How to Choose a Digital Camera

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How to Choose a Digital Camera

Thursday, December 31st, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

Not long ago, you had to be rich to afford a good camera. Most of us were content with a point-and-shoot model. But this changed when electronics and digital cameras became reasonable. Now for the same price you can get a camera with features we only dreamed about before. And we can make our own prints or share electronic versions of the pictures with others. In fact, most can afford a camera with features far more sophisticated than they need. Let’s examine some rules for buying your first or next camera.

Point one, ask yourself, “What is my purpose in buying a camera”? Are you going to take pictures to share online? Are you going to take largely indoor or outdoor pictures? Are you going to take mostly still pictures or sporting events? Will the conditions be standard or unique, like night pictures or extreme close-ups?

Next, determine your price range. The old rule is still true: you will get what you pay for. But with all the features available, you could easily get more than you need. Thus, all these steps are important. If you are new at photography or don’t care for all the complex settings, then don’t get them. Instead, look for a point-and-shoot model of some kind.

Many want to buy a camera with the most megapixels possible, thinking they have a better camera. This megapixel figure simply tells the maximum resolution it can take. A larger number means that you can set the camera to take larger pictures that are still very clear. However, these pictures will be multiple megabytes in size. If you plan to email pictures, or post them on a family website, then this will mean clearer pictures but much longer download times.

Digital cameras have an LCD screen on the back that enables you to see the subject of your picture and the picture after you take it. Be sure this screen is plenty big to see the image clearly and to see what you are taking even in bright light. The larger the lens, the better the zoom, generally. Larger cameras also have larger flashes, in general. But you can zoom into a subject from a distance far greater than the flash can handle. Some cameras contain a flash boot so you can use a larger external flash . Generally the larger the camera is, the less portable it is, but the better the lens and flash.

You may want additional features such as the built in delay shutter so the photographer can get into the picture as well. Some LCD screens can even be flipped out and rotated so that you can see it with the camera over the head or down low or even when setting up a delay shutter picture. Digital cameras are now able to take video as well.

Once you have narrowed your field to a particular camera, check reviews of it before you set your heart on getting it. Unbiased reviewers and people who have already used that model are usually very honest. Find out what type of batteries it uses. If they are not standard, the batteries can get expensive. You may want the camera to have the same type of memory as other devices you own like video cameras or LCD picture frames. If this is important to you, is the memory card compatible with your printer or your computer?

As I said, check consumer reviews, but also, if possible, go to a store where you can try it out, even if you don’t buy it there. Check out what kind of a warranty comes with it. Should you purchase the extended warranty? I generally do when it comes to electronics since I couldn’t fix it if it malfunctioned.

Once you buy it, don’t keep reading the ads. Be content with your purchase instead of wishing you had gotten something else. Rather, get to know it by reading the manual and using it often. Photography is a wonderful means of conserving memories. There is no reason to delay checking out just what camera is right for you.

Following these principles will lead you to a digital camera that provides great service for years. But if you’re more interested in a professional handling your photography, consider the services of Expressions Photography, who are skilled in Virginia Beach Photography. See their website portfolio for results.

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