Choosing a Digital Camera


For many Photographers expensive camera equipment is now somewhat redundant and the technical merits of competing camera brands are now almost universal. Pick almost any digital camera manufactured since 2005 and you are good to go. I can now go out landscaping without having to carry a tripod and a heavy rucksack stuffed with a battery of spare lenses because I now use a camera that meets my needs in one small package. Your needs may differ so I have written this article to help people who are having difficulty in choosing a digital camera


First Determine your Photographic Needs

If you can clearly identify your needs early then purchasing a camera should be a pain free exercise as your needs will determine the best choice of camera for you


Your needs are determined by what you want to do with your images. Some people need a handy fixed lens camera such as an Ultra Compact for taking snapshots and making snapshot sized prints while others demand features and levels of performance which can only be found on top of the range cameras with interchangeable lens systems. There is a huge difference between taking a few snapshots at a wedding and attempting to photograph wildlife or fast moving indoor sports in low light. Most Photographers will have needs which lie somewhere between these extremes


For printing it is possible to make superb 18 x 12 inch prints with a point and shoot camera providing you are shooting in optimum lighting conditions and the camera is on a low ISO setting but if poor light determines that the camera decides to use a higher ISO setting then sensor noise will greatly degrade the image quality. If you want a guarantee that you can make huge prints which are pin sharp and noise free no matter the shooting conditions then there are cameras that can provide this level of quality but they come at a price and investing in an SLR system would probably be the way to go if you are sure you will commit to your Photography in the long term


There are some excellent consumer level bridge cameras which offer a huge zoom ranges within a fixed lens and the image quality of these cameras in now on a par with the image quality offered by entry level SLRs. For travel these cameras are a good choice because they are easy to carry and they pack a lot of features into a small package


Understanding the Product Range

Digital Cameras can be judged on: Size, Image Quality, Features, Usability and Speed

A vast range is available from $60 point and shoot cameras to $6000 professional SLRs

The range also includes 'bridge' cameras that bridge the gap between amateur and professional cameras


Do Your Product Research

Determine your budget, do some product research and narrow it down to two or three choices

Study the specifications of each camera and see if they check all the right boxes

Look for sample images taken with the cameras you are reviewing

Amazon.com is great for customer reviews and is also an excellent place to buy a camera

Adorama in New York city is recommended for Photographers in the USA and Canada


Ultra Compact Cameras

Very small, lightweight pocket sized cameras with limited features and controls but capable of delivering excellent image quality. Designed to be simple and easy to use and ideal for casual point and shoot Photographers making small prints down at the local mini lab. Zoom range is moderate - 3x or 4x are typical


Compact Cameras

Same as above but with more features and longer zoom range. Features may include macro function for close-up shots and the ability to record motion pictures


Compact Cameras - Things to look for:


All modern compact cameras capture fantastic shots and have the quality for printing up to at least A4 size. With care there is no reason why you can't produce stunning prints of up to 18 inches by 12


Bridge Cameras

These are sometimes called 'prosumer' cameras because they have all the features of most compact cameras but ergonomically they look and feel like an SLR. They have excellent image quality and offer up to 30x optical zoom range in a fixed lens. Some of these cameras are very impressive because the range of features they offer is simply stunning and in some cases the image quality surpasses that of the kit lenses provided with digital SLR cameras


Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera (DSLR)

DSLRs can be used like compact cameras where you choose an automatic shooting mode and start taking photos but they also offer you much more creative control and flexibility than compact cameras


A DSLR offers much more technical options and this combined with the ability to shoot images in RAW format gives you more latitude in post production to help you realise your creative vision


Nikon D40 If you intend on making photography a life long interest and you can well afford one then go right ahead and buy one. Any entry level DSLR camera is worth looking at because they are all extremely good and if you go with Nikon or Canon you will be in very good company. Only when you have owned and used one of these cameras will you appreciate the difference in quality and performance which they offer over compacts and bridge cameras


DSLR Advantages:


DSLR Disadvantages:


DSLRs are ideal for sports photography owing to their speed of operation and they are also very good for landscape, wildlife or nature photography because the larger image sensors don't produce much digital noise even when shooting at dusk and dawn when the light is low and you are using high ISO ratings. This is an important consideration if you intend making large fine art prints for sale or public display