Upgrading Your Digital Camera? What Makes Sense For You?
If buying a digital camera on a tight budget, the first step is deciding which type of camera is best for you. If you become disappointed, the camera will probably remain in the closet.
That's why this step is so helpful. First, it narrows the field down to a more manageable number of choices. Second, you gain an understanding of what each type of camera can offer; which solidifies your thoughts on what is most important TO YOU.
Tip #1: Is The Discount Digital Camera a Smart Choice or a Big Mistake?
Most consumers skip the critical first step of answering this question: "WHAT DO I WANT THIS CAMERA FOR?"
Instead, most people first fall in love with a digital camera; then become pleased or disappointed with its performance after using it. Instead, ask yourself some basic questions before the purchase:
"How will I most likely use the digital camera... the occasional family snapshot, email, Internet postings, landscapes, macro work, heavy flash use, all of the above?"
"How often will I use the digital camera - twice a year, or once a week?"
"What is most important to me: picture quality, camera size, camera weight, durability, or telephoto/wide angle viewing?"
"What is my budget?"
Based on your responses, a discount digital camera could be your best choice or a complete disaster
Tip #2: When It Comes To Digital Cameras, What Does "Affordable" Mean?
“Affordable” digital cameras have a tendency of making your budget happy, but disappointing the photographer in you.
Don't overlook the camera's ergonomics. Are the controls simple to understand? Comfortable (not too big or small)? How many buttons or controls need to be SIMULTANEOUSLY set before getting the result you want?
If you're upgrading from a less expensive digital camera, don't assume that spending more money or having more camera features will automatically make you happy. Always test out the camera (in your HANDS). An affordable digital camera isn't affordable if you wind up not using it!
Tip #3: When are Mini Digital Cameras the Best Choice?
Despite impressions to the contrary, mini digital cameras (also referred to as a "compact digital camera" or "point and shoot") are quite popular. They're loaded with features, very portable, and produce excellent pictures..
We need to remember that mini DOESN'T MEAN SECOND RATE. Some advantages of going tiny are: less bulky, easier to transport, less conspicuous (less likely to “walk off”), and they often compare favorably with larger cameras in the feature and price categories.
Two of the possible pitfalls of going mini include: size of the operating controls and being less likely to support an external flash.
Now that you have an idea of why a smaller digital camera might be right for you, let's take a look at how to decide which features and functions make sense.
Digital Camera Do Not Take Good Pictures ¦ People Do (When It Is The Right One)
Do you know that the greatest confusion that digital camera buyers face is with FEATURES. While many consumers look for a digital camera with the MOST Features, the real question to ask yourself is: "Which features do I NEED?"
These tips will help you make the best decision FOR YOU.
Tip #1: Interchangeable Lenses or Not?
A Digital SLR (single lens reflex) is made up of the camera body and the lens. If the lens is NOT removable, it is not a Digital SLR. More familiar names for this type of camera are "Point and Shoot," "Pro-Sumer," and "Compact." For simplicity, the key distinguishing feature is whether the lens can be removed or not.
Ask yourself two questions:
"Do you plan on shooting pictures in low-light situations?" If you do, digital cameras capable of high ISO numbers (over 800) and apertures capable of F-stops equal to or less than F/2.8 are desirable. Typically, that is a Digital SLR.
"Will you be taking flash pictures at distances greater than 12 feet from your subject(s)?" If so, an external flash unit is needed, and that means your camera must have a hot shoe.
If you have these requirements, Digital SLRs should be strongly considered. If you don't, you would likely be happy with less sophisticated gear.
Realize that today's digital SLRs have more features without being more difficult to use. Almost all entry level SLRs are designed to be as simple to use as a Point and Shoot while providing additional features that you can grow into.
Tip #2: Megapixels – What’s Fact; What’s Fiction?
Megapixels is one of the most talked about (and misunderstood) terms in digital photography.
Taking better photographs involves more than just having a camera with a bunch of megapixels; although you wouldn't know that by listening to salespeople. Megapixels is JUST ONE FACTOR in creating better digital pictures. Other features are just as important...
How fast or slow you can set the camera's shutter speed is key. It is also important to be able to manually set the white-balance and to have pre-programmed modes to aid in tricky lighting situations.
The number of megapixels your digital camera has is not the most important factor, but it should not be ignored either. The one area where megapixels is critical deals with cropping.
When you crop a photograph, you are removing pixels from the image. If you start with a greater amount of pixels, the resultant cropped image will be sharper and clearer when you are done.
Tip #3: Between Digital and Optical Zoom, Only Optical Zoom Matters
Although some salespeople might argue with this, when buying a digital camera, COMPLETELY IGNORE ALL DIGITAL ZOOM FIGURES. Why?
Because digital zoom has absolutely no impact on being able to take a photograph of a distant subject by zooming in on it. Manufacturers use it more as a marketing tool than anything else.
Now that you know what to look for, we can show you how to get the best price.
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