Questions To Ask When Buying A Digital Camera

With literally hundreds of different makes and models on the market, buying a digital camera can be a very confusing process. To find the best in digital camera options, a person should ask themselves some very frank questions and answer them first before seeking out models that match the stated needs.

Doing this might seem like a strange exercise, but when the right questions are asked and answered with honesty, the best digital camera can be found to meet personal needs and photo-taking requirements. Let’s look at some of the top questions:

• How much money can I spend? This is a bigger question than many people might realize. Since it’s quite possible to run into a massive price range when buying a digital camera, setting a budget can really help eliminate a number of potential purchases that are too far out of range on the high end or so low in price necessary features won’t be included.

• What type of quality do I need? People who only want photos to send to friends and family over the Internet or companies that require shots for web use don’t necessarily need a high-powered camera on the resolution front. Those who want to take print-quality or better shots will require a more sophisticated model. For print quality, a minimum of about three megapixels in resolution should be sought. The higher the number, the higher the resolution. Anyone that only needs a camera for web-based use can get away with a much cheaper buy.

• Do I need versatility in my camera? By this we mean changeable lenses and even flash add ons. If high-quality portraits, landscapes or other shots are required, a bigger more sophisticated camera might be in order. If they’re not (for the most part) a more straightforward buy could be just right. It’s important to be realistic on this when buying a digital camera. It’s no fun to get home after spending a few hundred dollars only to realize the camera bought won’t do half of what you really need it to.

• What type of memory do I need? Some people looking at buying a digital camera will also intend to use these devices for shooting video. Since many digital cameras can in fact take some excellent video clips, this option is worth looking at. The better the onboard or add on storage capacity, the better a camera will be for multipurpose use.

• What type of pictures do I intend to take? This will help decide the reset rating needed. For example, a camera with a slow reset is fine for still shots, but one with a faster reset will likely be needed for sports or action pictures.

Buying a digital camera can be a bit of a chore. With so many makes, models and price ranges to choose from, it can be hard to decide which is the best model to bring home. Ask and answer a few very frank questions and then compare the results with available makes and models that fit the bill to locate the best options out there.
Source : Ezine Articles

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Digital Photography: Choosing Your 1st Digital SLR

Here are some basic things you have to look at when purchasing your digital camera. Purchasing a digital camera maybe be a costly expense but the need to choose one that fits your shooting style and needs will count a lot. Things to consider:

1. Price: What price range are you willing to spend? Are you planning to get a point and shoot or do you want a Digital SLR? For long term purposes, I would recommend getting a DSLR because it will cost you less. I would suggest that you buy a camera you can grow into rather then getting a camera than you will grow out of.

Spending on a cheap point and shoot now and upgrading it later to a better featured camera maybe costing you more in the long run considering you have to invest in accessories and other photographic gear.

2. Technology. There are so many arguments that you should get an up to date camera because it is too expensive. Well I would suggest get a camera with features that are up to date and that your money can afford. It does not make sense to buy a cheap model because it is out dated or discontinued. Generally parts for older cameras become more expensive because they have to be stocked because they are not current market models anymore and not everyone keeps stock of old parts.

3. Memory Cards. All cameras use Memory card but choose a camera that uses something that is easy to find and use. Some may use compact flash cards, smartmedia, sd/mmc cards, xd etc.. Some of the memory card prices have been going down because of volume of usage. It would be safe to go with cameras that use Compact Flash and SD cards. 4. Battery Life. All cameras come with rechargeable batteries. choose one that will fit your shooting style and something that can give you freedom to carry and extra set when needed.

5. Optical Glass. Not all lenses are created equal. do you need fast lenses? do you need lenses that can capture photos in low light situations? Prices of lenses depend on the quality you are buying and the specific uses you need them for. The better the quality of the glass the more expensive. Check and see what works for you.

6. Megapixel count. the higher the megapixel rating the better and finer the photo will be and the easier it would be to enlarge your photos without getting the jagged edges that happen to low resolution cameras.

7. Body and Styling. Make sure that you get a camera that fits well with you and is solid for your specific uses. Get something that is sturdy and easy to use.

Follow your instincts and trust your own sense of style and judgement to find that camera that best suits you and your style of shooting. Always remember that the Camera is just a tool to capture your creative style of shooting.
Source : Ezine

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Digital SLRs: Why are so many People going to Digital Single Lens Reflex (dSLR) Cameras?

As the digital bandwagon makes its way around the world, we are seeing its tracks touch almost every part of our daily lives. From digital chips in automobiles, coffee makers, telephones, televisions and credit cards, one of the most booming industries the digital era has revolutionized is photography.

While film-based SLRs have been around for nearly a century, digital SLRs have only been around for about a decade. Once a luxury and strictly for the professional crowd, digital SLRs have evolved into a camera that today is being picked off the shelves by amateurs and advanced hobbyists. This change has been brought on by falling camera prices, better picture quality and increased capabilities of these cameras. But why SLR?

Today's digital SLRs have the best of both worlds: these cameras can morph from a full manual camera to a point-and-shoot camera with a turn of a dial. They often sport higher mega-pixel image sensors, interchangeable lenses, more on-board functionality, beefier and more durable bodies, faster shutter speeds and instantaneous response from the camera once the shutter button is pressed than standard point-and-shoot digitals.

If you're accustomed to the point-and-shoot cameras of today, there are a few things you'll probably miss with a dSLR. To accommodate interchangeable lens mounts that are backwards compatible with older lenses, to allow for larger image sensors and to mimic the feeling of traditional SLR cameras, dSLRs are generally much larger than point-and-shoot cameras. While there are many pluses for having a larger body, tourists and those hoping to stay inconspicuous may want to stay with the small confines point-and-shoot cameras.

Another drawback of dSLR cameras compared with point-and-shoot cameras is that there is no live preview on the rear screen. dSLRs lack this for two reasons: first, there is a shutter and a mirror blocking the path of light from the lens to the image sensor; secondly, more and more of today's dSLRs are using CMOS image sensors (which are less expensive to manufacture and take less energy to use compared to its CCD rival) do not offer a way of having a live preview due to the inability to map pixels into a matrix.

So while dSLRs may not be for those who need live previews or small camera bodies, their capabilities are much greater than point and shoot cameras at a price.
Source :Ezinearticles

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