Betwixt and between: Prosumer cameras

As the name suggests, prosumer cameras lie between consumer cameras (i.e. point-and-shoots) and professional cameras (like digital SLRs). This is true of most prosumers when it comes to size, features and price.

Prosumers put their extra size (compared to point-and-shoots) to good use. Typically they have more optical zoom: for instance a whopping 12X zoom in the Sony DSC H5. Prosumers usually have bigger CCDs with more megapixels as well as larger LCD screens for more convenient viewing. They also have excellent shooting options: in additional to full manual exposure controls you might get more detailed choices for adjusting, say, the autofocus as well as features like image stabilization which reduces blurriness.

While prosumers don’t have quite the same flexibility and image quality as DSLRs, there are a few areas where they are better. They are quieter and unlike DSLRs, the electronic viewfinder gives you a real-time look at the picture when you change the settings. They are generally smaller and cheaper as well and usually come with video capabilities. The bottom line is that for the serious amateur photographer who wishes to take better pictures, a prosumer may well be the more convenient option.