, and a digital magnification that may be to ten-fold (expressed as x10). This provides you with zoom lens capability, which may be limited in its depth of field control and is subject to soft focus and movement if the conditions aren't just right, and a digital magnification of the pixel image. If being able to capture magnified distant images is important to you, you need more megapixels, and a lens system that gives you some control over its focus and aperture management.

Digital cameras are electronic equipment. That means they run on batteries, and if you use your camera a lot, you will find that you will be frequently replacing batteries. Some cameras have rechargeable batteries; others simply use dry cells (AA), which you can of course load with rechargeable ones. It pays to have spare batteries so that you always have a charged power source. Some cameras have docking stations to help manage the connection with computers. Many digital SLR cameras have interchangeable lens systems, some of which may be compatible with traditional film SLRs.

You can also print your own pictures at home with special printers that handle standard photograph paper, and connect directly to your camera. Although it may be less expensive to simply take your camera's card, or a CD to your local camera store, and now many supermarkets and department stores, and use the automatic printing machines to print the images you want.

There is a lot you can do with a digital camera, and you can pay les than $200, or more than $10,000. It all depends on how you see yourself as a photographer, what you're shooting, and what you want to do with your pictures. At Myshopping.com.au you can very quickly compare specifications and prices.

Canon 600D
The Canon EOS 600D builds on Canon's extensive history of amateur DSLR cameras. The 600D offers users an 18.0 MP CMOS (APS-C) Sensor, Full HD 1080p Video and high resolution 3" flip-out LCD makes shooting overhead or low to the ground a b...

Canon EOS 60D
Quality Images 18.0 mega pixel Canon-developed CMOS sensor captures superb image quality with low noise and natural colour Sharper previews 3.0� Wide Vari-Angle (1,040,000 dots) LCD screen, perfect for odd angles Creative Art Filters Apply cr...

Canon EOS 550D
The Canon EOS 550D is the perfect camera for those looking to enter the creative world of DSLR photography. With intuitive technology, anyone can capture breathtaking images that truly inspire everyone around you. The EOS 550D is the perfect stepping ston...

Nikon D3100
The lightweight Nikon D3100 is equipped with Nikon’s new 14.2-megapixel CMOS image sensor, refined image processing system and D-Movie function, guaranteed to deliver exceptional high-definition images and video of superior quality. Delivering full 1080p ...

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ20
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ20 (DMC-ZS10) Digital Camera...

Nikon D5100
Featuring a new horizontal swing, vari-angle monitor, Full (1080p) HD movie recording and Nikon's easy-to-use entry-level menu for easy photography from more angles. ...

Sony NEX-5
Enjoy true photographic quality with the 14.2MP Exmor™ APS HD CMOS Sensor and interchangeable-lens versatility. Featuring intuitive user interface, Full HD movie recording and Sweep Panorama for effortless panoramic shooting. • 14.2MP Exmor™ APS HD CM...

Nikon D7000
Nikon DSLR D7000 Body...

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX9V
Sony Cybershot DSCHX9V 16.2MP Digital Camera...

Canon Powershot G12
The PowerShot G12 delivers superior image quality with a 10.0 Megapixel High-Sensitivity CCD Sensor offering amazing low light capability. Featuring a 28mm wide angle lens, 5x zoom with Optical Hybrid Image Stabilizer and RAW mode, you can enjoy complete ...

Canon EOS 7D
An 18.0 megapixel Canon-developed CMOS sensor together with Dual DiG!C 4 Image Processors combine to deliver outstanding image quality with fine detail and brilliant reproduction of colour and tones. Features also include 19 point Auto Focus, with an ISO ...

Canon EOS 1100D
...

Canon Powershot S95
* High Definition (1280x720) movie recording with * f/2 bright lens * 28mm wide-angle lens * 10.0 megapixels with high sensitivity CCD sensor * HS System * Low-Light mode * 3.8x Optical Zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer...

Panasonic DMC-FZ150
The Panasonic DMC-FZ150 is an advanced photographic tool for recording not only great photos but also beautiful Full HD videos. It packs a powerful 24x optical zoom Leica lens with a new 12.1 Megapixel High Sensitivity MOS sensor. The full manual control ...

Nikon Coolpix P500
Nikon Coolpix P500 Camera...

Sony NEX-7
Sony NEX-7 ...

Canon Powershot SX40-HS
Canon PowerShot SX40HS Digital Camera + 8GB SDHC Card + HDMI Cable ...

Canon EOS 5D Mark II
The new Canon EOS 5D offers advanced photographers a lightweight, robust digital SLR that uses Canon's superlative EF lenses without a conversion factor. Its full-frame 12.8 Megapixel CMOS sensor combines with Canon's DIGIC II Image Processor, a high-prec...

Canon Powershot SX230HS
Canon SX230HS Camera...

Canon Powershot S-100
The PowerShot S100 uses Canon EOS sensor know-how and the latest DIGIC 5 processor to deliver exceptional images even in low light. With an f/2.0 lens, RAW and GPS this is an expert compact with impact.Features High-sensitivity 12.1 MP Canon CMOS HS Syste...

Sony A77
Sony A77...

