Do you need help picking a camera?

mugsisme

Thu, Jun 19 2008, 12:19 am

It seems that a lot of people want advice on what camera to get. In order to help us help you, please give us the following information when you post a request for help:

BUDGET
How much are you willing to spend?

GENERAL USAGE
How are you going to be using this camera?

Some things you should know before you start looking.
megapixels
More does NOT always mean better. They are now cramming as many megapixels into the cameras as they can, but it sometimes actually causes the pictures to have more noise. (Digital noise is the grainy look some pictures have.) 6-8 megapixels is more than enough to take lovely pictures.
size
There are three basic types of cameras. There are the smaller point and shoot (p&s) cameras. They usually run up to about $300 (sometimes even as much as $400). They are small, compact, and fit easily into a pocketbook or a jacket pocket. They usually have several modes, such a night mode, action (or sports), macro, and more. They have a tiny on board flash that usually does not fire for very far. P&S cameras are good for someone who does not want to lug a bulky camera around. It usually has a mode for taking videos as well, although the quality of the video image is not much better than you would expect to find through a cell phone. P&S cameras tend to be slow, meaning that from the time you push the shutter release (the button that takes the picture) until the time the camera actually takes the picture. This can sometimes cause you to miss a shot, especially if you are taking pictures of children who move very fast.
The medium size camera is called a bridge camera. It looks like a SLR (single lens reflex), but works like a p&s. They run between $350-$600. Some have wider angle lenses, and lots of cool features. The quality is pretty close to a SLR, but you will experience some shutter lag. They do tend to be a bit more bulky than a p&s, usually almost the size of an SLR. Bridge cameras do not usually take lenses, although they sometimes have threads in the front for people who want to use filters.
A DSLR camera is one where you focus through the lens. You look through the view finder, and put your lens in focus. (They have auto-focus, but some lenses are manual focus only.) SLR cameras tend to produce fantastic images, although it takes some practice to get good. You can buy various accessories, such as other lenses, an external flash to bounce off of, and filters. SLR cameras start at around $500 and go up from there. (A professional camera starts at over $2000!) While SLR used to be very intimidating, they are making some models for the group that want to move up from the P&S. Nikon has two, and Sony & Canon have one as well. Just be forewarned that photography is fun, and it is easy to start to develop lens envy (you see it; you want it).

While having a great camera makes taking super pictures easier, it is not JUST the camera. It is the person BEHIND the camera who takes the shots. Figure out what your budge is, and what is important to you in your new camera. Then take it from there.
Happy Hunting.