On Tuesday 06 May 2008 11:32:15 am Biju Chacko wrote: > Perhaps a more useful question to the photo geeks is: What are the > criteria that you would use if you were buying a point and shoot?
Not a geek but have bought about 16 cameras in 30 years - of which 15 were point and shoot types analog and digital. There appears to be a world of difference between analog and digital point and shoot cameras. My biggest whine is the time lag between pressing the button and the camera taking some kind of decision about what it does before it actually takes a photograph. It doesn't matter what camera you buy - but get one that takes the snap pronto after you press the button. Never buy a camera with replaceable AA cells. Always opt for rechargeable ones. Always look for optical zoom and not the value of digital zoom. While you cannot do any serious photography of small objects more than 5 meters away unless you have a fairly large optical zoom figure - like 8 or 10, even that is not enough for decent sports or aviation photography and you can manage perfectly well with optical zoom of 3 or 4. So I wouldn't be desperate for a very large zoom figure as long as its optical. Try and find a camera with a viewfinder that you can hold up to your eyes (as well as using the back LCD with camera held at arms length) This makes photography easier in bright light, or with moving objects. Also easier for people who need to take off or put on glasses to view the LCD. Check if you can turn off the flash when you want to do that. Check the Macro function. can you take photographs of newsprint? Will they give you a cover for the camera? Will the cover serve as reasonable protection in heavy rain? Finally - as Kiran says - some I am finding cellphone cameras more and more convenient for point and shoot nowadays - albeit at some compromise of quality. shiv
