Posted May 18th, 2009
by Chris Campbell
by Chris Campbell
Are you about to get scammed on your next digital camera purchase? Does the prospect of buying a digital camera send shivers down your spine and wallet? Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be that bad.
Amidst all the marketing propaganda and technical confusion there are a few simple things to consider. Any good salesman will be sure to point them out. Any guesses yet? When considering which digital compare is best for you, be sure to keep the following in mind.
First and foremost, you need to remind your self that the basics of good photography really haven’t changed that much over the decades.
Any camera with more than 5 or 6 megapixels will be more than adequate for the average (and higher) photographer these days. Compound that, with the fact it’s virtually impossible to buy a new digital camera with less than 5 megapixels and it becomes a non factor in your purchase decision.
The number one consideration when comparing digital cameras, is your own skills and desires as a photographer. What do you value most? If it’s ease of use, portability, and reliability then you probably want to be looking at the ultra compact lineup of digitals.
Anything in the $200 to $500 price range will get you much the same camera as the previously mentioned cameras, with a few improved features. Typically higher resolution LCD screens, better lenses, higher zoom factors, more manual control, and overall better image quality.
If image quality, good control layout, and some manual adjusting is more your priority, then have a look a the compact class. Cameras like the Canon PowerShot A570IS would fit the bill here. They’re slightly larger than an ultra compact, but come equipped with a better zoom lens, and more control over your picture taking process.
If however your intent on buying a digital camera and are somewhere in between those two extremes, you may want to see what the top rated digital cameras are today.
There is an abundance of choice with digital cameras these days, and generally that’s good. I’d say any of the top ten rated cameras in your price budget will keep you happy.
Staying away from the very latest and greatest, will of course save you a few dollars as well. Additionally, you know your getting a camera that’s been around for a while, and has proven it’s worth. Happy shopping.
Tags: arts, best digital camera, camcorder, camera, Cameras, computers, digital, digital camera, gadgets, Photography, point and shoot cameras, slr cameras, technology, video camera Posted in Cameras
Posted May 10th, 2009
by Chris Campbell
by Chris Campbell
Can you name the three best rated ultra-compact, compact, and SLR digital cameras? Chances are most people can’t. There are so many choices in digital cameras these days, it’s very difficult to get consensus.
What’s more important though, is that you can tell the differences between the three main categories of digital cameras? Those categories being ultra-compact (subcompact), compact, and SLR digital cameras. Knowing the pros and cons and what features they include is the single biggest deciding factor in what makes the best rated digital camera for you.
The Canon Power Shot SD870 IS made a name for being a compact camera with a 4x digital zoom and 3.8x optical zoom. Digital photography takes on a new angle with the Canon camera that also serves as movie camera with sound. T
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.
Getting the right digital camera really just boils down to a few simple considerations. Any camera guide (sentient or otherwise) that tells you different should be promptly ignored. First of all pick up the camera with your own two hands and shoot a bunch of pictures.
While both compacts and ultra compacts have large LCD screens, your more likely to find a viewfinder included with the compact digital camera. The Canon PowerShot A570IS is one of the best selling and best rated cameras in this category. It offers some leading technology like image stabilization and face detection for auto focusing.
Image quality is probably THE most import consideration Take a few pictures (preferably before purchasing . . . see above) and see what they look like. Now don’t just look at the pictures on the cameras LCD screen.
Print some, and upload some to a computer. LCD screens can be very low resolution, and either hide image flaws, or obscure a truly great picture. You can read volumes about ISO settings, and image noise at those various settings. But really, what matters most, is how does the image look to your own two eyes. It’s that simple.
As with with purchase of many products, the key is to understanding what you as a consumer want and need. While there are many highly rated cameras, the consumer needs to understand the different features and skills required for each camera type.
From there, it’s simply a matter of choosing the best rated digital camera that fits within your budget. Once that’s done, pick your vendor, make your purchase, and enjoy.
Tags: arts, best digital camera, camcorder, camera, Cameras, computers, digital, digital camera, gadgets, Photography, point and shoot cameras, slr cameras, technology, video camera Posted in Cameras
Posted April 23rd, 2009
by Chris Campbell
by Chris Campbell
If you ever had an inkling to start a brawl amongst a bunch of photographers, simply ask them which is the best camera brand to buy, an then leave the room. Nikon fan boys, the Canon fan boys, the Sony fan boys and the rest of the pack will never get to a single decision.
Now, we’re not talking film cameras here, as I’m sure by now, even the professionals have made the leap to the digital world. For a lot of years, the pros wanted nothing to do with digital, and you may still know some old hold outs, but their days are numbered.
First things first, in the spirit of full disclosure, I need to declare that I do in fact own several cameras. They represent a variety of brands. I have two Canons, a Fuji, and a Kodak. I must confess, that I am somewhat partial to Canon, but I’ll try not to let that cloud any editorial comments I may subsequently make.
