Digital Cameras

Definition

Cameras are one of the products to have benefited most from the digital revolution. Reels of film, regrets about poor pictures and photos that deteriorate over time are all things of the past. Now, there are virtually no limits to the number of photos that you can take and store!

Choosing your camera

Which type of camera?

A number of types and formats of digital cameras are available on the market today. Compact cameras are the most common. These small appliances fit comfortably into a handbag or even your pocket. Some ultra compact models boast a very stylish design and are often referred to as "jewel compacts".

They are particularly well suited to women. These highly versatile devices are often fitted with powerful zoom lenses, large screens, which are sometimes touch-sensitive, and functions to take high-resolution videos. But their compact dimensions and high level of integration can adversely affect the quality of the images, especially in poor light, where the physical size of the sensor and the lens have a direct impact.

Unlike compact models, SLR cameras are often considered to be professional appliances. Nevertheless, they are now widely accessible to the general public. They are harder to use and less intuitive than compact models, but their power and flexibility appeal to more advanced users. They feature the manual settings that are often missing on compact models and lenses that can be changed to adapt the camera to every situation.

Bridge type cameras are designed to bring together these two types of appliance. They are fitted with powerful zoom lenses and have more advanced settings than compact cameras. But the lens cannot be changed.

The so-called hybrid cameras go even further, featuring a relatively compact case and technologies derived from reflex models. Their large sensor guarantees quality images in poor light, while the lenses can be changed and they feature a number of manual settings.

Resolution of the sensor

Expressed in megapixels (millions of pixels), the resolution is the number of individual points that the sensor can capture in order to create a photograph. In theory, the higher the number of pixels, the more precise the details in the photo. Unfortunately, in their frantic quest for as many megapixels as possible at optimized production costs, manufacturers have lost their way by coming up with very small sensors with individual photosites, which create the pixels, that do not receive enough light. The quality of the images is mediocre in poor light and the sensor’s resolution cannot be fully used. These problems are being addressed by new sensors featuring technologies that capture more light (backlit CMOS sensors) and hybrid and reflex cameras are being fitted with larger sensors, in which each photosite captures more light. Consequently, the latter can make better use of high resolutions.

Image stabilization

Image stabilizers are the best way to avoid blurred images. They are used to take sharp pictures with a hand-held camera, under conditions that would demand a tripod if the camera did not have a stabilizer. While optical stabilizers may be useful on all types of camera and for all kinds of photos, they are almost compulsory on compact models fitted with a small sensor, which tend to keep the shutter open for longer when taking pictures. Electronic image stabilizers are much less helpful, because they are far less efficient than optical stabilizers.

In hybrid or reflex cameras, stabilization takes place on the sensor in the body of the camera itself or directly in the lens. The advantage of stabilization located directly on the sensor is that it will work with all of your lenses, which are also usually cheaper than lenses with built-in stabilization.

Zoom   

Powerful zooms, which were previously only found in bridge cameras or the expensive telephoto lenses on reflex cameras, are now increasingly available on compact models which, until recently, were limited to a 3x or 4x zoom function. A powerful zoom function is an important feature of a versatile camera, especially when taking pictures outdoors, since it helps to correctly frame the subject or landscape.

Video resolution

Digital cameras can now take and save videos. They only recently achieved the levels of quality required to become genuine substitute camcorders. These functions were only recently introduced into reflex cameras which, thanks to the broad selection of lenses, now offer a viable alternative to professional cameras for all amateur film makers! High video resolution is essential for good quality images on a high-definition TV. But videos take up a lot of storage space, so you will need several high-capacity memory cards if you plan on taking a lot of videos with your camera. 

Which camera for which use?

You should choose your camera according to the level of quality you expect and the time you are prepared to spend on adjusting the settings. If you are looking for a simple camera that does not need to be configured and that you want to take everywhere to keep a souvenir of memorable moments, then a compact model is the right choice for you. To be quite honest, a mid-range compact camera with a decent zoom is probably the right choice for most people.

If you know a thing or two about photography, are eager to learn or have an artistic inclination, then you might be disappointed by the lack of flexibility and manual settings of a compact camera. If you already have lenses for a conventional reflex camera, then you can almost certainly use them on a digital reflex model with a compatible mounting, so this could be the right choice for you. On the other hand, if you are buying your first camera, and you want a model that is versatile and powerful, but smaller than a reflex, then a hybrid camera may be an interesting alternative. The quality of the sensors and the lenses in some of today's hybrid models matches the quality of reflex cameras, so the photos you take will be just as good as those taken with a reflex camera.