How to choose a digital camera  Part I       by John Harrison

As a professional photographer and teacher, one of the most common questions I get asked is "what should I look for when buying a new digital camera?"

Most modern digital camera are capable of producing great images in the right circumstances.  What you really need to find out is which camera is right for YOU.  Regardless of the manufacturer and cost, all camera have advantages and disadvantages and by weighing these up against your needs you are likely to make a better choice. The pros and cons listed are rather general so you need to check the individual cameras you are researching to see if they apply.

Part I of this article (this part) lists the pros and cons of the most common types of digital camera available.  Part II explains the implications of these to help you decide their importance to you.

There are three main choices of digital camera on today's market:   "point and shoot', "compact" and  SLR (single lens reflex).  Which is best for you?

'Point and shoot' camera.

These little cameras are great for putting in your pocket and taking anywhere but have limitations for the more serious photographer.  They are great for taking on holidays and family outings but don't expect to always get perfect shots in less than ideal conditions. 

Pros

Lightweight

small

relatively inexpensive

Cons

Difficult to operate unless in fully automatic mode

No optical viewfinder

Built in flash not powerful

Zoom lens has very limited range. 

Tiny image sensor  

'Compact' camera

Larger than a 'point and shoot' but smaller than an SLR these cameras are a compromise between the two.  For more serious photographers these cameras usually have ability to override the automatic modes meaning you can 'get creative' and shoot in more difficult conditions and an optical viewfinder enabling you to hold the camera more steady whilst shooting.

Pros

lighter and more compact than SLR

Optical viewfinder

Ability to operate in semi-manual modes.

Better zoom than point & shoot

Better flash than point & shoot

Cheaper than SLR

Larger image sensor than point and shoot

Cons

Bulkier than point & shoot

Unable to change lenses

Optical viewfinder not as good as SLR

More expensive than point and shoot

smaller image sensor than SLR

SLR (Single lens reflex)

The SLR camera is the most versatile camera of the three making them by far the most popular choice of professionals and serious amateurs.  Surprisingly, SLRs are often easier to use than the other choices having fully automatic modes as well as easily accessible semi-manual and fully manual modes.  They are however bulkier and more expensive than the other choices.

Pros

Good optical viewfinder
Ability to change lenses

Easy to use manual controls

larger image sensor than compact

Cons

Bulkier and heavier than other types

More expensive

Now read part II of "How to choose a digital camera" to understand what this all means to you.

About the Author

John Harrison is a professional wedding and portrait photographer living and working in the Hunter Valley, NSW Australia.  Between assignments, John runs short courses in digital photography from his Hunter Valley studio.