Step 1Digital Camera Buying Guide - Basics

Introduction

This general Digital Camera Buying Guide consists of 4 easy steps. Those who are already familiar with digital cameras and are considering a DSLR should read the DSLR Buying Guide. If you are not sure what a DSLR is, keep reading, you are on the right page.

Step 1 - this page - introduces basic digital camera concepts. The terms explained here are often prominently displayed on camera boxes and advertisements. Understanding these is essential for knowing what to pay attention to when comparing digital cameras.

Megapixels

6 Megapixels 3 Megapixels 1 Megapixel
6 Megapixels
3 Megapixels
1 Megapixel

Megapixels is a measure of resolution. With more megapixels, a camera can capture smaller details. This makes it possible to make larger prints without looking blurry.

A few years ago, megapixels were the high mark for which cameras competed. Now that modern cameras rarely have fewer than 12 MP, more megapixels are not needed except by those intent on making huge prints. Buyers would better concentrate on other digital camera features now.

Camera makers label their cameras with the maximum number of megapixels they can capture. This is usually written as 18 MP, with MP standing for MegaPixels. Specifically, a megapixel corresponds to roughly one million pixelsFor example, a 3 megapixel image is composed of about 3 million dots. A pixel is a tiny dot from which all digital pictures and videos are composed.

Optical Zoom

Optical zoom is the ability of a camera to photograph a smaller area from a given point of view. Greater optical zoom lets you capture more details from distant subjects. This is important for certain subjects, like wildlife and sports photography where you cannot easily get physically close to your subject.

Original Optical Zoom
Original
Optical zoom 4X

Optical zoom is actually a property of the lens, so it applies only to cameras with a fixed lens. It is measured by how much closer the camera can zoom compared to its widest setting. For example, a 2X optical zoom can make a subject appear twice as close. A few cameras have fixed-focal length lenses, which means they do not zoom at all.

Plenty of cameras, have interchangeable lenses, meaning that the lens can be changed. Those are called ILC which stands for Interchangeable Lens Camera. In this case, each lens may have its own optical zoom and the camera's reach can usually be extended both longer and wider by buying new lenses for it.

Digital Zoom

Digital zoom refers to a digital camera's attempt to emulate optical zoom. Digital zoom gives the impression of getting closer to a subject without actually capturing any more detail. Digital zoom is the equivalent of cutting the center of a picture and blowing-up just that portion.

  • Original
    Image
  • Digital Zoom
    Crop
  • Digital Zoom
    Image

Digital zoom must be ignored when purchasing a digital camera because it can easily be done with better quality and precision by computer after a picture is taken. Camera manufacturers tend to emphasize digital zoom in small models to compensate for short optical zoom but this only confuses buyers.

Despite cameras having up to 50X optical zoom now, certain manufacturers still boast regarding digital zooms but hide it under other names, such as Smart Zoom, Fine Zoom, Quality Zoom, etc. These are all digital zooms in desguise.

LCD

LCD stands for liquid crystal display. It refers to the small screen on the back of a digital cameraSome very old digital camera did not have an LCD but all the ones from this decade do. which is used for viewing the pictures you took and, in most cases, to preview the picture you are about to take. When an LCD previews the image correctly, it is called Exposure-Priority as opposed to display-priority, which shows a bright and clear image regardless of exposure.

LCD of a DSLR

LCDs are described by their sizeA 3" LCD measures 3 inches diagonally. and by their resolutionA 920K pixel LCD has 920,000 pixels.. Larger sizes give a more comfortable experience but small differences are not easily noticeable. Between a 3" and a 3.2" LCD, usability is the same but not between 2" and 3". A higher resolution means a more crisp display and makes judging focus easier. At least 460K pixels is recommended to show fine details clearly.

DSLRs, which are a type of cameras supporting interchangeable lenses and known for their high image quality, are intended to be used through their optical-viewfinder (OVF). Recent models can also preview images on the LCD which is called Live-View. Not all Live-View are equal but, regardless, the performance of DSLRs drops in terms of autofocus speed and sometimes limited functionally when using Live-View.

Viewfinder

The viewfinder is the part of the camera used to frame images. This makes it the most used part of any camera and a critical one in terms of user-experience. There are several types of viewfinders. The rear LCD mentioned above can be used as a viewfinder on the majority of digital cameras. On small models, it is very often the only viewfinder available. Plenty of camera have more than one though and some can use an optional detachable viewfinder.

Table of Digital Camera Viewfinders

Viewfinder
Type
ProsConsCameras
LCD
  • Large view.
  • Visible from different angles.
  • May be Exposure-Priority.
  • Poor visibility in bright light.
  • Prone to camera shake due to being held at arm's length.
  • Difficult to keep level.
  • Lags behind action.

All non-DSLRs. Most DSLRs with limitations.

EVF
  • Visible in all lighting conditions.
  • Excellent but grainy in low-light.
  • Shows detailed camera info.
  • May be Exposure-Priority.
  • Requires very high-resolution to show focus accurately.
  • May blow out highlights or shadows before sensor.
  • Lags behind action.

