Ask Our Experts: Concert-Friendly Cameras

I attend concerts in the Seattle area, and when the lights dim or the sun sets I end up with barely recognizable pictures. I would go with a digital SLR if that is the best choice, but when cameras start to get big, security folks have a tendency not to let them in.

Michael081968, via the PCWorld.com Forums

Executive Editor Alan Stafford responds: You don't need a digital SLR. Look for a point-and-shoot camera that has image stabilization and a high maximum ISO (light sensitivity) setting. Image stabilization can reduce--but not eliminate--blurriness, though its effectiveness diminishes at high zoom. Increasing the ISO helps you keep the shutter speed up, which also reduces blurriness. The downside of bumping up the ISO is that you'll often have grainy images, but grainy is better than blurry.

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