How To Buy A Digital Camera
If you're one of the many people who are in the market for a digital camera today, it can be easy to get confused by all the different manufacturers, models and features available in cameras today. But never fear! If you keep in mind the following buying criteria, you will end up buying a camera that fits your needs perfectly and that will last you for many years.
1. Camera Type. The first question you need to ask yourself is "What type of photography will I be taking?" For basic photography, the simple "point and shoot" cameras are the best option for you. On the other hand, professional photographers typically use an SLR (single lens reflex) camera because they are more feature-rich and provide the user with more creative and quality control.
Depending upon the general type of camera you choose, you can generally expect to pay the following:
- Entry-level "point and shoot" cameras (subcompacts and compacts) - between $100 - $300
- Advanced point-and-shoot" cameras - $350 - $600
- SLR-like cameras - $450 - $1,300
- High-end SLR cameras - $500 up to several thousand dollars.
2. Size, Shape, and Weight. A digital SLR will shoot better quality pictures and can frequently be as easy to operate as a point-and-shoot camera. However, not only will it cost more, but it will weigh more, too.
You should be able to grip the camera comfortably. A smaller camera body is more difficult to grip properly, and all-too-many point-and-shoot cameras don't have a grip at all. If they do, it should just fill the inside curve of your fingers to fit properly.
3. User Controls. When buying a point-and-shoot type of camera, find one that you think is easy to use. The controls for setting the flash, picture resolution, exposure, and different modes (macro, automatic, etc.) should be easy to find and operate. More experienced and professional photographers like to be able to make manual adjustments, such as adjusting the aperture and shutter speed to capture fast-motion objects clearly. These capabilities may not be too important to you, though, unless you need to make those kinds of adjustments.
4. Megapixels - How Many? The amount of fine detail that can be captured in a digital image is determined by the camera's megapixel rating. The megapixel ratings in cameras today can range anywhere between two and twelve megapixels. If you're only going to be shooting images for emailing or web browsing, lower megapixel ratings (between 2 and 5) would work just fine. However, you'll probably want a camera with at least a five megapixel rating in order to show fine detail or for formal printing. Once you get into the high end of megapixel ratings, though, a difference of a couple of megapixels ratings either way won't make a discernible difference.
5. Optics and Responsiveness. Although the megapixel rating is important, the quality of the glass lens in the camera and how responsive the camera is overall are also important factors to consider. Quality cameras are equipped with quality lens like Sigma or Zeiss. Remember that the quality of the picture taken is a combination of the quality of the lens and the camera's digital megapixel rating.
Better digital cameras have little-to-no lag time between when you press the "shoot" button and when the image is actually captured. If you're going to be taking "action" pictures like kid activities or sporting events, this will be something to consider. Live action shots require a minimum continuous frame rate of five (i.e., 5 images captured when holding down the "shoot" button). If you purchase a camera with a slower frame rate, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to take quality action shots.
6. Zoom lens. There are different types of zoom lens - digital and optical. The digital zoom feature essentially magnifies and averages the center of the picture electronically, frequently resulting in a less than satisfactory picture. Optical zoom, on the other hand, is the best method of zoom available, as it physically moves the lens in or out to capture a particular subject. Camera buyers should try to get a camera with the highest optical zoom that they can afford.
7. Type of Memory Card. Popular point-and-shoot digital cameras generally use the SD (secure digital) memory cards to store photos on; they're easy to find and come in sizes up to 32GB. However, the Compact Flash memory card is the usual type that the more sophisticated SLR digital cameras use; they also come in sizes up to 32GB. Be sure to buy extras for your camera just to have on hand since they're relatively inexpensive.
8. Battery Life and Type. Some digital cameras use their own proprietary batteries instead of the ubiquitous AA batteries, so be sure to find out what type your prospective camera uses. All batteries will stop working some day, so you don't want to be caught without a fully charged backup battery available at all times.
Some cameras tend to "eat" batteries; other cameras take much longer to drain them. Make sure you choose a camera that has a higher total picture count per battery charge.
9. Don't Forget Accessories. Each camera kit generally comes with some accessories, so see what they offer. Unless your camera expressly prohibits it, buy some rechargeable batteries and a charger. A card reader for reading your storage cards is also nice to have. Small color printers for printing photographs is also a useful item to pick up if it's not in the camera bundle.
