Going Digital
As a parent, you know that one of the greatest tools we have to cherish all of life’s sweet memories is the camera. Digital cameras are even better. They’re a great way to preserve those moments we never want to forget, and they’re eco-friendly, too —no pap
er goes to waste because you only print out the photos you want.
If you’ve thought about buying digital, but were just not quite sure what to look for, don’t worry! We’ve boiled it all down for you, and soon, you’ll be on your way to capturing all of your family’s special moments.
The first rule in camera buying is to throw out all the rules–about megapixels, screen size, battery life, etc. Instead, first decide how big of a camera you are willing to carry. If your fine camera is sitting at home in its lovely shoulder bag when Janie takes her first steps at the park, all those megapixels won’t count for much! Go to a camera store and try putting various models into your current means of carrying: purse, laptop bag or jacket pocket. Now that you know what your size limit is, let’s turn the camera-buying world on its head by explaining why fewer pixels are better.
Early digital cameras had very low resolution, so the prints were not nearly as crisp as film prints. As technology advanced and pixel count increased, digital prints got sharper. Unfortunately, we now have too much of a good thing. Tiny camera sensors can’t gather much light, just as small eye pupils can’t. Take that sensor and divide it up into 12 million dots and the results are grain and digital noise at dusk or indoor settings. Built-in flashes can help, but only with subjects that are close, and even then the light they put out is unnatural and harsh. The good news is that ultra-high resolution is completely unnecessary. For prints up to 8×10, you’ll never see anything above 7 megapixels. For most users, 7 to 10 megapixels is just right.
How Many Megapixels Do you Really Need?
4×6 print = 2 megapixels
5×7 print= 4 megapixels
8×10 print= 7 megapixels
HDTV (1080p)= 2 megapixels
high-end computer monitor= 4 megapixels
Other features to look for are image stabilization (helpful in dim light), a wide-angle lens (for group shots & travel), video recording (because most times, you won’t be carrying the camcorder) and optical zoom (digital zoom degrades quality). If you want good shots of the kids’ soccer matches, you’ll need the fast shutter release and long telephoto range found in a “superzoom” or SLR (single lens reflex) camera.
For specific recommendations, the Canon SD line has consistently great pocket-sized models, while Casio and Sony also make appealing units. Slightly larger are the compacts, such as the Canon A series, an excellent value. In the superzoom category, Panasonic, Nikon and Canon are good choices. For the more advanced “prosumer” SLRs and fixed-lens cameras, Nikon and Canon are top options.
Next time I’ll talk about the best ways to view those amazing pictures.
–“Tech Dad” John Svoboda is a consumer electronics enthusiast, manager and business owner since the time of the 8-track, and holds a Master of Science degree in Telecommunications
February 15th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
I like the comment about buying a camera by the size of your purse. That’s how I chose my last camera (Canon, a small one) and my husband laughed at me. He has a big camera and we always end up taking mine with us to soccer games, not his!