Simple and Easy Digital Cameras

Pricewise, these types of camera can cost between £60 and £120. There are cheaper options, but if you want a current digital camera from a well-known brand then this is the kind of price that you should be aiming for.

These cheap digital cameras usually have fewer features than the more complex models. This means that they are generally, easier to use. Manufacturers have put a lot of emphasis on this area over the last few years and lots of cameras available are now quite straightforward to use. These digital cameras do however, come with their own set of limitations when you compare them to the more expensive cameras. The cameras are routinely made of plastic and there is often a noticeable difference in their build quality when compared to other types of digital camera.

The chances are that this kind of camera will struggle to take good pictures indoors, in a lowlight. This can lead to blurring in some photos where the camera cannot focus properly, making each photo slightly darker. However, there are some exceptions to this rule if you search around. There is also the issue of shutter lag which is the time taken between the shutter button being pressed and the picture being created. It is because of this that photo opportunities could be missed. Although there are a few cameras that are able to get over this problem, the majority suffer from this major flaw.

Most digital cameras now come with LCD screens and they are increasing in size and quality. You may find however that they do not have a viewfinder. Many of the cameras in this range will now accept memory cards to increase the amount of pictures that can be stored.

What to Look for in a Digital Camera

When you start looking for a new digital camera it is easy to be overwhelmed by the choice available to you. There are so many brands, types and feature available, it can be difficult to know which one will suit your needs best.

The main objective of this blog is to provide digital camera reviews that will help you to decide which digital camera is right for you and fulfils any specific requirements you have. This will include both cheap digital cameras and more expensive models.

Okay, where do we begin? Let’s start by identifying the different digital camera types into several different categories.

• Easy to use Digital Cameras
  
• Compact or Standard Size Digital Cameras
  
• Digital Cameras that fit in your Pocket
  
• Digital Cameras with Style
  
• Digital Cameras with Super Zoom Feature
  
• Sophisticated Digital Cameras
  
• SLR Digital Cameras
  
• Digital SLR’s for Professional use

Canon Digital Cameras

There are Canon digital cameras available for a broad range of people. It doesn’t matter whether you just take the occasional photograph or are a professional using photography as your livelihood. The Canon digital camera range is split into three different sections, namely, IXUS, EOS and Powershot.

The easiest and perhaps most straightforward range of Canon digital cameras is the IXUS. These models have metal bodies and are extremely stylish. They are known for being compact and some of them are small enough to slip easily into your pocket. All of the IXUS models are fairly simple and easy to use which makes them really high quality point and shoot digital cameras.

If you are considering buying Canon Digital SLR Cameras, from the EOS range you should remember that you need to keep a fair proportion of your budget to buy additional lenses. Although there is the option of buying a lens in a kit with the camera, it is likely that you will be looking for at least one more lens as well.

The Powershot part of the range offers a broader selection of digital cameras. At one end are some simple and easy cameras aimed at people who may not know a great deal about digital photography or who would rather not spend a fortune on a digital camera. The range then works its way up to one of the most advanced compact digital cameras you can buy. You will also find the super zoom cameras in this range. The Powershot range on the whole has a good selection of more advanced controls than you are likely to find in the IXUS range.

Cheap Digital Cameras for Less

If like most people, you are looking for a cheap digital camera or maybe a bargain then read on.

Since I regularly test cameras in order to produce an accurate review, it is usually necessary for me to actually purchase the digital cameras at the full retail price. This is because the majority of camera companies have refused any request to loan a camera to provide digital camera reviews.

This has lead to me sell the cameras after I’ve finished with them. Now, I would not expect to get back the full amount that I paid but if you don’t mind buying a camera that has only been used a couple of times then you can get your hands on a cheap digital camera.

These cameras are usually in excellent condition, but if there are any marks then I will say so. Everything that comes packaged with the camera at the time of purchase will be included in the sale. This includes memory cards, manuals, software, etc and if the camera comes with standard AA batteries then I will supply brand new ones.

All cameras I sell are supplied through standard eBay auctions and I will only post within the UK. All digital cameras sold by myself will come with a personal one year guarantee which will cover any breakdown through normal use.

Looking for Digital Cameras under £100

Cheap digital cameras that cost under £100 are quite easy to find these days but you should try to be aware of some possible pitfalls you may encounter.

Firstly, a cheap digital camera that fall into this price bracket is less expensive when compared to other models on the market. Although this makes then more accessible, the quality may be slightly lower in certain areas.

The main differences between these cameras and the more expensive models are that they will have fewer megapixels, giving a lower quality of pictures. They may not have an optical zoom lens, but with digital camera prices falling, you may find some cameras do have them.

Build quality is generally not as good and shutter delay or lag may be prevalent. Battery life too may be lower due to higher power consumptions.

Looking for Digital Cameras for less than £50

Okay, you’re looking to buy a digital camera for under £50 but you don’t know what differences there are between the cheaper and more expensive models.

The main and possibly the most obvious difference is picture quality. This is largely due to the amount of megapixels on offer from camera to camera. Cameras with a low number of megapixels, although being more than adequate for viewing pictures on a computer or for emailing to friends and family but they will probably not be suitable for producing photographs or prints.

