Choosing a Digital Camera

With Christmas just around the corner its time to think about gifts. Without doubt digital cameras will be a favourite gift item this year with prices at an all time low. But what are the features to look out for when shopping for a digital camera?

You probably know that a good quality lens is as important in a digital camera as it is in analogue ones. You are probably aware of the importance of megapixels and how a higher number means a sharper picture.

Image stabilisation technology is something to look for. This is the clever way that modern cameras can compensate for low light conditions, where higher exposure times are needed, and wobbly hands.

Another useful feature is auto face detection with auto focus. Cameras with this capability can recognize facial features and automatically adjust the focus to make the face as sharp as possible. Ideal for those who like simple point and click cameras.

A good zoom is another excellent feature. Some cameras have a digital zoom and others have an optical. Optical is generally much sharper than digital zoom which will simply make the digital image larger and more grainy.

Battery life is another important feature to consider. I recommend selecting a camera that uses rechargeble batteries.

You might also look for features like interchangeable lenses and built in image effects and editing capabilities.

It's also worth looking at the suite of software applications that come with the camera package. Most digital cameras are supplied with a suite of applications to download, process and edit digital images.

Something extra to consider when buying a new camera is some affordable camera insurance. Small, lightweight modern cameras are easily lost, damaged or even stolen so its worth spending a little money to get yourself a quick replacement if the worst should happen.

In addition you may like to consider gadget insurance to protect valuable portable devices including laptop insurance for valuable laptop computers.