1. Camera Type. The first question you need to ask yourself is "What type of photography will I be taking?" For basic photography, the simple "point and shoot" cameras are the best option for you. On the other hand, professional photographers typically use an SLR (single lens reflex) camera because they are more feature-rich and provide the user with more creative and quality control.
Depending upon the general type of camera you choose, you can generally expect to pay the following:
- Entry-level "point and shoot" cameras (subcompacts and compacts) - between $100 - $300
- Advanced point-and-shoot" cameras - $350 - $600
- SLR-like cameras - $450 - $1,300
- High-end SLR cameras - $500 up to several thousand dollars.
2. Size, Shape, and Weight. A digital SLR will shoot better quality pictures and can frequently be as easy to operate as a point-and-shoot camera. However, not only will it cost more, but it will weigh more, too.
You should be able to grip the camera comfortably. A smaller camera body is more difficult to grip properly, and all-too-many point-and-shoot cameras don't have a grip at all. If they do, it should just fill the inside curve of your fingers to fit properly.
3. User Controls. When buying a point-and-shoot type of camera, find one that you think is easy to use. The controls for setting the flash, picture resolution, exposure, and different modes (macro, automatic, etc.) should be easy to find and operate. More experienced and professional photographers like to be able to make manual adjustments, such as adjusting the aperture and shutter speed to capture fast-motion objects clearly. These capabilities may not be too important to you, though, unless you need to make those kinds of adjustments.
4. Megapixels - How Many? The amount of fine detail that can be captured in a digital image is determined by the camera's megapixel rating. The megapixel ratings in cameras today can range anywhere between two and twelve megapixels. If you're only going to be shooting images for emailing or web browsing, lower megapixel ratings (between 2 and 5) would work just fine. However, you'll probably want a camera with at least a five megapixel rating in order to show fine detail or for formal printing. Once you get into the high end of megapixel ratings, though, a difference of a couple of megapixels ratings either way won't make a discernible difference.
5. Optics and Responsiveness. Although the megapixel rating is important, the quality of the glass lens in the camera and how responsive the camera is overall are also important factors to consider. Quality cameras are equipped with quality lens like Sigma or Zeiss. Remember that the quality of the picture taken is a combination of the quality of the lens and the camera's digital megapixel rating.
Better digital cameras have little-to-no lag time between when you press the "shoot" button and when the image is actually captured. If you're going to be taking "action" pictures like kid activities or sporting events, this will be something to consider. Live action shots require a minimum continuous frame rate of five (i.e., 5 images captured when holding down the "shoot" button). If you purchase a camera with a slower frame rate, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to take quality action shots.
6. Zoom lens. There are different types of zoom lens - digital and optical. The digital zoom feature essentially magnifies and averages the center of the picture electronically, frequently resulting in a less than satisfactory picture. Optical zoom, on the other hand, is the best method of zoom available, as it physically moves the lens in or out to capture a particular subject. Camera buyers should try to get a camera with the highest optical zoom that they can afford.
7. Type of Memory Card. Popular point-and-shoot digital cameras generally use the SD (secure digital) memory cards to store photos on; they're easy to find and come in sizes up to 32GB. However, the Compact Flash memory card is the usual type that the more sophisticated SLR digital cameras use; they also come in sizes up to 32GB. Be sure to buy extras for your camera just to have on hand since they're relatively inexpensive.
8. Battery Life and Type. Some digital cameras use their own proprietary batteries instead of the ubiquitous AA batteries, so be sure to find out what type your prospective camera uses. All batteries will stop working some day, so you don't want to be caught without a fully charged backup battery available at all times.
Some cameras tend to "eat" batteries; other cameras take much longer to drain them. Make sure you choose a camera that has a higher total picture count per battery charge.
9. Don't Forget Accessories. Each camera kit generally comes with some accessories, so see what they offer. Unless your camera expressly prohibits it, buy some rechargeable batteries and a charger. A card reader for reading your storage cards is also nice to have. Small color printers for printing photographs is also a useful item to pick up if it's not in the camera bundle.
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