DIGITAL CAMERA - COMPARE DIGITAL CAMERAS BEFORE BUYING

 

Some common questions we receive from amateurs and pros alike include "can you recommend a cheap digital camera?" or "which is the best digital camera?" or "how do I start comparing types of digital cameras?" In light of the many questions we receive we have compiled a few basic tips that you might want to consider if you are looking at buying a digicam. As we are not camera distributors, or in the industry of selling digital cameras and are not affiliated with any manufacturers or retail digital camera stores the best advice we can offer rather than making product or price recommendations, would be information that will establish a starting point on your shopping journey. Please note that as the digital imaging technology and digital products change frequently, you should always research more than one source before drawing your conclusions. As already mentioned, there are many retail sellers and manufacturers of digital cameras, presenting buyers with a large number of options and brands when choosing. Some of the more popular brands include Canon, Casio, Fuji, HP, Kodak, Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, Samsung, Sony. Nikon, Kodak and Canon are the more popular brands amongst professional photographers at the moment.

Before making a comparison between digital cameras it is wise to make a decision regarding the intended use of your camera. Digital cameras are aimed at various consumer groups ranging from the casual user to amateurs and professionals, so there are price brackets to suit many budgets. However, prices vary in accordance with factors, including megapixel rating, quality of lenses etc. Online reviews, reports, advertising and ratings are a good source for comparison, however comparisons are hard to draw if you are not familiar with digicam terminology. Unless your budget and price range are unrestricted you might simply want what you consider the best camera for the job or the best camera that your money can buy. In the end the best way to make that choice is to familarise yourself with some terminology and hit those camera reviews and reports to compare prices. Although the internet is a great tool to research market prices, it is also best to do some homework by visiting other sources such as camera shops or photographic suppliers. Be aware that although we have outlined some basic terms to get you started, there are other factors that are important to consumers that may include 'feel', 'style' etc. This highlights the need to actually see the actual camera before buying it.

Cheap low end digital cameras are generally a point-and-shoot digicams with very few options and do not generally include manual shutter speed, focus or aperture controls. You can usually get something in the 4 megapixel range for a couple of hundred dollars. Often you will find something with a 3x zoom, movie recording feature. All in all this is a good camera to record your family snaps or to use if intending to send pictures over the internet. Usually this type of camera is compact and easy to use, with very few manual features. If it is a cheap point-and-shoot camera that is required, be aware that this is one of the most popular categories of camera available.

If you are a serious amateur, want to be a little more creative, or require better image quality, cameras around the 5 and 6 megapixel range might make a good choice. Many of these are now available as DSLR's (digital single lens reflex cameras) and they can vary in price, once again however they are aimed at a range of budgets. Generally the optics and optioned features will vary according to price. Some of the higher end of this mid market range could be considered semi professional or 'prosumer' (from professional & consumer) with their interchangeable lenses and manual controls. This range of cameras would suit the serious amateur, or anybody needing a decent sized image with reasonable detail for manipulation purposes. 'Prosumer' cameras fall under this broad category.

Another general category is the 8 megapixel, 12 megapixel and 14 megapixel camera, enabling larger images to be captured. At the time that this article is written, many professional photographers use cameras in this range. However there is more to a camera than it's megapixel size, as there are other factors that will determine the price of your digital camera, such as lens quality, shot to shot time, shutter lag, frame rate, electronic viewfinder and so on.

 

 

 

Go to>> part 2 -CCD or CMOS Digital Cameras

Digital Cameras Basic Comparison