POINT & SHOOT DIGitAL CAMERAS B UYING Digital Cameras Digital Store & Mail Order Hours: Sunday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm Friday: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm EST, 2:00 pm DST Saturday: Closed 800-947-9950 212-444-6600 420 Ninth Avenue @ 34th Street New York, NY 10001 INTRODUCTION 4 TYPES OF CAMERA USERS 6 ENTRY LEVEL 8 ADVANCED 10 PRO 12 MEGAPIXELS 14 Digital Cameras bhphotovideo.com FEATURES & ACCESSORIES 16 Quick searches and live support help you get everything you want and exactly what you need. Create an account, make a wish KEY FEATURES 22 list, and sign up for our newsletter, all in our secure environment. Introduction Today’s point-and-shoot cameras are convenient, simple, and small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Stash one in your jacket pocket and you won’t miss a moment. Advances in camera technology now enable image capture at faster speeds. Some have bells and whistles specifically tailored to the needs of photographers—from built-in waterproof casings to in-camera panorama stitching. Manufacturers offer several models, from simple to sophisticated, to meet a wide variety of picture-taking needs. But with all the digital cameras out there, how do you even begin to pick the one that’s right for you? First consider budget. Point-and-shoot cameras range from $79 on upwards to $800. A lower-priced camera might have all the basic features you need. Or, you might want to invest more for a camera with beefy manual controls. Next, megapixels. The more megapixels the better, right? In most cases yes, and in some cases no. We’ll guide you through the megapixel madness. In addition, we’ll address memory cards, new camera features, accessories, and other factors to consider when buying a digital camera. Our goal is to provide a springboard to an informed decision, so you can come to our store armed with the right questions. This guide is a compilation 4 of questions frequently asked by our customers, followed by the recommen- Introduction dations of our knowledgeable sales team. 5 Introduction What kind of point-and-shoot photographer are you? Each camera has a personality as distinct as its owner. Basic features for quick and easy snapshots? Looking for a camera with RAW capture capabilities and a slim form factor? What do you use your camera for, and how often do you use it? Examine the photographic personalities below. Which description resembles you? Entry-Level User This is your first digital point-and-shoot camera. You take pictures occasion- ally—at birthday parties, weddings, on vacations. You don’t want to mess around with manual controls. You just want to take pictures. Advanced User You want more creative control and have already explored your camera’s manual functions. You’re thinking about upgrading to a digital SLR, but you want the simplicity of a point-and-shoot camera. 6 Pro User Categories Point-and-Shoot You already have a digital SLR, but don’t want to lug around a heavy body and multiple lenses. You’re looking for hefty manual controls and quick menu access. You’re seeking a compact solution for taking quick snapshots without thinking about technicalities. 7 Features to Look for in an Entry-Level Camera Built-In External Microphone Entry-level cameras are by far the most popular point- Records audio for cameras with video capabilities. and-shoot cameras. Compact and convenient, entry-level cameras are easy to use and easy to carry. Although shutter speed, aperture options, and zoom features are limited, they’re small enough to fi t in a jeans pocket DC In / Battery Charger for quick, on-the-go snapshots. Connect your camera directly to a wall socket, or charge your battery in-camera. If you’re considering purchasing your fi rst digital camera, the options can be overwhelming. Start by evaluating what you will be photographing most of the time. An entry-level camera is ideal for casual use—a birthday party, a family vacation to Yellowstone Park, baby’s fi rst steps, or a wedding. Memory Card Slot Face detection, Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), and red-eye reduction are Buy the fastest, highest storage capacity now standard features of any entry-level point-and-shoot outfi t. within your budget. Make sure that the card format is compatible with your camera. Questions to ask: n Are you looking for an easy-to-use camera right out of the box? n How often do you use your camera? n For what purpose do you use your camera? 