As opposed to a DSLR, shopping for a compact camera is a relatively easy affair. There are a few basic rules that you need to know, firstly, megapixel don’t matter as much as you think they do. Instead, it is the lens that really matters, so, look for the kind of lens used, the focal length etc. Finally, consider other features like display resolution, low light performance, image stabilization and video quality. Based on all these criteria, we have put together a list of the best compact digital cameras:

1. Canon Power Shot SX260 HS – This Canon Power Shot camera comes with a 20x25mm ultra wide lens, backside illuminated CMOS sensor and Digic 5 image processor. Simply put, these are the some of the most advanced features in the world of compact digital cameras. This 12 megapixel camera boasts of excellent image quality and image stabilization. Additionally, it has a long zoom lens and it offers a variety of shooting modes. The Canon Power Shot SX260 HS is one of the best point and shoot cameras, one that should please both the amateur and the professional photographer.

2. Nikon Coolpix S9100 – The Nikon Coolpix S9100 has much in common with the Canon Power Shot SX260 HS. Both of these 12 megapixel cameras come with CMOS sensor and long zoom lenses. The Nikon Coolpix S9100 takes excellent photos even in low light thanks to its 18x zoom optical lens. For a camera that can easily fit into your pocket, the S9100 offers many automated modes. All you have to do is click a single button and you can have sharp and crisp photos under any conditions.

3. Sony Cyber Shot DSC-HX30V- This 18 megapixel camera is an absolute favorite among consumers with its high quality lens and performance. It has a significantly wide lens with improved auto focus speed and image stabilization. Additionally, it comes with built in Wi-Fi, improved GPS and Sony’s Clear Image Zoom, all of which make it a force to reckon with.

Besides these, there are several variants which are equally promising. Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20, Sony Cyber DSC-RX100, Canon Power Shot 92 and Fujifim Finepix Z800EXR come highly recommended. The truth is that there is very little separating all of these models and one just has to rely on personal choice as the last resort.

People often use the professional v/s amateur equation to simplify the choice between a DSLR and a compact camera. According to this distinction, the compact camera is ideal for the common man out there who is interested in clicking photographs on birthdays, anniversaries, holidays etc. However, for anyone who is passionate about photography and wants to experiment with the technical elements, a DSLR is the obvious choice. While most of this stands true, a lot of professional photographers are beginning to embrace compact cameras as the quality of their lenses has improved tremendously in the past few years.

Let’s take a closer look at each of them individually:

1. Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera or DSLR

While there is no denying the fact that compact cameras are now offering several features which were earlier exclusive to DSLRs, there is one crucial feature which swings the balance quite decisively in the favour of the latter- a DSLR allows you to change lens unlike a compact camera. This feature widens the possible range of flexibility as you can modify the focal length, speed, amount of light ec and this flexibility is a must-have for a professional photographer.

If you have ever tried taking photographs with a compact camera with low light, you would have noticed that the photos never come out well. This is one of those scenarios where only a DSLR can help you take exceptionally sharp photographs. Therefore, it can safely be said that if you want complete control over photograph settings, a DSLR is what you are looking for.

On the flip side though, a DSLR can cost twice or even thrice as much as a compact camera. Additionally, DSLRs are usually bulky and it can be difficult carrying them around. And finally, they can prove to be a little too complicated sometimes and might just intimidate the common man out there.

2. Compact Camera

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that compact cameras are perfect for a beginner- they are easy to use, they are light-weight and portable and the settings are usually automated. You can simply slip a compact camera in your backpack and use it on a holiday, or you can capture those precious family moments with amazing ease. A layman can have no complaints with the performance and efficiency of a modern day compact camera.

But, there are things you can’t do with a compact camera. For starters, they don’t allow you to change lenses thus restricting your choice in other sectors. To add to that, they come with smaller sensors which means that even if the megapixel count is as high as a DSLR, the image quality would still be inferior as compared to the latter as the nature of the pixels is different.

