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How To Buy A Digital Camera

By Alex Kircby

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 06Apr2010 Word count: 627 Viewed: 370 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

It doesn't matter that type of electronics you're looking at - whether it's computer notebooks, printers, or a computer desktop - buying a digital camera presents you with a myriad of choices. Each manufacturer has dozens of offerings, ranging from the more basic "point and shoot" camera to the top of the line professional digital SLR (single lens reflex) camera. So, it's important to consider a number of factors before you buy. Here's a primer to get you started.

Cost

Just a few years ago, inexpensive digital cameras had terrible optics and were often a complete let down. That's all changed. Today, even a $149 camera has more features than a $799 camera had in the past. Of course, you can still pay well over $10,000 for a really special camera, but for most casual photographers a camera under $500 will have everything you want - and then some!

Megapixels

It wasn't that long ago that a three-mexapixel digital camera was considered state-of-the-art. Today, fairly basic consumer models are seven- or eight-megapixels, which gives so much detail that you have the option of cropping quite a bit from any photo and still getting a high-quality print. For that reason, don't consider buying a camera that's less than five megapixels.

LCD Display

It may not seem like the most important part of a camera, but the size of the LCD display will make a big difference while you're shooting your photos. A two-inch LCD is great, but a three-inch is even better since you'll be able to see at a glance whether the photo you just took is fuzzy or if it's a keeper. Beyond size, make sure that the LCD display is clear in all lighting conditions - indoors, outdoors, and at night. If you can't see the photo you just took, it defeats the purpose of having a digital camera.

Shooting Modes

Many digital cameras offer a variety of shooting modes as well as manual settings. Many of the smaller consumer cameras, however, don't have manual overrides, and you must choose among the shooting modes provided. If you're in the market for a "point and shoot" digital camera, that's no problem. On the other hand, if you want to be able to change the aperture or shutter speed, make sure you buy a digital camera that allows you to do manual settings. However, I should caution you that even if you think you'll need manual options, most modern cameras are so flexible that if you really learn how to use them, you can easily live without it.

Similarly, if you'll primarily use your camera in a specific environment (at sporting events, for example), make sure that the digital camera you select has that specific mode. Keep in mind that some digital cameras even have underwater capability or an "eBay" setting for taking photos of items you want to auction on eBay, so don't assume the way you'll use your camera is unique.

Storage Medium

Unfortunately, there's not an industry standard when it comes to storage cards. Make sure that you understand the type of film card your camera uses, and that you have a reader that will allow you to transfer your photos from your camera to your computer desktop or laptops. Alternately, many cameras come with software (usually on a DVD) that will allow you to plug your camera directly into your desktop or notebooks and upload your pictures.

After You Buy

Once you've purchased your digital camera, take time to practice and play with the various settings. It's often said that digital cameras are more like computer peripherals than cameras, so keep in mind that there may be a learning curve. Once you've mastered it, however, you'll be amazed at the enjoyment you'll get from your new purchase.

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