Purchasing A Digital Camera - Features To Look For When Picking A New Digital Camera

If you're looking to buy a new point-and-shoot digital camera, then this article is aimed at you. This article will start by taking a look at main features of the majority of digital cameras, then the additional features you might want to look out for{, and then I will take a quick look at the|. Then finally, we will take a look at the} key camera manufacturers available these days.
Most important Features of a Digital Camera
Naturally, each camera has its own unique set of features, but there are some fundamental features that a modern digital camera cannot possibly be without, for instance:
LCD Display: You can view your photos once you have taken them.
Various Auto Modes: Makes it easy to quickly take photographs using roughly the correct exposure settings for the particular situation.
Optical Zoom: Enables you to get close to the object.
Image Stabilizer: Many cameras these days have this feature, which really helps to produce sharper images in difficult conditions.
Additional Features of a Digital Camera
In addition to the most important features mentioned above, there are also various additional features that you may want:
Smart Auto: In addition to the various automatic modes described above, some new cameras can now automatically detect the current photographic conditions and select the right settings accordingly.
Intelligent Portrait Setting: Some newer cameras (such as Nikon) include this feature, which detects faces and can even automatically take a photo whenever a person smiles.
Automatic Panorama Mode: Quickly create wide panoramic views within the camera by taking multiple photos and then letting it automatically stitch them together.
Facial Retouch: Some higher end cameras have the ability to make certain edits within the camera, such as smoothing the skin or removing blemishes.
Built-in GPS Navigation: Easily find locations to shoot and record your location for each shot.
The Most important Manufacturers and their Product Ranges
Canon: $89-$900. Number 1 camera brand, with an extremely broad choice of products (nearly 400 of them) to suit all requirements and budgets.
Olympus: $73-$1,049. Like Canon, another major digital camera brand with a broad assortment of cameras available (more than 350 of them).
Sony: $80-$700. As with Olympus, there are over 350 products available here for a wide range of budgets and requirements.
Nikon: $75-700. Once more, like Sony, over 350 cameras with a wide range of prices.
Kodak: $60-$450. More than 300 digital cameras, covering everything from simple slim point-and-shoots up to more sophisticated fully-featured cameras with full-size lenses.
Panasonic: $89-$586. Much like Kodak, all kinds of cameras across a large range.
Fuji: $80-$1,000. This brand is also good, and has a large number of digital cameras.
Samsung: $80-$850. Also, also a decent make that will be sure to have a camera to suit your needs and/or budget.
Pentax: $75-$400. A decent series of cameras to suit almost anyone.
Casio: $80-350. A good range of digital cameras at some very reasonable prices, even for the ones with larger lenses and more features.
Vivitar: $20-$120. A good collection of low budget compact digital cameras. Ideal if you don't have much money.
General Electric: $60-$195. Not a very big collection (about 70), these cameras are mostly of the compact type.
Polaroid: $24-180. As with General Electric, not a very big series, and mostly compacts. However, if you're struggling money-wise, there are some extremely low budget ones here.

By: Benjamin Donnington

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Still not certain which camera to get? Go to Top Digital Cameras where we review all the top cameras, including the Panasonic DMC ZS7