On most large ultra-zooms. Built-in on some mirrorless cameras. Optional on many mirrorless cameras.

Optical
Reflex
  • Easy to judge focus.
  • May optionally show Depth-of-field via DOF-PreviewOn cameras marked with: Depth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Depth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting..
  • Usually shows partial image. High-end models often show 100% coverage though.
  • Not limited by camera sensor.
  • Usable with camera powered off.
  • Impossible to judge exposure, color and WB.
  • Limited info shown.
  • Dimmed by ND filters.

DSLR cameras.

Optical
Tunnel
  • Viewable in all lighting conditions.
  • Very poor framing accuracy.
  • Impossible to judge focus.
  • Impossible to judge exposure, color and WB.

Some compact cameras.

Even between the same type of viewfinder, there can be significant differences. The size of the optical viewfinder on a DSLR greatly influences how precisely one can judge focus. EVFs have the broadest range of performance from very poor 0.2" ones with 115K pixels to large 0.5" ones with a whopping 2.4 megapixels. The best show an Exposure-Priority view at all times and make the camera completely usable at eye-level.

Digital Camera Types

There are various types of digital cameras as explained in Demystifying Digital Camera Types although, lately, boundaries are blurring. Broadly speaking, the simplest models are called Point & Shoot and give the lowest image quality. They are small and often referred as Compact or Ultra-Compact for pocket-size models.

Single Lens ReflexSingle Lens Reflex A Digital SLR is made so that the viewfinder actually looks through the lens of the camera. All current Digital SLRAlso called a DSLR cameras allow their lenses to be changed. Digital SLR cameras are usually sold without lenses. They are known for high image quality and fast performance. These are used by professional photographers for most of their work.

Bridge or Premium cameras give more control than a point-and-shoot while sharing similar technology. Most models therefore offer a step above in image quality but cannot compete with DSLRs. A handful of exceptions exist though.

Mirrorless cameras are the newest type of digital camera. They are designed to offer high quality and flexibility without the bulk of a DSLR. Models differ greatly with some large models offering the same image-quality as DSLRs, small ones with compact-like image-quality and plenty of models in-between. Consult the Mirrorless Camera Guide for details.

Flash

Without a flash Using the flash
No flash
Flash

A flash on a digital camera, just like on a film camera, is a small lamp that can add light to close by objects when a picture is taken.

A pop-up flash is normally hidden and pops-up when it is required. A flash is described by the maximum distance of objects it can sufficiently illuminate when the lens is wide-open and when it is completely zoomed-in.

Most digital cameras have a built-in flash. Those that do not, always accept an optional unit. The most common interface for optional units is called the hot-shoe with a few variants, so not all flashes function or even attach to all hot-shoe.

There is little need to worry about flash when comparing digital cameras except for specialized needs such as studio or high-speed photography.

Movie Mode

The vast majority of digital cameras can record short video clips. This can range from a few seconds to minutes or even hours, although European regulations limit this to under 30 minutes per clip. These clips are made by rapidly taking a sequence of images.

The video capability of a digital camera is described by its maximum resolutionThe number of pixels in each image., frame-rateThe number of frames taken each second. and durationThe length of the longest video clip that can be captured without interruption when enough memory is available.. While it is usually the highest resolution video mode which is prominently advertised, some cameras can also record High-Speed, Slow-Motion or Time-Lapse video. High-Speed videos cannot be acheived another way, so if this is important to you, look for that feature explicitly. Keep in mind that resolution drops rapidly as frame-rate goes up, so these videos are of limited use.

Ultra HD (4K) video: 3840x2160 resolution or more.Ultra HD (4K) video: 3840x2160 resolution or more. Ultra HD which is also called 4K is video captured at 4X the resolution of Full HD. Cameras marked with this icon can capture video at 3840x2160 or 4096x2160, which has a slightly wider aspect-ratio.
Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more but less than 4K.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more but less than 4K. 1080p video is the highest HD resolution and is sometimes referred to as Full HD. It has a resolution of 1920x1080 with a 16:9 wide-screen aspect-ratio. Frame rates vary between 24 and 60 FPS with 30 being the most common. Digital cameras with CMOS sensors almost always do 1080p.
720p HD Video: 1280 x 720 resolution or more but less than 1920 x 1080.720p HD Video: 1280 x 720 resolution or more but less than 1920 x 1080. 720p is still HD but with a lower resolution of 1280x720 with a 16:9 wide-screen aspect-ratio. Digital cameras that do 720p and slightly higher, without reaching 1080p, are also labelled with this icon. A frame-rate between 24 and 60 FPS is very common for 720p with 15 or 120 FPS sometimes available.
VGA Video: 640 x 480 or more but less than 1280 x 720.VGA Video: 640 x 480 or more but less than 1280 x 720. VGA video has a resolution of 640x480 or 848x480 for wide-screen aspect-ratio. This is the standard for older cameras but most cameras do at least 720p now. CCD sensors which are presently slower than CMOS sensors, rarely do more than 720p.

