Lumix DMC-FH20K

What You Should Know Before Buying a Digital Camera

Lumix DMC-FH20K

There are tons of digital cameras, like the Lumix DMC-FH20K are available for anyone to go out and buy. Sales people and websites will come at you with terms like Megapixels, digital stabilization, and LCD screens. This can be confusing to someone who is not a camera junkie. There are several things that you must know before you decide to go buy a new point and shoot digital camera. This article will detail 3 aspects of digital cameras which you should pay attention to before making the decision to buy.

It is not all about the Megapixels.
One of the most talked about features of a new digital camera is how many megapixels it has. You’ll almost definitely see the number plastered somewhere on any point and shoot camera you buy. However, you should not be fooled into thinking that more megapixels will make a better camera. You also have to look at the physical size of the sensor. This is not often easily found so you might have to go to the internet and look at the actual specification sheets for the model of camera that you are interested in buying. The best way to get the best camera for your money is to compare the number of advertised megapixels, to the physical size of the sensor.

Optical vs. Digital Zoom
An additional statistic that you should be aware of when choosing a digital camera is what its optical zoom and its digital zoom rating are. The difference is important. Optical zoom is what I call a true zoom. This means that the lens taking the photograph actually travels and refocuses to get a better image of the target. This prevents the image from degrading as the zoom is applied. Digital zoom makes calculations to the digital image and expands the size of the pixels that make up the picture to give the illusion of zooming in. If this zoom is done too much the image begins to lose quality.

Face Detection Technology
Face detection technology is a newer feature which comes in some of the latest cameras. Essentially the camera can detect a face within its viewfinder. Once the shutter button has been pressed the microchips on the camera digitally enhance the areas around a face. This can include, but is not limited to white balance, red-eye correction, and colorization. This removes the need to go and use an image manipulation software to make adjustments to your photographs.

Virtually Steady Hands
Image stabilization is almost exactly what it sounds like. Professional photographers have either have to develop a naturally steady hand, have a camera with a super-fast shutter speed or use a tripod to get that super crisp image of whatever they might be taking a picture of. More often than not they will have all three at their disposal.

The problem here is that all three of these skills and features take either money or a large amount of experience to secure. So the digital camera manufacturers have introduced image stabilization technology into their cameras so that the average person can take a better picture with their lower cost offerings. The one you will most often see advertised is digital image stabilization. Essentially this technology makes calculations about what is in the viewfinder and then manipulates the final digital image to look sharper. Optical shift stabilization is often found in the more expensive cameras but it is also true image stabilization achieved by how the image travels to the image sensor.

Physical Size Doesn’t Always Matter
Point and shoot digital cameras sacrifice image quality and features for better returns on cost portability, and durability. Most camera users will never need all the features which are included in a high end DSLR camera. These cameras are best suited for taking photos when you are going out with your friends, attending a wedding, or going to the amusement park. One often overlooked advantage to a pocket sized camera is that the lenses often telescope inwards when they are not in use. This particular feature accomplishes two things. It increases the durability of the camera because the lens is less likely to get banged around. It also increases the portability because often you can put the camera in your pocket or purse.

Previewing the Photo
Almost every digital camera on the market today has a Liquid Crystal Display, also known as an LCD, on the back of the camera. This can be used as a viewfinder, and more often than not is also used to preview the photos that you’ve taken with the camera without having to download them to a computer first. Most cameras have an LCD which is about 3 inches if measured diagonally from one corner to the other.

One of the things that you should be aware of is the resolution of the LCD. Sometimes it isn’t really that great and you might not be able to get an accurate idea of what the image looks like. The higher the resolution, the better the LCD.

Finally, you should also be sure to check the screen contrast on the display. If the contrast is too bright images have a tendency to get washed out whenever you attempt to view them on the camera. You also want to pay attention to the finish on the LCD. In certain lighting conditions matte or reflective displays can be difficult to see. You need to use your own judgment to decide what is best for your needs

Wrapping It Up
Point and shoot digital cameras like the Lumix DMC-FH20K make great gifts for someone just becoming interested in photography, or if you simply want to take some great photos for your blog or Facebook page. Just remember that more megapixels do not necessarily mean the camera is better. Digital Zoom is a gimmick which can lessen the quality of images produced by the camera. Finally, a smaller physical size to the camera can be an advantage compared to some of the high end digital cameras available today.