Tech notes

Jun 22 2006 By Herb Kim, The Journal

Whether you are a budding David Bailey or a contented amateur, choosing a new digital camera is becoming increasingly challenging - indeed, nowadays there are almost as many features and functions to consider as when buying a new computer.

So I've put together a six-step buyer's guide to help you pick the camera best suited to your requirements:

1) Size. The latest digital cameras are thin and light enough to slip into your pocket or purse.

Unlike the smallest 35mm cameras, these pocket digital cameras are packed with features and take snaps as good as larger models.

But if you'd rather have something more substantial (so you don't have to worry about dropping it in your drink at a wedding), then point-and-shoot cameras will suffice, which are bigger and often cheaper.

2) Megapixels. The megapixels capability of a camera relates to the maximum resolution it can capture - and it's generally given a lot of attention by shop salespeople.

But unless you're a professional photographer, a camera boasting around six megapixels will be more than enough.

3) Zoom. Generally, you should ignore the digital zoom rating and the overall zoom specifications - these figures don't truly indicate how good the zoom is. Instead, focus (no pun intended) on optical zoom.

This refers to the physical movement of the camera lens and gives you a better idea of how far the camera can zoom and to what quality.

4) Speed. Early digital cameras were very slow - to start up, capture a shot and be ready for the next shot.

People had to hold their smiles for what seemed like 20 minutes while you tried to take their photo. Try before you buy.

5) In-camera editing. Screens are larger on today's cameras and some companies have taken advantage of this by including in-camera editing facilities that, for example, enable you to edit out red-eye or add various effects to a shot.

While this negates the need to do it on your computer, it can be a little cumbersome, so it's worth testing first.

6)Transferring images. The ability to transfer and share your photographs electronically is one of the biggest advantages of digital cameras.

But it's also always been troublesome. Look out for cameras that allow you to transfer images via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi - enabling you to email your photographs around the world in seconds.

Among the many quality brands of camera worth checking out are Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Ricoh and Nikon.

Herb Kim is chief executive officer of Codeworks, the North-East's centre of excellence for digital technology.