Moments in Time Photography

A friend of mine recently contacted me and said she was in the market for a new digital point and shoot camera.  She wanted to know what camera I suggested.  I explained to her that I have not shopped for a point and shoot camera in a very long time but I guided her with some key things to look for in a P&S camera.   

First, compare various camera’s shutter lag.  Shutter lag is the time that it takes from when you “push the button” and the camera actually takes the picture.  Some cameras take quite a while to actually capture your image.  If you are taking pictures of your children this can be extremely annoying because the moment disappears in a flash and you are left with a picture of a spot where your child use to be.

Go with a reputable brand that will stand behind their camera.  Personally I like Canon and Sony.  Nikon , of course, makes a good camera but when I was shopping for a P&S approximately 5 years ago the shutter lag in the Nikon was significantly longer.  I am sure that they have addressed this problem by now but that was my experience years ago.

Second, make sure that the focal range will meet your needs.  This will be labeled as “optical zoom” the greater the number, the greater the range and the more versatility you will get out of it.  Remember, the more you zoom in on your subject, the shakier you will tend to be.  Try to get a camera with an image stabalizer in it - it really makes a difference!

Third, don’t get too hung up about the megapixels.  Yes, I know, we all want as many as we can get but most cameras now have beyond what you actually will need.  Anything over 7 will be great!

And lastly, make sure the body feels substantial.  There are some cameras on the market that are not well made.  They feel light in the hand and don’t seem to be constructed of high quality materials.

If you have any questions feel free to write!  Thanks for looking and I hope this was helpful!

Sarah

Moments in Time Photography

sarah@momentsintimebysarah.com