So you have been sitting on the fence for a long time. You have been fishing for more information to justify spending money on the right digital camera you wanted to buy. If you have been thinking about buying your first digital camera, you should be doing some research first. But is there such a thing like to perfect first camera? Before answering this question, lets take a basic primer on digital cameras.
With the rapid progress in technology, there is a dazzling array of options to choose from in the area of digital cameras. A bit of research on your part will ensure that you buy the right camera for your needs.
There are three basic grades of digital cameras, consumer, prosumer and professional. Your first step is to determine what type of camera and accessories are important to you as a photographer.
The are basically four main digital cameras sizes:
1. Ultra-compact- these cameras are about the size of a credit card, and fits easily into the front pocket of your jeans. 2. Sub-compact- these cameras will fit easily into your shirt pocket. 3. Point and Shoot - these are normal size cameras with more features, and generally require a camera bag. 4. Single Lens Reflex (SLR)- high quality cameras that have the look and feel of a 35 mm, with a detachable lens.
Another consideration is the type of pictures you will be taking. Are you going to share your pictures over the internet, or are you more inclined to save them in a photo album? The camera resolution determines the quality of picture produced. A resolution of less than one mega pixel is suitable for web graphics. Resolution of one to two will give you good web graphics and good 4x6 prints. If you will be printing 5x7 photos, look for a resolution of two to three mega pixels. Resolution over six mega pixels will give you excellent quality prints up to 16 x 20.
Bigger is better when it comes to resolution. You can always set your camera to a lower resolution, but you cannot increase the maximum. You should buy the highest resolution that fits your budget.
Another important decision is battery type. Alkaline AA batteries don't hold a charge as long as lithium batteries will, particularly if you are using a flash. However, the ability to purchase AA batteries almost anywhere can be important, especially if you travel.
Lithium batteries last a long time, but they are expensive to replace. Nickel Cadmium batteries are rechargeable. They must be fully discharged prior to recharging, or you will get very poor performance from them. Another type of rechargeable battery is the Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH). These batteries come in all standard sizes, and last about 400 charges. These are probably your best buy. Lion (Lithium Ion) batteries last about twice as long as the others last, and are generally purchased as an 'extra'. They are a newer type of battery and not as widely available as the others are.
There is no such thing as the best digital camera. You have to determine your needs first and consider your budget. Even a simple camera in the hands of a good photographer will produce breath taking photos. As for now, learn the basics first before moving on to more sophisticated cameras.
For many novices, the world of digital cameras can be very daunting. Often features are not understood by the buyer who intends to use it occasionally. Digital cameras these days are so far advanced and so beyond the pre-historical cameras, that you really have to understand what they do and what you want from it, before making a purchase. If you have decided that you are going to purchase a digital camera, really ask yourself first what do you want your camera to do for you?
For instance: what type of images are you hoping to capture? How often will you use it? Will you make use of printing it at home? Will you need an extra memory card? Once you have sorted this out you will have to think about how much you are prepared to spend on this new piece of technology. There are numerous manufacturers, but certain brands like Canon and Sony typically lead the market.
If you plan on printing your photos at home, having a powerful PC makes the work so much easier and faster and this is something to contemplate. You may want to consider buying your camera as part of a new computer system which will probably include all the software and a printer as well.
A good quality printer, with high definition and high mega-pixels will shine your pictures! Aside from a printer, possibly a special photo version, ink and paper for printing will be needed. If you are looking forward to really high quality images then you will have to ensure the cameras settings are at the highest megapixel level possible. When you own a digital camera you will need to supplement its internal memory with an external storage card which will fit into a handy slot on the camera. There are a number of different types of cards with ever increasing storage capacities. Hundreds, sometimes thousands of images can be stored on these larger capacity storage cards.
Cameras are widely available in stores and also over the Internet, offering huge deals, and/or often deals with an extra memory card or photo paper. Pricing will differ from store to store and website to website, but, before making your purchase, go ahead to a local store and visually go look at which models you are interested in. Just holding it to see how it feels will immediately let you know if this is for you. Look at where all the controls are and see how easy they are to find and use. A point to remember when you are looking at buying a digital camera is what type of batteries it uses because ideally they should be rechargeable; long term it will be less expensive to use this type of battery. When buying your digital camera, look for a large LCD screen version which many newer cameras have as standard; some models have a swiveling action, which is great for viewing your pictures and taking those from awkward angles.
Removing the traditional viewfinder has been a step forward for many people that disliked using photographic equipment fitted with them; the LCD screen is much more user friendly. For those of you that like to get a little closer to the action, an optical zoom is perfect for you. Unfortunately digital zoom only cameras just really arent worth the price with image quality reduced along with the printing results. Other features such as diopter adjustment for people with poor vision, a remote control and a tripod socket can all be considered when you look at different models. With this knowledge youll be in a better position to select and purchase a digital camera that fits your lifestyle.
Both Joshua Poyoh & Ben Needles are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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