Dont be fooled by pixels

Pixels do not determine the quality of the image; they determine how big the image is. How good the image looks is determined by the quality of the pixels, the lens and the processor inside the camera. Think about the biggest size of print you will ever require and choose the right number of pixels. If in doubt use our specially developed Pixel Calculator to find the megapixel figure thats right for you.

Optical beats digital 

Pay close attention to a camera's optical zoom. Cameras tend to have 3 times, 6 times, or even 10 times zooms, usually displayed by a 'x' sign. The zoom puts you in control of how much you want in your photograph. Choose longer zooms (6x, 10x) for wildlife and sports photography to get in closer. Digital zoom is of little importance when choosing a camera - it just cuts away the edge of the image and enlarges the section in the middle.

Take the broad view

The story isn't over yet, don't just look at how big a zoom is, or how far it goes. The lower figure (starting point) is also important, possibly more important. For instance, a 28mm starting point in a 28-90mm zoom will enable you to fit more people, more buildings and more landscape into your shots. Only being able to go back to 38mm may be frustrating if you photograph such subjects regularly.

Power Balance

Some cameras take normal AA batteries, which are a reassurance, as you know you can get them almost anywhere. You can also get hold of AA rechargeable batteries. However many of the smaller cameras come supplied with a small rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which is great, as long as you remember to charge it. Maybe buy a spare, just in case?

A moving experience 

You probably don't realise it, but your digital camera can be a surprisingly impressive tool for capturing video footage. With a max recording time of 8 minutes with a 512MB card, it's not for extended recordings, but for short, entertaining clips. For best movie quality, look for a shooting rate of 30 fps (frames per second), and an image size of 640 x 480 pixels, otherwise the movement will be jerky and the image small.

Small can be sophisticated 

Gone are the days when a camera had to be big and blocky to be serious. An amazing amount of quality and creative control can now be fitted into smaller, metal bodies. As your photography improves (which it will!), you will appreciate those manual modes and photographic options.

Picture cradle

With a PictureCradle there is no need to plug in cables every time you wish to download or recharge your cameras. Simply slot the camera into the cradle and you can quickly download your images and recharge the camera battery when the camera is not in use. Check to see whether a Picture Cradle is included, whether it is available as an accessory, or not at all.

Remember to print

The only drawback to digital photography is that you can forget to print your photos out! From Fujifilm's extensive experience, you should not rely 100% on the saved files, but keep prints of your best shots. The most permanent record you can keep is to use a digital printing service found at many high street processors.
Click here for a link to the labs that use Fujifilm equipment.