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The
following are some general principles and considerations if you are about
to buy your next digital camera:
1. Budget
Decide first how
much you have to spend on your new camera. Factor in some dollars for
extra memory and maybe a
re-chargeable battery kit and
extra batteries. Also, a
camera case or bag will protect your camera from dust
and bumps (not supplied with the camera).
Here's what
ABC Radio has to say: "The extras. You need quite a few
other bits and pieces with the camera. Including a
case for carrying it,
rechargeable batteries and a charger, a bigger
memory card, and a
card-reader . Make sure you
have everything you need!"
ABC.
Browse cameras by price:
Under $200
$200 to $500
$500 to $700
Over $700
2. How will you use
the camera?
Whether you are buying a
point and shoot
digital camera or an
SLR
camera the same considerations apply.
Do you want it go in your handbag, your coat pocket, your shirt pocket or your back pack? Do you
require an ultra compact camera? Is it for a beach holiday - does it need
to be splash and sand proof? Will I be taking a lot of indoor shots,
night time parties, or tall buildings, speeding racing cars? Do you want a
camera that can take wide angle or telephoto lenses? Will you only ever
want to take point and shoot shots? Do you want to take creative shots
with special effects using the popular
SLR
format cameras?
3. Megapixels
The
number of Megapixels of a camera is no longer the issue it was at the
beginning of the digital camera era when many excellent cameras were
only 2 megapixels (mp). These days entry
level is currently 7 mp and these will give you beautiful prints up to
A3 size. For email and website use, you
don’t need large images. In
fact, it is usually a good idea to reduce your photos to about 640x480
pixels to send. Most cameras
come with software that will help you do this.
If you are
using digital images to print commercially for magazines/catalogues, then
use at least a 7 mp camera at top resolution and save
the photo as an uncompressed file, preferably in TIFF format (seek
guidance from your publisher/printer). In this situation, avoid using the
digital zoom on your camera (due to loss of resolution) by getting close
to your subject. If you take wide shots, you'll have to crop the
image later and will lose resolution.
Browse cameras by megapixels:
5 Megapixel Digital Cameras
6 Megapixel Digital Cameras
7 Megapixel Digital Cameras
8 Megapixel Digital Cameras
9 Megapixel Digital Cameras
10+ Megapixel Digital Cameras
4. Zoom
Digital cameras usually
have optical zoom and/or digital zoom. Optical zoom is “true” zoom, like
that found on a 35mm camera. The zoom lens enables you to view and
photograph a subject more closely. On a digital camera, optical zooms
allow you to do this without losing any pixels, or quality.
Most
digital cameras also have a digital zoom feature, which extends the range
of the zoom by electronically cropping and enlarging the image. In doing
this, there is loss of resolution, but if it allows you to get the shot
that you want, it can be worthwhile.
Depending on the number of megapixels of your camera and the size
you are printing, you may not even notice this loss. Buying hint:
pay closest attention to Optical Zoom when buying a camera.
Browse big zoom cameras:
Ultra Zoom Cameras
5. Viewfinders vs. LCD screens
Digital cameras come
equipped with a LCD screen, often with a viewfinder (similar to film
cameras) or both. As the LCD's are increasing in size to 2.5
inches and beyond, the viewfinder is disappearing from recent model
compact cameras. The LCD provides a larger viewing area when composing shots, and
it allows you to play back your images after you've shot them. The LCD
uses a lot of battery power.
Viewfinders don't use up batteries and aren't affected by the glare
of the sun. If your camera only comes with a LCD screen, consider
purchasing a lens hood to reduce glare. LCDs can also present problems when taking night time shots - again a camera with a view finder can be
helpful when taking night time shots. Look for these symbols on this
website:
 |
This camera
has a view finder. |
 |
This camera
does not have a view finder. |
For LCD sizes
look for these symbols:
6. Shutter
lag
Most recent digital cameras have reduced shutter lag
significantly.
Shutter lag refers to the maddening time it
used to take for most digital cameras to focus and calculate the exposure after
you have squeezed the shutter button but before the shot is captured.
One way round it is " the half-pressing trick". You can usually
eliminate the shutter lag by half-pressing the shutter button before the
action begins. The camera pre-focuses, pre-calculates and locks in those
settings as long as you continue to half-press. Then, when the child
finally smiles, you press the rest of the way down to capture the shot. No
lag.
If
your camera has a shutter-lag problem, the pre-focusing trick may be your
best bet. Another option: many cameras offer a continuous-focus option
that eats up your battery faster but also reduces shutter lag by focusing
constantly as you aim the camera (or as the subject moves).
Newer and more expensive cameras tend to have the least shutter lag,
and digital single-lens reflex, or
SLR models (bigger cameras that take interchangeable lenses), have none at all.
7. Extra
Batteries
Digital cameras are
totally dependent on batteries.
It is a good idea to always have a spare battery charged up and
ready to go. If your camera takes AA batteries, you need to use NiMH
rechargeable batteries. These are up to 4 x more powerful than alkaline
batteries.
