Getting Ready to Buy a Digital Camera

So you finally made your mind up on buying a digital camera, the old 35mm simply doesn’t do the trick for you anymore. Easier said then done, where should you start?

A common mistake uninformed camera buyers do is believe that the more megapixels a camera has, the better. With the outburst of low end cameras, this is as false as it can be: there are lots and lots of models with 8 megapixels or more in the range of $150 that might not suit your needs. The very first thing you should settle on is the degree of control you will want over your new toy: do you want to manually adjust settings like ISO, aperture and white balance, or you want the camera to do it all for you? Do you need a point and shoot gadget that does all the thinking for you, or do you want a shiny DSLR with interchangeable lenses that has heaps of manual controls?

If you decided on a point and shoot camera, you should know a few key features you have to look for:

CPU speed

No, I’m not talking about your new computer, we are still on cameras. Yes, digital cameras are powered by a CPU, and one of the most obvious influences a slow one has on your gadget is the start up time. While often overlooked, a lazy processor can be annoying in situations where you want to catch a candid shot: by the time you reach for the camera and switch it on you have wasted 30 seconds or more, you have most likely ruined the moment.

Maximum ISO

If you ever took a picture outside after sunset and it turned out to be too dark then you know what I’m talking about. A higher ISO setting will get you a brighter picture, and even if this comes out with noises and particles, it is still better than a dark or blurry one.

Shutter speeds

Do you like Formula 1? Have you ever seen a picture of one of those beasts riding at 190mph taken by a professional photographer? It most likely appeared as if the car was in the garage, didn’t it? No blurs, no motion signs. Now try to take a picture of your kid running with the ball in a soccer game with your point and shoot camera and see the difference: low versus high shutter speed!

I would never advise you to get a camera relying solely on the price. You should evaluate your needs, assess the camera’s performances and decide afterwards.

Getting the perfect camera, is never an easy thing, especially with the way digital technology is constantly changing. Fortunately, there are plenty of helpful websites online, that can narrow down your search and help you find the camera with all the features important to you.