How To Buy A New Digital Camera
By Theano Nikitas
The first fact of digital photography is that, no matter what you buy today, there’s going to be a more sophisticated model tomorrow, and for less money. That’s just the way it is with technology-based products and unless you have an endless supply of money, staying on the leading edge of digital photography can quickly drain your bank account.
To avoid the post purchase blues, you’ll need
the right attitude when shopping for a digital camera:
find a camera that will meet your needs now and for
the near future. Buy it and don’t look back.
First Steps
The first thing you need to do is figure out what kind of camera you want or need. Do you want a small, point-and-shoot camera that you can stash in your pocket? Or would you rather have a digital SLR camera, with advanced features and interchangeable lenses? Or maybe something in between—a compact camera that has tons of features but doesn’t have the associated bulk and cost of a digital SLR?
If you like to take snapshots and don’t want to fuss with settings or carrying around a separate camera bag, a small and sexy point-and-shoot camera is probably your best bet. Check out the Sony Cybershot T700, which doubles as a photo album with its touchscreen and 4GB of internal memory.
The T700, available in 5 different colors, costs about $400. Or try the Nikon Coolpix S60, which also features a huge touchscreen and lots of interesting features. Its wave design is sexy (have you seen the Ashton Kutcher commercials?) and the camera, which costs about $350, comes in 6 different colors.
Maybe you’ve been using digital cameras for a while and want to step up to a digital SLR to benefit from interchangeable lenses, top notch performance and tons of controls.
Prices have dropped so you can get a really good entry-level DSLR—including a lens—for between $600-800. At the entry-level consider the Canon Digital Rebel XS kit for $600 or the Nikon D60 kit for $650.
There are quite a few “bridge” cameras—compact cameras that don’t have interchangeable lenses but have manual exposure controls and other features usually found on DSLRs.
My personal favorites include the Panasonic LUMIX LX3 ($500) and the Canon Powershot G10 ($500).
Megapixel Myths and Feature Facts
Do megapixels matter? Sure, but probably not as much as you think. It’s easy to be seduced by pixel counts, but don’t succumb to the bigger-is-better philosophy since a camera’s megapixel count isn’t the only factor that determines image quality. The quality of the lens, exposure accuracy and other factors, like how well the camera processes images, will help make or break a picture. Generally, you’ll find that most cameras offer anywhere between 8-12 megapixels sensors. If you’re looking at a small, point-and-shoot model, you’ll be fine with 8 megapixels, even if you want to make large prints. Just don’t let the numbers sway your decision.
Lenses
There’s no doubt that optics are a key component of image quality. Of course, it’s hard to tell how good a lens is without seeing output (a hard copy print or a digital file that you can enlarge on your computer). Some manufacturers have high-resolution images on their websites that you can download for close examination. Specs, benchmark tests and even the brand's heritage are also helpful in determining the quality of a lens.
Focal length is another consideration, but more easily measured. For digital SLRs, you can pick and choose from a wide range of lenses—from macro to wide angle to telephoto.
But compact cameras don’t give you the option of changing lenses so think about what kind of pictures you like to take and then check out the optical (not digital) zoom range before you buy. If landscapes or groups of people are your thing, look for a camera with a wide angle zoom (starting at about 28mm). You’ll need a camera with a telephoto zoom if you like to photograph wildlife, sports or other types of pictures that you have to shoot from a distance.
For additional flexibility, find out if the camera accepts accessory lenses. Some models have special adapters that allow you to attach other lenses to give you even wider wide angle or longer telephoto.
Viewing Options
All digital cameras come with an LCD monitor and most digital SLRs now have Live View so you can compose your image via the LCD as you would on a compact model. But, with few exceptions, only digital SLRs are equipped with an optical viewfinder. An optical viewfinder’s strength lies in the fact that when the sun is too bright to clearly see what is displayed on the LCD, you can always use the viewfinder. These days, the LCDs are so large and the cameras so small that there’s no room for a viewfinder. On the other hand, the quality of LCDs has improved tremendously and are very usable under all but the most extreme lighting conditions.
Controls
Set a digital camera on automatic and all you have to do is point and shoot; the camera takes care of all the settings. While all cameras offer the auto option, others offer a range of manual controls and, generally speaking, more expensive cameras offer a wider range of manual options.
If you are knowledgeable about f-stops, shutter speed, ISO, white balance, and other exposure parameters—or are willing to learn about them—the ability to control these variables will increase your ability to get the image you want.
Using automatic settings the quality of images will, in large part, depend on how good the camera is at choosing the right settings. Intelligent auto modes and face detection utilize the latest technology to deliver better images and make picture taking a lot easier. Some models work better than others and the only way to gauge the camera’s accuracy is to look at sample images.
Batteries
Most digital cameras come with proprietary rechargeable batteries and a charger, so when the battery runs out of juice, all you have to do is plug in the charger. What you need to find out is the camera’s CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Association) rating, which measures battery life according to specific guidelines. This specification will tell you how many pictures you can take on a single charge (usually at least 200). If you think you’ll take more pictures in between charges, then get a second battery or look for another camera.
Other models use AA batteries and usually come bundled with
AA alkalines. Throw those batteries in a drawer to
be used in another device—they won’t last
long in a digicam; then go out and buy two sets of
NiMH (nickel metal hydride) rechargeable batteries
and a charger. They last a long time and are much
more environmentally friendly than toss-able alkalines.
Before You Buy:
Try to narrow down your buying options to 3-4 cameras. Go over the specifications. Do they meet all your important criteria? If so, go to a store and get a hands-on feel for fit and comfort. There are some very cool-looking cameras on the market, but don’t be seduced by design alone. Try the camera on for size. Can you reach all the buttons and dials easily? Is the camera so small that your fingers are blocking the flash or covering the lens?
Before you hand over your hard-earned dollars, make sure that your expectations are in line with what the digital camera of your choice can realistically deliver. You’ll be spending a lot of time with your digital camera and you want to make sure that you’ve made the best choice.