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
* 10.1 Megapixel Digital * 3.8x 24mm Wide-Angle Leica Optical Zoom * 3.0" LCD Display * Venus Engine FHD Image Processor * Optical Image Stabilizer Stills & Movies * Intelligent Auto Mode * Film & My Color Mode * Hig...

Sony A65
Sony A65...

Samsung MV800
5X,16.1M,ISO3200,HD720P,30FPS MOVIE,3.0`FLIP OUT TOUCH LCD ...

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT3GN
Panasonic DMC-FT3GN...

Sony Alpha A55
Digital SLR 16.2 Mega Pixel Camera Featuring revolutionary translucent mirror technology for faster shooting and auto-focus between shots, you will never miss a moment with 10 frames per second. You can also record Full HD movies, with auto-focus and ...

Sony NEX-C3
The Sony NEX-C3 is the world?s smallest, lightest interchangeable lens camera with an APS-C sized sensor. Offered in a range of stylish colors, the NEX-C3 brings the promise of DSLR-quality photography to the millions of consumers looking to take professi...

Nikon Coolpix Coolpix AW100
Built to capture the moment most anywhere you goBuilt to withstand depths of up to 10 m, to resist shock when dropped from heights of up to 1.5 m, and to withstand temperatures down to -10C, the COOLPIX AW100 is the slim compact camera made to go more of ...

Fujifilm FinePix XP30
Cameras and Camcorders Digital Cameras ...

Nikon J1
Type – Advanced Camera with Interchangeable Lenses • Picture Angle – Approx. 2.7x lens focal length (Nikon CX format • Effective Pixels – 10.1 million...

Nikon D90
The D90 is equipped with an innovative movie shooting function that delivers genuinely cinematic results, enhanced by the creatively shallow depth of field made possible by the DX-format sensor. This is further refined by the optical quality and broad sel...

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX100V
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100V 16.2MP Digital Camera ...

Nikon Coolpix S9100
Nikon COOLPIX S9100 Digital Camera...

Canon Powershot SX220HS
Canon 12.1 Megapixel PowerShot SX220HS Digital Still Compact Camera ...

Canon EOS 500D
15.1 megapixel Canon-developed CMOS sensor captures superb image quality with low noise and natural colour New DiG!C 4 Processor means faster processing and new features such as Live Face Detection AF Mode 9-point AF and 6-point Assist AF for ultra shar...

Canon IXUS IXUS 220 HS
...

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-TX1
The sleek DSC-TX1 incorporates the "Exmor R" CMOS sensor and boasts stunning low-light performance, reducing grain by more than 50%, even without a flash. High speed burst captures 10fps without distortion and expansive Sweep Panorama shots are easy to ac...

Nikon V1
The Nikon V1 is a compact interchangeable lens camera with 10.1 Megapixel resolution, Full HD video, a selection of innovative shooting modes and what Nikon describes as the world's fastest AF system to date....

Casio EXILIM EX-TR100
Casio EXILIM EX-TR100 / TRYX 12MP Digital Camera...

Nikon Coolpix L120
Nikon COOLPIX L120 Black AUSTRALIAN STOCK ...

Canon IXUS Ixus 230 HS
Sharp, versatile, intelligentA powerful 8x optical zoom lets you home in on details of far away objects or fit more in the frame with the 28mm wide-angle lens for great group shots and landscapes. Intelligent IS automatically adjusts the optical Image Sta...

Nikon Coolpix Coolpix S8200
14x zoom and 16.1 megapixels of ultra-compact imaging powerThe COOLPIX S8200 features a precision 14x optical zoom NIKKOR ED glass lens, which covers a 25 mm wide-angle to 350 mm super-telephoto* focal range. This combines with a back illuminated CMOS ima...

Canon IXUS 310 HS
Check about this package,which include Canon IXUS 310 HS digital camera , 8GB card and HDMI cable ...

Canon IXUS Ixus 1100
Desire more. 12x zoom IXUSVersatile, sharp shootingA Canon lens that lets you get close with 12x optical zoom, while 28mm wide-angle fits more in the frame for great group shots and sweeping landscapes. Intelligent IS automatically adjusts the optical Ima...

Pentax K-r
Pentax K-r Digital Camera...

Fujifilm FinePix HS20
Fujifilm FinePix HS20 16MP, 30x optical zoom, 3.0'' Tilting LCD, ISO 12800, High speed movie, Full HD Movie and photo ...

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
16.0-megapixel Live MOS Sensor with Advanced Noise Reduction System High-speed, High-performance Venus Engine Mirrorless Structure and LUMIX G / LEICA DG Lenses ...

Nikon D700
Nikon's original 12.1-megapixel FX-format (23.9 x 36mm) CMOS sensor Broad ISO sensitivity up to 6400 and incredibly low noise Continuous shooting up to 5 frames per second Three-Inch, super-density 920,000-dot VGA color monitor Two Live View shooting ...

Panasonic FinePix S2950
With a generous 18x Fujinon optical zoom lens, the S2950 really packs a punch, especially when matched with its 14 megapixel sensor, large 3.0" LCD screen and 720p HD (30fps) movie capture. ...

Panasonic DMC-GF3
Panasonics LUMIX DMC-GF3 realizes all the features you want from a bulky DSLR interchangeable lens camera, only it accomplishes this in an ultra compact point-and-shoot camera body about as wide and tall as a typical smart phone yet is lightweight and sim...