How to decide on the perfect camera

I am asked this question all of the time.  "What kind of camera should I get?"
There are so many brand names to choose from and then there are the shapes, sizes, formats and how technical do you want to get? Normally, I have a pretty standard list of questions to help someone narrow down their search for a perfect camera.


First, forget about brand for a moment.

Start with your budget. How much do you want to spend. Everyone has a number. You can change it later, but you need a starting place.



Photo courtesy of Austin Imagery Photography, Austin, Tx.

 Consider what you want to use it for:  This will help you narrow down the form factor, or shape and size. Do you want it with you everywhere?
Do you want it to fit in your purse or pocket and be comfortable? Smaller cameras are easier to carry with you however you often scrafice resolution and optical zoom features.

Do you mind a medium to small case to carry it in? With a little larger camera you might want a small case to protect the camera from the elements, however it will be an additional bag to deal with.  

Do you need an SLR (Single Lens Reflex) model where you can buy lenses and change them according your needs? Are you looking for a prosumer model that is relatively inexpensive or do you require a professional model? Digital SLR's require larger bags to hold the extra lenses, flashes and accessories for the camera. They generally provide better resolution and quality images with more options. -These are some of the simple yes/no questions that will get you on the right path.

Consider the quality of the images: Maximum pixel size and resolution of the camera will give you different image results. Larger resolutions cameras take up more space on the hard drive and are harder to deal with in image viewers and online sites.  If you primarily share your images online and through email, you can save money by going with a smaller resolution camera and you will likely find the smaller camera models which are easier to carry around with you everywhere.

Options: There are a few options that I think are nice to have. 1. Look for a camera that has the option to use normal "off the shelf batteries". (Usually AA or AAA) This is harder and harder to find as most manufactuerers don't offer cameras with this function, but think about when the proprietary lithiom-ion battery that fits your camera dies and you don't have the charger with you...or the time to charge before an important event...or you lose the charger and have to buy another one...however, if you can use AA or AAA batteries in a pinch it can be a life saver. Some manufacturers sell battery options that give you this flexibility. 2. Digital viewfinders are nice, but optical viewfinders save battery power. Opt for a camera that provides both.  3. Optical zoom is always better than digital zoom. Be wary of high zoom power option that are only using digital to zoom. It's ok to have, but don't rely on digital zoom as your primary way to get close ups from far away. Basically, they are just enlarging the pixels which give you a blury close up.

Extended warranty and insurance options: I know this is shallow water here, and I am one that never buys the extra warranty.  However, I have a personal rule that I follow after having literally owned over a dozen digital consumer cameras and they all died instantly or had some tradgedy with a cracked LCD, accidientally dropped, dirt or sand in the moving parts and some of them just suddenly stopped working for no aparent reason at all. If the warranty offer is reasonable and is not more than what you are spending on the camera itself, consider purchasing the store extended warranty and keep your documentation in a safe place that you can find when it is needed. Again, try to stay within your budget while considering costly repairs or replacement. It might be worth it.

I hope I have given you some thought and direction on buying a new camera. Here are some sites that I have found to be a tremendous help:

Dpreview.com

http://www.dpreview.com/ is a site that has been around since 1998. I have used this site for years. There are forum discussions and side-by-side comparisons. Of course every camera model is not here especially in the lower consumer point-and-shoot categories but you will get a good feel for the model and options that are important to you. If you find a model that you are considering, look it up on http://www.dpreview.com/ to see what they have to say about it.

Digital Camera Review.com

http://www.digitalcamerainfo.com/ this site has a lot of information however it is very ad-driven. You will have to deal with ads on every page. Wade through the paid information and get to the real stuff you are looking for. According to their site, they pull the pricing information from http://www.pricegrabber.com/ which I have never used.

Camera Labs.com

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/digital_camera_and_lens_reviews.shtml is a good site for reviews, tutuorials, best buys, and information on computer hardware. CameraLabs is out of Queenstown, New Zealand so their models numbers and camera names will mostly reference the Europe and Asia models.

Consumer Reports.org
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/cameras-photography/digital-cameras/index.htm Consumer Reports is the long standby of product reviews. They are not influenced by any manufacturer through ads, donations or sponsorships and offer complete unbiased opinions based on facts from their lab tests. The camera models you are looking for may or may not be present here, however there is good information. ConsumerReports.org requires a subscription with a nominal fee to see their reviews.

Do you have any useful sites, helpful camera buying tips? I would love to hear your ideas.

Written by Chris Johnson for Express Digital Graphics.
info@austinimagery.com