What Is the Absolute Best Camera Right Now? (Part 2/2)
‘Even for those who doubt the least, it often proves to be an almost impossible mission.’
That’s how I reasoned in part 1 of this two-part series about the search for a new camera.
In the first part, I compared four different types of cameras. Hopefully, this gave you a better understanding of the options available when searching for photo equipment. To fully immerse you in photography and make your camera purchase foolproof, this blog will focus on the most important camera features. With this knowledge, you’ll know exactly what to look for, be able to speak confidently with salespeople, and clearly explain what matters most to you. So, let’s take a look at five key features you should know to compare cameras based on your needs.
Megapixels
Pixels: the most overrated camera feature, at least, that’s my opinion. Even a 5-megapixel camera can produce good prints in sizes like 10 x 15 cm or 10 x 13 cm, which fit most standard photo frames. Nowadays, even the smallest cameras deliver around 40 megapixels, but is that really necessary?
A quick bit of technical background: simply put, 1 megapixel equals 1 million pixels. Digital images are made up of many of these tiny dots, which together determine your image resolution. Want to print something large, say 60 x 90 cm (about 2 by 3 feet)? Then a 8-megapixel camera is more than enough! Of course, more megapixels can be useful. For example, you can crop your photo and still keep enough detail for a sharp image. If you’re planning to make huge prints, think billboard or bus stop poster size, then more megapixels are definitely a plus.
So here’s my advice: don’t get too caught up in the megapixel race. Instead, focus on the features below, they’ll tell you a lot more about the camera’s real performance.
Sensor
The heart of any camera is its sensor. Those pixels we just talked about? You’ll find them packed into the sensor. It’s one of the most important components of a camera. The sensor plays a major role in determining image resolution, depth of field, image format, and dynamic range.
There are different types of sensors, and when it comes to sensors, bigger is usually better! The two most common types are CCD (charged coupled device) and CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor). While CCD sensors are still used in budget compact cameras, their basic design and higher power consumption have led most manufacturers to switch to CMOS alternatives. CMOS sensors offer more built-in functionality, work more efficiently, use less energy, and are better suited for high-speed burst shooting.
When you’re shopping for a new camera, pay close attention to the size of the sensor. (Here’s a helpful tool to compare different sensor sizes side-by-side.) Here’s a quick list of sensor sizes, from smallest to largest:
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1/3.2 inch
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1 inch
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Micro Four Thirds
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APS-C (same size as APS film: 15.60 x 23.60 mm)
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Full Frame (same as 35mm film: 24 x 36 mm)
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Medium Format
As you can see, there’s quite a range of sensor sizes, each one with impacting your final result. Generally, larger sensors capture more light and detail, resulting in better image quality, especially in low-light conditions or when you want a shallow depth of field.
ISO value
ISO is one of the most important settings in photography, but often overlooked by beginners. And yet, it can make or break your photo. ISO determines how sensitive your camera sensor is to light, and being aware of how it works is essential if you want to take control of your results. Whether you’re shooting in bright daylight or low-light conditions, understanding ISO will help you avoid blurry or unusable images.
ISO determines how sensitive your camera sensor is to light. Think of it this way: the more sensitive your sensor is, the better it can capture available light. And that’s what photography is really all about: capturing light.
Your eyes work in a similar way. When you walk from a bright room into a dark one, it takes a while to adjust. After a moment, your eyes adapt and you start to see better in the dark. That’s because they become more sensitive to light, though you also lose a bit of detail and color perception (thanks to those little rods and cones in your eyes, but that’s a topic for another time 😉).
So what should you pay attention to when buying a camera? A key thing to know is: the better the sensor, the more sensitive it is to light, and the better it performs in low-light conditions. A high-quality sensor will produce cleaner images with less noise, even when the light is poor.
If you want to avoid grainy or noisy photos, it’s best to keep your ISO value as low as possible. A good sensor will help you do that while still capturing enough light for a sharp, well-exposed image.
So, when choosing a new camera, pay close attention to how it performs at higher ISO values. If you take a photo in a dark room with a professional full-frame sensor, you’ll notice significantly less noise at the same ISO setting compared to a photo taken with your smartphone. (Check out this site to compare different sensors in detail!)
Aperture
Let’s talk about the lens! The aperture refers to the light-opening of the lens on your camera. You can compare it to the pupil of your eye, it expands and contracts depending on how much light is needed.
When we talk about aperture values, it can be a bit confusing at first. Just remember this: a small aperture means a high number (like f/11 or f/22) and lets in less light. A large aperture is shown with a low number (like f/1.4 or f/2.8) and lets in a lot of light.
Why does aperture matter? First of all, it controls how much light hits your sensor. A wider lens opening (lower f-number) means more light and less need to push your ISO higher to get a properly exposed photo. But there’s more: aperture also determines your depth of field, the area of your photo that appears sharp. Want that beautiful blurry background effect to make your subject stand out? Then go for a large aperture (low f-number). This technique is especially popular in portrait photography.
Shutter speed
inally, let me briefly explain shutter speed. Together with aperture, shutter speed controls how much light reaches your camera’s sensor. Your sensor, which converts light into a digital signal, can be exposed for a very short time (like 1/2000 of a second) or for a long time (up to 30 seconds). You set your desired exposure time by adjusting the shutter speed. Think of the shutter as two curtains in front of your sensor that open and close to let light in.
A key feature of shutter speed is that it lets you freeze motion. A fast shutter speed (e.g., 1/4000 of a second) will capture a moving subject, like a speeding car, completely sharp, with details like the rims clearly visible. If you use a slow shutter speed (for example, 1 second), moving subjects will appear blurred, showing the sense of motion. Want to experiment? Use your camera’s manual mode to adjust shutter speed and try it out with a fountain or running kids!
A tip: when using a slow shutter speed, it’s best to use a tripod if you want to avoid capturing any movement caused by your own hands. As a rule of thumb, I try not to shoot handheld slower than 1/60 of a second to prevent camera shake from showing up in the photo.
I hope you now feel a bit more familiar with these photography terms. Wishing you lots of success choosing your new camera!