DP’s Guide to Buying Your First Digital Camera

April 4, 2007

Digital cameras have been one of the most successful electronic products in the past few years. Despite being available for the past 20 years it has only been in the last couple of years that they have achieved true success. This was due to the cameras being available at a mainstream price point and also the large increase in features and quality.Digital is now standard and many households own a digital camera or are considering purchasing one in the near future. This guide is designed to help you; the consumer to choose the best camera for your needs.

I’ve decided to split this article up into several sections, to begin with I shall explain the 3 most important features to look out for when buying a digital camera. Then I shall list and explain the 3 maket categories for digital cameras. So that you know what range of cameras would suit you. To conclude I shall provide some general advice on how the pick up your dream camera and also a few links to get you started.

Note All prices, weblinks are Australian as I am Australian if you want a currentcy convertor then try this one

Key features

There are 3 key features that you will need to look for in purchasing the right camera. They are all just as important as the next. Be sure to keep these in mind as they define the quality of the camera.

Megapixel

A camera’s megapixel(MP) refers to the number of pixels that are in each photo. A pixel is a tiny dot on a computerized image. Therefore a camera with 1 MP is composed of 1 million pixels, that is the length multiplied by the width equals 1 million pixels. Nowadays the average MP is about 5MP. Mobile phone cameras have around 1-2MP. So basically the greater the MP the larger the dimensions of your photos. Which is handy for large prints or stock photos.

There are numerous points to consider about opting for a high or low MP. Higher MP images take up more space than lower MP images. More MP means that you can take up larger(poster sized) prints. Once you have taken a photograph with a low MP you cannot increase its size without quality loss. With a higher MP you then can have larger image of an object that you couldn’t zoom in on. For example if you are taking an image of a bird in the distance and you cannot zoom in on it. Because the image is larger than you are still getting a large image on the bird in comparison to if it was taken with a low MP.

Optical Zoom

Optical zoom is the original zoom. For example, if a camera is 3x optical zoom that means that you can increasethe size an object(in the photo) 3 times without a loss in quality. Entry level cameras start at 3x optical zoom. 3X is about the average for digital cameras. The general increase is 3x 6x 8x -10x 12x 15x 18x. Although anything above 12x is definetly much harder to find as the demand isn’t too great for them

When looking for cameras beware of digital zoom. Digital zoom is similar to optical zoom but there is no zoom, instead for each number of zoom the image is stretched that many times. This is okay is you want to crop your image before you shoot. But its better doing in manually on a computer.

Modes/Features

A cameras mode refers to the way that the lens will take the shot. The wealth and quality of these modes adds to the value of the camera. An example of a mode that you may use would be ‘night shot’ which is made for photograhs taken outside at night. In this case the lens is open for a longer time as it requires more light to take a clear photo.

3 markets

The way I see the camera market is that it is designed for 3 types of people; the entry level models for the beginners, the mid level cameras for people wanting a bit more and the fully featured cameras for the people wanting the latest and greatest.

Entry level cameras

These cameras all have a basic ‘vanilla’ set up. Generally they have around 4 to 6 MP and always have 3x optical zoom. The main indicator of price difference comes down to the quality of the lens, inclusion of a separate lithium ion battery and the size/sleekness of the camera. Screen size varies from 1.8 to 2.5 inch.

Entry level cameras as expected have the worse image stabilization. Image stabalization is how still the image looks. For example if you shake the camera while it is taking a picture, the photo will be distorted and have motion blur. They are also the most poorly made and generally have the dullest design.

These cameras usually have the average slew of modes being; movie mode(short amounts of low quality video), macro mod, night shot, nature shot, action shots and maybe a few more.

Price wise entry level cameras would begin at about $AUS180 and end at about $AUS300, with a median of about $AUS220. They would include your standard 1 year repair warranty. About 40% of entry level cameras come with their own separate battery and charger, which is really handy if you don’t have rechargable batteries. All cameras should come with a wrist strap, sometimes a soft case is included but generally not. Depending on the brand they will throw in plenty of propaganda to awe over.

