Advanced Digital Cameras

The advanced digital camera range as I know is much smaller than it was three or four years ago. This is probably because of the way the price of digital SLR cameras has crashed over the past few years. Even so there is still a demand for this type of digital camera from people who would like a more convenient and therefore more portable advanced digital camera than the larger and bulkier digital SLR cameras.

This type of camera is a cross between High Specification, Super Zoom and Digital SLR cameras. They usually have around eight megapixels and zoom lenses between 4x and 10x. Like digital SLR cameras, you may find control dials that give you fast access to key controls rather than a array of buttons on the back of the camera. Many also offer custom modes where you can save your favourite settings.

Among the more advanced features that can be found are long exposures, custom white balance, matrix, spot and centre weighted metering, continuous shooting, best shot selectors and time lapse movies. Other features can include bracketing, noise reduction and options to adjust sharpness, contrast and saturation.

One of the main differences I have found between these digital cameras and the cheaper Super Zoom style models is build quality. These cameras tend to be far sturdier and a better feel in the hand. They also manage to avoid the problems of purple fringing when the zoom is fully extended.

These types of camera are becoming harder to come by and pricing has fallen since they were first introduced. However, if you see photography as a hobby then it may be a good idea to look at the latest offerings from entry level digital SLR cameras. I expect this type of digital camera to remain with us, but the flow of new models is much reduced from its peak around four years ago.

Pocket Sized Digital Cameras

Pocket sized cameras are usually small enough to fit into even the smallest pockets, say perhaps even a pair of jeans for instance. Usually, I consider that any camera less than 25mm wide to fall into this class but as technology advances and digital cameras shrink even more, they will become even slimmer.

These cameras are normally constructed with a lightweight metal body and are very well made. This makes them a better bet than other types that come with the plastic cases of some lesser models. Design wise, there is good scope for choice although many digital cameras in this category share a similar rectangular shape. This means that finding a camera that you like the look of should be a breeze.

LCD screens are still a major feature of these cameras even with their small sizes. Most have at least a 2.5” screen and some even have one which is 3”. However, due to the size issue, many do not come equipped with a viewfinder. Picture quality is greatly improved now and if you select your digital camera wisely you should find you can take great snap shots.

At the moment, many of the digital cameras in this category have between 8 and 12 megapixels. Most lenses extrude from the camera body when it is switched on, but there are also a few to choose from with an integral lens. In terms of actually buying a digital camera, prices can range from £100 to £200 but most of them are roughly £130 to £150.

The quality of the models in this digital camera comparison varies greatly from camera to camera. For this reason, I recommend that you shop around to find the right model. One thing to remember is that the flash and lens are often close together therefore making red eye hard to avoid. Also, indoor shots can be not as good as the higher end digital cameras.

Pocket sized digital cameras tend to be easy to use and many of them are user friendly with a simple set of features. These makes the cameras in this category fall into the high quality point and shoot range.

One final point to remember is that the flash units can be limited in power with this type of digital camera. You should be aware of this limitation when you want to use this camera in lowlight situations.