Buying a Digital Camera? Avoid a Mistake With 7 Insider Tips

Buying a Digital Camera? Avoid a Mistake With 7 Insider Tips

By Robert Bezman

So, you're ready to buy a digital camera, huh? Maybe it's your first, maybe it's your fourth. It can still be an overwhelming and confusing venture. With so many digital cameras on the market today ranging in price from under $100 to over $7,000, it may feel like there are TOO MANY CHOICES!

Many people begin the buying process by investigating all the features and functions of 10 - 20 cameras in "their price range," however that is determined. Some people find that process too frustrating and buy the first digital camera that "looks" right.

Personally, I'm an analyzer. As a professional photographer, when I start analyzing digital cameras, it's like unleashing a sumo wrestler at an all-you-can-eat buffet... there's no stopping me.

But, for the typical consumer, knowing the digital camera's features and functions alone just doesn't cut it. People want to know WHAT THE FEATURE DOES FOR ME!

Whether you go the feature/function route or not, there are 7 insider tips that can help save you money and avoid buying the wrong digital camera for your purposes.

Tip #1: How to Get the Best Prices on Digital Cameras

Wherever you are in the investigation/buying process, eventually you get to this step. If you want to buy a digital camera, the best prices are on the internet. Whether you've purchased anything on the internet or not, there are certain INTERNET BUYING STRATEGIES that will save you money, time, and aggravation.

• When purchasing ANYTHING through the internet, only consider the ENTIRE cost of the "digital camera + tax + shipping," NOT just the price of the digital camera. This is the only way to compare "apples to apples."
  
• Once you find the best ENTIRE cost, do not immediately buy it from that vendor! There are key INTERNET questions to answer:
  
• Is the digital camera in stock? There is often a mysterious correlation between the cheapest digital camera prices and cameras being OUT OF STOCK. You don't want to order your digital camera and then have it sit on backorder for 3 months, do you?
  
• Does your Nikon (Minolta, Canon, etc.) come with a USA warranty or is it what's called "grey goods?" You want to verify it's a USA warranty, unless you don't mind having to service it internationally. If it's grey goods, you WILL NOT be able to service it in the US.
  
• When ordering your digital baby, beware of costly add-on accessories that may be needed eventually, but are suggested during this "special order promotion time" at 200% of the normal price.

Tip #2: Professional or Prosumer... Which is Right For You?

Let's begin by clarifying our terms. A professional digital camera is a digital SLR, while a prosumer is basically everything else. In that context, as of the end of 2005, digital SLRs could be purchased for $600 - $8,000 (Canon and Nikon, at least). The key points to consider are:

1. If you plan on shooting night photos or other pictures in low-light situations, many prosumer digital cameras take good quality photographs at ISO 100 or 200. However, to take good pictures in lower light at ISO 400 or 800 will typically require a digital SLR. Otherwise, digital "noise" will probably have too large an impact on picture quality.
   
2. If you plan on taking flash photographs at distances greater than 10-12 feet from your subject, an external flash unit needs to be used. And the only way an external flash unit can be used with your digital camera is to attach it to your camera's hot shoe. Every professional digital camera has a hot shoe. Many prosumers also do, but NOT ALL OF THEM.
   
3. Salespeople often try to sway consumers away from professional digital cameras into prosumer models, saying that the digital SLRs have so many complicated features that they are difficult to use. That is only half correct. Digital SLRs are typically designed to allow consumers to take pictures easily using the more automatic settings OR to use the advanced features when they are comfortable doing so.

Tip #3: What Exactly IS an Affordable Digital Camera?

"Affordable" digital cameras have a tendency of making your budget happy, but disappointing the photographer in you.

1. Don't overlook the ergonomics of the camera. Are the controls easy? Comfortable? How many buttons or levers need to be simultaneously set before getting the result you want?
   
2. If you're upgrading from a less expensive digital camera, don't assume that spending more or having more features will automatically make you happy. Always test out the camera. An affordable digital camera isn't affordable if you wind up not using it!
   
3. The new digital camera is more than likely to operate differently than your older model. Does the new camera have controls that are counter-intuitive? Things like that can frustrate a person enough to not use their digital camera. Better to find out details like these before rather than after the purchase.

