Digital Camera Buying Guide, Understanding the Basics of a Digital Camera
If you’re looking for a new digital camera, you may be surprised at the number of different kinds that are filling the store shelves these days. How do you know what all that camera jargon means? How do you figure out which one is the best one for you? You don’t want to spend an extraordinary amount of money on something with features you’ll never use, but you don’t want to buy a “bargain” and come out with worthless, blurry images. Don’t fret, this digital camera buying guide is meant to guide you through the basics so you can easily get an idea of what you’re looking at.
You may think that the only thing that makes a digital camera any good is the megapixels. Almost every digital camera you see will have this number prominently displayed. While it is somewhat important, don’t make the mistake of buying a digital camera based solely on the megapixel count. If you’re going to be printing large prints of your pictures, then the number megapixel becomes a very important factor. If not, be sure to look at everything else the digital camera offers. For example, how heavy is the camera? How big is the camera? Does it have manual controls you can adjust for varying conditions?
Megapixels: The majority of digital cameras will have at least 5 megapixels. This is plenty for the average user. Megapixels come into play if you think you’re going to want to print large pictures or if you’ll want to crop and use sections of an image. A camera with 5 megapixels is more than good enough to print out a sharp 11×14 image.
Design, Weight, and Size: Will you be using your new digital camera on long trips? If so, you may want to consider one that is lightweight and easily tucks away into your pocket or purse. However, only you know what you’re going to be using your new digital camera for. Smaller ones like this will likely not have as many options, dials, and buttons to adjust for the environment you’re in or what kind of shot you’re trying to get.
Zoom Lenses: Having effective zoom is important. Pay more attention to “optical zoom” than “digital zoom”. You won’t have to use your image software to blow it up and cut out unwanted parts of the picture; doing that means you’re losing some of the quality (resolution). Today, you can find digital cameras with 3X or 5X optical zoom. Try to test the auto-focus while you have the zoom maxed out, and see if it comes out clear.
Manual Focusing: Being able to manually focus your camera is important for close-up photos. Many smaller cameras, and cheaper ones, don’t offer much ability to manual focus.
Storage: Most cameras come with a 16MB memory card. This can hold a handful of 5 megapixel images. Don’t focus on what storage it comes with, because most of the time you’re going to buy a better card anyways. That is, unless you don’t mind emptying it constantly onto your computer or printing them.
Batteries: Make sure you understand what kind of batteries your camera uses. Some run on AA’s, while others could run on more expensive batteries that you’ll be replacing.
Sound and Movies: A lot of newer digital cameras also have the ability to record short videos. Some will include sound. If you’d like to capture small video clips, then ensure the camera you’re considering has this option.
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