The top rated digital cameras are listed in Consumer Reports, and can be found by calling camera shops or other electronic specialty stores, or by looking on the Internet for the top selling digital cameras. All of the brand names of traditional cameras also have digital products, so it's easy to locate names that are familiar. That's a good place to start, and then the various qualities of the cameras will help a person determine which one will fit his particular needs. Like just about any electronic gizmos people look for these days, these photography tools are being improved constantly. The choice one makes depends upon which of the bells and whistles are going to matter, and which are not.
One of the first things to consider when evaluating a camera is how easy it is to reach common settings such as resolution, macro mode, flash, and exposure adjustments. Also, how easy it is to play back just-taken pictures. If there are too many buttons to push before getting what you want or it isn't clear which one does what, time is wasted and the frustration level rises. Simple is definitely better. An LCD screen for viewing the pictures as they are taken is included on all but the least expensive units, and they provide a way to judge how good the pictures are before they are printed. LCD quality varies, so if it is possible, a buyer should try the camera outside before actually making a purchase, even if it's one of the top rated digital cameras. In Bible times there were no photographers or cameras, but sculpted images were common. Some made the mistake of creating statues of imagined gods to worship, and God made clear how he felt about that. "Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands." (Micah 5:13)
The megapixel count is still the most important feature of the top selling digital cameras. The higher the megapixel number, the higher the resolution of the pictures. Because that feature is the first considered by buyers, most manufacturers put that number on the front of the camera where it's easily seen. To judge the kind of photos possible at different levels, the following numbers are guidelines: A 2-megapixel camera can produce images of about 1600 by 1200 pixels, allowing for high-quality 5 by 7 prints. A 3-megapixel camera can produce images of bout 2048 by 1536 pixels, allowing for crisp 8 by 10 prints. Higher resolution requires more memory, so a larger capacity memory card will need to be added, even on top rated digital cameras. Consequently, if a photographer is going to produce mostly small snapshots or images to send via e-mail or post on the web, a 2-megapixel camera will suffice. For larger copies, 4 megapixels or more will be required.
Battery life is limited, even with the top selling digital cameras. Battery life and cost often aren't related. Some can use AA batteries of any type--disposable or rechargeable. That is especially important if the rechargeable batteries run out of juice, and the photographer doesn't want to wait until they are recharged. Time can be important, so if regular batteries can be popped in instead, important shots haven't been lost. Even so, rechargeable batteries and a charger are good to have. If the photographer will be taking mostly indoor shots auxiliary lights that help focus in dim settings will be important features to look for in the top selling digital cameras.
Depending upon the expertise of the photographer, a manual focus will allow more accurate focus than the automatic settings in some instances, so that is another feature to consider when looking at top rated digital cameras. Camera experts recommend that buyers also get at least a 2X optical zoom. All of them offer digital zoom, but the resulting photos aren't nearly as good as those taken with an optical zoom, even in the top selling digital cameras.
Some of these cameras have commands and menus that are easier to use than others, and the only way to tell is with hands-on trials, so it will be important to try out the camera before purchasing. A buyer should check the time between pressing the shutter button and when the camera actually takes the picture. Also, he should determine how quickly and smoothly the zoom lens operates. When checking out the top rated digital cameras, avoid those that use floppy disks or compact discs. While floppies are inexpensive, they don't hold many images, and the cameras that use them typically take low-resolution pictures. The ones that use compact discs are bulky and slow. Another important consideration is image-editing software. This allows various ways to edit a picture before it is made into a print. Obviously, photography isn't just "point and shoot" any more.
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