Camera Buying Guide - Hobbies

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Choosing the right camera is not an exact science, but there are a few steps you can take to find out which camera is right for you. The most pertinent questions to answer are:

Do you need a professional camera; or a simple, easy to use camera? dSLR vs. Point and Shoot Camera How many mega pixels are optimal for you? 6 Mega pixels is enough for a Point and Shoot Camera I believe more is better for a dSLR How much do you have to spend?

Now you can refer to the chart below, to see which camera would best fit you, based on the above three factors:

Point and Shoot Cameras:

Camera Name Mega Pixels Zoom Cost HP Photosmart M425 5 3x Optical Zoom $115 HP Photosmart M527 6 3x Optical Zoom $127 Fujifilm Finepix V10 5.1 3.4x Optical Zoom $149 Fujifilm Finepix F20 6.3 Image Stabilized 3x Optical Zoom $149 Nikon Coolpix L6 6 3x Optical Zoom $149 Fujifilm Finepix F650 6 5x Optical Zoom $159 Canon PowerShot A540 6 4x Optical Zoom $189 Olympus Stylus 710 7.1 3x Optical Zoom $189 Nikon Coolpix L5 7.2 Image Stabilized 5x Optical Zoom $190 HP Photosmart R927 8 3x Optical Zoom $194 Nikon Coolpix S9 6 3x Optical Zoom $199 Sony Cybershot DSCW50 6 3x Optical Zoom $205 Canon PowerShot SD600 6 3x Optical Zoom $211 Olympus SP-510 7.1 10x Optical Zoom $231 Olympus Stylus 740 7.1 Image Stabilized 5x Optical Zoom $241 Nikon Coolpix S7c 7 3x Optical Zoom $270 Olympus Stylus 720 7.1 3x Optical Zoom $279 Canon PowerShot A710 7.1 Image Stabilized 6x Optical Zoom $279 Canon PowerShot SD700 6 Image Stabilized 4x Optical Zoom $309 Sony Cybershot DSC-N2 10.1 3x Optical Zoom $353 Sony Cybershot DSC-T50 7.2 3x Optical Zoom $356 Canon PowerShot SD800 7.1 Image Stabilized 3.8 Wide Angle Zoom $374 Sony Cybershot DSC-H5 7.2 Image Stabilized 12x Optical Zoom $382

dSLR Cameras

Camera Mega Pixels Cost

Pentax istD 6.1 $399 Nikon D50 6.1 $469 Olympus E1 5.5 $529 Sony Alpha A100K 10.2 $654 Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1 $684 Olympus Evolt E330 7.5 $730 Nikon D70S 6.1 $769 Pentax K10D 10.2 $849 Canon EOS 30d 8.2 $1139

My Recommended Features: Point and Shoot Camera: Image Stabilization: Hate when you take a picture that comes out blurry? Image Stabilization will help minimize that; it will not get rid of it entirely in extreme cases, though. It is a more expensive feature, so be prepared. SLR Camera: Stock Lenses: Stock lenses are great, they may not be the best lenses on the market, but they are simple and good for general use. Also, they'll hold you over until you can get a real nice lens. Depth of Field Preview: Depth of Field preview is great when experimenting with different aperture and shutter values. I don't like waiting until I've uploaded the pictures, before I can see what exactly is in focus and what isn't. Composition and Focus Assist: By composition and focus assist I mean, the targets in your viewfinder that allow you to decide what the camera auto focus should focus on. Although, this is pretty standard, it's still a good feature to recommend. (Each manufacturer cal ls this something different I simply refer to it as Composition and Focus Assist for ease.) Easy Access to On/Off: This isn't really a feature but it's something I like to point out. The easier it is to turn on and off the camera the more likely you are to get that picture that jumps out and startles you. If you're fumbling trying to turn on your camera, chances are you lost your picture!

My Recommended Accessories: Point and Shoot Camera: Case: A camera case will help keep that screen from getting destroyed. It's a lot safer to put a camera in a case, then in your pocket, or purse. Cameras may be cheap but they're not free yet, so keep it safe! Extra Battery: I hate when I'm at a party and my battery starts to die. "I forgot to charge my camera last night!" It's always the same excuse. Well there goes that night; I'm definitely not going to remember it in the morning. Always be safe, get an extra battery. They're not that expensive, but they can be extremely helpful. dSLR Camera: Tripod: The most important accessory, in my eyes, is a tripod. For everything form long exposure shots, to just needing the stability to get a sharp picture. The tripod is the most versatile, most useful tool for a photographer. External Flash: Sure most cameras come with an onboard flash, but they're horrible. The range is low, and just never cut it. My advice is to invest in a good flash as soon as possible. Memory Card: For Memory Card, my personal advice is as follows: Bigger is Better! The more you can take, the more adventurous you can be. You get to try new things, and maybe make new effects. If you're worried about filling up your memory card, you might not take that extra award winning shot. Extra Battery: Just like I said for the Point and Shoot camera, nothing stinks more than a dead battery. It's even worst for a SLR user. It would be a really bad photo shoot if you climbed up a mountain for the perfect shot, only to realize your battery is dead. Always carry a spare! Camera and Lens Case: You will be carrying around a lot; a camera, maybe more than one, many lenses, filters, batteries, flashes, a tripod. Make sure you have a bag to keep it in you want to keep your hands free to hold your camera! It's always a good way to keep everything safe from getting scratched or destroyed. Lenses: New lenses are nice, but they can get exp ensive fast. My advice is to try them out. Ask your retailer if you can take a few pictures before buying it, some stores are more than happy to accommodate you. Also, decide what you need most, whether it be a telephoto, wide angel, or macro lens. Research the lens and make sure you read other ratings. Treat buying a new lens as if you were buying a new camera.

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