Tip #4: Don't be Tricked by Digital and Optical Zoom. Only One Matters.

Here's the bottom line: Optical Zoom is the only thing that's important. Although some salespeople might argue with this, when buying a digital camera, my suggestion is to COMPLETELY IGNORE ALL DIGITAL ZOOM FIGURES. Digital zoom has absolutely no impact on being able to take a photograph of a distant subject by zooming in on it.

The main reason salespeople like to include optical zoom in the equation is because advertising loves to give you the digital camera's "zoom factor." Multiply a 3X Digital Zoom by a 5X Optical Zoom, and you have a 15X Zoom factor... a completely worthless and MISLEADING number!!

Tip #5: Is the Discount Digital Camera a Good or Bad Idea?

The most important consideration when considering a discount digital camera (or any other electronic device, for that matter) is to ask yourself: "WHAT IS MY GOAL?"

Many consumers start by first falling in love with a digital camera and then become pleased or disappointed with its capabilities (usually after they buy it).

I'm proposing something outlandishly radical... go through the process the OPPOSITE WAY. First, ask yourself some basic questions:

1. What do I plan to do with the digital camera (and don't say "take pictures")? What are you most interested in - the occasional family snapshot, landscapes, macro work, heavy flash use, all of the above?
   
2. How much use will it get? (Twice a year, or once a week?)
   
3. What is most important to me: picture quality, camera size, camera weight, durability, telephotos/wide angle lens, etc.?

Based on your responses to these questions, a discount digital camera can be your best choice or a complete waste of money.

A "no-name" discount digital camera can be a logical choice, based on what your photographic goals are. But don't think a $49.95 Brand X camera is going to cost you $49.95! You also have to add in the cost for at least some accessories, such as memory, batteries, bag, and lens protector.

Tip #6: When are Small Digital Cameras the Perfect Choice?

Despite impressions to the contrary, small digital cameras (also referred to as compact digital cameras) are quite popular. They're easy to carry, usually loaded with features, and take respectable photographs.

We need to remember that SMALL DOESN'T MEAN UNDERPOWERED. Some advantages of going tiny are: less bulky, easier to transport, less conspicuous (less likely to "walk off"), and they often compare favorably with larger cameras in the feature and price categories.

Some of the pitfalls of going small include: possible trouble physically operating some of the camera's controls, less likely to support an external flash, and the physical size can limit some of the available features, such as image manipulation.

Tip #7: Megapixels - What's Fact; What's Fiction?

Megapixels is one of the most talked about (and misunderstood) terms in the world of digital cameras. Let's sort through some facts and misperceptions, so you can make a more informed buying decision.

Taking better digital photography involves more than just having a camera with a bunch of megapixels, although you wouldn't know that listening to digital camera salespeople.

Megapixels is just one factor in creating better digital photography. And, you can't look at it alone. You should consider other digital camera features.

How fast or slow the camera's shutter speed can be set is key. Using a tripod, being able to manually set the white-balance control, and having pre-programmed modes to aid in tricky lighting situations are all important factors in achieving better digital photography.

Don't get the idea that megapixels are bad, or irrelevant. This is NOT TRUE. There is one specific area where more megapixels will create better digital photography results. If everything else is the same, more megapixels will provide GREATER FLEXIBILITY TO CROP A PHOTOGRAPH and still wind up with a sharp clear photo. And, cropping photographs can make a world of difference. Cropping is the eraser on your digital pencil.

Conclusion

People can make buying a digital camera a snap decision or a life-long project. Because there are so many models, brands, and features; it can get pretty confusing. You will never know ALL THE FACTS to make the "best decision." But, by using these 7 tips, you will know what really matters to YOU.

For the unabridged tips, go to http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com/digital-cameras.html.

Robert Bezman is a professional photographer and owner of Custom Photographic Expressions. Robert has created http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com to help beginning and intermediate photographers create better photographs. Robert is offering a free newsletter and eBook that can be obtained by visiting http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com/photography-newsletter.html

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Find the Best Digital Camera for Your Needs and Maximum Enjoyment

Find the Best Digital Camera for Your Needs and Maximum Enjoyment
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dave_Saunders]Dave Saunders

Digital Cameras have become a common site wherever you go. If you're getting ready to purchase your first digital camera, or maybe you're looking to replace one you already have, it is best to familiarize yourself with the knowledge of what makes one digital camera different from another and choose the one that is right for you. In this article we'll cover one of the most significant factors in picture quality. This is the "digital film."

