| Consumer Reports is a highly respected consumer | | | | The very thorough battery of tests reveal some |
| focused company that looks out for the everyday | | | | common traits about certain types of cameras. Types |
| shopper. They are well respected, and renowned for | | | | of cameras being sub compact cameras, automatic |
| their unbiased reviews and objectivity when it comes | | | | point and shoot cameras, and digital slr cameras. |
| to finding the pros and cons of any products they | | | | Automatic point and shoots tend to produce grainier |
| review. Digital cameras is just one such product they | | | | images, and tend to struggle in low lighting conditions. |
| report on every year. | | | | This is usually due to cheaper lens quality. A problem |
| With so many digital cameras for the modern shopper | | | | overcome by many SLRs, even the lower priced |
| to choose from, it's understandable that it can be | | | | beginner DSLRs. SLRs have interchangeable lens, and |
| difficult to know, that your getting good value for your | | | | can be more expensive, but come with extra flexibility |
| money. Reliable and unbiased reviews can be hard to | | | | for the aspiring photographer. |
| find, which is why many shoppers turn to companies | | | | Another common issue found with the compact and |
| like Consumer Reports. | | | | sub-compact models, is slow shutter speed, and lag |
| Their most recent rankings favored several popular | | | | time before allowing users to take subsequent pictures. |
| cameras, such as the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200, | | | | They are getting better though. Once again, the SLRs |
| Olympus Evolt E-410, and the Canon PowerShot | | | | as expected perform better in the area of speed, and |
| A720 IS. These cameras run the gamut from simple | | | | low lag times. A common criticism of the SLRs in the |
| point and shoots to DSLR (digital single lens reflex) | | | | past, has been their lack of automatic functions, difficult |
| cameras. They not only rank the cameras, but give the | | | | learning curve, no video function, and an inability to use |
| reader, an explanation of the many camera features. | | | | the LCD screen to frame your photos. This is |
| This specifically is a big help, in educating consumers to | | | | changing, and several models of SLR have learned |
| help them decide what camera is right for them. That | | | | from their point and shoot siblings, and offer most of |
| answer itself, is often as difficult to sort out as which is | | | | these features. One of the more popular, would be the |
| the best camara. | | | | Canon Rebel Xsi. |