Choosing The Right Digital Camera

There are three types of digital camera: compact, bridge and DSLR. The compact has a small housing. The "ultra-compact" exist; their design is often successful, but they are less efficient. Price: from 100 to 500 euros. The bridge is being  distinguished by its small, sturdy but compact zoom, integrated housing.

Price: from 250 to 700 euros. The SLR has two distinct elements: the camera and lens. It is possible to adapt to multiple objectives cases by subject or distance shooting. This modularity significantly improves photographic rendering. Price: from 600 to 6000 euros for a box.





Before purchasing, ask yourself a key question: what will you use your device? This is the test of first choice.
Compact, bridge or SLR: what purpose?

Nomad: holidays, memories, family

Criteria maneuverability, portability and ergonomics are essential fluid. Compact, small, lends itself very well to tourism, a crowd. You can quickly remove it from its case and store it. Required by this type of device minimum settings you will not miss anything of your holiday (beginner level). Limited pixels there a few years ago, compact today were very competitive.

Semi-nomadic excursions, family celebrations
The bridge, a little larger, with a better record, suitable for family celebrations (weddings, baptisms) as well as day trips. Think over several days, a device, even light, eventually becoming cumbersome. It is fairly easy to use (intermediate level).

"Sedentary" Photography dedicated composition
The motivation is that of an optimal aesthetic or artistic (landscapes, moving subjects). The reflex best these conditions shots are ready. Its use is limited in time because of its lack of maneuverability. A higher degree of control features of the device is required (expert level).




If you plan to watch your pictures on a computer screen, compact and bridge give rendered entirely honest. Opt for the bridge if you occasionally print photos. If you have a particular attention to the quality of printing, an SLR camera suitable: better depth of field, no grain, expansion opportunities without pixelation.

Technical Criteria

Number of pixels.

Criterion often considered decisive. He is less due to advances in compact cameras in this area. Important aspect of printing when enlarging a photo or detail.
Screen and viewfinder. The LCD has replaced the optical viewfinder on compact cameras. In bright sunshine, it is difficult to rely on to frame her photos (illegible). If the frame you think is necessary, prefer a "bridge." It has a mini more readable if the sun (but less accurate) screen.
Objective. It must have sufficient zoom to allow for successful shooting in any situation. For large frames (pictures of people, landscapes), pay attention to the presence of a wide-angle or super-angle on the lens.
Stabilizer. It corrects shaky pictures for net rendering. Present on a majority of devices.

Storing images. 4 types of cards exist. Check the compatibility with your device. Storage capacity was greater or lesser. For burst shooting, check the write speed of the card.

Speed. Time the camera takes to turn and shoot from the moment you press the shutter button. A check to use.
Shooting assistance. The device calculates its own type of subject photographed (portrait, landscape) and adjusts the focus and exposure.

graphic criteria

Respect of color, camera sensitivity to light (for the operation of the auto-focus), the flash output are important parameters. These features are provided on the evaluation sheet of the device. It is difficult to obtain optimal performance for each parameter. Choose according to their priority of use.

Computer and peripheral

Check the capacity of the hard disk of your computer (storage) for your photos. The simplest graphics card is good enough today to display photos and videos. For editing, some heavy software like Photoshop, requires a good memory, at least 512 MB