subject: Which Digital Camera Is For You? [print this page] Thinking of buying your first digital camera but don't know what you want? With so many brands, models, features, and prices available it's no wonder people get confused trying to find a camera to fit their needs. A good digital camera isn't going to be cheap so you want to be sure about the model you select before going ahead with any purchase. It doesn't have to be that difficult - here are a few tips as to what you should look out for when shopping around.
You are basically going to be faced with 4 choices. There are the simple point and shoot' cameras that are extremely easy to use and compact, small enough to carry around in your handbag or pocket. You'll find many models available sold in a great number of places, with cheaper models providing low resolution with little magnification whilst more advanced models can include long zoom, feature a touch-screen and be waterproof. If you do not want to spend time on focusing and figuring out the settings and controls, a point-and-shoot camera is probably for you.
Then there are interchangeable lens cameras, these offer the flexibility of a DSLR camera, but have the ease and high portability of a point and shoot model. They tend to be smaller than digital SLR's due to the no-mirror design.
Similar to the traditional film SLR's, Digital SLR cameras give you more control over your photography; with the advantage that they have the convenience of digital files. Lenses are easily interchanged giving you more choice in using both manual and auto settings and a faster response.
Then there are camera packages on offer, these generally include the camera body, a lens, and accessories that often include a case, rechargeable battery and memory card and work out cheaper than if you were to buy everything separately.
So, now you have some idea of the choices available it's time to compare digital cameras - let's have a look at what you need to know. The number of megapixels of a digital camera is connected with the quality of your photos, this number can be anything from 2 to 10. The higher it is the more detailed the images your camera will produce. If you are only intending on taking family or holiday snaps then 2 - 4 megapixels will suffice, whilst if you want to print out large photos then go for at least a 5 megapixel camera.
The battery life of a camera is one of the most important aspects to consider before buying. It may not seem a priority but if your battery only has a short power life you are going to get very frustrated when it runs out in the middle of a shoot, or when you are travelling and it's not always convenient to charge the battery up.
Digital cameras have two types of zoom lens, optical and digital. You are interested in the optical zoom as this physically moves the camera lenses to zoom in on a subject, whilst digital zoom digitally averages and magnifies the image within the camera's microchip, producing a photo of poor quality. Look out for cameras with at least 3x optical zoom.
The cheaper digital cameras are generally all automatic, so if you want a more advanced model that allows you some level of control over exposure settings, such as shutter speed and lens opening, and aperture to capture fast moving objects or blur the image background, then search for a camera with good exposure control.
A simple point-and-shoot camera should be easy to use with controls to set resolution, macro mode, flash and exposure all within easy reach. Just point them and shoot and the job is done. If you are buying from a store then ask them if you can hold the camera to get a feel for it and test out the controls for yourself.
If you are totally new to photography and cameras then don't spend a lot of money on something really high tech, the chances are you will never learn how to use all the features and could just have easily bought a cheaper model for the kind of pictures you want to take. Search for digital cameras australia online and start off with something simple, once you have grasped the basics and feel it's time to invest in a more professional camera then do your research and upgrade to a better camera. You can buy Canon cameras at various outlets, or look on the internet for a good deal.
