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3 Apr 2024

10 things to look for in a digital camera

We all point and click with our smartphone cameras, but a dedicated digital camera gives you higher quality images, greater control over settings, and the option of interchangeable lenses. So, what should you look for when shopping for one?

Digital cameras are designed for all-purpose use, from vlogging, travel photography, and capturing sports action and wildlife, to astrophotography.

Features and functions can vary depending on the model, with those aimed at professional photographers boasting more specialised functions and modes.

There’s a wide range of digital cameras out there and some are more affordable than others, so it’s best to first work out your budget and photography needs to find the perfect match.

Whatever your intended usage, here are ten key things you should look out for when considering a digital camera.

Portability and ergonomics

Look for a camera body that’s a comfortable fit for your grip, with well-positioned dials and buttons for ease of use. Choose a compact model for vlogging on the go and travel photography, or if professional photography is your thing, a mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses is the way to go.

Sensor size

The sensor is the camera’s eye, capturing light and converting it into an electronic signal to create a digital image. The larger a camera’s sensor, the better the image quality, particularly for low light photography. This is because a bigger sensor surface area can capture more light. Full Frame sensors are the same size as a frame of 35mm film and are favoured by professional photographers, while APS-C or 'crop' sensors are smaller and great for beginners to gain a better understanding of photography techniques.

Aperture and ISO

Aperture (or f-stop) refers to the amount of light a lens allows into the camera, while ISO is an adjustable setting that controls the sensor’s sensitivity to light. A low ISO value is best for shooting in bright conditions, and high is best for for low light photography.

Autofocus

An essential tool that eliminates the need to manually adjust the focus in order to capture crisp and clear images - cameras with this function will do it for you. It’s particularly useful when shooting fast moving subjects. Many modern digital cameras now use AI algorithms to control autofocus, for greater speed and reliability.

Subject/object recognition and tracking

Machine learning algorithms identify objects and subjects that you want to lock on to in a scene – such as people, animals, and vehicles – and then track them as they move about in the frame, maintaining accurate focus.

Eye tracking

A must-have tool that locks the focus on a subject’s eye and follows them, resulting in fewer photos being out of focus. Highly recommended for snapping subjects that just won't keep still, like children and pets.

Burst shooting

High speed, or burst, shooting lets you capture a rapid sequence of shots, giving you a variety to choose the best image from. It also reduces blur when shooting fast moving subjects. A camera’s burst mode is denoted as fps (frames per second) - look for a number greater than five.

Video recording

From Full HD to 4K UHD, digital cameras capture high-resolution video in incredible detail. Many cameras will capture video in 4K/30p, while models that support a higher frame rate of 4K/60p will give you smoother footage.

Product review modes

Vloggers and influencers that record a lot of product review videos should look out for a camera that has a dedicated mode for this very purpose. Product review modes simplify the shooting process using face-to-object transition autofocus to ensure the product is clearly defined in the foreground.

Articulating touchscreens

These are great for beginners – you simply touch the area on the electronic viewfinder display that you want to focus on. Articulating, or 'vari-angle' touchscreens also provide quick and easy access to setting menus, as well as the flexibility of capturing shots at high and low angles.


Glossary

When choosing a digital camera you’ll come across a lot of technical jargon and an alphabet soup of acronyms. Here are some of the more common ones you’re likely to encounter.

Aperture – The amount of light an adjustable lens lets into the camera

APS-C – Advanced photo system type-C: an image sensor format

Bokeh – Background blurring in a photo for an artistic effect

Depth of field – How much of an image is in focus and acceptably sharp

EVF – Electronic viewfinder

Focal length – Determines how much of a scene a camera can capture

Full Frame – A camera sensor that’s the same size as a 35mm film frame

IBIS – In-body image stabilisation

ISO – A camera’s sensitivity to light

Mirrorless camera – Captures light directly on the sensor instead of using a mirror to reflect it

MP – Megapixels: The amount of detail a camera’s sensor can capture

OIS – Optical image stabilisation

OVF – Optical viewfinder

RAW – An unprocessed and uncompressed image file with more detail

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