Digital Camera Buying Tips

With so many different digital cameras on the market and more being added everyday, how do you choose which digital camera is the best? This week we offer you some tips on what to look for when buying a digital camera.

First of all you should ask yourself how you will be using the camera. Will you be using it on a professional level or simply for pleasure? Will you be taking family photos or images for magazines? These are important questions because they set the stage for the type of camera and options you will need. There are four basic camera designs that you can choose from;

Range Finders - A simple camera that allows you to view the subject through a viewfinder lens that is separate from the lens that light enters through to expose the film. Because the viewfinder and lens are not one in the same, the images you see through the viewfinder do not appear the same on the film. This is called, parallax. You may view the image in the centre of the viewfinder but when your photo is processed, the image can show up to the left or right of centre

Single Lens Reflex (SLR) - Corrects the parallax problems with the use of mirrors and prisms. This camera type allows you to look directly through the lens (the one that allows the light through) and at the subject.

Twin Lens Reflex (TLR) - Are common to range finders, however, a mirror is used to view the subject through the viewfinder. These have the parallax problem, too.

View Cameras - Are usually found in professional photography studios on tripods because of their size. Each image is exposed on large sheets, usually 8x10. Not a very portable camera but the quality is very good.

Features To Lookout For

One of the most important features of a digital camera to be on the lookout for is pixel size. Most digital cameras come with 1 mega-pixel, that gives you good snapshots in 4x5 and 5x7, and are going as high as 5 mega-pixels and more.

Digital cameras come in an array of styles, sizes and shapes. Some split and pivot, having the lens, flash and viewer on one side and the LCD screen on the other. Some have the capability of having larger flashes mounted and still be easy to handle. Always pick up and hold the camera to get a feel for it. Look through the viewfinder and check out the LCD screen. You want the camera to feel comfortable not clumsy and to be able to see the images easily.

Batteries are a consideration when purchasing a digital camera because these cameras draw a lot of power. Find out how many batteries are needed how easily available these types are. There are so many types of batteries to choose from, but keep a look out for the ones that are marked or rated for photography use. Alkaline batteries are the cheapest and most common but they cannot be recharged. Nickel Cadmium batteries are re-chargeable but need to be totally drained before recharging. The new Nickel Metal Hydride batteries provide greater power and can be recharged during any point in the life of the battery.

Most digital cameras come with one lens, usually a wide angle/telephoto combination, 28mm – 150mm, commonly known as a "zoom lens." There are two ways to view the image with a digital camera, either through an optical view finder or an LCD screen. An LCD is a flat screen that shows you what the lens sees. Some, not all, have a backlight that improves viewing. Consider this option carefully when purchasing your camera. When shopping around for a camera, the one feature I fuss over is the viewfinder. Is it too small, too big, can I see clearly through it and are there meter readings inside and can I see them? These are very important questions to ask and consider. Another important feature to consider when shopping for a digital camera is its memory storage capability.

Memory storage cards are where your images are recorded and stored. Some cameras do not offer removable storage cards and instead have built-in memory called RAM. Having the most memory available is critical. Who wants to take only 8 pictures, run out of memory and have to go to the computer to download the images before starting again. Some cameras have both built-in memory and removable storage cards. This allows you to save the images in the built-in memory before sending them over to the memory card. There are different types of memory cards available:

PCMCIA Cards  - Used in professional cameras and are actually mini-hard drives.
TYPE III Cards - Also mini-hard drives, can hold up to 1040 mb of memory.
Compact Flash Cards - Similar to PC cards and can hold between 8mb and 512mb.
Smart Media Cards - Used by smaller bodied cameras, are the size of a matchbook and can hold as much as 128mb of information. With these comes the option of using an adapter to download the information into the computer. The card is placed into the adapter that is connected to the computer. This device frees up the camera so someone may use it while you are downloading. The other memory cards require the camera to be connected to the computer for downloading.

Digital camera downloading can be done by direct cable or removable disk. Most cameras allow you to download using a cable that is attached from the camera to the serial cable that is attached at the back of the computer. 

Don’t get overwhelmed. It is always hard to decide what to buy, especially when the purchase is a major one and the technology is changing minute by minute. Research your information. Make sure something new isn’t about ready to be introduced into the market and if it is, ask yourself if you really need what is being offered. Stick to your budget and decide just how you are going to use the camera. These decisions will determine the features and options you will need.

By Georgiana Marshen

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