One can go into the core technicalities like viewfinder mechanism, shutter lag etc. and the debate will never end. But the choice depends on what you are looking for. When you begin to feel that a compact camera is limiting you from trying new things with photography, it’s time to save up some money and get yourself a DSLR.

It would be highly sceptical of us to declare out rightly that megapixels don’t matter at all. However, it can be said with a lot of conviction that the megapixel count is just one amongst many features which matter. And even more so, there are other features which are more crucial and must be taken into account while buying a digital camera.

So, what exactly is a megapixel? One pixel actually stands for a PICture ELEment and refers to the number of such units a camera’s sensor can capture when it is exposed to light. A megapixel refers to thousand such pixels. Thus, in very basic terms, a higher megapixel count means that the camera’s sensor can capture more pixels which should translate to a more detailed picture. Based merely on this assumption, one can say that more megapixels equate to a sharper picture. However, this is one of the most popular misconceptions about megapixels.

While studying the megapixel count of a camera, we have to consider that not all pixels are uniform in nature or size. Smaller cameras like the ones installed in phones come with small sensors and thus the pixels are more concentrated in such a camera. A phone camera can boast of a 41 megapixel camera (Nokia has recently released one) but the pixels will remain tiny. On the other hand, a digital camera will always give you better quality photos as compared to a phone camera simply because of the better quality of pixels even if the megapixel count is lower.

DSLR cameras are equipped with huge sensors and top quality lenses, thanks to which they deliver such amazing photos not because of the megapixel count. As a matter of fact, the kind of lens has a huge impact on the camera and should top your list of factors-to-be-considered in a digital camera.

Having said this, pixels are not completely worthless either. They work wonderfully as the very basic standards of judging a camera but again, basic is the key word here. A lot also depends on how and where you are going to use your camera. If you are a professional photographer and want to take poster size shots, megapixels can make a lot of difference. But if you are going to use your camera to click photos for your next Facebook display picture, don’t be fooled by the cameras offering you a higher megapixel count. Our advice-save yourself a couple of hundred dollars. If you have to choose between a 21 megapixel and an 18 megapixel camera, look instead for the quality of the lenses they use. Never judge a camera solely by its pixels

The Problem With Smartphone Cameras

It all comes down to size. A smartphone has to be pocketable, and there’s just not enough room for a large screen, high-end processor, cellular antennas, speakers, PLUS a full-sized image sensor. As a result, cameras on smartphones use very small image sensors. They may still allow for 8 megapixel images (or even as much as 16 megapixels with upcoming technology), but the small sensor means each little pixels sees less light, causing colors to be less accurate and images to be grainy and noisy.

Smartphone’s also have small lenses which don’t typically offer things like optical zooming. Small lenses let in less light and have a more difficult time focusing quickly. They also lack key features that help produce quality photos, such as image stabilization, shooting modes, shutter speed/aperture control, and multi-point focusing, all of which are fairly standard on most compact digital cameras today.

Ultimately, this all means that smartphone cameras perform especially poorly in low light situations, and even in ideal lighting conditions, a smartphone will struggle to take any photos that will stand up to the test of looking good in print (even a simple 4×6-inch glossy).

So When is a Smartphone Camera Useful?

Thanks to the wonderful world of the internet, printing photos is almost entirely unnecessary these days, and the great thing about a smartphone is that it’s connected to the internet no matter where you are. So when you have a photo opportunity that you’d like to share on Twitter or Facebook (places where the images will rarely be viewed at full-size),  a smartphone offers more than enough quality, and includes the added benefit of being able to share it from anywhere.

Certain smartphones do try a bit harder. Some new Sony Ericsson phones, like the Xperia Arc, feature Sony’s Exmor R image sensor, which has features that allow it to perform much better in low light situations; however, it’s still considerably smaller than your typical compact digital camera image sensor.

Still, you probably won’t want to rely on your smartphone for any important/memorable occasions, like a family vacation or wedding for example.

In the end, you’re really best off buying an entry level compact digital camera to complement your smartphone in situations where it just isn’t smart enough.