Digital Cameras: The Top 10 Things You Need to Know1) Resolution is less important than you think
There is a popular misconception that more megapixels lead to better pictures. This is not the case.
Sure, higher resolution gives you the ability to crop more aggressively or print large pictures, but only a fraction of digital photographers will benefit from this ability. If you're a casual shooter who won't be printing pictures larger than 8x10" or doing extensive computer editing, then a camera with 5- or 6-megapixel resolution will be sufficient.
More advanced photographers will likely appreciate the flexibility of higher resolution, but a 10+ megapixel camera is by no means necessary to create stunning pictures. Choose a camera you can understand and afford, and don't be fooled by glitzy high-resolution specs.
2) Zoom is more important than you think
Whether you're shooting distant wildlife or close-up portraits, you can never have too much zoom. The majority of digital cameras have 3-, or 4x optical zoom, but you will never regret choosing a model with more telephoto power.
Fortunately the extended zoom camera category is growing rapidly, and there is a great selection of models with 8-, 10-, or even 12x optical zoom. For the ultimate in zoom control and quality, look for an extended-zoom camera with image stabilization, which will ensure that shots taken at full telephoto will be tack-sharp, even without a tripod.
3) Travelers should use cameras with AA Batteries
Digital cameras come in two varieties: those that use AA-size batteries and those that are powered by proprietary lithium-ion batteries. If you are a traveler, particularly someone who enjoys remote or rustic locations, choose a camera with AA batteries.
When a camera that uses proprietary batteries runs out of power, you have no choice but to plug the battery into a power outlet to recharge it. This requires an available outlet, a battery charger, and, if you're in a foreign country, a power converter. If access to an outlet is ever in doubt, or if you don't want the hassle of carrying cords and chargers, then the limitations of this system are obvious.
When a camera that uses AA-size batteries runs out of power on a trip, you can simply throw out the old batteries and drop in a new set of high-performance AAs like the Energizer E2 Lithium line. Two or three sets of such batteries can usually take you through a 10-day trip. If you're out of high-performance batteries, you also have the option of using standard alkaline batteries, which are available anywhere in the world, and make a cheap and convenient source of backup power (though they only offer a fraction of the life of high performance batteries).
Recent trips to Asia and Africa have borne this theory out—after my companions' cameras had been sidelined by dead batteries, I was still happily shooting away with my AA-powered Canon PowerShot.
4) Small cameras get shots that big cameras don't
Sure, that big, black SLR with the long lens may look fancy, but it won't do you any good if you're not carrying it. Never underestimate the importance of having a camera that is small enough to fit into your pocket—you'll be amazed at the spontaneous pictures you'll have the opportunity to take. While the photo quality produced by an ultra-compact does not equal that of a large SLR, the ability to whip it out and snap a shot while others are fumbling for their bulky cameras more than outweighs this drawback.
5) Canon makes great cameras
Canon digital cameras receive consistently great reviews, and for good reason: Over the last 2+ years, Canon has time and again proven itself capable of producing well-designed cameras that produce impressive results. From the EOS line of digital SLRs to the diminutive PowerShot ELPHs, Canon invests substantial time in the design process, and the results pay off—photographers of all abilities rave about their Canon cameras.
There have been some mistakes along the way—the Canon A70 was built with a design flaw that produces crippling error messages and black lines on the LCD, but newer models seem to be free of this problem. If you're looking for a great combination of features, price, and performance, Canon will almost always deliver. (NOTE: Digital Camera HQ is in no way affiliated with Canon, nor do we derive any benefit from recommending one brand over another).
6) Kodak makes great, easy-to-use cameras
When I bought my mother her first digital camera, I chose a Kodak, having read countless reviews that raved about their user-friendly controls. The reviews were right—Kodak's EasyShare digital cameras are remarkably easy to use: the menus are simple, the LCD text large and clear, and the controls largely self-explanatory. The results are just as impressive, with attractive, saturated colors and crisp definition. Don't be fooled into thinking that Kodak digital cameras are just for beginners, however—their simplicity aside, many of the high-end EasyShare models offer a full suite of manual controls for ambitious photographers.
7) Digital cameras can and will break
Whether it's due to accidental damage or simple wear and tear, digital cameras are not as durable as their film counterparts. Many photographers have film cameras that are ten or twenty years old—don't expect this kind of longevity from your new digital toy. Some cameras suffer from design flaws (like black lines on the LCD screen of the Canon A70), while others fall victim to the kind of mechanical breakdowns that effect every kind of electronic gear.
