Easy to fit in pocket
or purse |
Takes a little more room in
your pocket or purse |
Doesn't fit in pocket but
has much longer lens |
You can change lenses and it has more features |
1. What size camera do you want? Smaller and easy to carry or larger with a longer lens?
- Ultra compact digital camera fits in purse or pocket easily, usually has no dial on top and uses buttons on back for camera settings.
- Compact digital camera is just a little larger than ultra compact, usually has dial on top as well as buttons on back for camera settings.
- Mid range size digital camera has longer lens that brings subjects closer.
- Larger DSLR digital camera lets you change lenses and has more features.
2. What size optical lens do you need? What will you be taking photos of?
- Look at optical zoom only. Ignore digital zoom (it can make photos blurry and most experts say not to use).
- No zoom with wide angle lens only is okay, but zoom is nice and brings subjects closer
- 3X or 4X zoom lens is good for every day photos, and comes on the ultra compact and compact digital cameras.
- 10X or 12X zoom lens is longer and great for sports and travel and comes on the mid-range and larger Digital-SLR digital cameras.
- Larger lenses also let in more light in lower light situations.
Examples of zoom lens:
No zoom - wide angle
3X zoom - telephoto
12X zoom- long telephoto |
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3. How many megapixels do you need?
- A 3 megapixel camera is probably a minimum for snapshots and usually cost under $100.
- Most digital cameras start at 4 or 5 megapixel and go up to from there. If you are going to crop into your image alot, or enlarge it over 8x10, you might want a 6 to a 10 megapixel camera.
- The quality of the CCD (the device that records the digital image inside your digital camera like film used to do) is important to the quality of digital image you get.
4. What brand and model of digital camera do you want to buy?
- Read reports online and in magazines, ask friends and people in camera stores to find the best digital camera for your needs.
- www.dcresource.com is a website that has digital camera information and reviews.
- The quality of the sensor that captures the image and lens quality are important items.
5. How easy is the digital camera to use and does it have the features you want?
- Does it feel good in you hands, can you easily operate the controls?
- Has it been rated easy-to-use?
- Do you want mainly automatic or additional manual controls?
- Sports, macro (close up), video, portrait, scenic, stitching, night photo, timer, flash on and off, continuous burst, bracketing, black & white, sepia, scenes: snow, fireworks, beach, etc. are some features you might want.
6. What is your budget to spend on a digital camera?
- Can you afford to spend $100 to 200, $200. to $400., $400. to $600, $600 or more on a digital camera?
- If you are giving a digital camera as a gift, who is it going to, what are their needs, and how much do you want to spend?
- Do you want the latest and greatest or will the middle of the line be okay. (With digital cameras latest and greatest can become the middle of the line a year later)
- Add in the cost of batteries, memory card, camera case, etc.
7. Where will you buy your camera? What is their return policy? (This is very important for gift giving.)
- Will you buy your digital camera in a store or on the internet?
- At a camera store you can hold the camera and see how it feels. You can ask questions at a camera store before and after you buy it.
- Internet websites can have good prices. Just make sure if you buy your digital camera on the internet it is a trustworthy site. Also add in shipping costs, and make sure they have it in stock and it is not back ordered.
- When buying a used digital camera in the newspaper, a pawn shop, or on the internet, make it is in good working order and the price is lower than what you can buy a new digital camera for.
- Repairing a digital camera can cost close to $200. so make sure it is in good shape if you buy a used one. You might consider the extended warranty plan for a new camera.
- Digital cameras have a different return policy than most items because they are replaced by new models so quickly and a new version is coming out.
- Some stores have 15% restocking fee, some limit returns to 10 days, other will not accept return of a digital camera if the seal is broken on the box.
8. Upgrading your old digital camera? Here are some new features that are available.
- Larger 2.5 inch screen on back of camera
- Anti-shake to help prevent camera shake and blur
- A quicker click time when you push the button to take the picture.
- Quicker time between photos. (Using flash, the recharge time may still slow it down some)
- Take a regular and flash photo together at the same time
- Take a photo while taking a video with your digital camera
- Eliminates red eye in the camera when you take the photo.
9. Digital accessories you may need.
- Camera case to protect your digital camera. (Most do not come with a case.)
- Memory cards to record images to. (Having 2 memory cards is a good idea.)
- Batteries are important. (Having backup batteries in your camera bag is a good idea.)
- A card reader to help with transfering images from your memory card to a computer
- Photo software lets you do fun things with digital images in your computer.
10. Knowledge is the best digital accessory. Digital can be confusing, offer help understanding and using their digital camera
- Digital cameras can be confusing and intimidating. I have had people in my classes who have had their digital camera for 2, 3 and even 4 years that have never taken a photo with it, it has just sat on a shelf. Help them get started by sitting down and going through the digital camera with them and take their first photos and make prints. Make digital a fun, not frustrating experience.
- If you aren’t a digital expert we recommend giving our book Digital Photography Made Easy & Fun when giving a digital camera as a gift. It is quick and easy to read. It is available at www.takegreatphotos.com
- Our book helps them get started with their digital camera and keep their digital images safe with tips to avoid 25 common digital mistakes which can damage or destroy their digital images. We offer an online digital photo course they can take as well.
THREE CHRISTMAS SPECIALS Offer expires December 31, 2006
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About the author
Jerry Hughes is a professional photographer, author, inventor, world traveler, and speaker. As a photographer his fashion work has been in Vogue magazine, corporate clients have
included
IBM, Proctor & Gamble, Ford, ... as well as his award winning portrait and wedding photography..
His photography books are used to teach photography around the world from grade school through university photo classes.
Jerry is a fun and energetic speaker who creates a great learning experience. He has taught photography to people from United Nations ambassadors and diplomats to high school students at a national journalism conventions.
Jerry spent a year traveling around the world to 34 countries photographing the different cultures. |
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