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For the most part, DSLR cameras can take some seriously impressive photos and video, but they can also be a burden to carry around. A high-end camera can be bulky and heavy, and if you have various lenses and flashes, the weight can quickly add up. Phone cameras, on the other hand, occupy a space at the opposite end of the spectrum, as they’re slim and easy to carry everywhere, but can’t offer the same quality more expensive cameras can. Enter portable digital cameras. They’re packed with features to make photos look professional, and can slide into a pocket or bag without a problem. Here are a few things to consider when looking for the right one.
What Are the Best Portable Digital Cameras?
Screen: At this point, it’s pretty much standard that a camera will have a built-in screen. But different models mean varying capabilities of what it can do. A touchscreen is helpful for things like picking settings and locking down a focal point, while a screen that flips out and around is great for selfies and letting your subject see how they look.
Zoom:Unlike a DSLR, these won’t have detachable lenses that you can swap out. For portability’s sake, that’s a good thing. But having everything built into one unit might mean sacrificing the features you need. A camera with optical zoom magnifies the image you’re seeing through the viewfinder, while keeping the quality intact. A digital zoom, on the other hand, can get you a tighter shot from a farther distance, but it may be slightly blurry and pixelated.
Connectivity: Whether you’re a professional or like taking photos as a hobby, you’ll eventually need to upload images to your computer or storage device. Wired connectivity still may be the fastest way, and most cameras still have HDMI and/or USB ports, but going wireless is an option, too. WiFi can help save you some time, especially if you’re posting pictures onto social media multiple times a day.
File Format: It’s all too easy to overlook this one, because it’s not a fun, hands-on feature you’ll adjust during a shoot like zoom or aperture. A camera that can save and import your photos in RAW format lets you make additional changes later through your favorite image editing application, allowing you to get the final result exactly how you imagined. A RAW file is significantly larger than a JPEG, but all the data and details of your photo, including precise colors and shadows, should be perfectly preserved for you to alter at a later time.