Does this mean that you shouldn't buy a digital camera? Absolutely not. A digital camera will so fundamentally change the way you think about photography that you will wonder how you ever got along without one. You must, however, be comfortable with the fact that one day your camera will cease to work.
For some, this knowledge may keep them from spending top dollar on a fancy camera; others simply accept it as the sole downside of working with digital. The most important thing is to do your homework before you buy—any fundamental design flaws will be quickly apparent in user reviews.
8) Don't put all your pictures on one card
After returning from a trip to Asia, I eagerly inserted one of my memory cards into a card reader to download my new pictures. For still unexplained reasons (likely a static electricity discharge), a card that should have held over 200 pictures was suddenly rendered blank. Two weeks and $250 later (thanks to www.drivesavers.com), I had recovered about 90% of my pictures, but the rest were lost permanently.
The moral of the story? Like any other technology, flash memory is not flawless. It is very rare to lose images, but it does happen, and the fact that I had spread my pictures between 5 memory cards protected me from the possibility of losing two weeks' worth of irreplaceable vacation memories. Given the choice between choosing a single 1GB memory card, or four 256MB cards, I will always choose multiple cards.
9) Find & use a simple photo editing program
Most digital photographers will never take the time to master expensive and powerful photo editing programs like Adobe Photoshop or Jasc Paint Shop Pro—these programs are too complex and time-consuming for all but the most dedicated photographers. Fortunately there are a variety of easy-to-use editing programs that even novice photographers can use to edit, improve, and organize their digital photos.
My favorite program is Picasa, and it is absolutely free at www.picasa.com. With Picasa you can perform all the basic editing tasks like sharpening, contrast correction, cropping, and straightening—most with just the touch of a button. Spend a few minutes on your best photographs and you will be amazed at the results. Picasa also make it incredibly easy to organize your best shots so you don't have to sift through hundreds of unwanted pictures to find your prizewinners.
10) Print and display your pictures
Far too many people take great digital images, only to have them languish in obscurity on their hard drive, never to be enjoyed by others. Don't let this happen to you.
Online image hosting and printing companies like Snapfish or Kodak Gallery can turn your digital images into high-quality prints of any size. You can simply upload your pictures onto the website. From there you can order prints of every size as well as photo mouse pads, calendars, t-shirts and other gifts. You can also send a link to friends so that they can view your pictures online and order their own copies.
If you want to see more of your own pictures, nothing beats using them as a screen saver on your computer. Simply right-click on your desktop, choose Properties/Screen Saver/Settings, and you can direct your computer to the pictures you wish to use. Set the screensaver to change images every 10 seconds and you'll have an instant slide show every time your computer is idle.
The festive season is here, and with it comes the worry of frantically searching for fun gifts for friends and family. Well, now you may not have to search any more, at least if you are looking for a digital camera for one of your tech-loving friends.
Here is our choice of top 10 cameras within the price range of Rs.8000-Rs.10,000 that will be perfect as festive gifts. 
So hurry and take a look, because a camera is one of those quintessential gadgets- one that allows you to capture fun times and memories that will last for a lifetime. And as we all know, the parties have begun, and life has begun to take on a fun and feisty mood as we are bang in the middle of the festive season.
The Olympus FE270 is a fun digital camera that most photography enthusiasts will come to love. The FE270 is a 7.1 mega pixel camera with a 3x optical zoom and around 15 scene modes, offering users the best results in different situations. A good thing is that videos can be shot with sound. Also, using the Super Macro Mode, users will be able to capture great shots of flowers and other objects that require detailed close-ups. Once again, this camera offers 6.9MB of internal memory. This camera from Olympus just costs Rs.8995.
The Lumix LS70 camera can rightly be termed as Panasonic’s most worthed introduction for 2007. This 7.2 mega pixel camera with its superb Lumix DC VARIO optical 3x zoom lens and a host of features makes this a tempting buy. Its 20-inch TFT color monitor is decent. However, the 27MB of internal memory that comes with this camera makes up for any missing features. Moreover, the camera also offers various modes such as Burst capture mode and red-eye reduction modes. The price of the Lumix LS70 digital camera is Rs.9250.
