[chemoul]

Hi all,

I run a website that lists and summarizes digital camera reviews to help potential camera buyers in their decision making process.
To make it easier for my visitors I would like to include an interactive camera search feature where only cameras matching certain search criteria will be displayed.

Currently I have the following list of searchable criteria:
Brand
Type of camera (point and shoot, high end, etc)
Price
Resolution
Experience level
Sensor type
Maximum optical zoom
Image stabilization
Movie mode
Storage Medium
Weight
Type of battery
Release Date
Focal length
Manual focus
Adjustable white balance
Shutter speed
Manual exposure
Aperture priority
Shutter priority
Minimum macro distance
Uncompressed images
Viewfinder
External flash
Interval recording
Connectivity
Expandability


I am not wondering whether all of these criteria are useful/necessary and whether I have forgotten any important criteria. Also, the search should be useful to both inexperience point and shoot photographers looking for a reasonably priced take anywhere camera, as well as the professional photographer who is looking to buy a high end dSLR.

I would really appreciate your comments.

Thanks.

Steve


*** Mod: This post is bordering on spam (see the forum rules), but I'm slightly interested in the responses as I recently went through a buying exercise myself. I've removed the link to the site ***

[Keith Alan]

Barrel/pincushion lens distortion percentages
Color accuracy
Minimum focus distance at max zoom
High ISO noise ratings
Availability of accessory lenses, filters, remote, flash
Red-eye reduction?
TTL flash metering?
Type of hotshoe
# of aperture petals
Estimated shutter life
Memory device in-camera formatting time
Subjective, but a rating of bokeh quality for objects in front of, and behind subject
Battery life
Battery charge remaining indicator?
Does it allow user mapping-out of hot pixels?
Is the RAW format supported by third-party software?
Menu items that are adjustable like contrast, saturation, sharpness, flash level etc
Descriptions of scene modes
Time needed to recharge the onboard flash
Shot-to-shot times in jpg and RAW
File sizes of jpg and RAW
Type and speed of burst modes
Exposure compensation amounts allowed and steps
Exposure latitude and steps when bracketing
Power-up time
Shutter lag time
Long exposure noise reduction?
Onboard effects like sepia, negative etc?
Does it take mpg movies and/or animated gifs?
Movie length limit, or until memory is full?
Resolution of mpgs/gifs
Can auto-review be disabled?
LCD size and resolution
LCD backlight levels adjustable?
EVF resolution and eye-relief for glasses wearers
EVF diopter range
EVF refresh rate
Build quality (does the camera feel solid and inspire confidence?)
Beep/click on/off for silent use?
Is motorized lens audible in a quiet room?
# of lens elements
Type of lens coatings
Battery charge time
Live histogram?
Voice recording for taking notes on subject?
Auto power-off time limit
White Balance presets
Custom White Balance? If so, how easily done?
Spot exposure metering modes
# of matrix exposure metering points
# and type of focus modes
Is there a focus mode where you can move the focus point anywhere in the frame?
Continuous/tracking focus mode?
Auto Exposure Lock?
Focus-assist lamp or lasers?
Infrared-ready or convertable?
Automatic sensor cleaner for DSLRs?
Accessories included like case, strap, battery charger, memory device etc and their quality/value
Ergonomics--is the camera comfortable to hold and use?
Are the menus intuitive?
How does the camera balance in the hand and on the strap?
Are there different colors of camera body available? (Wildlife photogs hate silver cameras, you know)
Is manual focus/zoom mechanical or fly-by-wire, and subjective rating of their 'feel'
PictBridge compatible?
Is it easy for an idiot to turn off the date/time stamp, and is there an onscreen prompt that tells them not to be an idiot and turn it off?

These are some things that are important to me.
Some of them may not be good website search function criteria, but that's not for me to decide.

I charge between $35 and $500 per hour for my services (I'm serious) and just spent 40 minutes on this.
Use the low end of my pay scale and please send a check to the Red Cross or the American Cancer Society.