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Digital Cameras Buying Guide

Don't be mystified by jargon or fooled by hype. Our comprehensive Buying Guides help you choose the right products.

What you need to know, from the kind of user you are to current technologies:

WHICH KIND OF DIGITAL CAMERA IS BEST FOR ME?

In order to choose the right camera -- one with the right set of features at the right price -- you'll need to work out what you'll be doing with it. Match your needs to one of these user profiles.

Snapshot photographer

I want to take photos that I can email to friends and family, post on the Web or print in sizes smaller than A4. I'd like a digital camera that is easy enough for the whole family to use and small enough to take anywhere. I'll be printing on an inexpensive, all-purpose inkjet printer, though I would consider buying a photo printer if I like the pictures enough.

THE SPECS THAT MATTER:

Resolution

4 megapixels or greater

Price

£100 to £300

Lens type

Zoom (range encompassing at least 38mm to 114mm, 35mm equivalent)

Storage media

Internal memory, CompactFlash, Memory Stick, xD-Picture Card, or Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard

Photo file format

JPEG

Interfaces

USB, PAL/NTSC television connection

Exposure controls

Automatic, programmed scene modes, exposure compensation (for tweaking the automatic exposure)

Focus controls

Automatic

Flash modes

Automatic, fill, red-eye reduction

Software

Photo stitching, photo album, slide show

Multimedia

Video-clip recording with sound

Cool features to look for

Direct-to-printer (PictBridge) output compatibility

Gadget lover

I like to buy the newest, shiniest toys before anyone else does. I want to impress my friends with the latest technologies and coolest features, but not if it makes the product too complicated to use. I care about how much I spend, though it's not one of my top concerns.

THE SPECS THAT MATTER:

Resolution

7 megapixels or greater

Price

Less than £700

Lens type

Zoom (range encompassing at least 36mm to 108mm, 35mm equivalent)

Storage media

Internal memory, CompactFlash, Memory Stick, xD-Picture Card, or Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard

Photo file format

JPEG

Interfaces

USB, PAL/NTSC television connection

Exposure controls

Automatic, programmed scene modes, exposure compensation (for tweaking the automatic exposure)

Focus controls

Automatic

Flash modes

Automatic, fill, red-eye reduction

Software

Photo-stitching, photo album, slide show

Multimedia

VGA (640 x 480-pixel) 30-frame-per-second video clip recording with sound

Cool features to look for

Ultracompact design, Webcam capabilities, voice recording, wireless transfer, large LCD

Business user

I need to be able to shoot on-site or in the office, photograph products and people for ads and publicity in print and on the Web, and get professional-looking results without hiring a pro. I need to get prints in a variety of ways, including from a colour laser printer or copy shop. I have to share the camera with my colleagues.

THE SPECS THAT MATTER:

Resolution

4 megapixels or greater

Price

£250 to £700

Lens type

Zoom (range encompassing at least 36mm to 130mm, 35mm equivalent)

Storage media

CompactFlash, Memory Stick, xD-Picture Card, or Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard

Photo file format

JPEG or TIFF

Interfaces

USB, PAL/NTSC television connection

Exposure controls

Automatic, aperture- and shutter-priority, manual, choice of metering modes, automatic bracketing

Focus controls

Automatic, manual

Flash modes

Automatic, fill, red-eye reduction, external flash compatibility

Software

Photo editor

Multimedia

Voice annotation, built-in speaker for audio playback

Cool features to look for

Watermarking

Serious amateur

I want to shoot stills and video clips for the Web, use creative effects when shooting and manipulating images, have professional-level control, output prints that are A4 or larger on a high-quality photo printer and use accessories and different lenses.

THE SPECS THAT MATTER:

Resolution

5 megapixels or greater

Price

£300 and up

Lens type

Supports lens converters or interchangeable lenses or zoom with widest focal range possible

Storage media

High-capacity CompactFlash, Hitachi Microdrive, or Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard

Photo file format

JPEG, TIFF (YCbCr or RGB), RAW

Interfaces

USB 2.0 or FireWire

Exposure controls

Automatic, aperture- and shutter-priority, manual, choice of metering modes, automatic bracketing

Focus controls

Automatic with selectable focus points, manual

Flash modes

Automatic, fill, slow sync, hot shoe or contact for external flash

Software

Full-featured photo editor, software for PC-controlled capture

Multimedia

Voice annotation

Cool features to look for

Compatibility with existing 35mm lenses and accessories, customisable user modes, dynamic histogram display, high-resolution drive (continuous-shooting) mode

Budget buyer

I want to find a basic digicam that costs less than £150 that will let me post snapshots on the Web; email them to friends; print them in small sizes (100 x 150mm or smaller) on my inexpensive, multipurpose inkjet printer; and get me up and running quickly without requiring me to read the manual. I want a camera that will satisfy me for a few years.

THE SPECS THAT MATTER:

Resolution

3 megapixels or greater

Price

Less than £150

Lens type

Fixed (between 38mm and 55mm, 35mm equivalent) or zoom (range at least encompassing 38mm to 76mm, 35mm equivalent)

Storage media

Internal memory, CompactFlash Type I, Memory Stick, xD-Picture Card, or Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard

Photo file format

JPEG

Interfaces

USB, PAL/NTSC television connection

Exposure controls

Automatic, exposure compensation (for tweaking the automatic exposure)

Focus controls

Autofocus or fixed focus

Flash modes

Automatic, fill, red-eye reduction

Software

Basic photo editor

Cool features to look for

Webcam capabilities, automatic scene modes

Undecided

I want a camera that's easy to use but that I can grow into if I get hooked on digital photography. I want to be able to print good-looking photos at sizes smaller than A4 on my inexpensive inkjet printer, but I'd like prints that will look okay if I decide to print larger or get a better printer. I want to spend less than £500.