Just like with a film camera, the digital camera has a lens which brings light into focus on a bed of light sensitive material. In the digital camera, that light sensitive material is a circuit bed called a "CCD." The CCD plays the same role as film in a film camera and the lens allows light to fall onto the CCD which is then converted into a digital image. The quality of the lens can make a significant difference in the clarity of that image. Very cheap digital cameras may even use a piece of plastic as the lens, which will usually have an uneven surface and light transmission. This will be noticeable in the picture but may not be an issue for a security camera or a web cam. Better quality digital cameras will have ground-glass lens and high-end digital cameras will even have interchangeable lenses as do high-end film cameras. The lens still plays the important role of bringing light clearly to the CCD surface for a distortion free picture.

A CCD also provides an interesting advantage to the digital camera. It is possible to automatically adjust light sensitivity to improve contrast, shoot in dim light, or even take black and white, sepia or infrared and ultraviolet light pictures with the touch of a button. Because any of these images are stored as the same data on the memory card, a digital camera can offer unsurpassed versatility without the need to change film types. Not all digital cameras have these features built in, but they are options you may see in some cameras. While the possibilities are cool, ask yourself if you that is a feature you need in a digital camera.

With digital cameras, CCD is a grid of light sensitive points which capture the image for conversion into a digital image. The number of points on the CCD is measured in terms of "mega pixels." The mega pixel rating is a completely new bit of terminology and is unique to the digital camera. The mega pixel rating is a measure of the resolution of the camera, or its ability to store details of am image. For example, a digital camera with a maximum resolution of 1280 by 768 pixels (dots) comes out to a total of 983,040 pixels with which to describe the digital image. As each mega pixel represents one million pixels, we can see this isn't even one mega pixel. Some digital cameras have mega pixel ratings at 5.1 and even 7.1 mega pixels. What does this mean to you? The more pixels the more detail stored. If the image is going to be viewed on a screen or a TV, this isn't very meaningful because video displays have resolutions which are usually well below one mega pixel. However, when printing on a high quality photo printer, the difference between a 3 mega pixel digital camera and a 5 mega pixel digital camera can be very obvious.

Some people will try to evaluate a mega pixel rating by how large a print can be made from the digital camera's image. The truth is that any digital image can be printed to any size. The real issue is what it looks like. Most people print their film to 4x6 prints and many are now doing the same with their digital cameras. Ask to see printed samples of pictures which are like the type you would normally take and compare the same prints between different cameras. Many stores will try to dazzle you with colorful still life images of piles of multi-colored fruits and hot air balloons. Do you take pictures like that? Probably not, so perhaps they're not the best images to be scrutinizing. If you take pictures of friends standing around, use each camera to take pictures of people standing around. Then use a demonstration printer at the store to make prints and look at the results. Do you see little dots in the middle of solid colors? Does the image look like it was taken with a poor quality film camera? Don't seek out the digital camera that happens to take perfect pictures in a perfect setting, contrived by the marketing department of the digital camera's manufacturer. Look for the digital camera that takes pictures you like in the settings in which you most commonly find yourself.

Another issue to consider is that some digital cameras are designed for "point and click" use while other cameras are designed with lots of settings which must be manipulated for optimal results. In my personal experience, I have found that Kodak makes digital cameras which are ideally suited for simple "point and click" use and consistently take great looking pictures in a wide variety of settings. I have also personally found that digital cameras from Nikon work best when you set them to "manual" and do not rely on the automatic settings. This seems to be true of their film cameras as well. Does this make one digital camera better than another? Only if one fits your needs and skills, and the other does not.