If you were to choose a camera solely on popularity of brand, it would seem Canon is the choice of many. Many, meaning both consumers and critics alike. They seem to crowd the top critic pick lists everywhere I like. I think it’s pretty much impossible to find a top ten camera list tdoay, that doesn’t have at least two or three from the Canon Powershot line.
Sharing the top 11 spots with Canon are 2 of the Pure Video manufactured Flip Video cameras. Nikon has 2 cameras in the top 25 including the Nikon D40, and the Nikon D300. Panasonic sneaks in with a couple of their Lumix models, specifically the DMC-TZ3K and the DMC-TZ3A. And finishing in a strong 25th spot, that old stalwart Kodak with the Easyshare Z812IS.
Of course being popular, or the best seller does not the best brand make. It simply means you have the best salesmanship. How exactly would we determine the best brand? Best service, best design, best features, best customer support, best images, and best user experience are all valid traits. Perhaps a critical / scientific /empirical examination of all cameras models by manufacturer would be in order. Let’s see if we can aggregate a lot of the work already done by a couple of camera review sites who take the above traits into consideration.
One popular camera review site under their top 103 cameras showed 46 Canon cameras, 21 Sony cameras, 20 Nikon cameras, 5 Pentax cameras, 3 Fuji cameras, 2 Samsung cameras, 2 Panasonic cameras, 2 Kodak cameras, 1 Konica camera, and 1 Casio camera. Another top camera review site under their 5 star category, show 39 Canon cameras, 18 Sony cameras, 17 Nikon cameras, 6 Fuji cameras, 5 Olympus cameras, 5 Panasonic cameras, 3 Pentax cameras, and 1 Konica camera. If you total all that up, the top 3 end up being Canon with 85, Sony a distant second with 39, and Nikon a very close third with 37. Everyone else had less than 10 top rated cameras.
Interesting huh? Canon seems to be dominating sales, and wowing the critics. That’s a pretty strong one-two punch. The only reasonable conclusion here, is that Canon is the best overall brand out there. Of course I would never recommend anyone buy a camera based solely on brand. What I do suggest, is to do your homework by researching some good cameras. Once you’ve got your short list, and with everything else being equal, maybe then you should pick the Canon.
Tags: A, arts, best digital camera, c, camcorder, camera, Cameras, computers, d, digital, digital camera, e, entertainment, g, gadgets, h, hobbies, i, p, Photography, point and shoot cameras, s, slr cameras, t, technology, video camera Posted in Cameras
Posted April 22nd, 2009
by Chris Campbell
by Chris Campbell
So, you’ve decided to make the jump from simple point and shoot cameras into the realm of SLR photography. If you’ve done any sort of research, your mind and eyeballs are probably reeling from an overload of information.
Digital SLR photography, is one those hobbies that is rich with technological jargon. It gets worse, if your one of the perfectionist type that really likes to minutely analyze any major purchase . . . intent on getting the best digital SLR camera for your money. You could be in for a long bumpy ride. Today it’s time to shorten that ride and smooth out the bumps.
Lets get right to it. It’s very true, that the immense popularity of digital cameras (SLR and otherwise) and rapid technical advances have produced a glut of choices and features that can be bewildering to the average consumer. Those same trends have have also pushed manufactures and retail establishments to be highly competitive in both design and pricing. That’s something that can only benefit the consumer. In a couple of ways actually.
Not only do you have a bevy of choices, but the vast majority of those SLR choices are really good cameras. Long story short . . . it’s hard to go wrong in this category. I’ll make it even simpler for you. Pick any one of the following three digital SLR cameras, and you won’t be disappointed. They are the Canon Digital Rebel XTi, the Nikon D40, and the Olympus Evolt E510.
As of this writing, the 10 megapixels flavors for these cameras are all available for about $600. That includes a basic kit lens. That feels like highway robbery, compared to the $1000 I paid for a good point and shoot digital just a few years back.
When looking for the best digital SLR camera you can find, the important word to remember is “YOU”. Ask a dozen camera enthusiasts why they their favorite camera is their favorite, and you likely get a dozen answers. Every photographer takes pictures for different reasons, values different attributes in the finished pictures, and handles a camera differently. And so will you. A good hands-on exercise before making your final selection, would be to go to a specialty camera store with lots of models on hand, during a non busy time.
Another thing you can do, if your still interested in looking around a bit more, is to get some hands on experience. Borrowing a SLR from a friend or relative to try out is a good idea. You’ll get a feel for the controls and how everything works. The more different models you try out, the better feel you’ll have for what feels right for you. Like I said, your the most important part of the picture taking process.
Once you’ve done all that, and you know what you want, it’s time to price shop. Online shopping still provides the best selection prices overall. If you don’t mind waiting a few days for shipping, you’ll get the camera and the price you want.
So, stop analyzing, and start taking pictures. The sooner you make a purchase the sooner you can start capturing all those great images.
Tags: A, arts, best digital camera, c, camcorder, camera, Cameras, computers, d, digital, digital camera, e, entertainment, g, gadgets, h, hobbies, i, p, Photography, point and shoot cameras, s, slr cameras, t, technology, video camera Posted in Cameras
