Digital Camera Buying Guides & Reviews

With such a vast array of products on the market, how do you know what to look for when buying a digital camera? Is one digital camera really better than another? Which features are important to have? To save money, what digital camera functions can you do without? Conversely, which should you not sacrifice to save money?

Do you really want to spend extra money on a digital camera that offers features you know you’ll never, ever use? On the other hand, if you buy a digital camera with minimal options it may not save you money in the long run because as your photography skills and interest evolves, you’ll find yourself bored with the cheap point-and-shoot you bought only a couple of months ago. You’ll be back at square one with your “camera hunt”, but be out the money from your initial purchase.

What budget do you have for your new digital camera? If you plan to take plenty of photos of wildlife, have you considered that shutter noise is an important aspect? Are you an “always shoot in auto” kind of person or are you looking to flirt with camera exposure settings? This article will help establish the basics before you set out to buy a digital camera. Here is an excellent article which explains the pros and cons of the point-and-shoot digital camera and the DSLR camera. Which is right for you?

If you’ve decided that you’d like to take the leap from a point-and-shoot digital camera to a DSLR camera, this buying guide will provide you with 5 tips on what to look for when buying a digital SLR camera.

If your camera buying experience is budget driven, make sure you take into account some common “hidden costs” – items that don’t always come packaged with the digital camera, but ones which you must have in order to use your new camera.

Will spending money on a 10 megapixel (MP) digital camera really make a difference to your specific photography needs over a 5 MP camera? This article on megapixels will teach you what exactly a megapixel is and provide you with a guide on how many megapixels it takes to do what you want to do with your photography.

Megapixels aside, have you thought about camera lag, the “bulkiness” of a camera or what sort of zoom you’ll need/want in a digital camera? Ever wondered what the difference between optical zoom and digital zoom is or what difference it will make to your photos? These points, and more, are covered here.

If you’re having trouble deciding whether you’d like to take the leap from “point-and-shoot” photographer to “advanced” photographer, learn the basics of camera exposure to see what’s right for you. Here you will learn about digital camera ISO settings, aperture and f-stop, and shutter speed.

Once you’ve established what you’re looking for in a digital camera, start reading reviews of digital cameras that fall within the features you want.

Here are some popular digital cameras that have been reviewed by Bright Hub experts:

Canon Digital Cameras

In this review of the Canon Rebel XSi, you’ll find out if this digital camera merits the price tag attached and whether or not it’s worth upgrading from its popular predecessors – the Canon Rebel XT and XTi.

Not sure if you should buy the Canon 400D or the Canon 40D? This digital camera comparison will help you decide.

Some additional digital camera reviews of Canon products include the Canon PowerShot S5 IS and the Canon PowerShot A2000 IS.

Nikon Digital Cameras

The Nikon Coolpix S600 is a very compact point-and-shoot digital camera that offers excellent image quality, but is it worth $300? For an additional $100, $400 will get you Nikon’s Coolpix P80. This digital camera is a d-SLR wannabe, which isn’t at all a bad thing. The Coolpix P80 will also provide you with a massive 18x optical zoom lens and a long list of features. The LCD screen, however, isn’t the most impressive. Read this digital camera review to learn more.

For an entry-level digital SLR camera, the Nikon D60 may be what you're looking for. This camera offers the freedom of exposure control, but also shoots brilliantly on auto.

Sigma, Sony & Olympus Digital Cameras

Yes, the Sigma SD14 has been on the market for a while, and yes, there is a newer model available now, the Sigma SD15. However, if you’re looking for an entry-level dSLR camera and would like to save a few bucks, read this digital camera review on the Sigma SD14, to find out what it has to offer.

Another highly rated dSLR camera review is of the Sony DSLR-A300. Great for the photographer who is new to the world of dSLR photography; this digital camera captures brilliant photos in auto mode, has a competitive price tag and an abundance of features.

The Olympus E-520 is an entry-level DSLR camera. This review will teach you the good, the bad and the ugly! Another entry-level digital SLR camera made by Olympus is the Evolt E-420, which would you prefer?