Guy Gear
Guy Gear: Digital Cameras
Whether it’s a perfect sunset over that alpine lake or an action shot of your troop drenching the Scoutmaster with a bucket of icy river water, capturing the moment lets your memories live on in vibrant color. Not so long ago, you had to carry lots of film and have plenty of cash to get your pictures developed. But things have changed. Just plug the digital camera into your computer. It’s like your own home photo lab. “Digital makes photography easier and cheaper than ever before,” says professional adventure photographer Corey Rich. “Your ability to grow as a photographer is much greater now because you can see the photos instantly and there’s no limit to how many you can shoot.” Sounds simple enough. First, though, you need a camera. Digital technology is changing so quickly these days it can be tough to keep it all straight. So we asked Rich to give us tips on how to shop for a new digital camera. Here’s what you need to know.
THE LOWDOWN
SIZE MATTERS:
“The idea behind making great pictures is having the camera with you all the time,” Rich says. “If a camera is big and cumbersome, more often than not it’ll get left behind.” Stick with pocket-size cameras, also known as point-and-shoots. Look for a camera that’s compact but still packed with plenty of features and a quality lens.
BE IMAGE CONSCIOUS:
Digital images are made up of millions of tiny dots or pixels. In general, the more megapixels, the better the image quality. So that’s one common way to compare digital cameras. If you’re looking for quality prints from your images—especially those larger than 8 inches by 10 inches—avoid cameras with just 1 to 3 megapixels. “Bottom line: you shouldn’t even consider a camera with less than 4 megapixels,” Rich says.
ZOOM ZOOM:
If you plan on taking photos of wildlife, consider getting a camera with an adjustable zoom lens. Look for one with a minimum optical zoom of 3x. Some cameras boast of having “digital zooms,” but that just means the camera can crop the image down—not actually zoom in closer to the subject. For shooting close-ups, make sure your camera also has a macro focus mode.
DON’T LAG:
One of the most frustrating problems with some digital cameras is a thing called lagtime, or the amount of time the camera takes to shoot the picture once you’ve pressed the button. It might not seem like a big deal, but even a second of lagtime is a big bummer when shooting action shots. “If you’re really out there trying to capture moments, you don’t want lag time,” Rich says. Pick a camera with a burst mode that lets you shoot multiple pictures in a row.
MAKE IT EASY ON ME:
“Look for the most automated camera you can find,” Rich says. “It just makes your life easier.” There’s nothing glorious about fiddling with manual controls, and fortunately many cameras let you choose from preprogrammed functions that will provide quality photos from most any environment or situation.
DURABILITY IS THE DEAL:
If you plan to bring your camera on outings, look for one that is dust- and shock-resistant—maybe even waterproof if you’re around water a lot. If the camera says it’s weatherproof it should be able to handle rainstorms but not underwater photography. Also, some cameras can be paired with protective sleeves or cases for added durability. “Most point-and-shoots are really designed to handle abuse,” he says.
WHAT IT COSTS:
Prices continue to drop on digital cameras, so you should be able to find a quality one for less than $200. Look for better deals online but stay away from used cameras, like some you will find on eBay. Digital cameras store images on memory cards (also known as flashcards). Your camera will probably come with one, but you’ll want to buy at least one or two extras so you can shoot lots of photos without always having to delete or download shots to empty your card. Rich recommends sticking with name-brand cards such as those made by Lexar and stick with flashcards with one gigabyte of memory or less. “Don’t get lured into buying gigantic flash cards,” Rich warns. “It’s better to buy two. That way if one card breaks or gets wet, your pictures on the other card will be safe.”
WHAT’S HOT
$199 or less
Kodak EasyShare C300 ($110)
This is a great starter camera. Though the C300’s 3.2 megapixels are just shy of Rich’s 4-megapixel minimum, it’s compact and affordable. With three shot modes—auto, night and video—the camera is simple to use right out of the box. Its video setting lets you capture 30 seconds of video. (www.kodak.com
or 1-800-235-6325)
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S600 ($199)
6-megapixel camera for less than $200, this Sony model is a great value. It features a 3x zoom (31-93mm), a 3-shot burst mode for catching action and a video mode that lets you record 30 frames per second of video. (www.sonystyle.com
or 1-877-865-7669)
Mid-Level - $200 to $350
Canon Powershot A520 ($199)
Although you can find smaller point-andshoots, the 4-megapixel A520 has great image quality and is packed with functionality, including such features as a 4x zoom (35-140mm) and 13 shooting modes. It can be made waterproof with an optional underwater housing. (www.usa.canon.com
or 1-800-652-2666)
PENTAX OptioWPi ($350)
River rats will love the 6-megapixel OptioWPi. It’s waterproof, so it’ll handle torrential downpours and mud and can even shoot photos up to five feet underwater. Comes with a 3x zoom (38-14mm), 18 preprogrammed modes and a rechargeable lithium battery. (www.H20camera.com or 1-800-877-0155)
Advanced – $350 and up
Olympus SP-500 Ultra Zoom
With a whopping 27 shooting modes, 21 of which are fully automatic, the 6-megapixel Olympus does practically everything for you. It also has a beefy 10x zoom (38-380mm), a Super Macro mode for shooting close-ups just over an inch from the subject and a burst mode with very little lagtime. (www.olympusamerica.com
or 1-888-553-4448)
Nikon Coolpix S4 ($400)
Small enough to fit in your pocket even with the 10x zoom (38-380mm), the 6-megapixel S4 is a powerful point-and-shoot. It has 16 shot modes and four different video modes. Best of all, the unique swivel design lets you frame your shots from any angle, even while holding it over your head. (www.nikondigital.com
or 1-800-645-6687
Read 14 comments about “Guy Gear: Digital Cameras”
June 16th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Is their any camcorders because I am looking for a cheap good quality camcorder.
June 13th, 2008 at 8:10 am
I bought a Canon PowerShot A710 and I really like it.
June 6th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
How much is the Olympus????
March 15th, 2008 at 8:44 am
I realy like the olympus ultra zoom but it cost way to much. Do you have any other ones like that one but cheaper?
November 4th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
I want the canon powershot!
August 1st, 2007 at 11:52 am
You know nice things don’t just get handed to you. If you want a good digital camera you’re going to have to pay at least $200 and probably more, so get over it! Also to camera guy I’m going to have to say that from my limited experience with these features I would go with the Cannon Powershot because I’ve always found that zoom power and water proofing are more useful than megapixels and video modes. That’s just my opinion though.
July 19th, 2007 at 6:31 am
i’m gonna have to save a lot
July 8th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
Way Too Expensive!!!!!!!
July 8th, 2007 at 7:16 am
which do u think is a better deal the sony cybershot or the cannon power shot
they cost the same and im not sure which one is better
July 3rd, 2007 at 4:24 pm
That wrist camera looks really cool. Good piece of technollogy!