Photography is a much larger part of American day-to-day life than it was even twenty years ago. As evidenced by the prevalence of Snapchat and Instagram, we take pictures of even the most mundane things, snapping as many photos every two minutes as the whole of humanity took in all of the 1880s. Though smartphone cameras are of relatively high quality, professional and amateur photographers require more highly specialized equipment. Buying a digital camera for serious use is a major purchase, and we’ll discuss it here in depth.
General Information on Digital Cameras
Rather than discussing all the different features available on digital cameras or fulminating about which camera is best, we’re going to address a few of the important factors to consider when buying a digital camera.
How to Buy a Digital Camera
- Decide what you really need. Before visiting camera stores, ask yourself these questions:
- What do I need the camera for?
- What kind of photography am I planning to do?
- In what conditions will I be photographing?
- Do I plan to stay in auto mode or learn the art of photography?
- How much experience do I have?
- What kinds of features do I need?
- How important is size and portability?
- What’s my budget?
- Don’t get hung up on megapixels. Most new cameras come out with at least five, and having too many can be a disadvantage in terms of space-saving on your memory camera. Anything more than four should be fine, unless you’re planning to blow your prints up.
- Think about extras. The price might change drastically if you want to add on a camera case, memory card, spare batteries, lenses, filters, tripods, external flashes, or reflectors.
- What gear do you have? If you already have accessories from previous cameras, look for a compatible new camera.
- DSLR or Point and Shoot? Though DSLRs are becoming more affordable, they aren’t for everyone. If you don’t need the extra size, weight, or work to keep your camera clean and aren’t in need of anything complex, go with a point and shoot.
- Optical Zoom. A digital zoom will just enlarge the pixels in your shot, making your picture look more pixelated and noisy.
- Use reviews. Don’t just ask the sales person who might just be in for the commission. Research to determine how other users feel about the cameras you’re considering.
- Get some experience. Don’t go buying a digital camera until you’ve tried it out. Ask if you can take a few shots in the store before you commit to anything.
Buying a digital camera is a big investment, and it’s important that you make sure you’re choosing for the right reasons. Make your choice carefully and you’ll be sure to find a camera that suits your needs. Find out more at this site.