Buying Guides -> Hardware -> Digital Camera

Choose your Digicam!

Team CHIP | 01 November 2007

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ULTRA-COMPACT

Recommended Brands
Canon Digital IXUS 900 Ti, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W90, Nikon Coolpix S8
Budget
Rs 12,000 - Rs 25,000

Ultra-compact digital cameras are the slimmest of the lot and can fit into even a trouser pocket. Hence, they are ideal for those who don’t like carrying bulky cameras while on the move. Due to their compactness, they might compromise on a couple of features that you will find in mainstream or prosumer cameras. So besides ensuring a large LCD display which is also an essential feature, ensure that the camera is packed with features that can help capture great shots. Some examples of these are scene presets, ISO control, and exposure settings. Scene presets such as portrait, landscape, sunset, and night shot are meant for those who have no idea about exposure control. However, with ISO adjustment and exposure settings, you can control the exposure as per your taste. If you are looking for a high-end ultra-compact camera, don’t miss out on features such as at least 5x optical zoom, image stabilization, face detection, and in-camera image editing. For the price of a high-end ultra-compact camera, you can get a good mega-zoom camera. So think twice before you sacrifice functionality for style or portability.

MAINSTREAM

Recommended Brands
Canon PowerShot A710 IS, Canon PowerShot A640, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S700
Budget
Rs 9,000 - Rs 20,000

Mainstream digital cameras are the ones that feature a boxy design and are usually packed with features. Most cameras in this category feature 3x or 4x optical zoom, white balance settings, ISO control, and scene presets. Features that you should look out for in these cameras are shooting modes (program, manual, shutter priority, and aperture priority), image stabilization, face detection, color adjustment, and better optical zoom (5x or 6x). If you are a beginner, you can use the ‘Auto’ mode and scene presets to get decent shots in every light condition. However, if you are familiar with exposure settings, you can use the manual mode or shutter/aperture priority mode in combination with ISO control and white balance settings to get better shots. You can also make shots taken in broad daylight look like they were taken at sunset! Face detection feature is useful while taking portraits or group photos. With face detection enabled, the camera automatically keeps all the faces in the scene (up to 9 faces) well-focused. Finally, when it comes to performance, cameras by Canon and Sony offer top-notch performance and great value for money.

PROSUMER

Recommended Brands
Canon PowerShot S5 IS, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9, Fuji FinePix S6500fd
Budget
Rs 18,000 - Rs 30,000

Prosumer digital cameras borrow their design from SLR cameras. With a hefty build and protruding lens, this type of  camera actually feels like an SLR camera when held. The most striking features of prosumer cameras are high zoom, electronic view finder, and full manual exposure control. Hence, these cameras are more suited for those who are serious about photography. When shooting using high zoom, the camera needs to be kept absolutely steady to get blur-free shots. Because it’s impossible to keep the hand absolutely steady, make sure the camera has optical image stabilization which acts as a counter mechanism for shakes. Even though prosumer cameras are packed with plenty of features, you can still look for additional features such as in-camera image and video editing, and face detection. Some cameras such as the Sony Cybershot DSC-H9 offer night vision for shooting in the dark. Finally, pay close attention to the ergonomics. The camera should have a firm grip, easily accessible buttons and intuitive user interface. If you still want a better camera, look for an entry-level digital SLR camera!

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