3 Basic Options

Compact:
Pros	Portable Versatile Excellent image quality in most conditions. Good zoom range Macro Point and shoot
Cons	Fixed flash with limited range Performance falls off in poor light Not particularly good for action image quality limited by small sensor Great for outdoor shots in bright conditions	NOTE: The sensor is the electronic component inside the camera where the light falls. Do not confuse it with the viewing screen at the back of the camera.
Price	$300-$600
Highly Recommended	Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Canon PowerShot SD850 IS Digital ELPH (IXUS 950 IS
Summary	Compacts are full of surprises and not to be underestimated. You can end up with so many good images that you feel disappointed on those occasions when the camera can't last the distance. Providing you choose highest image quality, you can expect excellent results for most conditions. Limitations become apparent in poor light conditions and situations where you require control of flash. Not particularly good for food shots, interiors and product images. Use of flash is limited by short range.

BRIDGE/SL- like
Pros	All-in-one camera View through viewfinder or LCD screen Fully automatic through to fully manual External flash mount Built-in stabiliser Movie mode No need to change lenses No problems with dust on sensor. Outstanding image quality. Impressive zoom range Macro
Cons	Most of the cons will not concern the average photographer. They relate to technical issues such as bleeding of colours under certain consitions and a loss of quality at higher ISO settings. These are quite remarkable tools.
Price	$630-$800
Highly Recommended	Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 Fujifilm Finepix S100fs 11.1MP
Summary	These cameras represent exceptional value for money. Image quality is brilliant and the wide zoom range means that you can expect great results in most situations. An external flash will extend the versatility for portraits and product shots. Image quality and size mean that images are ideal for publication and large prints. Shoot at highest image quality for optimum results.

SLR (Single Lens Reflex)
Pros	Instant response Can be relied upon in all conditions High shutter speeds High ISO selection with negligible loss of quality Large sensor results in superior image quality and more control in editing Wide lens selection
Cons	Heavy and large. (Many photographers see this as a pro and prefer the solid feel of a 'real' camera. Sensors collect dust fragments when changing lenses. Cleaning can be costly Requires a good understanding of photographic technique to optimise the potential of the camera. Expensive and with so many electronic components is more fragile.
Price	$1200 upwards (lenses may not be included)
Highly Recommended	Nikon D60, Nikon D3, Canon EOS 5D, Olympus E-420, Canon EOS 450D, Canon EOS 40D
Summary	There has to be some advantages to owning a quality SLR camera. The weight of the camera and the sheer bulk of extra lenses and add-ons is off-set by knowing that you are in total control of the situation. That is why professionals continue using them. Even SLRs in the lower price range come close to equalling the performance of expensive SLRs of the film era. The ability to choose the lens for the occasion has many advantages too. If you shoot in RAW mode the end result is image files with a huge amount of information - perfect for optimum editing. A serious amateur can produce very professional-looking results.   If you are thinking of purchasing a SLR, do your homework. There are a lot of competing cameras to choose from. For many serious photographers the choice is determined by the fact that they have existing lenses which can be used with digital SLR of the same brand

Conclusions: Recommended Web site You cannot go past www.dpreview.com for the most comprehensive and up-to-date reviews of digital cameras. Whether you want full technical details or a simple summary with heaps of sample images, it has it all. Don't waste your time searching the web. They also have a great rating system with their highly recommended cameras. Once you have made a choice, shop for your camera online. You will save a lot of money. Stick with a reputable company and use PayPal (or similar secure system) for payment and you shouldn't have too many problems. The new dimension of photography. While digital cameras have simplified photography they have also introduced a whole new dimension – editing. Tweaking your images, re-sizing, optimising for web, file handling, storage, file types - there is a lot to learn. These will be the topics of future newsletters. There is no perfect choice. One of the best things you can ultimately do is read the manual and get the max out of your camera. Then it will pay to invest in an affordable editing application such as Photoshop Elements and learn how to transform your pics into masterpieces. My recommendation. I regularly recommend the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 as a versatile, all-round camera that will produce consistently good results in most conditions. The lens clarity is superb across the very wide zoom range. Its main limitation is the level of skill of the operator. The built-in flash is very powerful but it also has the mount for an external flash unit.   I use a Canon EOS5D, being a Canon enthusiast for many years. I love its instant response and the quality of the large format images is stunning. It also means that I am able to use my old lenses which lay dormant for many years. Nikon fans will give equally glowing reports for their digital SLRs. We are very spoilt now. With this camera in hand, I will never get caught out (famous last words).   UPDATE: The Canon EOS5D Mark2 is the later version of the above camera. At 21.2 megapixels it delivers superb images. Its high definition video feature is of such high quality that some documentary producers are using it instead of carrying heavy video equipment. It also features live preview on the monitor screen. It is a very versatile camera which maintains excellent quality even in low light (up to ISO 5000).   Also, watch out for the next generation of SLR cameras without mirrors and moving shutters. Faster and lighter.

 

 

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