The recent digital photography outburst has given room to a plethora of new equipments and technology used by this phenomenon, the highest amount of attention being obviously given to digital cameras, which are the tools of the trade in this case. This makes it extremely hard for consumers to choose the right digital camera, regardless if they are simple amateurs in need of a camera to take occasional pictures, photography enthusiasts or professionals making a living out of it. What we’ll try to do is cover the main types of digital cameras available today and hopefully give you a clue on what you should be looking for next time you go shopping for a cam.

There are 3 basic groups of digital cameras, each consisting of thousands of different models from different companies producing them: compact digital cameras (or digicams), prosumer cameras (or extended zoom cameras) and DSLR (digital single lens reflex) cameras, each of the three being aimed at a specific consumer type, since they have varied attributes and power.

Compact Digicams

This is the most common type of digital camera you’ll find and also the cheapest. These cams are specifically aimed for the casual photographer, so if you only need a camera to take pictures on special occasions such as birthdays, picnics or the likes, then a compact digicam is what you should be looking for. The quality of the pictures taken with a compact camera might not be perfect in a professional environment, but they are more than fit for casual amateur consumers. In addition, the size of a compact digicam is a lot smaller than that of a DSLR or prosumer one, which makes it easier to carry around, allowing you to seize photo opportunities at all times.

Prosumer Cameras

These cams can be considered a mid-level quality cam, being a sort of quality buffer between compact digicams and DSLR ones. Still, prosumer cameras are more likely to be used by professionals and enthusiasts rather than occasional photographers, because of their higher power and price. They have a higher zoom rate, better focus and greater image quality than digicams but even the high-end prosumer models can hardly equal the parameters of a low-end DSLR cam. They are also a lot bulkier and heavier and sometimes they closely resemble DSLR models, which makes it confusing for shoppers that are not in the know-how.

Digital Single Lens Reflex Cameras

DSLR cameras are also aimed at professionals rather than amateurs and their name derives from the optical lens system they use, similar to the SLR one used in film photography. They are the most powerful cameras one could get and unless you use them in professional environments where every light change, every quality grain and color distortion counts, they might not be what you’re looking for. Of course, their price is directly proportional to their quality and performance.