How to compare digital cameras

Match performance to your needs

Image quality is a camera’s most important performance attribute. When we compare digital cameras, our assessment includes the sharpness of the images a camera produces, which depends on the camera’s sensor resolution, lens system, and in-camera software. Among models of varying scores, differences in sharpness can be quite noticeable but are less so if you print mostly 4x6s. Our Digital Camera Buying Guide will help you figure out if you need a point-and-shoot or SLR model. Here are three main points to consider:

If you often take action shots, look for higher scores for first-shot delay and next-shot delay. If you often shoot in low-light situations without a flash, look for the highest ISO setting in the Ratings (available to subscribers) column labeled “Max. ISO with best quality.” For landscapes, look for wide-angle capability and excellent or very good dynamic range. Seven or 8 megapixels should be enough resolution for most people. But keep in mind as you compare digital cameras that if you print poster-sized shots or do major cropping, higher resolution makes sense.

What features do you need?

For more control over images, look for manual controls and RAW-file capability, which stores the captured image before it has been processed and converted into a file by the camera’s built-in software, thereby allowing greater creative control than the usual JPEG file.

A glass viewfinder is useful because LCDs typically wash out in bright light. Built-in video, which virtually all point-and-shoots have, lets you record an event on the spur of the moment, without a camcorder’s freight or cost. You won’t get a camcorder’s video quality, either, but you’ll be able to record any scene up to the memory card’s capacity.

Size up the design

Most manufacturers now offer cameras in a variety of colors. Compare digital cameras and you’ll see that some brands have other, fairly consistent character traits across product lines. Sony excels in sleek, minimalist designs, particularly in its subcompacts, which have a nontelescoping lens on the front and a large touch screen on the back. Kodak focuses on ease of use, with features such as Smart Scene mode, which automatically selects specialty settings for subjects such as portraits or sports.