The 5 Best Digital Cameras
In 1975, the Eastman Kodak Company took the world’s first black-and-white digital photo with their 8-pound, .01 megapixel camera. It took 23 seconds to record the image on a cassette. Today, you can get 300,000 times the resolution and an almost infinitely higher amount of storage for a price that won't require you to consult with the company’s shareholders. With hundreds of different models, features and designs appearing on the market over the last forty years - and with the technology getting more and more complicated - it’s hard to know which digital camera is the right one for you. So, we’ve taken the guesswork out, did the research, and laid it all out for you here – now read on, and learn about our five favorite digital cameras.
Canon Powershot SX420
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Canon has been one of the most consistently high-quality camera and accessory brands for decades, so it’s little wonder their Powershot SX420 takes our highest award. With a DIDIC 4+ image processor and a 20-megapixel sensor, the images from this camera are professional grade. This is made even easier with the smart AUTO feature that allows the camera to independently select the correct camera setting based on preset photographic environments. Composing pictures is easy with the 3-inch LCD viewer, while built-in WiFi allows easy sharing of images from the 16 GB memory card. In addition, the Canon SX420 captures 720p HD video with crisp audio, making it a must-have camera for vacations, social media posts and a whole lot more.
Pros:
- 42x optical zoom
- Image stabilization for videos
- Remote camera control through app
Cons:
- Zoom is difficult to control is live shots
- Difficulty focusing at high zooms
Kodak PIXPRO
A Camera Says a Thousand Words
From the company that brought you the first digital images back in 1975 comes a workhorse digital camera at a fraction of the cost (and weight!). The Kodak PIXPRO has all the features you need for beautiful pictures of family vacations, important events and social media posts: a lens featuring both 5X zoom and 28mm wide angle, a 2.7-inch viewscreen, 720P high-definition video and 16-megapixel resolution. The slim design makes it easy to slip into your pocket, and the lithium-ion battery gives you several hours of pictures on a single charge. Beauty, simplicity, amazing pictures – everything you need!
Pros:
- Available in three colors
- Smile, Face and Blink detection
- One-Touch video capture
Cons:
- Full instructions only available online
- Does not come with SIM card
Seree Digital Camera
Yes, Seree!
The genius behind the Seree Digital Camera is that it was created for exactly what they knew their market wanted: an inexpensive digital camera optimized for social media posts and online content creation. Equipped with a 3-inch LCD display screen that can lift above the camera and rotate 180 degrees, you can shoot pictures or 2.7k HD video while seeing the action the whole time. With 4X zoom, Face Detection, Self-Timer, and Continuous Shooting, the perfect Selfie is totally within reach. A 24-megapixel resolution and autoflash combined with a built-in Electronic Stabilizer help create stunningly clear images every time.
Pros:
- Supports a 32G SD card
- USB 2.0 for data transfer
- “Scene Mode” automatically adjusts settings
Cons:
- WiFi would be nice
- Video is not auto-focus
Panasonic Lumix G7 Camera Bundle
Level Up
If you’ve been considering making the jump from an everyday camera to a professional rig, this bundle may be your best, first step. Featuring the incomparable Lumix G7 camera base and two powerful, interchangeable lenses (14 – 42mm and 45 – 150mm), this bundle has everything you need to start taking the best pictures of your life. Take control of the shutter and aperture controls with front and rear controls while adjusting ISO and White Balance as you go, then program your favorite settings into six available presets. Take 4K Ultra D video, and then save any single frame as a picture. The OLED viewfinder (which serves as a touch-enabled 3-inch swivel/tilt LCD display) is such high-resolution that the view is crisp even in daylight, allowing you to take sharp, 16-megapixel images.
Pros:
- 4K Burst imaging
- High-speed autofocus
- Built-in WiFi
Cons:
- Battery exhausts quickly
- Max 20 frames per second
Fujifilm FinePix XP140
Extreme Sports, Meet Extreme Camera
For some of us, vacation isn’t a trip to a tropical beach where the only exercise is the walk back and forth to the Tiki Bar. If your idea of a good time is a deep-water dive, a climb up a rock wall or jumping out of a plane, the Fujifilm FinePix XP140 is the camera you take on your trip. It has all the bells and whistles you want from a digital camera: 5X optical zoom, 16-megapixel sharpness, 4K video and “Smile Shutter” auto-shooting. But it’s also waterproof down to 82 feet, shockproof from a 6-foot drop and cold-resistant down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s also resistant to dust and dirt, making it perfect for camping, hiking, mountain climbing, skiing and more.
Pros:
- Bluetooth capability
- Available in yellow and sky Blue
- 16GB SD card included
Cons:
- Slower shutter speed
- Outdoors enthusiasts should bring extra batteries
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a difference in the picture quality between DSLR digital cameras and other digital cameras?
In short, no. DSLR cameras have simply removed the mirror that reflects the image from the lens to the viewfinder, making them more lightweight and sometimes smaller. The lack of this mirror has no effect on the images generated by the cameras. Some photographers simply prefer using the “old school” design of cameras with the viewfinder on top instead of in the back.
So then, the quality of my pictures is determined by megapixels? The more megapixels, the better the resolution of my pictures?
Not exactly. When a light ray reaches the lens of your camera, it is directed toward the sensor. Light is converted into electrical signals by the sensor, and these signals are assigned a color to every pixel. In this respect, the higher the quality of your lens and sensor, the better the quality of your pictures. A high megapixel rate is important, but it means little if your lens can’t properly direct the light to a quality sensor.
Can’t I find all these features and more on my iPhone?
Yes and no. With each new generation of mobile phone, the camera function is getting better and more feature-rich. So, one could make the argument that, unless you want pro-quality, DSLR-type photographs, the money you spend on a separate camera is money wasted. We’ll let you make up your own mind on that, but the other side of the coin we see is this: you just spent $1,000 on an iPhone 11 Pro: do you really want to take it on your first kayak trip? Want to let your kids hold it at the beach to take a picture? Something to think about.
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With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.