There are many different models and types of digital cameras available just as there are lots of different styles and skill levels of photography. Which digital camera you choose will often depend on what your individual needs are. If you want near professional results and lots of creative control over the photos that you take, then a digital single lens reflex camera can be what you need. But for most people, the choice of a compact or subcompact digital camera would be just fine. Here are some guidelines for choosing digital cameras:
Compact digital cameras are the most popular and common of the camera types. It's still small enough to be very portable and is usually very easy to use with lots of automatic exposure features that produce great overall photos. Some can even have a few manual exposure controls too to help the photographer take charge of the image produced under certain circumstances.
The subcompact camera is even smaller than the compact and because of their small size can be put in a pocket or purse and taken almost anywhere, making them the most portable of all digital cameras. However, you also usually pay more for the smaller size, and will often have even less manual controls over exposure results than the compact cameras. You also have to be careful that the camera is not so small that it actually becomes hard to use.
The advanced digital camera is a step between the compact camera and a digital single lens reflex like that used by serious photography hobbyists and pros. It is larger in size and weight than the compacts and has a fixed lens, but also sports more advanced manual exposure controls and the ability to save in more and better file formats than just JPEG.
With that in mind, we have analyzed lots of independent reviews on digital cameras and have noticed a few models that seem to get universal acceptance and recommendation. Here are those models:
In the compact digital camera category the Fuji FinePix F10, the Canon PowerShot A510, the Kodak EasyShare Z700, and the Olympus Stylus 800 seem to consistently rank very well for their style, ease of use, price, and features. In the subcompact category the Kodak EasyShare V550, the Canon PowerShot SD500 Digital ELPH, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-L1, and the Pentax Optio SV were consistently rated at or near the top of most unbiased independant and consumer reviews.
It's also noteworthy to mention that many reviewers felt that the gap between the best and poorest performing models has narrowed considerably and most cameras that were tested produced acceptable snapshot results overall. But the models mentioned above were often regarded as the cream of the crop and so would make the smartest consumer choices as the best rated digital cameras.
Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including digital photography. You can find the best rated digital cameras and buy digital camera online by visiting our Digital Photography website.
Written By: Thad Pickering