Entry level cameras are great for people that want a cheaper no frills option. They are ideal for pointing and shooting. There’s also that bit of zoom to help them out if they need it. The basic modes of the camera are ideal for those types of scenarios which everyone gets in. I’d recommend this range to families on a budget or anyone that needs a bare bones camera.

Mid level cameras

Mid level cameras are a step up from your entry models. They usually have 5x or 6x optical zoom with the occasional 3x optical zoom popping its head in. With around about 5-8 megapixel. Price wise you are looking at between $AUS300 - $AUS450.

Mid level cameras are basically an upgrade of everything in an entry model. The screens are often at 2.4/2.5 inch which is the largest size that they get. There are additional modes and options in mid level cameras such as panaoramic(wide angle) shots.

The movie mode tends to be much better as well. Usually at a larger 640 x 480 size compared to a 320 x 240 seen in the entry models. All of the cameras should have a small speaker(often near the side of the lens or ontop of the camera) which allows sound in the movie mode.

One of the most distinctive differences with the mid level cameras is how they are design. There is a more slim line and ‘techy’ look to it. They are generally also made of a harder steel finish which makes the camera more durable and also more shiny and as we all know shiny is good.

These cameras also have good image stabalisation, so when you move the camera while the lens is focusing the lens automatically adjusts to your movements. This stops blurring on your lovely photos and gives them a much sharper look.

Because your paying more they’ll often throw in a thicker manual(in 5 different languages), some software(simple organizing and printing stuff), all of the cameras should rely on its own battery and have its own charger included if not rechargables. They should also include a sample memory card of about 13-20mbs of storage. Although in rare cases I’ve seen up to 64mb sample cards. If there’s no sample card then there should be some built in memory. The sample card should be a definete feature of any mid-level camera.

If you are interested there are some unique mid level cameras that continue to push into the top end of the market. They are the touch screen and waterproof cameras. The Pentax T10, Sony T50 and various other models are touchscreen and have a 3 inch screen. Pentax and Olympus are the main 2 brands that do waterproof cameras.

I recommend that consumers after something that want something with more options and of better quality should look into a mid level range camera. They have more features so it will take some time to fully understand the camera. Discovering all of these features and how best to use them is just the best fun. These cameras also don’t blow the budget too much and are generally worth what your paying for.

Fully featured cameras

So your looking for something thats top of the line but you don’t want to break into the SLR(single lens reflex) market. This is for you then. The fully featured cameras are a showcase of what the big brands are doing to push the boundaies of this type of product. The best thing about being a fan of photography is observing what brands like Panasonic, Sony, Pentax and Fujifilm are doing to push the envelope. These cameras are just that.

The price range goes from $AUS450-$AUS850 which is a lot for a compact digital camera. The megapixel on these cameras is from about 6-10+MP. They really like to ramp up the optical zoom with these, the range is from 6-12+x. I’ve recently come across an Olympus model boasting a massive 18x optical zoom(and a free bottle of burben!).

There are really 2 types of cameras in this field, that is the ones that are very slim line and the ones that look more akin to an SLR camera. The previously mentioned have the highest specifications out of all of the market. But they are also the largest and heaviest of all the cameras.

These cameras tend to have upwards of 20 different shooting modes. As well as variables that you can define to adjust your shots for the right setting. These can include apeture priority, shutter speed, metering etc. Some of the fully featured cameras also have manual focus which is a fantastic inclusion and it really blurs the line between the compacts and the SLR markets. Along with the manual focus, hoods for the ends of the lens may be include. The hoods are used to prevent lens flare from the sun. There are also more photo editing options available, you can crop, draw and modify the properties of a photo through the image display

I recomend these cameras for anyone that has plenty of money lying around and is interested in having a good play around with a compact digital camera. There is plenty to learn about photography with these cameras, so it will definetly last you a while.
General advice

Here’s some key points that you should have in mind when looking for a digital camera.

