So you've finally saved up enough money to buy a digital camera.
With thousands of questions running through your head, one really sticks out; Where to start? There are so many brands with so many models; all the new technology can be overwhelming.
So what does all that jargon mean and which camera should you get? In today's highly competitive market there is always going to be a camera made by another company that has the exact same everything! Keep in mind; it is unlikely to see a large performance difference between two reputable manufacturers technologies.
Based on a few criteria, you should be able to narrow your search to only a few different cameras with similar features and ultimately make a decision based on style, preference, and usability.
You should begin by asking yourself why you are getting a camera and how you are going to use it? If you are looking for something that is portable and durable you might decide to buy a point and shoot type camera.
They have the ability to take great photographs and are extremely easy to use.
On the other hand, if you are looking to take high quality photos that may possibly be edited or printed, you might want to go with a SLR.
These cameras are normally larger and more fragile.
They are extremely adjustable and feature interchangeable lenses as well as external flash options for those perfect shots.
A high level of experience may be necessary when using a SLR as well as the purchase of additional equipment including batteries, flashes, lenses, carry cases, etc.
Throughout the purchase process you should see numerous specifications for each camera.
Some are useful while others can be deceiving.
The resolution of a camera determines how detailed the image will be.
This unit is measured in megapixels and is probably the single most common specification consumers use to make purchase decisions.
The more megapixels, the more detailed the photo yes, but also the larger the file size.
This creates the need for larger and faster processors and memory cards able of compressing and/or transferring data faster and more reliably.
Anything above six or seven megapixels is really unnecessary unless you plan to edit or print photos so if the megapixels are high make sure there is a processor to match.
A good memory card would be a worthwhile investment that will reduce data transfer speeds and allow more storage space.
You may also hear a few other terms during your search such as shutter speed, aperture, and ISO.
Simply put, ISO is a sensitivity rating.
A higher ISO rating would be more sensitive to light and better for a night shot.
Under normal lighting situations, the lowest ISO setting is the best.
Aperture refers to the distance the lens opens.
It controls the amount of light let into the lens and the focus.
Less aperture would be better for a portrait because it lets more light in and focuses more on the person and less on the background.
A larger aperture would be better for a landscape shot because it would let less light in and focus the foreground and background together.
Shutter speed is just that, the speed of the shutter when it closes and can affect the clarity of the photo.
The faster the shutter speed the better a photo of a moving object will be.
If an object moves from the time the shutter begins to close to the time it finishes closing you will experience what are called light trails or tracers so the faster that thing closes the clearer the object.
By now you hopefully have a little more knowledge and a lot more questions on the subject of cameras and how they work.
Hopefully you can use this knowledge not only to assist future purchase decisions but also to assist you in the art of photography.
With thousands of questions running through your head, one really sticks out; Where to start? There are so many brands with so many models; all the new technology can be overwhelming.
So what does all that jargon mean and which camera should you get? In today's highly competitive market there is always going to be a camera made by another company that has the exact same everything! Keep in mind; it is unlikely to see a large performance difference between two reputable manufacturers technologies.
Based on a few criteria, you should be able to narrow your search to only a few different cameras with similar features and ultimately make a decision based on style, preference, and usability.
You should begin by asking yourself why you are getting a camera and how you are going to use it? If you are looking for something that is portable and durable you might decide to buy a point and shoot type camera.
They have the ability to take great photographs and are extremely easy to use.
On the other hand, if you are looking to take high quality photos that may possibly be edited or printed, you might want to go with a SLR.
These cameras are normally larger and more fragile.
They are extremely adjustable and feature interchangeable lenses as well as external flash options for those perfect shots.
A high level of experience may be necessary when using a SLR as well as the purchase of additional equipment including batteries, flashes, lenses, carry cases, etc.
Throughout the purchase process you should see numerous specifications for each camera.
Some are useful while others can be deceiving.
The resolution of a camera determines how detailed the image will be.
This unit is measured in megapixels and is probably the single most common specification consumers use to make purchase decisions.
The more megapixels, the more detailed the photo yes, but also the larger the file size.
This creates the need for larger and faster processors and memory cards able of compressing and/or transferring data faster and more reliably.
Anything above six or seven megapixels is really unnecessary unless you plan to edit or print photos so if the megapixels are high make sure there is a processor to match.
A good memory card would be a worthwhile investment that will reduce data transfer speeds and allow more storage space.
You may also hear a few other terms during your search such as shutter speed, aperture, and ISO.
Simply put, ISO is a sensitivity rating.
A higher ISO rating would be more sensitive to light and better for a night shot.
Under normal lighting situations, the lowest ISO setting is the best.
Aperture refers to the distance the lens opens.
It controls the amount of light let into the lens and the focus.
Less aperture would be better for a portrait because it lets more light in and focuses more on the person and less on the background.
A larger aperture would be better for a landscape shot because it would let less light in and focus the foreground and background together.
Shutter speed is just that, the speed of the shutter when it closes and can affect the clarity of the photo.
The faster the shutter speed the better a photo of a moving object will be.
If an object moves from the time the shutter begins to close to the time it finishes closing you will experience what are called light trails or tracers so the faster that thing closes the clearer the object.
By now you hopefully have a little more knowledge and a lot more questions on the subject of cameras and how they work.
Hopefully you can use this knowledge not only to assist future purchase decisions but also to assist you in the art of photography.
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