How to Buy a CameraIt's important to know How to Buy a Camera before you actually start shopping for one. There is a wealth of information available to you on this web site as well as others that will help you choose what camera to buy. We are bombarded with advertising in print, on the internet and television. It is very tempting to buy a digital camera based only on a special sale or offer before considering what kind of camera you really want. If this video or link stops working, please let me know at photo-tipman@better-digital-photo-tips.com
You should also have fun learning some digital photo tips by reading some of these articles. It's a great time to be interested in digital photography today because of all of the advances and options available. The number of cameras available is staggering when you consider how often all of the manufacturers come out with new models. Camera technology has advanced so much that even the cheapest cameras have lots of features to choose from. Here are the most important considerations to think about before figuring out how to buy a camera: Price If you have a budget on what you can spend, it makes no sense to even look at cameras out of your price range. If you do not mind buying slightly used equipment, you can get more bang for your buck.
Another part of considering price is the extra accessories you may be interested in buying. Consider whether you will be buying extra memory, camera bag or camera case, batteries, a tripod or perhaps another lens or external electronic flash. See what comes with your new purchase and see what extras you may want to include when you invest in equipment. Features The most important tip is to decide what kind of photographs will you be taking. That will determine the features and camera setting you will want to have.
Or do you want to take landscape or nature photographs to decorate your den? With sports photography, your camera will need to have the ability to take pictures from a distance as well as freeze the action. If you want an idiot proof camera only for taking snapshots, you will not need to pay much attention to all of the extra settings that digital cameras come with. If you are interested in experimenting with a little more control and creativity in your photography, learn a little bit about Digital Camera Settings In addition to the camera settings, other features to think about are shooting video, face recognition, panorama features, size of LCD screen, image stabilization, flash power and many more. It really depends on what you are going to photograph. Size It's not about camera sensor size anymore. It's about the size of the camera. As of June 2010, camera phones, including the iPhone 4, have 5 Megapixel digital sensors. The first digital camera I purchase was a 4 Megapixel DSLR and I could enlarge prints to 16x20 and they had excellent quality and sharpness. Don't fall into the Megapizel comparison trap.
Lens I did not include this as one of the features, because it deserves it's own paragraph. The quality of the lens, its size and its zoom range are the most important aspects of lens choice when considering how to buy a digital camera. The zoom range is an important feature when considering what kind of lens you want to have when you buy your digital camera. For more on zoom range and what it means, here is information on Camera Lens comparison In conclusion: How to buy a camera involves first considering price, what kind of photography you will be doing, what features you want and the size of the digital camera you are comfortable with. Here is another website dedicated to digital cameras with both practical summaries and in depth reviews: Digital Camera HQ (This will open in a new window). Happy Shooting! Back from How to Buy a Camera to Cameras and Instructions
|
Also remember that buying a good camera will not mean you will automatically take better digital pictures. Buying a $500 tennis racket will not improve my backhands or serving technique.
When the newest model comes out prices drop for two reason: 
How to buy a camera really starts out with why you are buying a camera. Is it simply to have a convenient tool to record snapshots of family events? 
The overall size of the camera is the important consideration. Are you comfortable carrying it with you when you are taking your pictures? Do you want something that can slip easily into your purse or pocket?