Digital Cameras
There are always moments in life when you wish you had your camera to hand. The Labs team rounds up the latest pocket cameras.
There are always moments in life when you wish you had your camera to hand. The Labs team rounds up the latest pocket cameras.
That's precisely why we've rounded up these pocketable cameras. They will all fit in a trouser pocket or handbag, but beware that some will be more comfortable than others.
There are inevitable trade-offs in making a camera smaller, so the ideal model for you will depend on your needs. You may have to sacrifice the benefits of an optical zoom for the sake of a millimetre or two in thickness. In turn, note that the smaller the camera, the smaller the lens, resulting in less light being captured by the CCD (the Charge Coupled Device, which acts as the film in a digital camera). Usually, this translates into poorer quality in darker conditions.
Also beware of the trap that the higher number of megapixels equals higher quality. We've tested models with 3- to 5-megapixel CCDs this month, but unless you want to enlarge portions of a photo or print A4-sized images, 2 megapixels is fine, especially if you're showing them on screen.
Another benefit of pocket digital cameras is they won't break the bank. With prices starting from only $549, you're sure to find a model to suit your budget. We asked for vendors to send in cameras as close to $600 as possible which is enough money to buy a decent unit.
This article appeared in the January, 2005 issue of PC Authority.
Comments
Be the first to comment on this article.
Thoughts on this article? Add a comment below.