Best Digital Camera - Homework & Shopping

Some Basic Questions

First, I want you to ask yourself some basic questions to help you get into the thought process so that you can decide between:

1. A Point and shoot digital camera (inexpensive & less than $799).
2. A digital SLR camera (medium priced more than $799).
3. A digital SLR camera (professional and expensive ie more than $1500).

Phase 1

Let’s start with your background in photography:

1. Do you have a film camera now, if so what make and model is it? How many of the features and functionality of that camera are you really using when taking images. Is it 20%, 50% or more.
2. Are you a long time photographer who takes a lot of pictures or someone who takes shots every once in a while?
3. How knowledgeable are you about the fundamentals of photography in terms of understanding, exposure, meter readings, depth of field, how lenses work and which lens is the right lens for a given situation?
4. What type of photographs do you think you want to take?
1. General snapshots, then off to Wal-Mart for printing 4 by 6 and storing them on a CD, sometimes showing them to family & friends?
2. More serious photography, landscape, nature, close-up, some portraits etc, and maybe some macro photography, then produce some medium sized enlargements such as 8” by 10” or even 11” by 14”?
3. Maybe more serious still because you want to have a website, or produce 13” by 19” prints with the goal to have your images published?
5. What do you think your goals are for photography (how serious do you think you might become)?
1. In 1 year?
2. In 3 years?
3. In 5 years?
6. Would you buy an entry level digital camera now, then plan to replace that camera with a more sophisticated model in 1 year, 2 years etc because you think that is the direction you may be headed? Or do you just want a simple pocket camera to take impromptu shots etc.
7. Approximately how much do you plan to spend? Now and then during the next 2-4 years?
8. Do you have a limited budget and do not expect that situation to change in the next 2-4 years?
9. Do you want to start with an entry level digital SLR with 1 or 2 basic lenses and you may expand to more as your budget permits?
10. Or you feel you can afford to spend more money now, with a plan to invest in additional lenses as the need arises and as your photography skills improve.
11. Do you own a PC and want to manipulate images in Photoshop or Elements etc., or some other photo editing software because you really see yourself getting into printing your own images for framing and showing, maybe not right away but sometime down the road?
12. Do you think you want a camera with interchangeable lenses?
13. Or do you want a camera with a non removable zoom lens that will allow you to capture some basic images?
14. Do you need to buy a new camera or would you be satisfied buying a used camera that is in very good condition? This could save you lots of money and enable you to buy some additional accessories that you may be needing?

Now, look at your sheet of paper and tally the number of times you write down 1’s, 2’s and 3’s. This will give you a good hint as to what level of camera you are searching for.

Now, continue with Phase 2 of this questionnaire

What research have you done so far in looking for the best digital camera?

• Where have you been looking?
• Are you researching online and looking at some of the more professional models?
• Are you going to some of the local stores that are not necessarily professional photo stores. They carry basic models and you like them because of the price?

If you are not sure where to look on the Internet, then please click on my References button as I have some very useful websites that will interest you.

Ok, based on your research, and using a sheet of paper, create 4 columns whereby the 1st column will contain the list of features and functions you have learned about and think are important to you. Then at the top of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th columns, list the 3 cameras you are thinking about, each make (manufacturer) and models you like?

To help you out, here is a list of some of the features and functions that should be important to you when buying a digital camera:

1. How large is the sensor (this is measured in mp, such as 4, 6, 8, 10, 12) the higher the number, the larger and better quality the image will be and the bigger your printed enlargement can be.
2. What is the zoom lens (ie 28-105mm)? Make note of this number to compare against each of the other camera lenses.
3. Can you change lenses, yes or no?
4. Can you add an extension to the lens, yes or no?
5. Does the camera have a histogram (very important to have this so you know you have the right exposure).
6. Can you adjust the white balance, yes or no?
7. What is the range of Sensitivity (ISO Equivalent usually 100-1600+).
8. Can you easily switch from Programming mode to Shutter priority, to Aperture priority to Manual priority?
9. Does the camera come with a built-in flash or is there a hot shoe on the top to mount an external flash?
10. What kind of memory card can be inserted into the camera and what is its maximum capacity?
11. Does the camera have a self timer?
12. Is there an indicator for low battery?
13. What kind of batteries are required and can you use lithium batteries (for longer life and much better performance in Canadian winters)?
14. When you are saving images to the memory card, what different types of images can be saved (Raw, JPG,).
15. What size of image can be saved small, medium, large?
16. On the bottom of the camera is there a tripod mount?

Warning (and this is important)

When they arrive home and start really looking at the camera, and perhaps even reading the manual (or should I say glancing thru the manual). They then “discover” the digital camera is really complicated because there are lots of functions & features and dials with images on them that they do not understand.

Then they hear about a 10 week Digital Photography Course being offered that is not expensive so they stop reading their manual and say “I will simply take this course”.

In the 1st class the instructor asks for a show of hands as to “how many of you brought your camera and the manual”. Sometimes that response is good and other times it is not so good. Then the instructor says “for every class you must bring both the camera and its manual”…at least this is what I do in the classes I am running.

Then I hand out a list of important digital camera features telling the class their assignment for next week is to: find that feature in their manual, then find it on the camera and try using that feature. The purpose of this exercise is to force them to read the manual and experiment with their camera.

Some people are quite successful, others are completely lost and some simply reply their camera does not have that feature. Then when you learn their logic as to why they bought that camera, you discover it was the best price in the places they were shopping.

Some of them feel bad, because they really did not buy the best digital camera, some get discouraged because they discover the importance of some of the features and realize they are not able to make use of that feature.

All this is to say…FIRST, You Need To DO YOUR HOMEWORK….

Once you have completed these reviews, then you are armed with enough information to go shopping...

• Make sure you go to a good photography store and do not be satisfied with just looking at the camera and listening to what the sales person has to say.
• You really need to "touch and feel" the camera.
• Hold it in your hands, try some of the settings.
• How easy does it work?
• How comfortable does it feel?

Shopping For Digital Cameras

Over the years I have shopped in many places as you can see by my Equipment & Why webpage I have acquired 3-35mm SLR cameras, one of them is digital, I also have a medium format camera and my most recent acquisition is a Point and Shoot Digital Camera.

In no particular order, these are my favorite places to shop.

Look for New or Used Cameras on eBay

Online Photography Broker KEH

I started by sending to them a large box of older camera equipment that I was no longer using and would likely not sell here very well. I received a reasonable dollar value for that equipment which I then used to start buying the medium format equipment that I needed.

As I live in Canada, there was some duty to be paid but overall when you combined the price of the equipment, the shipping and duty, it was still way less expensive than buying that medium format equipment at photography stores here in Canada. I do not know what it is about stores in Canada, but their markup on medium format equipment is ridiculous.
To visit the KEH store, click on this link to open a new window.

Adorama

Photo Service in Montreal

Their prices are reasonable, they have lots of equipment and accessories and if they don’t have it, they will happily order it for you. I also buy my professional photo printers as well as the paper and ink required for those printers. In fact they have the best pricing around town for this equipment.
To go to the Photo Service website, click here to open a new window.

B&H Photo Video

To visit their store, click on this advertisement.

Now that you have read thru all of this, if you still have any questions, please do not hesitate to click on our Contact Us button, send us an email and I will answer your questions.

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