Do you remember those times when you had to carry that bulky video camera with you? Things have changed for the so much better during the last decade, and now you can film in full HD quality using a good camera, and sometimes even your smartphone!
A feature I am seeing more and more often in digital cameras is Wi-Fi connectivity. It's the ability of sending your photos and movies wirelessly, thus making the information download process a breeze. Not only that, but you can also share your fantastic moments with your social media friends the very minute you've captured them!
Yes, some modern cameras include software that helps you connect straight to Facebook, without using a third-party service or application. And when you couple this with the ability of using online storage services such as Dropbox, the results can only get better. Of course, some camera manufacturers have their own cloud storage systems, and some of them even provide free storage space - up to a limit, of course.
When it comes to setting up your camera, it is good to know that the process is similar with what you are supposed to do whenever you connect a new Wi-Fi device to the network. The only significant drawback is that having the camera's Wi-Fi connection on at all times will drain the battery faster. Also, with some models, you need to be close enough to the router; otherwise, you may have to wait quite a bit until your pictures are transferred. Some people use adapters like these to add better antennas to their cameras, and thus increase the data transfer speed. It's best to leave mods like these to the geeks, of course.
So, what are the best Wi-Fi cameras that you can buy today?
This $450 camera has a 20 megapixels sensor. Why is that important? Well, this is a very sensitive sensor, so it will do miracles even in low light environments. Do you remember those terribly looking pictures that were taken indoors using a regular camera? You won't see any of them with this model.
Its advantages don't stop here, though. COOLPIX B700 is able to record video in full 4K, which makes it the perfect companion for that 4K TV you've purchased a few months ago. Finally, this fantastic camera has got a huge 60x zoom factor.
The only drawback I can think of is its price. Still, if you're serious about taking great pictures and recording great movies, I can't think at a better alternative.
Okay, so you want to save some money. If Nikon COOLPIX B700 is too expensive for you, it's time to meet its $260 little brother: COOLPIX B500. As you can expect, its features aren't as brilliant as the ones above, but you still get a lot of value for your money.
To begin with, the camera includes the Wi-Fi component as well. Optical zoom is limited to 40x and the sensor is a 16-megapixels one. When it comes to movie recording, COOLPIX B500 is able to record in the 1080p mode at 30 frames per second. That's more than enough for everyday usage, wouldn't you agree?
It's time to introduce a competitor, and one that's got a solid offering. Canon PowerShot SX730 has just been released, and packs an impressive 20 megapixels sensor inside its tiny body. Just like the camera above, it records video in full HD mode, but is able to do that at 60 frames per second. This means that it's got a huge computing power, despite its petite size.
PowerShot SX730 also includes image stabilization and face detection features. It sells for about $400, so it may be the perfect option for people who want to have a powerful camera that fits in their pockets easily. Don't forget that if size isn't a problem, for $50 more you will get a much better camera, though.
