Online Camera Reviews, and How They Can Help in the Process of Purchasing a Digital Camera

Online camera reviews have greatly simplified the unfortunately daunting task of buying a digital camera. With such an abundance of digital cameras offered by so many manufacturers available, all of which are hawking their specific features, it's easy to become confused. Fortunately, the internet has given us the means to share endless amounts of information with each other, and everything from expert recommendations to user experience is available online for us to review and consider.



Bearing that in mind, here are some of the most crucial points to factor into your final decision:

First and foremost, do NOT purchase a camera based strictly on it's mega pixel count. The higher mega pixel camera shoots the same quality of photo as the one with a lesser pixel count. It's capable of taking a larger image, but the dots per inch (dpi), which dictates the quality, is the same. Usually, something around 5 mega pixels is perfect for the average user, but consult other online camera reviews to learn what works best for specific scenarios.

On the contrary, one thing that you definitely DO want is an Image Stabilizer option. This basically means you can take clear, crisp movies and photos even if you have the shakes, and all without having to utilize a tripod.

Despite what you may have read in other online camera reviews, DIGITAL zoom is more or less a waste of time; it only enhances the photo digitally, so it just makes the pixels larger as you zoom in. OPTICAL zoom, on the other hand, is true zoom, so it zooms in without loss in quality because it actually uses the LENS option for zooming. Something around a 5x optical zoom is a good place to start (and remember, the digital zoom is practically irrelevant.)

Be sure to get a camera that has an option to connect an A/V cable. Displaying your shots to others is significantly more fun and effective when displaying them on your television than when gathering everybody around your computer or, even worse, the tiny screen on the rear of your camera.

Although the importance of having a viewfinder is frequently overlooked in our current digital age, don't forget about the quick, easy framing option it offers. Since many of the viewfinder windows produced now are incredibly small, make sure you get one that measures a minimum of 2 inches diagonally.

Try to purchase a camera that takes standard AA or AAA rechargeable batteries, and get a battery charger that can charge the batteries in around an hour or so.

You'll want a sizable memory card that holds at least 500MB (preferably a GB), and one that works at 120X speed or higher - or in other words, writes at 9 megabytes per second.

For the movie aspect, be sure that the camera has a minimum of 30 frames per second, and STEREO sound.

Finally, try to purchase from one of the well-known, trusted brands, such as Nikon, Fujifilm, Canon, or Olympus. And don't be afraid to splurge on the extended warranty - remember, this is a significant purchase.

As far as exactly which digital camera to purchase, that is a matter of personal preference. I hope you have found these tips useful, and don't forget to consult as many online camera reviews as it takes to help you make your final decision. A great place to get started is right here. You'll find enough online camera reviews to keep you busy for a long time, and hopefully help you make your decision!camera review online