subject: What to Look for when Buying a Digital Camera [print this page] What to Look for when Buying a Digital Camera
Benefits of an Optical Viewfinder
SUMMARY: Many lower-priced digital cameras lack an optical viewfinder - will this pose a problem?
Many low-cost digital camera , especially compact cameras, lack an optical viewfinder for you to look through when taking photographs. Instead, you must use a LCD screen / viewfinder to compose images. Not having an optical viewfinder may cause the following problems:
* A LCD screen requires power, causing batteries to drain faster than if you had an optical viewfinder.
* During the daytime or in any other situation with a high amount of ambient light, the LCD may be difficult to see. You may need to turn on a backlight, if applicable, and this requires even more battery usage.
* A LCD screen may lack the detail of an optical viewfinder, crucial in some photo composition situations.
* Since the LCD screen may be located near where you hold the camera, you might accidentally get fingerprints on it, blurring the image when composing photos (but not the resulting photos themselves).
* It may be harder to properly hold the digital camera in a way that reduces camera shake, especially in low light situations. A tripod, monopod, or other steadying device may prove beneficial.
Of course, when taking photographs where the camera is pointed directly at or near the sun, you should never use an optical viewfinder.
Be Careful When Buying Used Cameras
SUMMARY: A few things to look out for if you try saving money purchasing a used digital camera, especially one online.
Thinking of saving a few bucks purchasing an older, used digital camera instead of a new top-of-the-line model? While saving a few bucks is always a good idea, caveat emptor when purchasing a used digital camera, especially one online:
* Connectors can be worn or broken on used digital cameras. If possible, try to examine the camera to ensure it is easy to insert and remove digital camera memory, watching out for broken pins. If the camera is a dSLR, see how easy it is to attach and de-attach lenses.
* Although this problem is rare, digital camera LCDs can have a dead, or stuck, pixel. While this won't affect taken photographs, an off-color pixel can be annoying when composing photos or reviewing taken pictures.
* However, in some cases stuck or hot pixels may appear in the photos themselves, due to a sensor defect, or in some cases due to the camera getting older. These may vary between photos and may also only appear depending on the exposure length.
* Check for dings, scratches, etc. - these may not affect your photography but it will affect how you and others look at your camera. More importantly, ensure there is no corrosion where you insert the camera battery.
Obviously, the more you can test out a used digital camera before purchase, the better, especially since used digital cameras most likely will not come with warranties. And of course, even new digital cameras may come with defects.
One option is to purchase a refurbished digital camera directly from the manufacturer. These should have been examined for dings and other technical defects, and in many cases come with a limited warranty.
