Point-and-shoot cameras are a convenient and lightweight solution for every day picture taking. There’s a compact model for every lifestyle and budget. Here are some tips for choosing the right model:
Sports, Action & Wildlife The longer the zoom, the better you’ll be able to capture distant objects. Models with up to 35x zoom lens will get you close to the action, whether at the rink or on the field, and are great for wildlife photography, too.
Travel and Scenery Wide angles on zoom lenses are often 28mm – perfect for general use. Look for 24mm lenses to get the extra angle needed for dramatic architectural or scenery shots. Some models accept supplementary lenses that increase the angle for ultra wide and fish-eye shots.
Active Lifestyles Action sports and outdoor activities can be tough on your camera. Look for models that are waterproof, dustproof, resistant to freezing or that can withstand a drop of several feet onto a hard surface!
Photographing People Great ‘people’ shots start with “face detection” for the best focus and exposure. Sorting photos later is easy with “face recognition” which actually identifies pre-set friends by name! “Smile and blink” settings ensure every shot catches the whole team smiling and eyes-open.
How to Select a Point-and-Shoot Camera
Hi-Def Video Video models offer standard definition or Hi-Def in either 720 or full 1080. Enjoy the show on your computer or connect directly to your Hi-Def TV with AV-out or HDMIout cables. Some TVs have a card slot that accepts the memory card from your camera.
Low Light Capture great shots even in twilight. For low light conditions look for higher ISO ranges which make the camera more sensitive to light.
Image Stabilization In low light or longer hand-held exposures, image stabilization can help eliminate blurred photos caused by camera shake. With true “optical” image stabilization, a lens element moves to compensate; with “sensor shift,” the sensor itself creates movement that compensates.
Auto Scene Recognition Eliminate guesswork when it comes to different subjects. Auto settings such as Night/Sunset/Fireworks/Food allow you to take great shots without having to make fine adjustments. Some models have “auto scene” or “intelligent auto” modes that sense subjects for you and automatically adjust settings.
Manual Creative Control Get creative! Play with depth of field or selectively blur the action. Choose a model that allows you to manually select aperture and shutter speeds instead of “auto.”
The Magic of Macro Focus down to 1cm or even less to capture fine texture or tiny details. Select a model that has macro settings as close as possible to the lens.
File Formats Digital compacts record images in .jpg format. Some models have an option to record RAW files. Both file types can be modified in Photoshop™ to create works of art but only RAW allows you to work with the full originally captured image data.
