The electronics revolution has opened up new photography possibilities for hobbyist photographers and casual users. Digital cameras now match film cameras on quality but allow shutterbugs to do much more with their photos. If you're just getting into digital cameras, this photography buying guide will help you sort out the options available to you and help you decide how to buy the cameras and optics accessories that best meet your needs.
What will you shoot?
You can spend thousands on a digital camera kit, but if you never use the gear, you've wasted your money. For casual shots on vacation or the backyard barbecue or small photos for scrapbooks, you only need a basic point-n-shoot camera. For bigger pictures or action shots, you need more control, so get an advanced point-and-shoot (APS) digital camera. For the serious amateur or emerging professional photographer, you want total control for low-light shots, large-format portraits or high-speed action, so go for a digital SLR.
When will you upgrade?
If you plan to keep your digital camera for many years, spend what you must to get what you need and don't stress the cost. If you know you'll buy a better camera soon -- for work or just because you can't afford what you want today -- pick out a simple, discount digital camera that does enough while you save your money for what you really want.
What can you afford?
Price always matters. There is a difference between a cheap digital camera and a discount digital camera. Cheap digital cameras have fewer pixels, fewer features and less rugged construction than high-end digital cameras. These are not necessarily negatives; a cheap digital camera that takes small, low-resolution photos is perfect for those who have smaller digital picture frames or shoot pictures for the web (where the standard resolution is 72 dpi), so don't hesitate to buy it. A discount digital camera might be refurbished or last year's model, but it can still be a top-quality camera with the features you want.
Do you want to go disposable?
Good disposable digital cameras are now available. (You don't actually dispose of them; you turn them in to developers, who recycle them -- very green!) These inexpensive, point-n-shoot models take one or two dozen pictures (up to 10 megapixels) and are a great way to get acquainted with digital photography while deciding on exactly what you need.
Which components will make up your package?
Cameras and camera accessories are many and varied; some of the most common are:
Overstock.com's digital camera buying guide provides detailed information, but in general terms, digital cameras fall in three groups:
Basic point-and-shoot
Many consumers want absolute simplicity, and consumer electronics manufacturers responded with point-n-shoot digital cameras. "Point-n-shoot" means you can turn them on and take pictures immediately with a low chance of getting blurred, overexposed or underexposed snapshots. These cameras also feature auto-focus and auto flash, usually with red-eye reduction. Among these are mini-digital cameras which can fit in a pocket or even on a keychain; you won't get high-resolution pictures, but they'll be good enough for casual situations.
Advanced point-and-shoot
For consumers who want more control, there is the advanced point-n-shoot digital camera. These cameras have several adjustable features: "scenes" (preset f-stops and shutter speeds), color effects (like black-n-white, sepia, negative) or white balance (including full-auto, daylight, cloudy or fluorescent). Some of these camera bodies are designed like digital SLR cameras, making them more ergonomic (less tiring when you shoot a lot).
Digital SLR
Almost identical to a film SLR (single lens reflex) camera, the shooter has full control over all aspects of these digital cameras. Obviously, SLR cameras are the priciest, really suited only for professional or serious amateur photographers. Some are not sold as a complete unit; the camera body and camera lenses come separately. Detachable lenses allow you to buy different optics for different situations.
Basic and advanced point-n-shoot digital cameras and some digital SLR's have built-in camera lens systems. These are the cameras to choose for ease and simplicity. However, if you're switching from a film to a digital camera and already have a good film camera body and set of lenses, consider buying a digital camera body from the same manufacturer. You should be able to use your current camera lenses with your new camera body.
In addition to lenses, a camera lens cover or filter should be an absolute necessity. Lens covers are clear (or slightly tinted) plastic or glass; their primary duty is to protect the lens. Camera lens filters are tinted; in addition to protection, they can change the mood or ambience of a shot dramatically, or add slight photographic effects. Scratches happen; better they should happen to a $10.00 cover or filter than a $200.00 lens!
Most point-n-shoot cameras use off-the-shelf AA or AAA batteries. Obviously, these batteries vary in quality depending on the manufacturer. Digital cameras require a lot of power compared to some other consumer electronics; many standard batteries don't last long, making rechargeable batteries a big advantage. Either way, they aren't rechargeable forever, so you'll need replacements every few years. A spare set of camera batteries is always a good thing to have on hand.
Some digital cameras use a built-in digital camera battery pack. If so, look for a camera kit that includes a battery charger designed for that pack.
