How do I figure out what kind of Digital Camera to buy?

Question

I want a digitial camera. Nothing fancy. I just want it so when I go out/traveling/whatever I can take pictures. Just something I can take simply pictures and then post them online/e-mail

How do I figure out what I will need? I look online and I hear all this stuff about megapixels, gigabytes and those words mean nothing to me.

Answer 1

Start with the budget. This may seem backwards, but it's not. You can find a decent camera to match any amount of money you want to spend.

Next, find a friend who will help you learn how to use the camera. This "friend" could even be the clerk in your local photo shop. By "photo shop," I mean an actual camera shop or at least a camera department where the sales staff only deals with cameras and not dishwashers, too. Buy the camera that your friend recommends so that they will be able to teach you how to use it.

After you know what you are doing and are ready for your next camera - and this will come sooner than you think - you will be in a position to make your own choice.

If you have some vague ideas about price and desired features, go to http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare.asp and see what they select for you.

Choose the best one by deciding what you want to do, how much you want to learn, how far you want to progress and how much you want to spend.

http://www.dcresource.com/buyersguide/
http://www.dcresource.com/buyersguide/shopping_tips.shtml
http://www.steves-digicams.com/best_cameras.html
http://www.popphoto.com/buyingguide/
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sidebyside.asp

http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/3148/top-5-digital-cameras-for-august.html

Consumer Reports for November 2006 has ranked the Canon Powershot A620 as the best compact digital camera. It is becoming almost a legend for longevity at the top of various consumer lists. It looks like this model has been replaced by the A630, which I would expect to be just as popular. The A640 is virtually the same, but it is 10 MP instead of 8 MP (A630) or 7 MP (A620).

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_a620%2Ccanon_a630%2Ccanon_a640&show=all

If you want to trim the budget a little, the Canon Powershot A430, A530 or A540, are all great choices. You will still need a decent memory card as discussed above, though.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_a430%2Ccanon_a530%2Ccanon_a540&show=all

Answer 2

All of the major brands have their fans, and I have no doubt that they are all good cameras. The only camera available at the moment that I would stay away from is the Fuji S9500. I bought one and the photos are just not sharp and clear.

Take your time looking, they are getting better and cheaper as time goes by.

Optical zoom is the most important thing, get the most you can for your money.

Digital zoom is a complete waste of time, do not consider this as a factor when buying a camera. Once you have bought a camera, turn digital zoom off.

Get the most megapixels you can for your money.

As a very rough rule of thumb when comparing your final choices in camera, take the number of megapixels and multiply that by the amount of optical zoom. Buy the camera with the highest number.

Try to avoid a camera that uses two 'AA' batteries (except perhaps the Kodaks that can use the CR3 Lithium ion Battery Pack). Get a camera that either uses four, or one with its own dedicated Lithium Ion battery pack. (If you want to keep it for a long time, check the price and availability of replacement batteries. perhaps ebay?)

Answer 3

1. What is your budget?
2. Do you take mostly telephoto or wide angle photos?
3. What media is best for you - Compact flash (largest capacity and cheapest per MP), SD, mini-SD, Memory Stick, etc.? If not important to you, then go with whatever the camera uses.
4. Can you accept a long sutter lag (time between when you press the button and when the picture is actually taken). Cheaper cameras tend to have longer lag times.
5. Small size that fits in your pocket?
6. Are yoiu going to print out the pictures? For small pictures (up to 4x6) you can get away with under 5 MP. For larger pictures you should get the highest MP camera you can afford.
7. After you start looking at cameras at your local stores, pick a couple and then go online and read the reviews the pros have also reviewed.
8. go buy it! Don't wait or you will never get one.

Norm

Answer 4

If you dont want to print pictures, then megapixels do not matter (the more megapixels = larger file size and larger image = better printouts). The gigabytes they are talking about is the storage of the camera card (the more gigabytes, the more pics you can take without deleting them)

Answer 5

The best way is go to a professional camera shop and talk to the salesperson.

Coach

Answer 6

Well,,,ask me

to stat look at Canon's camera's