Consider the Extras: Choosing a Digital Camera (part 5)

You’ve narrowed your search for a new digital camera by identifying your photography needs. You’ve covered megapixels and zoom, decided on your budget, and chosen the style of camera you want, but there are still four to five cameras that meet your criteria. Now the details become important to help you determine which camera is best for you.

Battery Life and Style of Battery
Some digital cameras use standard AA batteries, while others have a rechargeable battery pack. Some can use both, which is handy when your battery pack runs out of juice at an inopportune time. Take a look at reviews for the cameras you are considering and see how the battery life stacks up against the competition.

Memory Card Options
Each picture you take is stored on a memory card that is removable from the camera. Digital cameras are compatible with at least one of six types of memory cards: CompactFlash, SecureDigital or MultiMediaCard, xD Picture Cards, Memory Stick, Microdrive, or SmartMedia. The brand of camera you buy will likely determine the style of memory card you will use. If a certain type is more appealing to you (for instance because your printer is already compatible with a specific memory card), take that into consideration when you choose which camera to purchase.

All of the various types can be purchased in different storage sizes. Rather than purchase one extremely large memory card (such as the 1 gigabyte cards), you might consider two or three smaller ones (256 megabytes). Three hundred photos lost on one large storage card is much more detrimental than 50 lost on a smaller card.

Connectivity
You’ll need to move the photos from the memory card to your computer somehow. You may find that the cameras you are considering have options you weren’t aware of, such as a direct connection to your computer from the camera or a docking station that hooks it right into a photo printer. Many printers now offer a built-in memory card reader. You can also purchase an external card reader that can transfer the photos from your memory card to your computer hard drive. Often these card readers will have the ability to transfer pictures from a variety of memory card styles, which is convenient when downloading photos from multiple cameras.

Shutter Lag Time
Shutter lag is the difference in time between when you press the button to take a photo and when it is actually recorded and written to the memory card. It can often be the sole reason why someone would resist switching to digital or be disappointed after they have. Since it’s difficult to test every camera you are researching, be sure to read plenty of reviews and make note of what people say about the shutter lag time of the cameras you are considering. Digital SLR cameras have virtually no shutter lag, but some point-and-shoot cameras can take a full second or more before the image is actually recorded. This can result in many photos of people turning away after they’ve finished smiling for a photo they thought was already taken.

There are ways to reduce shutter lag, such as keeping the battery fully charged, using a high-speed memory card, and anticipating the moment by pressing the shutter button earlier. You can also keep the shutter button pressed halfway down making the camera auto-focus on the subject as you follow it with your viewfinder. When you press the button, because it’s already focused, the write-time is decreased slightly.

Another factor that can be helpful in decreasing shutter lag and increasing the ability to take multiple photos in succession is the in-camera buffer. If you have a larger in-camera buffer, then the camera can store the photo there while you continue taking photos. It’s able to go about recording the photo on the card because it uses that buffer instead of the operating memory. This is the feature that allows for “burst mode” photography, where the camera will take photos at regular brief intervals for sporting events and the like.

Additional features that might help you make your final decision between two close contenders include the size of the camera, the size of the LCD viewfinder, how it feels in your hand as you use it, the brand name (you may trust one over another), whether it can take panoramic photos, if has special settings for portrait, lansdscape and burst photography, and the accessories that come with it.

The bottom line: The extra features are what will make your final decision on a camera. Consider the battery style and life, memory card options, connectivity with your computer, and shutter lag time for each camera. Read plenty of reviews and give the camera a try in the store if you’re buying it locally.

Ask yourself:
Can it use regular batteries, or do I need a special battery pack?
What type of memory card does it use?
How can I connect it to my computer?
What kind of shutter lag does it have and will I be bothered by it?

Guide to Choosing a Digital Camera