The Canon PowerShot A550 is one of the few entry-level cameras that offers a larger-than-life 2.0-inch LCD versus the traditional 1.8-inch screen. Other features include a 4x optical zoom lens, point-and-shoot operation, a VGA movie mode and support for SDHC memory cards. Battery life of the PowerShot A550 is great as it allows you to clock around 550 shots before dying out. Canon’s PowerShot A550 digital camera is perfect for a gift for close friends and family at Rs.9,990.
The Samsung DIGIMAX S500 is a 5.1 mega pixel camera with a 3x optical zoom and a large 2.4-inch LCD screen. The design of the camera offers an ergonomic grip for steady shooting. A conveniently placed mode dial and a quick print button for direct printing are added features that users will come to appreciate. Internal memory of this camera is approximately 20MB, while an MMC or SD card up to 1GB is also compatible for extra storage. The DIGIMAX S500 camera carries a price tag of Rs.9,990.
The sleek Polaroid T730 with its 7.1 mega pixels, 3x optical zoom, 4x optical zoom and of course the 2.5-inch color TFT LCD display makes for a good festive gift. Although it is compatible with most SD memory cards, the camera does offer an internal memory of 32MB (18 images) in case you forget to carry your SD cards. This PC and Mac- compatible camera offers a host of features such as Red-eye reduction, Slow Sync (which gives you the right kind of light setting) and an Electronic 2-10 second timer. At a super price of Rs.10,990, the Polaroid T730 from the company’s popular T-series will be perfect for the old as well as the youth.
The Nikon S200 is one of Nikon’s tiniest point-and-shoot cameras. It is equipped with a 7.1 mega pixel with a 3x optical zoom lens. The 2.5-inch LCD with 153,000 pixel resolution offers the only means of composing images, since this camera does not actually have an optical viewfinder. Even though the core feature set for this camera is quite typical, other in-camera fixes such as D-Lighting, which adjusts the exposure/brightness and Best Shot Selector, which determines the best photo in a series of shots, make the Nikon S200 a good buy for those venturing into photography. A unique benefit is the fact that the Nikon S200 can double as a voice recorder, offering up to 5 hours of recording time. The Nikon S200 digital camera carries a price tag of Rs.12,950.
The Sony CyberShot W55 digital camera is a 7.2 mega pixel camera with a 3x optical zoom. This camera has the ability to deliver spectacularly clear, high resolution digital images with just about every click. Moreover, the CCD allows a higher light level to pass to each pixel, increasing sensitivity, reducing noise and utilizing more digital information when reproducing the subject. The large 2.5-inch LCD allows for easy viewing of images clicked, while Sony’s G Series Lithium-ion battery maximizes the power of the camera up to 380 shots on a single charge. An added bonus is the 56MB of internal memory in case you forget to carry your Memory Stick Duo card. The cost of this camera is Rs.12,990.
Kodak always has something interesting to offer, just like this 8.0 mega pixel Kodak M883 camera with its 3x optical zoom lens. The camera is housed in a thin and tylish metallic body and come with some interesting accessories such as carry bags, SD cards and USB AC adapters. Plus, it sports a huge 30inch wide-angle viewing LCD. Other good features include face detection technology and several scene modes to suit just about any environment when shooting. As the Kodak M88r camera features picture enhancing features on the camera itself, this model seems to be a perfect gift at Rs.13,999.
The Olympus MJU 820 is an attractive 8 mega pixel digital camera with a 5x lens and a large 2.7-inch and bright LCD screen which incorporates anti glare technology. Its sturdy body is supposed to brave small splashes and showers with ease, but don’t go about dunking this one into a bucket of water! So it’s perfect for travelers and trekkers alike. A number of modes, 25 language options and a small internal memory complete the features of this camera. The Olympus MJU 820 camera may be a dream come true for some at an attractive price of Rs.14.995.
Next up is the Kodak EasyShare V803 is an 8 mega pixel digital camera with a 3x optical zoom. In spite of having a small display of just 6.4cms, the pictures come out crystal clear, enough to make anyone satisfied. The lens retracts back into the body, and the whole package is designed to slip into a pocket for a night out. This camera that costs Rs.14,999 comes in a number of exciting colors including red, blue, yellow, purple, white, silver, pink and black.
Please note: The prices noted above may differ by Rs.500 in the Indian market. However, all of these cameras are immediately available. So what are you waiting for!
