Digital cameras allow instant replay on a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel.
Some of the many factors for choosing a digital camera that suits your skill level include purpose, image quality, features and sturdiness. The camera should suit your needs and not include extra expensive features that are of little use to you or your photography. Researching your next camera before your trip to the camera store will make you informed about the camera's outstanding features and possibly prevent you from making a costly mistake.
Your Purpose
The kind of photography and the amount of effort you wish to devote to this craft will help you determine the type of digital camera you need. Leading camera manufacturers can produce difference kinds of digital cameras ranging from compact point-and-shoot to digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras.
If you enjoy taking occasional candid photos of friends, a compact camera may work well for you. If you prefer to take images for high-quality enlargements, you should try to purchase the best quality digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera and lenses you can afford. Some cameras even allow you to record high definition video.
Lenses and Image Quality
A compact camera with optical zoom offers a range of focal lengths with one lens. These focal lengths can range from wide angle to modest telephoto. A higher-priced digital single-lens reflex camera with interchangeable lenses allows flexibility in choosing wide-angle, prime or telephoto lenses. A manufacturer that produces a comprehensive lens system offers higher quality lenses. A quality lens will produce clear, crisp images with a minimum of distortion. The camera lens should be made from glass, not plastic.
Features
A camera with a burst mode allows high-speed continuous shooting or many frames shot per second. If you enjoy photographing athletic events, you can use continuous shooting to produce many images with one click of the shutter button.
A self-timer allows you to appear in the photo. Some cameras allow multiple, panned shots to be stitched together with software to produce an ultra-wide view. A range of ISO speeds can control the amount of noise or grain that appears on your image. For example, an ISO 100 rating produces less noise than a higher ISO 400 rating.
Camera Body
A rugged camera works well for outdoor photography.
An automatic camera can select the aperture and shutter speed for a subject's lighting conditions as well as the focus. If you prefer more control over the aperture, shutter speed and focus, then a camera with both automatic settings and manual override may be right for you. For certain lighting conditions, such as cityscapes at nightfall, you may need to take several shots with different apertures and shutter speeds to achieve the optimum exposure that shows enough detail in the scene. The manual override allows you to experiment with the controls, unlike automatic cameras that may over-compensate for extreme lighting conditions and record poorly exposed images.
Although camera manufacturers promote the number of megapixels a camera has, you should pay more attention to the size of the sensor that stores the pixels or picture elements. A larger sensor can store larger pixels with more information that can result in improved image quality.
The software inside the camera and for the computer is another factor. Higher end cameras allow you to change the saturation, hue, contrast and sharpness in-camera. Images should easily transfer from the camera's recording media to the computer for storage and editing. Editing software allows you to crop images, improve shadow detail and alter many other image characteristics.
A camera should include a rugged exterior that will survive inclement weather and bumps. Sturdy cameras tend to be heavier and bulkier than the more compact cameras. Some manufacturers indicate certain camera models are better sealed to reduce the risk of moisture seeping in to the camera's mechanisms.
Some buyers prefer camera sizes that suit their hands. If the camera dangles from a neck strap, a heavier weight may be preferred over a lighter model that swings around. Your fingers should easily reach all the controls.
Lighting Conditions
For photographing low light, outdoor conditions, you should consider a lens with a larger aperture setting to allow more light in and a faster shutter speed to minimize motion blur with a hand-held camera. If you prefer flash photography, you should check the camera's flash modes. An external flash unit on a DSLR will produce a more effective flash exposure than the glare that comes off a compact camera's built-in flash.
Testing the Camera
Reading camera magazines and online reviews written by professional reviewers will detail the advantages and disadvantages of specific camera models. While at the camera store, you should take the time to look through the viewfinder and check the accuracy of the liquid crystal display (LCD) on the camera's back. Try focusing on different objects to check the minimum and maximum focusing distances. Some cameras include an image stabilizer feature that helps minimize camera shake in low-lighting conditions by allowing a faster shutter speed. This image stabilizer in DSLR lenses adds weight and expense.
If the store rents cameras, you can test the camera to help you decide before you make the purchase. Try the camera under different lighting conditions, indoors and outdoors. Examples of shots should include people, close-up objects, landscapes and street scenes. If you are satisfied with the image quality, camera controls and the price, you may have found the right camera to record your memories.
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