8. Manual
controls
The lower-priced
cameras are usually simple, point-and-shoot models, with no manual
controls. As the megapixels and price increase, so does the sophistication
of the camera. The higher-end cameras may feature adjustable focus and
exposure settings, several flash modes, hot-shoes for external flash
units, and lens adapters for add-on zoom and wide angle lenses. Decide if
you need manual controls. All digital cameras offer point and shoot
simplicity - sufficient for the needs of the majority of
'weekend camera warriors' and 'happy snappers'.
9. Movie mode
Almost all digital compact cameras have
movie mode, allowing you to record video footage for playback on
your computer or TV, mostly with sound. If this feature is important to
you, be sure to check the camera's spec sheet. SLR cameras do not feature
movie mode.
10. Extra Memory
("memory cards" replace film, and are re-useable)
Most cameras come
with the bare minimum of memory (16mb, or 32mb for higher resolution
cameras). This allows you to take only a few photos at highest resolution.
You will need to buy extra
memory to make the most of your camera.
The size of card you
need depends on the megapixels of your camera and how many photos
you’d like to take before you have to download. The higher the megapixels,
the fewer photos will fit on a card of a given size.
Click
here to see approximately how many photos you will fit per card.
Carefully
check your cameras specifications for memory as there are currently
8 different
types of memory cards (e.g. compact flash, secure digital, memory
sticks, xD cards). These are different shapes and sizes and are NOT
interchangeable.
11. What's in the
box?
Typically,
your camera will come in a box with: a strap; a very small memory
card (or a small amount of built-in memory); disposable or rechargeable
batteries; software for your computer for viewing and downloading photos;
operating instructions; and a USB cable to connect to the computer for
downloading photos. Some cameras also have an AV cable to connect to your
TV. The manufacturer
determines what comes in the box.
12. Buying a
D-SLR format camera
When buying a
digital SLR (d-SLR) camera many of the same principles apply as
above (note there is no movie mode in SLR cameras and they take separate
inter-changeable lenses). Buying suitable lenses for your dSLR
camera is an important additional consideration. Unless you
already have compatible lenses, buy your SLR camera with an included
single or twin lens kit, as it is much cheaper than buying separate
lenses. When selecting your camera /lens package or when buying lenses
separately, you want to consider how you will use your lens: landscapes,
events (parties/weddings/holidays), sports, portraits or close-ups
(macro). Will I be using it during the day, or at night, or in low light
situations? In the case of zoom lenses, for example, your focal lengths
may be 18-55mm and 55-200mm etc. The higher the number the longer the
focal length, the more zoom and the narrower field of view. The lower
the number, the shorter the focal length, the less zoom and the wider
the field of view. The next number(s) will be the aperture, usually
expressed in f values (e.g. f/1.8). The lower the f value the more open
the aperture which means the more light through the lens which is what
you need for low light and night photography (a low f value is also
handy in fast action sports photography). Some zoom lenses will have
multiple values, e.g. a 70-300mm lens with an f value of f/4-5.6. This
means you have an aperture of f4 when the lens is at a focal length of
70mm, and f5.6 at 300mm.
13. Operating system of
your computer
NOTE: you do NOT
need a computer to take and print digital photographs (see next section
below).
If you have
a computer, make sure it has a USB port and that your camera is compatible
with the operating system.
All cameras come with a USB cable for downloading. You may also wish to consider
purchasing a memory card
reader, which plugs into the computer’s USB port for easy
downloading. It is a simple
way to move images into your computer and does not rely on having your
camera’s batteries charged up.
14. You
don't need a computer to own and use a digital camera
Many cameras and
printers allow direct print connection, either via cable or infrared
between the camera and
printer. There are also many
printers that have memory
card slots and allow you to print directly from your
memory cards. Or you can
take your memory card to a photo shop and have them print the photos and
burn a copy to CD.
15. Warranty
issues
Make sure you buy a
camera with the manufacturer's Australian warranty.
Cameras from some stores may come through so called "grey market" or "parallel import" channels
without a valid Australian manufacturers warranty (also referred to by such stores as
"international versions"). Such cameras may be factory seconds.
"Grey market" cameras are less expensive upfront, but may cost you a lot
more if you have any problems. Also, if you purchase your camera
overseas, if you have a warranty issue, you will need to return it to the
country of purchase, at your expense.
All cameras from Digital Camera Warehouse come with a
12 month warranty from the Australian manufacturer.
16. Extended
warranty
When you buy your
new camera, or BEFORE the standard 12 month manufacturer's Australian
warranty expires, consider protecting your investment by extending
your warranty. To find out how this works, click
on extended camera warranty.
17. Insurance
Issues
If the camera is
lost, stolen, dropped, immersed in water, rolled under a bus, or damaged
in any way, this is not a warranty matter. Think
about asking your insurance company to include your
new camera on your home contents policy!
Read what ABC
Radio had to say about what you need to get started in digital
photography
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