8 n Are you a casual everyday photographer? USB Connection Entry-Level Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable connection enables image upload to your computer or printer. Light Meter Red-Eye Reduction Measures ambient light A series of short fl ashes are triggered Built-In External Speaker to properly expose before the shot is captured to reduce Enables audio playback from video clips. photos, when the fl ash is the occurrence of red eyes. manually disabled. Shutter Lag Time The time span between the shutter fi ring and your being able to take another pic- ture. Particularly important when shooting high-speed action or sports. Optical Viewfi nder On bright, sunny days, the image on the LCD screen can sometimes be diffi cult to view. Consider an optical viewfi nder as a backup. Wide-Angle/Telephoto Face Detection Zoom Controls Identifi es faces in the scene. Adjusts 9 Zoom out for picturesque land- focus and exposure so that people in scapes, or zoom in for close-ups. your photos are in clear focus. Entry-Level Optical Zoom CMOS/CCD Sensor Utilizes the physical optics of your Captures and converts the visual camera’s lens to increase the lens’s image into an electronic signal. focal length and zoom in. Features to Look for in an Advanced-Level Camera Th e advanced user has a well-oiled trigger fi nger for taking Video Capture digital photographs, and is familiar with the basic features Up to HD quality with stereo sound. and uses of a simple point-and-shoot camera. If you’re looking for advanced features, but you’re not ready to make the leap to a digital SLR, the advanced point-and-shoot is an ideal solution for experimentation and growth. Advanced point-and-shoot cameras extend the basic feature palette with megapixel upgrades, wider zoom ranges, and variable shutter and aperture speeds. Keep in mind that advanced features must be accommodated by a larger camera body. If photo-blogging and video sharing are staples of your daily diet, built-in “shoot-to-share” capabilities facilitate quick and easy uploads to Flickr and YouTube. Built-in WiFi capabilities extend the possibilities even further, en- abling instant upload to your photo blog in the vicinity of a WiFi signal. Questions to Ask: 10 n Would you like to upgrade from an earlier model? Adavanced-Level n Are you not quite ready to make the leap to a digital SLR? n Do you want more megapixels, zoom control, image stabilization? Fast Burst Rates n Is a larger camera body a positive factor? You won’t miss another moment. n Are you looking for quick and easy upload of pictures to the web? Free-angle LCD Monitor Freedom to take photos from unique perspectives. Hot Shoe For external fl ash and electronic add-ons. Built-in WiFi For camera-to-camera sharing, wireless printing, and wireless upload to blogs. Short Shutter Lag Times For close-to-instant image capture. 11 Adavanced-Level Longer Optical Zoom Capabilities Get up close and personal with a grasshopper, or capture breathtaking landscapes. Features to Look for in a Pro-Level Camera Full Manual Features FINDER/LCD For direct control and manipulation of Multiple lenses are bogging you down. An overstuff ed aperture, shutter speed, and focus. camera bag also includes weekly visits to the chiropractor. If this sounds familiar, consider a pro user point-and-shoot camera. Th e pro user already owns a digital SLR and wants a compact, lightweight camera for quick photo ops, sketches, and everyday use. Th ese cameras off er the fullest spectrum of features available on an SLR without the extra weight and without sacrifi cing manual controls. You won’t miss another shot while digging frantically in your camera bag for the right lens. Superior optics capture pristine images. High-quality sensors up the resolu- -4.9/ : 2 .8 6.3- 1 25 tion ante. Direct control and manipulation over aperture, shutter speed, and .2 A S focus enable you to capture the scene as you see it. RAW capture capabilities P H E extend your post-production reach for further image tweaks, off ering ulti- R I C A mate creative fl exibility. L DISPLAY MENU Quick menu access rounds out the features, making the pro user point-and- shoot the next best thing to its SLR counterparts. 6 X O P T I C 12 Questions to Ask: A L Z O O M Pro-Level n Seeking a quick, compact solution to complement your digital SLR? n Are you looking for hefty manual controls in a slimmer chassis? High-end sensors with n Do you want RAW capture capabilities for ultimate post-production tweaks? extended ISO ranges For crisp resolution and sharp images. Optical Diopter Dial Enables near- and far-sighted photographers to take pictures without having to wear eyeglasses. FINDER/LCD RAW Capture -4.9/ For creative post-production tweaks. : 2 .8 6.3- 1 25 .2 A S P H E R I C A L DISPLAY MENU Quick Menu Access 6 Easy user interfaces and quick access X Lens Adaptor Ring O P to essential features without hassle.