Distinguishing Features From Useless Fluff With Digital Cameras
Have you ever bought something even though the little voice in the back of your head was saying “Don’t do it.”? If so, then there is a good chance someone convinced you to buy a Kodak EasyShare C613 Digital Camera. The price may be tempting, but you really need to take a good look at what your getting. Or in the case of the EasyShare C613, what your NOT getting.
Ultra compact cameras are, (as their name implies) very small cameras. They can slip into the smallest of places. Like your pants pocket, a shirt pocket, small purse or accessory pocket on your backpack. Because of their small size, they can be fragile, so it’s good to look for durability as a feature. They can be a bit more expensive because of their size, and image quality can suffer somewhat. Those choosing a ultra-compact value portability above other features. The Olympus Stylus 790SW is a good example of a ultra-compact that is both small and very durable.
But, maybe your more of a casual photographer, that only pulls out the camera for special occasions and vacation. Tight blue jeans aren’t much of an issue anymore, so you don’t mind a little extra bulk . . . in the camera I mean. Something easy to use, with better image and video quality then your cell phones camera are a priority. In this case, I’d suggest either the Canon Powershot A570IS, or the Canon PowerShot Pro Series S5. The S5 is about twice the money in the low $300 range, but the extra 12X zoom, sturdier construction, and hot shoe flash make it well worth the investment.
For my final category, if I see that little twinkle of adventure in your eyes mixed with a lust for learning, I may suggest you look at something in the entry level SLR category This is where photography really gets fun. Fun that comes with a bit of effort though. Learning about ISO settings, white balance, dynamic range, tonal balance and depth of field are not for the faint of heart. Serious photo editing using RAW files are often part of the SLR photography world.
The Canon Digital Rebel XTi or the Nikon D40 are good starters around $600 in this category. If you seem like the passionately intense type, and have an endless pocket book, you may as well just knock your self out, and get the Canon EOS 5D ($2000 + lenses). Your probably the type that’s going to end up with one eventually. You may as well just skip the appetizers and get right to the main course.
Hopefully you found your best new digital camera in one of my assumptions listed above. At the very least, I’ve escaped making the embarrassing wrong assumption about you, only to be followed by even worse advice camera advice. All you need to do now is get the best deal on the camera you want, and start taking photos.
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