The right digital camera package for your budget

The last 10 years have seen the explosive growth of digital cameras. At first they were incredibly expensive and lower-quality than their photographic film cousins — but those days are gone. Digital is now cheaper, higher-quality, and infinitely more convenient than film. If you haven't got a digital camera yet, you really don't know what you're missing out on.

The problem is, digital cameras have developed so quickly and demand has been so high that there's now a mind-boggling number of cameras to choose from. With new technology comes new terms and definitions, too! In the olden days, you could simply ask a shop assistant for a "good camera" or a "cheap camera" — but today, that's impossible. You need to know what kind of camera you want. Do you want a camera that can shoot video? How about a camera that can survive a 10' fall or work under water? Are you interested in portrait photography or landscapes?

The central decision point
The main decider, though, as with most consumer electronics, is size. With digital cameras, there are three main classes to choose from: point-and-shoot cameras, which are the smallest and most portable; DSLR cameras, which are much larger but capable of producing higher-quality photos; and Micro Four Thirds (MFT) cameras, which bridge the gap between point-and-shoot and DSLR.

If you want to keep a camera in your bag and carry it around everywhere, you should look at getting a point-and-shoot. DSLRs are for the enthusiast or professional photographer who doesn't mind lugging around lots of gear in the name of his or her art. Micro Four Thirds cameras are small, but offer some of the benefits of the DSLR — though they can be quite expensive.

In general, if you have a budget under $300, buy a point-and-shoot camera. If you have more than a few hundred dollars to spend and you don't mind a larger camera size, invest in an MFT or DSLR for better photos.

Pick what kind of camera you're looking for, and read on!

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