Resolution: If you intend to take pictures only to e-mail them to distant friends or to print at snapshot size, a camera of most any resolution will do. Even so, having more pixels gives you greater flexibility -- you can print sharper pictures at larger sizes, or crop and print small sections of pictures. These days most cameras offer a resolution of at least 5 mega pixels, which is enough to make a sharp 11-by-14 print.
Size, weight and design: To some users, how much a camera weighs and whether it fits in a pocket may be more important factors than resolution. PC World has tested cameras that weigh as much as 2.3 pounds and as little as 4.2 ounces. Small cameras are convenient, but they frequently have tiny dials and few buttons, which make changing settings somewhat trying.
Zoom lens: Inexpensive cameras often lack a powerful optical zoom lens. If we had to choose between a camera with more optical zoom and one with higher resolution, we'd take the model with the more powerful zoom lens -- it means you won't have to magnify your subject and then use software to crop the image. A few cameras now offer zoom ratings of up to 15X. These lenses are great for nature or sports photography, but you may need a steady hand or a tripod to avoid blurry pictures at extreme telephoto lengths if the camera doesn't have image stabilization. You should try a camera's auto focus at full zoom: We've tested some models that were slow to focus at full zoom in low light.
Be wary of advertised zoom ratings -- many vendors combine the optical zoom with digital zoom, which merely captures fewer pixels and magnifies those. Optical zoom gives you all the benefit of the camera's maximum resolution, combined with the ability to get closer to the action.
Manual focus: For close-ups or situations in which the camera can't get a focus lock, switching to manual focusing can help you get the shot. Low-end cameras often omit manual focusing or allow only stepped focusing, which forces you to choose from a few preset distances.
Storage: At its highest resolution, a typical 5-megapixel camera can store six to eight images on a 16MB "starter" memory card. The size of the memory card that a camera ships with isn't terribly important, because you'll almost always have to buy another one.
Size, weight and design: To some users, how much a camera weighs and whether it fits in a pocket may be more important factors than resolution. PC World has tested cameras that weigh as much as 2.3 pounds and as little as 4.2 ounces. Small cameras are convenient, but they frequently have tiny dials and few buttons, which make changing settings somewhat trying.
Zoom lens: Inexpensive cameras often lack a powerful optical zoom lens. If we had to choose between a camera with more optical zoom and one with higher resolution, we'd take the model with the more powerful zoom lens -- it means you won't have to magnify your subject and then use software to crop the image. A few cameras now offer zoom ratings of up to 15X. These lenses are great for nature or sports photography, but you may need a steady hand or a tripod to avoid blurry pictures at extreme telephoto lengths if the camera doesn't have image stabilization. You should try a camera's auto focus at full zoom: We've tested some models that were slow to focus at full zoom in low light.
Be wary of advertised zoom ratings -- many vendors combine the optical zoom with digital zoom, which merely captures fewer pixels and magnifies those. Optical zoom gives you all the benefit of the camera's maximum resolution, combined with the ability to get closer to the action.
Manual focus: For close-ups or situations in which the camera can't get a focus lock, switching to manual focusing can help you get the shot. Low-end cameras often omit manual focusing or allow only stepped focusing, which forces you to choose from a few preset distances.
Storage: At its highest resolution, a typical 5-megapixel camera can store six to eight images on a 16MB "starter" memory card. The size of the memory card that a camera ships with isn't terribly important, because you'll almost always have to buy another one.
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