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Guide to Digital Camera Buying

Are you ready to make the switch to digital photography? You couldn't have picked a better time! The technology has advanced greatly since it's introduction. Digital cameras today are just as easy to use as any film based camera.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when looking for a digital camera is trying to find "The Best" one. Of course, the technology just keeps improving, so trying to chase perfection is somewhat akin to a dog chasing his own tail. It'll get you nowhere and just leave you tired and frustrated in the end.

What's most important is determining what you want to get out of your digital photography experience and choose the best camera for that purpose. This guide will hopefully allow you to accomplish that.

The first thing you need to consider is your photographic knowledge, aptitude, and needs. Perhaps you just want a simple camera that makes all the decisions for you. Or perhaps you're an amateur photographer who wants something more in-depth that you can learn and improve on. It's a highly personal decision.

There are six general categories that you can classify yourself under. Have a look at the following list and decide which fits you best:

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1. Want Things Simple
If you fall into this category, you don't want to have to fiddle with the camera to get things right. You just want to get the shot and move on. You're looking for an uncomplicated camera that will just work.

2. Amateur Enthusiast
You may be considering getting into photography, but don't want anything too complicated just yet. You're going to want a camera that has an "auto" mode, but which can also give you a bit of extra control over the shot if you need it.

3. Hobbyist
You know all the basics and want a new camera that will allow you to explore and play with all the options. You're going to want a good camera that allows you to fiddle with the depth of field, exposure lengths, and all that other good stuff. If you're ready and not afraid to learn, then you're looking for a nice in-depth camera.

4. Advanced Hobbyist
You're very knowledgeable when it comes to photography, and have been doing it for quite a while. You're going to want a camera in which all settings can be adjusted by you before each and every shot. You want the camera with the highest resolution and the most flexibility. Sure it's a complicated piece of machinery, but you can handle it.

5. Casual Perfectionist
You want a camera that's easy to use, but will give you a degree of control over the outcome. You want more than the very basics, but still don't want to fiddle around with settings. You basically want a camera that will show you how the shot is going to look and give you basic controls such as flash and zoom.

6. Professional Photographer
This category is here for the sake of rounding out the list. However, there is no reason to focus on it. If you're a professional photographer then you already know what kind of camera you want. Nothing in this article will tell you anything you don't already know. This is the last time this category will be mentioned.

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There is some overlap in the cameras that would be suited to many of these categories. Remember that this list serves as a basic guide of things to consider. Consider it more as a rule of thumb rather than an absolute solid distinction. Some cameras are clearly targeted at a single one of these groups however, and knowing which group you fall into can help you weigh your options more clearly.

Once you've placed yourself in one of these groups, you will have a general idea of what you want to look for in a new camera. Find your category on the list below to get a more specific idea of the features you want to look for in a camera.

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1. Want Things Simple
Look for features like "Auto Focus", "Automatic White Balance", "Automatic ISO Sensitivity", and "Automatic Flash". You may also prefer a model that is compatible with a direct printing device so that you can just hook it up and print out your photographs at home.

2. Amateur Enthusiast
You want a camera that has an automatic shooting mode. But you should also look for extra options. You may want both optical and digital zoom, as well as control over colour and sharpness. Look for a camera with a choice of shooting and/or scene modes.

3. Hobbyist
You're going to want control over several factors of the shot. Look for a camera that gives you the option to control the shudder speed, exposure sensitivity, white balance, and perhaps some on-board photographic effects and processing capabilities.

4. Advanced Hobbyist
In addition to the options mentioned for types 2 and 3, you're likely going to want a camera with an interchangeable lens. The type of lens mount and compatibility is going to factor heavily in your decision. You're going to want a fairly high megapixel count, somewhere over 6. 8 megapixels or so will probably be what you're aiming for. You want even more control over things such as focus range, exposure metering, and on-camera editing.

5. Casual Perfectionist
You're going to want a camera with a nice, clear LCD viewfinder. The larger the viewfinder the better, because you want to be able to see and align your shot well. Look for some sort of control over the Zoom - it can be either digital or optical, but consider that optical zoom provides you with the better quality. Make sure that the camera has an automatic shooting mode, and look into the possibility of focus and white-balance control, and on-board editing and cropping.

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You may notice a camera that has more features than you're looking for but is the same price as one you're looking at in your category. Remember, these are just guidelines and rules of thumb. Go ahead and take a look at the other camera and test it out a bit. Store clerks will generally be happy to give you a demonstration, and if it seems like you could be comfortable using that camera, by all means buy it.

But you've probably at least developed a small list of cameras that appeal to you. If you're having trouble narrowing it down from that, try asking yourself what you intend to use the camera for.

Do you want to take scenic Landscape Shots? Pictures of buildings? Close ups? Animals? People? There are a lot of different options to consider, and different people will tend to want to photograph different things in different ways.

If you enjoy shooting close-ups, look for a camera that that allows macrophotography (should have a macro focusing range). If you prefer the perspective of a telephoto lens, you'll want to look for a high range optical zoom. If you want to take most of your pictures indoors, you're definitely going to want a camera with a good flash. For outdoor photography, you may want greater control over the white balance.

And it's more than just the features that you'll want to consider. Different cameras will have different methods of using the features. If you need a certain feature to be readily available, make sure that it is. If you're, for example, photographing wildlife, your subject is not under any obligation to sit still while you navigate your camera's menu system for a command buried deep down.

And sometimes the features advertised may be present, but not work as well as you'd hoped. Above all you need to test the camera before you buy it. Make sure that you're comfortable using it and that it works like you want.

For this reason, it is inadvisable to buy cameras online. Choosing between two cameras is not something that can be easily done online. Go to the store, take a look at the cameras in person. Hold them in your hands and see how they feel, actually experience what it's like to use them before making your decision.

And if you're serious about learning photography, then practice with your new camera as much as possible. Read the manual thoroughly, and consider borrowing some books on photography from your local library. Look at professional photographs and try to take similar pictures, decide your likes and dislikes.

Welcome to the wonderful world of digital photography. Please enjoy yourself!

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