Another possible issue with a cheap digital camera for under £50 is that the chances of getting a zoom lens or digital zoom are slim. The overall build quality of the camera will not be great and the performance capabilities will be lower. This will lead to increased shutter lag or shutter delay and the battery life will almost certainly be less.

I would expect the quality of the photographs taken with one of these digital cameras to be acceptable outdoors with good lighting, but I believe that they would struggle to take a good indoor shot where the cameras shortcomings would become more obvious.

Digital Camera for long distance/safari shots

Question: I'm planning to go to Africa next Jan and would like a camera that would allow me to take some good long distance/safari shots, but not too expensive. Can you help?

Answer: The most important feature to look for is going to be a long lens. Ideally I would suggest a Digital SLR for a number of reasons, but because you have said the camera needs to not be too expensive I will look at other options.

At the moment I would suggest your best buy is likely to be the Panasonic DMC FZ18. This camera gives you an 18x optical zoom lens. This is the longest lens currently available on a consumer level digital camera. The camera also has a variety of manual exposure controls, but can also be used in fully automatic mode, where all you need to do is like up the shot and click the button.

The camera has built in image stabilisation and this can help to reduce blur on handheld shots. A lens of this length adds weight to the camera and can make it harder to keep a steady hold.

If you are looking on the holiday as a trip of a lifetime then I would suggest getting the camera some way in advance of your holiday and getting plenty of practice. There are places throughout the U.K. where you can go and take photos of wildlife. Building up your experience could make the difference between a set of special photos and potentially disappointing ones.

This camera comes with a rechargeable lithium ion battery. You will need to consider how the battery will be recharged on the trip and if it is wise to buy one or two spares. Likewise you need to consider storage options. An extra large memory card may sound like a great idea, but I would look to take at least two good sized cards in case one fails on the trip.

Protection of the camera whilst traveling is another consideration and I would look at investing in a good quality case.

Does face detection software make a difference?

Although I wouldn’t quite say that face detection software is all the rage more and more digital cameras are now using this. Fuji goes as far as to include FD for face detection in the name of their cameras that have this feature. This certainly gives the impression that the software is something special.

What is face detection software?
All this is really is an extra focusing method. You switch to this type of focusing when you wish to take a portrait shot. The idea is that it helps to produce a more sharply focused face in the photo.

How does face detection work?
Face detection software is intelligent enough to pick out a face or a number of faces in a group shot. It is then able to place the main focus of the photograph on the face or faces in the shot.

Does it make a difference?
Well this is the big question! To be honest I never noticed cameras having that much difficulty before in producing sharp faces in portrait shots. In my tests I have not really noticed a great deal of difference when taking a portrait shot in good light. When light gets lower, especially under artificial lighting indoors I have noticed from time to time that when I turn face detection on it does produce a sharper image than without it.

One interesting point though is when looking at a range of cameras such as the Canon Powershot range I have never really had a problem producing a sharply focused portrait even when the light wasn’t brilliant. Now though without the face detection software turned on focusing for portraits is not quite so good. I must admit to having no idea why this should be!

So my verdict on the current batch of cameras I have tested is that I wouldn’t worry too much if the camera you are looking to buy doesn’t push a face detection feature as one of its main selling points.

Buying a Digital Camera Abroad

One question I get asked is can I buy a digital camera from a non EU country? The answer is that there is nothing to stop you, but there are some issues you should be aware of before you part with your hard earned cash.

You should find any camera bought from a reputable brand is fully compatible with other appliances such as computers and compatible printers once you return or once your camera arrives in the U.K., apart from the need to buy a plug adapter. It can also be useful to know that the camera you have decided to buy may have a different name in a different country.

As far as I am aware there are three main issues you may wish to think about before you go ahead and purchase a digital camera either while on holiday or via the Internet.

The first issue is will you get charged duty and VAT when you return to the U.K. or your camera comes through customs?

The answer is you will have to pay VAT at 17.5% as you go through customs on all types of camera and camcorder.

Whether or not you have to pay duty is more of a grey area and could well change shortly. Currently there is no duty payable on a digital camera unless it has a video recording time greater than one to two minutes. This means that theoretically duty should be paid on just about every consumer level camera at a rate of 12.5% at the current time. At the moment I am not convinced that this rule is being universally applied. As I say this is a grey area. Digital SLRs without a video mode are exempt from duty.

35mm cameras incur duty of 4.2%, while camcorders incur duty at 12.5%.

The second issue is what happens if the camera breaks down. Repair policy differs from company to company. Therefore if you know the brand of camera you are planning to buy then check with that company whether or not their warranty is still valid when buying from another country. You could find that a camera bought elsewhere will need to be returned there for repair. Obviously this could cause delays to the process and incur shipping costs for you.

Next up is be very careful what you buy. So many people buy cheap digital cameras at high prices when they go abroad. It seems that salesmen suck them into believing that low quality brands are in fact high quality cameras. The best advice I can give you is to decide which camera you wish to buy before traveling and only buy that camera or one from a small shortlist.

That’s about it! Happy shopping.