Posted by: Dano

Problem:

Pictures, pictures and more pictures, we all have them and we have all taken them. From weddings to drunken binges (maybe the same night) the lens has caught it all. With the advent of digital photography the amount of pictures we are taking has exploded. Unfortunately there is one problem that is lurking, a sometimes embarrassing and disappointing problem that I hope to solve.

The truth is, as it stands now, most of your pictures suck. I know what you're saying: "He couldn't possibly be talking about me, I'm almost a professional!" Sorry. Working for an unnamed photography company I have seen your pictures. They really do suck. There are the odd exceptions, but those are mostly taken by students or professionals. Don't send that angry curse laden e-mail at me quite yet, I am here to help as best I can.

The first thing I will address is how to buy your standard point and shoot digital camera. This is the a baby step into the world of photography and the advice is aimed at the non-photography types, so if you own a DSLR you might as well skip this one. If you think DSLR is a government agency, then this post is for you.

Answer:

Choosing your consumer grade (point & shoot) camera ( KEEP IT SIMPLE )

No matter what 'gee-whiz' features the salesperson urges you to consider when you are purchasing your camera, the fact is the average consumer (you) will not use these and for that matter most of the features on your camera. When choosing your camera, often simpler is better and possibly more importantly, it is cheaper. If you wish to choose an SLR (Single-Lens Reflex, photo gibberish for a professional camera) this is generally no longer the case, but for getting pictures of grandma all you really need is something basic and simple and this is coming from a camera salesman.

Note: If you do have a interest in persuing photography as a hobby it is much better to get a relatively cheap camera that you know, understand and can play around with easily before you get a large complex and intimidating camera. I am of the school of thought that the camera does not makes the picture but the photographer does. This meaning it is better to learn how to properly take an interesting and compelling image before knowing the complex guts of a camera. This ‘keep it simple’ rule can apply to you too.

Choosing your consumer grade camera (What brand?)

It is a personal choice to what brand you buy, yet if I were to choose, it would be a toss up between Nikon and Canon. They generally get the best customer feedback and those companies are very good at what they were founded to do; that is build and sell cameras. They know what is required from a camera and have long tradition of building quality products. The opposite end would be Sony; I am sure there are people who love their Sony cameras but this is the brand that receives the most complaints. Sony is relatively new and inexperienced to the photography game and that is something you should consider.

Choosing your consumer grade camera (How many megapixles?)

The number one thing that salespeople love to point out is the Megapixels, well folks as it stands today that number is pretty much a moot point (for most people). There I said it. A Megapixel count standing somewhere between 4.0 and 6.0 is more than enough for your needs. Unless you plan on printing 8X10s most cameras on the market will suit your needs adequately. If you do wish to print 8X10s or larger size prints then you are looking for something more in the 5.0 Megapixel or above range.

Choosing your consumer grade camera (Zoom?)

Zoom seems to come up a lot when I talk to customers. Zoom is simply magnification. For example if your camera has 3X zoom then you have the ability to magnify 3X what you see starting off. Generally 3X - 4X Zoom is fine for your needs. They do go up from there to 12X but I do not see the point of this whereas you might as well purchase an SLR if you need that kind of zoom power. Avoid cameras that advertise Digital Zoom. Digital zoom tends to give you sub-par images as it is not a true zoom lens.

Memory cards (What kind and how much?)

One thing that consumers seem to leave out when pricing cameras is the memory card. That thin piece of plastic that will hold all of those memories can add an extra $70 to $150 to your total.

With the exception of Nikon, Canon and Pentax, most manufacturers tend to stick to a single kind of memory card for their camera models. The most common are CompactFlash (CF) or SecureDigital (SD) memory cards. Sony in all their wisdom has their own format, the Sony MemoryStick. Then Fujifilm and Olympus require XD cards.

Generally the cheapest memory card is a CompactFlash card, followed by the SD, then the XD ending with Sony's memory stick. This is something to note when buying a camera. Be sure to ask the salesperson how much and what kind of card the camera you're interested in takes. This is what we are there for; ask lots of questions.

Memory cards (How much memory?)

How much memory you buy generally goes hand in hand with the Megapixles mentioned above. The more Megapixles the more memory you require. What I would recommend is a 512 MB card; it gives you the most bang for your buck and should give you plenty of room for junior's graduation photos. The sales people will push you towards the 1GB cards but 90% of users will not even come close to filling that amount of memory.

Accessories (So what do I get?)

The average camera kit gives you the following: the camera, USB connectors, video cords (used to show images on T.V. ), a manual and software. Most manufacturers do not supply a case, this is something to consider, but do not base your purchase on this. The fact is solid cases can be obtained for under $15.

Warranty (To extend or not to extend)

Every camera out there has a one-year manufactures warranty. The only exception known to me is Nikon whose are two years. Manufacturers warranty does not cover accidental damage, ever. You can choose to extend your warranty but of course that seems to be an option for every large purchase these days. I'd forgo on the extended warranty unless your purchase is over $600 or if the extended plan is under $30.

Choosing your consumer grade camera (What else?)

A final but important item to consider is ease of use and for this you must handle the camera before your purchase. Snap a few pictures and scroll through the menu structures. Find out how easy it is to review your images or change the various settings. It can be unbelievable frustrating to use a digital camera with a confusing interface and menu structure. If there is one complain I hear constantly it is this one. I cannot stress this enough but handle the camera before you purchase one.

Finally you should do some research! Here are some resources in which to help you.

• DpReview - This site has a review for ever camera ever.
• CNet Digital Camera Resource.
• Wikipedia - Megapixels explained.
• Wikipedia - What is digital zoom?
• Wikipedia - Memory cards explained.

Goodluck!