Overstock.com's memory card buying guide will help you navigate the maze of memory card styles and sizes, but the basic rule is "the more the merrier." A good (4-5 megapixel) picture can be over 1MB; very high-resolution (10-12 megapixel) digital pictures can be 5-10MB. Digital memory cards of 8GB cost very little (compared to an equivalent amount of film, they're almost free) and can hold thousands of pictures or hours of video. The key to getting the right card is model -- memory cards and memory card slots are not interchangeable; check the manual and get the right card for your camera.
Even the best digital SLR cameras may have built-in camera flashes, often called an auto-flash. This doesn't mean you can't add an additional flash unit. Add-on digital camera flash units provide greater light and increased control, such as the ability to bounce light off walls or ceilings instead of shooting directly at the subject. These camera flashes can be attached directly to the camera body or to a separate bar. Compatibility is a potential problem; buy an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) camera flash unit or one approved by the manufacturer. Studio lighting -- the large, umbrella lights -- is an expensive option not suited to beginners.
Camera bags are not necessarily a "bigger is better" situation. For point-n-shoot digital cameras, a snug fitting camera bag (also called a pouch) that fits on your belt is very popular. It keeps your camera close at hand, but doesn't get in your way. Some camera kits include a bag; generic camera bags are also available. Measure your camera carefully and get a bag that's not too tight; you want to be able to pull your camera out easily. Some larger belt bags have pockets for spare camera batteries, memory cards and other necessities.
For digital SLR cameras, the over-the-shoulder camera bag used by professionals is the way to go: You have room for extra camera lenses and lens covers, a camera flash, an extra digital camera body, spare camera batteries and memory cards, straps to hold your tripod, instruction manuals and more.
Why get a camera tripod? Three reasons: to keep the camera steady during long exposure shots; to hold it in an odd position; to support large, heavy camera body-lens combos. Camera tripods can be very light or very hefty. An inexpensive, aluminum tripod works perfectly well for light digital cameras, especially when using fast shutter speeds. For long exposures or larger cameras, light tripods might not provide enough support to prevent shake-induced blur unless your camera features image stabilization.
Tripods have four main factors to consider:
Table-top tripods can be just a few inches tall; they're great for casual use, like self-portraits and still life shots. Flex-leg tripods, a recent innovation in mini-tripods, wrap their legs around and grip poles, branches, etc.; these are great when you need to take steady shots in odd places.
Digital cameras and camera accessories have few moving parts to break, so they can provide years of service if not abused. Dust, heat, humidity and impact damage are primary causes of failure.
Wipe your camera and camera accessories with a clean cloth before you put them away, and blow clean all openings (memory card slot, battery compartment, etc.) with canned air.
When traveling, keep digital cameras out of direct sunlight. Even on cool days, a car interior can get dangerously hot, and excessive exposure to the sun's radiation can damage the camera's CPU and memory card. In fact, it's always best to keep your camera and camera accessories locked in the glove box or trunk when not in use; this also reduces the possibility of theft.
Are film cameras still available?
Film cameras aren't gone; they are still being sold, but their popularity is fading. Digital camera technology now does everything film does and, in many ways, does it better, but film cameras are still used by both professional photographers and amateur photographers.
Can I print quality photographs at home?
All printers are photo printers of varying quality; many home or office laser printers allow for printing of professional-looking 8-inch x 10-inch wall portrait if the picture file is at least 300 dpi. Some printers are designed and built specifically as photo printers; they connect directly to the camera without a computer. These are also called camera docks or printer docks. Photo printers use 4 inches x 6 inches as their standard print size, but other sizes are available, including 4-inch x 12-inch panorama prints.
Have an effect on your pictures
The Overstock.com entertainment store features several software packages that can take your digital pictures from ordinary to brilliant! From simple scrapbook page creations to full-blown photo editing for desktop publishing, Overstock.com art & imaging software has a package to suit you.
Lights! Camera! Action!
If a picture is worth a thousand words, what is a moving picture worth? With Overstock.com's great selection of camcorders, you can find out. Many new-model still digital cameras take video that is good enough for home movies.
Display a whole album in the space of a single print
Digital picture frames are basically a very small TV without an antenna. They display stills, short video clips and sound stored in an internal memory chip or on a memory card. The better digital frames have several ports (slots) for different types of memory cards. They are easy to program and are available in sizes from keychain to wall portrait. Digital frames bring photo displays into the 21st Century.