There are many magazines available on digital cameras today. Most recognize these differences in digital camera quality, based on needs and intended use of the owner. Before buying your new digital camera, pick up a few of these magazines and familiarize yourself with the latest reviews. Remember that the pros and cons are still written "through the lens" of the reviewer. If you see a negative about a digital camera that you otherwise like, ask yourself if that negative is meaningful to your needs. Next ask yourself if that negative might be meaningful to your needs as you become more experienced. If the answer is yes, ask yourself if you would still be using that camera as a more experienced photographer in the future or would you perhaps sell it and buy an entirely new digital camera? It's unlikely that the digital camera you buy today is going to be the only one you'll ever have. Buy the digital camera that most reasonably meets your needs and how you normally plan to take pictures.

Memory cards and battery life are also consideration factors which will be covered in other articles. For now, I hope this information has taught you more about the workings of a digital camera and some of the factors to consider when choosing one. Take your time and learn a bit about digital cameras before your purchase. Sure, it's not like buying a car, but photography is a very personal experience and the right digital camera will truly make a difference in your enjoyment of capturing the moment with digital photography.

Dave Saunders is a nutritional educator and published author.
He enjoys writing on his many hobbies and passions.
You can find other news and articles on digital cameras at [http://www.aboutdigitalcameras.net/digital-cameras]aboutdigitalcameras.net

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Digital Camera Information-Digital Camera Software

Digital Camera Information
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Len_Cecchetto]Len Cecchetto

Digital Camera Software

A combination of a digital camera, a color scanner and image manipulation software is highly recommended. The software digital camera software that is included also provides professional level workflow solutions for seamless use.

Most of the software is designed for digital camera users, compatible with most current digital camera models.

photo editing software & photo printing software that's renown for its ease of use. At last there's easy-to-use digital camera software for both home and business users.

Image

The image sensor employed by most digital cameras is a charge coupled device (CCD). Some current digital camera models store combinations of video (MPEG or AVI movies), image sequences or sound. Although Canon's images are slightly better, the Casio is an ultra-thin, sleek digital camera that doesn't sacrifice overall image quality.

Easy-to-understand information about digital cameras, accessories, image editing and more. Image quality depends on the resolution of the digital camera. To make image files smaller almost every digital camera uses some form of compression. This EasyShare digital camera's resolution of 5 megapixels, 3x optical zoom and an all-glass lens combine for amazing image detail and clarity.

With an image stabilizer, this digital camera produces clear, even images even in shaky conditions. Resolution is the most talked about digital camera characteristic and is often used to describe image quality.

If you have the option, choose optical rather than digital image stabilization in your camera. It is probably the best digital camera made and produces image quality that rivals medium format film (e.g., 6x6cm Hasselblad).

Image processing for single-sensor digital camera: a mathematical challenge This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. A typical slave unit will fire on the pre-flash it senses while the digital camera captures the image on the last flash. The image quality available from digital cameras is astonishingly good.

Film

In fact, a digital camera is better quality than a film camera in many important respects! The digital cameras enjoy the advantage of a built-in digital signal processor that your roll of film doesn't have.

Add an external or speed light flash to your digital camera or film camera. Many digital cameras are comparable to a 35 mm camera in price without the extra added cost of buying or developing film. Back to top Printing pictures Unlike with film cameras, you can print digital photos at home.

Is considering laying off the development of new film cameras as it focuses resources on its digital camera business. Though digital cameras don't use film, they have adopted the same rating system for describing the sensitivity of the camera's imaging sensor. So far, very few digital cameras have been produced with a receptor using the full size of 35mm film.

Whether you're using film or a digital camera, bring a sturdy tripod. Shooting with a digital camera is somewhat like shooting slide film. A couple years ago, I got into the digital camera thing to the point that I pretty much parked my roll film cameras. The digital camera scenario is similar in that mega pixels are similar to film size. To design and build a high performance digital cine camera with the quality of 35mm film and convenience of a camcorder.

Quality

The quality of your pictures can be enhanced by the digital camera accessory you choose. You'll find quality brands of digital cameras, 35mm cameras, lenses, video cameras, memory cards and camera accessories at great prices. An easy to use quality digital camera purchase will be fully used by staff and students. However, not all digital cameras can produce prints of the same quality. I wanted a go-anywhere high quality digital camera that's user-friendly with both auto & manual controls. At the cheaper end of the digital camera scale, the quality can be remarkable for the price.

