Shopping for the Right Digital Camera

We have been capturing images for centuries, both still (photographs) and moving (film and video). The camera obscura of the 17th century up to the latest Canon digital cameras of today show our continued fascination and obsession with capturing images for posterity. Today, digital cameras are widely used, and the digital camera’s popularity in usage can be attributed to the relative ease with which you could store photos and print them.

Unlike the cameras of decades ago, digital cameras don’t use film. The photos are stored on a memory card instead. It is this ability to store photographs digitally that has made digital photography so popular today.

Photography Past and Present

In the past, photographs were developed in dark rooms. You would have to know how to develop the negatives yourself or you take the film to a shop where the photos are developed for you. It could take days or weeks before you could see the photographs you’ve taken.

With digital cameras, photography has never been much more accessible to the masses. You can take a picture right now and have both an electronic and printed copy of it in minutes. “The convergence of so many technologies has made it possible for digital photos to be quickly shared” says Minneapolis photographer Bob Dale. “the popularity of the point-and-shoot camera has exploded interest in photography again.”

Types of Digital Cameras

There are several types of digital cameras. The simplest of all digital cameras is the one that has a fixed lens which professioanl digital photographer Bob Dale calls a point-and-shoot digital camera. This digital camera usually has a zoom feature. This type of digital camera takes decent digital pictures so if you simply want to be able to take pictures without the frills, this digital camera type will suit you well.

Then there’s the digital SLR camera. SLR stands for "single lens reflex." This type of digital camera, just like its 35mm film counterpart, is a more expensive camera that comes with many features. You can change lenses, set different shutter speeds and adjust for different lighting conditions. One of the cameras that Bob Dale likes is the Canon Rebel Xti which is great for doing travel photography. “It’s lightweight. I don’t even know that I’m carrying it when I take it to do travel photographs ” says Dale.

Digital SLR cameras can be quite expensive; the professional models tend to cost several thousands of dollars. However, if you want to produce outstanding digital pictures or you’re planning on making a career out of taking pictures, a digital SLR camera is a good investment. One of the one’s that Dale uses is the Nikon D300.

Then we have digital video cameras that record video images. However, instead of recording moving images onto film or video tape, most digital video cameras record onto digital media such as a CD, DVD or memory card with a large storage capacity. Digital video photography has enabled many amateur videographers to get their work out through video sharing sites like YouTube that provide easy uploading of digital videos to the Internet. One of the popular ones to uses has been the 

Buying a Digital Camera

If you’re looking to buy a digital camera, whether it’s for still or video photography, the first thing you need to do is check out all available reviews for the brands that interest you. To help narrow down your choices, any of the Canon digital cameras, Fuji cameras or Nikon cameras are a good choice.

However, keep in mind that within each brand are different digital camera models so you’ll need to narrow down your choices in terms of the features you want or that fit your situation best. Minneapolis photographer Bob Dale offers this advice. “Get to know the different price ranges of the cameras. You’re not going to find the features of a $800 camera for $200. Once you know how much money it’s going to take for the level of camera you want, then start comparing the features.”

For instance, any of the digital cameras in the Canon EOS series are great for an advanced beginner or entry level professional. The digital cameras in the Canon EOS series have 10.1 megapixel digital camera CMOS technology that offers phenomenal picture quality.

But perhaps you only want to use your camera occasionally, in which case, one of the Canon point-and-shoot series digital cameras may be the appropriate choice for you. Besides, these Canon digital cameras are more inexpensive than the other models.

Don’t Forget the Battery

One important thing you also should consider when you’re shopping for a digital camera is the digital camera battery. Find out the battery requirements of the digital camera before you purchase. It’s a good idea to buy an extra battery for your digital camera. Nothing can be more frustrating for a digital photographer or videographer than running out of battery in the middle of taking great shots or filming an important event. Bob Dale says “Batteries are our new film. Some cameras take their own special battery to recharge and some take AA batteries”

Shop Wise

When you’re shopping for a digital camera, investigate which cameras will give you the best digital pictures for the money. Be aware that it may take you days or weeks to find the right digital camera for you. However, if you take the time to do your research on digital cameras, you’ll end up much happier and satisfied with your purchase…and the photos you’ll be taking with your new camera.