Basic Point-and-Shoot Models
Aside from webcams and a few “toy” digital cameras, any model that falls roughly into the $100–$250 price range is probably a point-and-shoot camera. These will have a top resolution in the 6 to 10-megapixel neighborhood. There will be a built-in flash good for shots from 5 to about 11 feet, and a very modest 3:1 ratio zoom lens. Focusing may be fixed or limited, and there will be few, if any, manual controls. You’ll frame your picture through a simple optical viewfinder and view it on a 2.5-inch LCD. In point-and-shoot tradition, you simply press the button and everything else is taken care of for you.
Intermediate Models
The largest number of digital camera models fall into the intermediate category, because cameras of this type appeal to casual snapshooters who want sharp, clear pictures and a bit of versatility in their pixel grabber. Most of these cameras have from 8 to 12 megapixels and cost $200 to $600. They have more powerful builtin flash units, automatic focus and exposure, and zoom lenses with 6:1 or greater ratios. There may even be a few manual settings, such as exposure compensation for backlight (photos taken toward the sun) or full manual control, including shutter priority and aperture-priority options. Anyone who is not a photo buff can probably take any picture they care to create with a camera of this sort.
Advanced Models
While intermediate cameras are numerically more common, slightly more advanced models have become a hotbed of interest as prices have dropped. Your $500 to $600 can buy an 13-megapixel (or more) camera with a 6:1 to 12:1 or longer zoom range, more manual control options, and other bonus features. These cameras appeal to those who aren’t yet photo hobbyists, but who realize they can take better and more interesting pictures with a digital camera that has a little more horsepower. These models are liberally studded with multifunction buttons and dials, lots of modes, dozens of menus, and thick manuals. They’re often sold with a rich bundle of image-editing software. Those who need, or think they need, the features these cameras boast, should prepare to spend some time learning to use them. A whole new category of advanced models was spurred by the introduction of the Canon Digital Rebel XT, which boasted 8 megapixels of resolution, but is a true SLR camera, even though aimed at consumers rather than the “prosumers” discussed in the next section.
Prosumer Models
What’s a “prosumer” camera? This particular kind of camera has been around since before the digital age—a model with truly sophisticated features, offering a knowledgeable photographer lots of control, but lacking in some of the features and ruggedness that a professional absolutely must have. These are the cameras that advanced amateur photographers favor, because their lower cost frees up money to purchase extra accessories. They are also the cameras that pros use on weekends for their personal photography, or which they purchase as cheap, extra cameras to supplement their “good” equipment. Today, most prosumer cameras are digital SLRs, or EVF models. For about $1,000 to $5,000 (and prices are dropping all the time), you can buy a really good prosumer digital camera.. What do you get for the extra cash? Prosumer cameras either have interchangeable lenses or have fixed zoom lenses with 7:1 to 10:1 ratios that practically eliminate the need for removable lenses in the first place. They’ll have through-the-lens viewing or, at the low end, an electronic viewfinder. There will be enough builtin memory buffer to let you snap off several frames individually or in motor drive mode without pausing for breath.
What’s the downside? Some of these cameras are a little like conversion vans, offering the disadvantages of both the conventional photographic worlds without all the advantages of the digital dominion. For example, they may be heavier than most digital cameras, yet not as flexible as a traditional film camera in some ways. The price of a prosumer camera is a lot to spend on a device that will certainly be obsolete (from a technological viewpoint; not in practice) alarmingly soon. However, if you’ve got the bucks and need the features, go for it.
Professional Models
For $5,000 to $30,000 or so, you can get yourself a camera that is in virtually all respects the equal of a professional film camera. If you need one of these, you don’t need me to tell you so. However, if you’re not ready to venture into this territory, you may wonder exactly what all the fuss is about. Why does Nikon, for example, offer both pricey professional digital cameras as well as a seemingly similar “amateur” model with roughly the same resolution for one-third the price?
A few hours with these stablemates and you’ll know the reason. Professional digital cameras are built with stronger, more rugged bodies, often made of titanium or some other metal, rather than the lighter polycarbonate frames found in prosumer models. Pro cameras may be quicker to start up, allow snapping longer sequences of photos at the camera’s full resolution, use faster and more accurate automatic focus and exposure mechanisms, or have beefier power sources. They also may have full-frame sensors so you don’t have to calculate in your head the “true” focal length of the lens you are using. If your living depends on getting a photo, you’ll want one of these (actually three of these) in your camera bag.