Screensize/viewfinder

This is something that people usually don’t think about. The larger the screen the more charge it takes from the battery. Large screens do look very nice but are by no means a necessity. If you can try and pick up a camera that has a viewfinder as you can turn the screen off and save on the battery. Viewfinders in compact cameras are becoming rarer and rarer, so you might have to do some hunting.

Keep in mind that viewfinders on digital compact cameras are often dodgy. Some ranges(the FujiFilm 5000 range is notorious for this) just emulate what is on the main screen and shrink it for the viewfinder. There are also alignment issues as the viewfinder is seperate to the lens. I will explain that last one in a follow up article.

Ask Ask Ask

If you are poking around a store be sure to ask the sales assistant if you are unsure about anything. If you go to a department store the staff probably have a mediocore to good understand on the cameras. If your after very specific details(resolution of video in movie mode, that kinda stuff) then your better off going to a specialty camera store or a comprehensive site like dpreview. It may also be worth asking whether or not they have had many returns/repairs on the camera in question.

When your in a store be sure to ask if you can hold the camera of interest. Just so that you get use to the feel of the camera, practice your grip and poses. Also have a good feel on the ‘finish’ of the camera. Raise it towards the light to test the shinyness of the camera(greater shinyness = greater envy from your friends).

Ask the sales assistant if they have any additional leaflets or information on the cameras. Manufactures love to plug their propoganda to retailers whom pass it onto us. The brochures are great as they display exaggerated ‘before/after’ shots showcasing the cool technology of the camera.

Getting the right price

The great thing about digital cameras is that the market is so competitve which means that the prices keep on dropping and the quality keeps increasing. Most weekly catalogue savings have some good to decent discounts. If your after a particular make its definetly worthwhile shopping around and trying to find the best price.

Most large retail chains don’t dig battering or ‘cutting a deal’ but it does happen so try if your feeling lucky. Picking up some accessories definetly encourages them to drop the price. If you want to ‘cut a deal’ try specialty camera stores as they know their price limits and like to be competitve. But then again large department stores buy in bulk so they can go lower…if pushed. I suggest not being too pushy as it is just plain rude, be firm but not unreasonable.

If you are going to buy a catalogued item, get in on the first day or ASAP so that you don’t miss out.

Don’t forget

To check the return policy of the store, find out how long you have until you can’t get your money back or an exchange. Once the camera is out of that time period it would be put onto a one year repair warranty. Also enquire about extended warranties as they aren’t as stupid as they sounds.

Accessories and extra gear

There is at least one accessorie that you should buy with your camera and that is a memory card. As previously mentioned cameras do come with built in memory or an sample card but these are fairly insufficient for long term use. Memory cards store your photos, so the larger size(Megapixel) that you save the photos to the more space they will take up on the card.

Cards come in a variety of sizes, being: 256mb, 512mb, 1gb, 2gb and in 4 types; Secure Digital(SD), XD, Memory Stick Pro Duo and Compact Flash. Of these types most cameras take SD, your FujiFilm, Olympus among others take XD, all Sony cameras take Memory Stick Pro Duos and Compact Flash cameras are quite rare. So SDs and XDs are the 2 to keep in mind.

Other accessories include tripods, carry bags, lens filters, lens caps, seperate flashes, lighting equipment etc. Your best bet on picking up some of the more specialized equipment is either through specialty stores or through the manufactures themselves. I’ve posted up the website links to camera manufacturers, so have a peep thru the product catalogues and see if theres any accessories that might interest you.

Conclusion

At long last the end! Thanks for reading this lengthy article, I really do apreciate it. Cameras are just great fun, so stop reading this and head down to your local camera shop or check out the weblinks that I’ve provided. They link straight to the product catalogues of the various manufacturers, so you don’t have to fluff around.

One last piece of advice, when choosing your camera don’t forget to buy the best camera to suit your needs.

Product Catalogues

Panasonic

Olympus

FujiFilm

Sony

Samsung

Canon

Pentax

Nikon

Ricoh/Vivitar

Kodak