 You
are here: Home
> For Beginner Amateur Photographers |
What are the best digital cameras for someone
who is just starting out in photography?
If you desire a digital camera for point-and-shoot
photography only, see our article Best
Point-and-Shoot Digital Cameras. This
aticle will explore the cameras for those
who are developing an interest in photography,
but are not sure if they want to get serious
about it.
A good digital camera for a beginner amateur
photographer will take good pictures in
Auto mode, plus allow some settings selection
for experimentation. A digital camera with
Auto mode, plus Aperture-Priority, Shutter-Priority
and Manual modes is the best bet in this
category. Auto mode allows point-and-shoot
picture taking, whereas the other modes
allow you to experiment and learn.
Beginner amateur photographers will find
the following digital cameras easy to use
and a good place to start. Our list of the
best beginner digital cameras is by no means
complete, and we plan to add to/update it
as new models come along. Click on a camera
to view its QuickFact™
Sheet.
So, let this page be the starting point
of your research. Read the QuickFact™
Sheet of each camera for more information
and our Buyer's
Guide to help you narrow
down your choice (Warning: some elbow
grease required).
|
|
|
Canon
PowerShot D10
- 12.1 MP (1/2.3-in. CCD)
- 3x optical zoom (35-105mm equiv.)
- Optical Image Stabilization
- f/2.8 (W) - f/4.9 (T)
- 2.5-in. LCD (230K)
- Movie 640 x 480 (30 fps)
more...
103.6W x 66.9H x 48.8D mm /
4.08W x 2.63H x 1.92D in.
190g / 6.70 oz. |
|
|
Canon
PowerShot SD970 IS
- 12.1 MP (1/2.3-in. CCD)
- 5x optical zoom (37-185mm equiv.)
- Optical Image Stabilization
- f/3.2 (W) - f/5.8 (T)
- 3.0-in. LCD (460K)
- HD Movie 1280 x 720 (30 fps)
more...
94.8w x 56.8h x 26.3d mm /
3.73w x 2.24h x 1.04d in.
160g / 5.64 oz. |
|
|
Canon
PowerShot SD960 IS
- 12.1 MP (1/2.3-in. CCD)
- 4x wide-angle optical zoom (28-112mm equiv.)
- Optical Image Stabilization
- f/2.8 (W) - f/5.8 (T)
- 2.8-in. LCD (230K)
- HD Movie 1280 x 720 (30 fps)
more...
97.9W x 54.1H x 22.1D mm /
3.85W x 2.12H x 0.87D in.
145g / 5.11 oz. |
|
|
Canon
PowerShot SD780 IS
- 12.1 MP (1/2.3-in. CCD)
- 3x optical zoom (33-100mm equiv.)
- Optical Image Stabilization
- f/3.2 (W) - f/5.8 (T)
- Optical Viewfinder
- 2.5-in. LCD (230K)
- HD Movie 1280 x 720 (30 fps)
more...
87.0W x 54.5H x 18.4D mm /
3.43W x 2.15H x 0.72D in.
115g / 4.06 oz. |
|
|
Canon
PowerShot SD1200 IS
- 10 MP (1/2.3-in. CCD)
- 3x optical zoom (35-105mm equiv.)
- Optical Image Stabilization
- f/2.8 (W) - f/4.9 (T)
- Optical Viewfinder
- 2.5-in. LCD (230K)
- Movie 640 x 480 (30 fps)
more...
88.5W x 54.8H x 21.8D mm /
3.48W x 2.16H x 0.86D in.
120g / 4.23 oz. |
|
|
Canon
PowerShot A2100 IS
- 12.1 MP (1/2.3-in. CCD)
- 4x optical zoom (35-140mm equiv.)
- Optical Image Stabilization
- f/2.7 (W) - f/5.6 (T)
- 2.5-in. LCD (115K)
- Movie 640 x 480 (30 fps)
more...
95.4W x 62.4H x 31.0D mm /
3.76W x 2.46H x 1.22D in.
155 g / 5.47 oz. |
|
|
|
Canon
PowerShot A1100 IS
- 12.1 MP (1/2.3-in. CCD)
- 4x optical zoom (35-140mm equiv.)
- Optical Image Stabilization
- f/2.7 (W) - f/5.6 (T)
- 2.5-in. LCD (115K)
- Movie 640 x 480 (30 fps)
more...
95.4W x 62.4H x 31.0D mm /
3.76W x 2.46H x 1.22D in.
155 g / 5.47 oz. |
|
|
|
|
Canon
PowerShot A480
- 10 MP (1/2.3-in. CCD)
- 10x optical zoom (37-122mm equiv.)
- Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
- f/3.0 (W) - f/5.8 (T)
- 2.5-in. LCD (115K)
- Movie 640 x 480 (30 fps)
more...
92.1W x 62.0H x 31.1D mm /
3.63W x 2.44H x 1.22D in.
140g / 4.94 oz. |
|
|
|
|
Fujifilm
FinePix S5200
5.1 megapixels
10x optical zoom
more...
4.5" W x 3.3" H x 4.4"
D
13.1 oz.
US $399.95 / CDN $499.99
|
|
|
|
|
Fujifilm
FinePix F700
3.1 megapixels
3x optical zoom
more...
4.3 (W) x 2.1 (H) x 1.1 (D) in.
6.0 oz.
MSRP: US$599.95 / CAD$899
|
|
|
|
|
Fujifilm
FinePix E900 Zoom
9.0 megapixels
4x optical zoom
more...
4.0"W x 2.5"H x 1.4"D
7.1 oz.
US $499.95 / CDN $599.99
|
|
|
 |
Kodak
EasyShare DX6490 Zoom
4.0 megapixels
10x optical zoom
more...
99.6W x 79.9H x 81.2D mm /
3.9W x 3.1H x 3.2D in.
337 g / 11.9 oz.
MSRP: US$
|
|
|
 |
Minolta
DiMAGE Z3
4.0 megapixels
12x optical zoom
more...
108.5W x 80H x 83.5D mm /
4.3W x 3.1H x 3.3D in.
335 g / 11.8 oz.
MSRP: US$
|
|
|
 |
Olympus
Stylus 9000
- 12 MP (1/2.3-in. CCD)
- 10x wide-angle optical zoom (28-280mm equiv.)
- Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
- f/3.5 (W) - f/5.9 (T)
- 2.7-in. LCD (230K)
- Movie 640 x 480 (30 fps)
more...
96W x 60H x 31D mm /
3.8W x 2.4H x 1.2D in.
185g / 6.5 oz
|
|
|
 |
Olympus
Stylus 7000
- 12 MP (1/2.3-in. CCD)
- 7x optical zoom (37-260mm equiv.)
- Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
- f/3.5 (W) - f/5.3 (T)
- 3.0-in. LCD (230K)
- Movie 640 x 480 (30 fps)
more...
96.4W x 55.9H x 25.3D mm /
3.8W x 2.2H x 1.0D in.
132g / 4.7 oz
|
|
 |
Panasonic
Lumix DMC-FZ10
4.0 megapixels
Leica F2.8 (throughout zoom range)
12x optical zoom with image stabilization
more...
5.45W x 3.43H x 4.16D in.
1.21 lbs
MSRP: US$599.95
|
|
|
 |
Pentax
Optio 550
5.0 megapixels
3x optical zoom
more...
10.0 (W) x 5.9 (H) x 4.0 (D) cm /
3.9 (W) x 2.3 (H) x 1.6 (D) in.
205g / 7.2 oz.
MSRP: US$599.99
|
|
|
Not sure which one to buy? Want a digital
camera that gives you a bit more control?
Check out our Buyer's
Guide.
