Best Digital Camera 2011

Other than its features and your budget, the reason for which you want to buy a digital camera also plays a crucial role in determining which camera is ideal for you. A point and shoot camera is more than enough if you intend to capture those most precious moments of your life, but if professional photography is what you intend to pursue, a digital SLR camera is what you need. The requirements of these two categories of photographers differ from each other, and we did keep that in mind when we tried to find the best digital camera available today.

Best Point and Shoot Camera

Also known as compact camera, a point and shoot camera is an ideal option for people who like to save precious moments of their life in the form of pictures. These cameras are small, light, and have less features as compared to their DSLR counterparts - all of which are intended to make them as user-friendly as possible. Whilst going through the reviews of some of the much talked about compact cameras, we came across the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 which seemed to be quite promising. Being a part of the renowned TZ series introduced by Panasonic, there is absolutely no reason for us to doubt its efficiency. With 12x optical zoom and 12 million effective pixels, Lumix DMC-ZS7 is undoubtedly the best camera in its category. In terms of handling, this camera - weighing 218g, is at par excellence with the dimensions of 4.07 x 2.35 x 1.28 inches and amazing grip. It boasts of more than 25 scene modes and shifting from one mode to another is quite easy. It is this easy handling of Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 and the price tag of US$349.95 that makes it the best digital camera of the year over other promising point and shoot models such as:

• Fujifilm FinePix F300EXR
• Panasonic FX75
• Canon Powershot A1100IS
• Nikon CoolPix S1000pj
• Canon PowerShot SD1300IS
• Nikon Coolpix L22
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V
• Canon PowerShot G11

Best Digital SLR

As opposed to its point and shoot counterparts, a digital SLR is quite bulky and loaded with amazing features. Not to forget it is also costly - with some of the best entry-level DSLRs itself costing more than US$500. Though the price tag may seem a bit hefty, the features that Digital SLRs have to offer make it worth buying. In a bid to find out which is the best Digital SLR 2011, we came across the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV which mesmerized us. The Dual DIGIC 4 image processor that it is equipped with makes it the fastest digital camera in the circuit. Similarly, the 16.1 million total pixels that this camera boasts of makes still photography and video recording an amazing experience in itself by allowing you to capture even the minute details of any image. Its compatibility with a wide variety of camera lenses available in the market also plays a crucial role in making it the best. You can't help but notice that this camera has an excellent battery life - especially if you restrict to still photography. That being said, such a masterpiece can only be used to its full potential when it is in the hands of an expert, and therefore the onus is on you to brush up your photography skills before you spend US$4,999.00 on buying it. Other than the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, some more impressive DSLR camera that we came across include:

• Nikon D7000
• Pentax K-5
• Canon EOS-1D Mark III
• Canon EOS 7D
• Canon EOS 60D
• Sony Alpha A900
• Canon Rebel XS
• Canon Rebel Xti

The drastic fall in the price of digital SLRs of late, has made them much more affordable than what they were around a decade ago. This means that you can go for an entry-level digital SLR if you intend to pursue photography as a serious hobby without worrying much about the investment factor. All in all, it is the intended use that is the key in buying a camera suitable for you and once you have figured that out, half the task is done.