Video capabilities are relatively new among DSLRs, yet their video quality is excellent. The shallow depth-of-field provided by DSLRs makes video feel more cinema-like. They can also film in very low-light compared to smaller cameras. On the flip-side, DSLR are much more sensitive to focus precision, so produce out-of-focus videos most more frequently than cameras with smaller sensors when focus is not perfect.

Next

There are more camera basics to learn for people looking for something beyond a point-and-shoot. Proceed to More Camera Basics if that is the case for you or learn how to choose between digital cameras in step 2 of this digital camera buying guide: Choosing Basics.

Please Support Neocamera

All information on Neocamera is provided free of charge yet running this website is a huge endeavor. Purchases made via affiliate links found throughout the site help keep it running and up-to-date. There is no additional cost to you, so please consider buying via these links to our affilates:

  • Adorama Banner
  • Amazon Banner
  • Essential Photo Banner
  • Best Buy Banner

If you found any information on this site valuable and did not purchase via our affiliate links, please considering donating via PayPal:

Any amount will be greatly appreaciated. Thank you for your support!

Camera Bag

Clear

Your camera bag is empty. To add a camera or lens click on the star next to its name.

Your camera bag is empty.

Add cameras or lenses by clicking on the star next to their name.

New Cameras & Lenses

Updates

    2023.11.20

  • 2023.11.20

    Best Digital Cameras of 2023 Update Poster

    Best Digital Cameras of 2023

    Find out which are the Best Digital Cameras of 2023. All the new Mirrorless Digital Cameras from entry-level to high-end professional.

  • 2023.07.10

  • 2023.07.10

    Fujifilm X-H2 Review Update Poster

    Fujifilm X-H2 Review

    40 Megapixels APS-C Hybrid Mirrorless Digital Camera with 7-stop IBIS. Fastest shutter ever and 8K video capture. Large builtin EVF with 0.8X magnification and 5.8 MP, plus an Eye-Start Sensor. Packed with features and large number of controls in a weatherproof and freezeproof body.

  • 2023.05.07

  • 2023.05.07

    Sony FE 20-70mm F/4G Review Update Poster

    Sony FE 20-70mm F/4G Review

    Review of the unique Sony FE 20-70mm F/4G lens. The optical zoom of this lens spans ultra-wide-angle and medium focal-length coverage, making it one of the most versatile Full-Frame lenses on the market.

  • 2023.01.15

  • 2023.01.15

    Huion Inspiroy Dial 2 Review Update Poster

    Huion Inspiroy Dial 2 Review

    Review of the Huion Inspiroy Dial 2 tablet, a medium sized drawing surface with dual dials and customizable buttons. Connects via USB-C or Bluetooth 5.0 with Windows, Linux and Android support.

  • 2022.12.08

  • 2022.12.08

    How to Pack for a Photo Trip Update Poster

    How to Pack for a Photo Trip

    Find out how to pack for a travel photography trip, carry your gear safely while meeting airline regulations.

  • 2022.11.13

  • 2022.11.13

    Best Digital Cameras of 2022 Update Poster

    Best Digital Cameras of 2022

    The best digital cameras of 2022. A short list of the most outstanding models in their respective categories. Choose one for yourself or as a gift.

  • 2022.09.21

  • 2022.09.21

    Pentax DA* 60-250mm F/4 SDM Review Update Poster

    Pentax DA* 60-250mm F/4 SDM Review

    Review of the Pentax DA* 60-250mm F/4 SDM, the constant-aperture telephoto zoom with the highest zoom-ratio on the market.

  • 2022.09.20

  • 2022.09.20

    Pentax DA* 50-135mm F/2.8 SDM Review Update Poster

    Pentax DA* 50-135mm F/2.8 SDM Review

    Review of the Pentax DA* 50-135mm F/2.8 SDM, the lightest professional telephoto zoom native to the K-mount.

  • 2022.09.10

  • 2022.09.10

    Pentax DA* 11-18mm F/2.8 DC AW Review Update Poster

    Pentax DA* 11-18mm F/2.8 DC AW Review

    Review of the Pentax DA* 11-18mm F/2.8 DC AW, the widest professional ultra-wide zoom native to the K-mount.

  • 2021.11.24

  • 2021.11.24

    50 Gifts Under $50 For Photographers in 2021 Update Poster

    50 Gifts Under $50 For Photographers in 2021

    50 Gifts photographers will love. All for under $50 USD. 2021 Edition.

  • 2021.11.17

  • 2021.11.17

    Best Digital Cameras for 2021 Update Poster

    Best Digital Cameras for 2021

    Neocamera shows which are the very best Digital Cameras for 2021 in every category: Mirrorless, DSLR, Premium Compact, Ultra-Zoom and Rugged.

  • 2021.09.04

  • 2021.09.04

    Pentax HD DA* 16-50mm F/2.8 PLM AW Review Update Poster

    Pentax HD DA* 16-50mm F/2.8 PLM AW Review

    Exclusive review of the Pentax HD DA* 16-50mm F/2.8 PLM AW professional lens of Pentax K-Mount APS-C DSLR cameras.

NEWS