Buy

It is better to buy a digital camera with a 100% glass lens for the best pictures. Many retailers advertise their best buy digital camera as one with a plastic lens. You should also look for the best buy digital camera packages with the most RAM that you can afford. A lot of unscrupulous retailers will advertise a price for a best buy digital camera but then charge high shipping costs.

Finally, ensure that you have accounted for any shipping costs before you make your final decision over which best buy digital camera you purchase. There's never been a better time to buy a digital camera. Having to buy re-chargeable batteries and a charger will typically add from $20 to $100 to the cost of your digital camera.

As a person constantly taking photos I made this page as a lot of people keep asking me what digital camera they should buy. Find discount computers, cheap digital camera, buy digital cameras. Try before you buy - I've always been a firm believer that you should handle a digital camera before you buy it.

Size

Experienced digital camera users know pixel size isn't everything. The small size and versatility allow easy integration of digital cameras into all parts of the curriculum. If you care more about price and features than compact size, choose a standard size digital camera.

There are three basic "sizes" of digital cameras, and knowing what size camera suits your needs will make your search much simpler. For digital SLR cameras with interchangeable lenses it's more difficult as different cameras have different size sensors. This is why I am currently looking for an extra digital camera featuring a minimal size combined with a maximum amount of useful features.

These are about the size of a matchbook and used in digital cameras made by Nikon, Canon, Kodak and many others. When choosing a digital camera you have to think about the resolution of the pictures, size and memory. A larger inner diameter makes the L-Ring 3200 perfect no matter the lens size of your digital camera. This has nothing to do with your camera being digital it is entirely a result of smaller frame size.

Video

Webcams are digital cameras attached to computers, used for video conferencing or other purposes. However, modern digital photography cameras have a video function, and a growing number of camcorders have a still photography function. Modern compact digital cameras are typically multifunctional, with some devices capable of taking photographs, video, and/or sound.

Classification Digital cameras can be classified into several groups: Video cameras Professional video cameras such as those used in television and movie production. Some digital cameras have direct video out..... Another alternative, although not directly a digital one, would be to purchase one of the analog peephole video cameras.

Lens

The super multi layer lens coating reduces flare and ghost, a common problem with digital cameras. The vast majority of digital cameras are "point-and-shoot" models with a single, non-interchangeable lens. Because auto focusing in most digital cameras is done through the lens, the focus shift is automatically taken care of. Focus and Exposure: Fixed-focus digital cameras have a lens that is preset to focus at a certain range. These depend on the actual (as opposed to relative) diameter of the lens aperture, which makes them especially painful for digital cameras.

Memory

You can find a memory card reader or extra battery to keep your digital camera powered up for any circumstance. Some professional digital cameras and memory card readers connect to the computer over FireWire. SD is now the most popular type of digital camera memory. Many types of memory cards are available for use with your digital camera. Files deleted from PC, digital camera or memory stick can be restored with high speed and reliability. When using your digital camera to make movies it is also very important to have ample Flash Memory on hand too.

Battery

All digital cameras can run on rechargeable batteries of one of two types: an expensive battery pack or a set of AA batteries. A battery is taped to the inside cover of the box that the Olympus digital camera came in. Take a few moments to look around, keep your camcorder, digital camera or laptop computer working like new with a fresh battery today! The Digital Camera Battery can power two devices at the same time and has adjustable outputs that match each device automatically.

Photography

BytePhoto.com - Digital camera reviews, digital photography tips, forums and free photo sharing for digital photography enthusiasts. Jen Roesner from Germany has a whole site dedicated to digital infrared photography, including a comparison table of various cameras' IR sensitivity. Not really necessary in digital photography as the camera's white balance system adjusts for the color temperature of the scene. Back to school - Whether you are a novice or a professional, there are numerous free online courses in digital cameras and photography.

Looking

If you're looking to upgrade, you can sell your old digital camera and use the funds to purchase that latest spiffy digital camera. Whether you're looking for your first camera or you're an experienced pro Digital Camera has what you need.

Len Cecchetto is an avid photographer
who first had a box brownie. He aims to
bring the best Digital Photography information [http://digitalphotography.ozmarketing.info]

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