Q: I am getting ready to buy an HD digital camera. I've determined that, based on my camera skills, I would be better off with a point and shoot camera and not an SLR-type camera. I have an HDTV, and I would like to use it to view the HD photos I'll be taking. I'd also like to be able to shoot the occasional, short HD videos. --M.O.
A: If you're aiming at a point and shoot camera, decide which is more important, the high-quality still images displayed on your HDTV -- HD photos -- or the ability to shoot short HD videos.
To achieve sharp clear images on your HDTV, make sure you select a camera with a lot of resolution, probably at least 10 megapixels (MP). Also, make sure the camera has a 16:9 shooting ratio, which will give good results on your HDTV. Fortunately, most newer point and shoot models can meet these needs. You probably can find dozens of models for less than $300 with these capabilities.
One thing to remember with 16:9 ratio photos: Some digital cameras can only shoot at 16:9 ratios at limited resolutions. For example, a camera might carry a maximum resolution of 10 MP, but it can only record 16:9 ratio photos at 2 MP or 3 MP. For true high-quality images to display on a large HDTV, make sure the camera can shoot at 16:9 with high resolutions. You should be able to find the maximum resolution a camera can shoot in a 16:9 ratio in the list of specifications, which you can find on the camera box or at the camera manufacturer's Web site. (Keep in mind that some images displayed on a TV or monitor may still look very good, even if shot at lower resolutions, depending on the size and quality of your screen.)
Finding a point and shoot model that can shoot HD video clips is a little more difficult, although more such models are available now than a year ago. If a digital camera can shoot HD video, chances are good that it only will be able to shoot short images, probably about 30 seconds.
So, if HD video is more important than high-quality still images, you may want to look into an HD digital camcorder rather than a digital camera. Other options include dual cameras or digital SLR models with high-end HD video capabilities.
Finally, if you're going to shoot HD photos and HD videos, be sure to purchase the largest capacity memory card you can afford. HD video especially will eat up a lot of memory card space in a hurry.
Find more answers to common camera questions on the camera FAQ page.
