Compact Digital Cameras
Compact cameras are everywhere. Deciding exactly what type to bring home can be overwhelming without knowing how to break down the market. Basic point-and-shoots are essentially, in today’s age, a step above a smartphone camera. They’re ideal for someone looking for grab-and-go accessibility with mostly automatic operation, not for those interested in manually adjusting settings. Image quality with these cameras is perfect for social media sharing and quick snapshots, such as during family vacations or other activities. Many also shoot HD video, and come with a host of creative filters and shooting modes to really make the process as effortless as possible. The Nikon COOLPIX L28, Olympus VG-160, Fujifilm FinePix AX650, and Canon PowerShot A2500 are all great basic options. Anyone with a penchant for the outdoors may enjoy a compact with waterproof, freeze-proof, and/or shockproof capabilities. Check out the Olympus TG-830 iHS, Canon PowerShot D20, Nikon COOLPIX AW110, or Fujifilm FinePix XP200, too. The COOLPIX AW110 and FinePix XP200 also include built-in Wi-Fi for instant connectivity.
Megazoom compacts offer a much longer zoom range, hence the name, for easier access to far-away subject matter. These are handy for anyone who regularly takes photos at concerts or sporting events, for example, and wants to capture shots from a distant viewpoint. They also include a few more options for manual operation, though image quality is relatively consistent with the basic point-and-shoots with which they share the spotlight. The Canon PowerShot SX50 HS is hefty, which may be a draw to those looking for an impressive-looking device. It has 50x optical zoom and a swivel LCD screen.
In a similar light, the Nikon COOLPIX P520 has a 42x zoom and swivel, vari-angle LCD screen. The Pentax X-5 offers a 26x zoom lens and tilting LCD screen.
Advanced compacts are perfect for anyone looking to upgrade to a more advanced system that still remains sleek and comfortable in size. These cameras tend to have larger image sensors and faster processors, which yield higher picture quality and better low-light performance. They offer more options for manual control, and many today are fully capable of shooting in RAW format. One of these would be an excellent gift for enthusiasts who enjoy photography with purpose, and might later want to make adjustments in post-processing. The Canon PowerShot G16, which has built-in Wi-Fi, employs Canon’s Intelligent IS system for sharper images taken in low-light environments. The Nikon COOLPIX A comes with a dedicated 18.5mm wide-angle Nikkor lens that packs superior optics into a small package. The Leica C’s beauty matches its performance in eye-catching dark red and light gold.DSLR Cameras
Advanced hobbyists or aspiring/working professionals may have their eyes on a new DSLR this season. These are ideal for someone who understands, wants to learn, or wants the option of total manual camera operation. Someone new to DSLR systems entirely may appreciate an entry-level camera body sold with a kit lens, such as aNikon D3100 with 18-55mm Nikkor VR lens. This would be a great way to get them started with the essentials. A mid-range, “pro-sumer” DSLR may be better suited for those upgrading or expanding into more serious applications. They’re also popular as secondary or backup cameras among professionals looking for a cost-efficient but still high-quality system. Check out the Canon 60D, the Nikon D7000, or the Pentak K-5 IIs to start.
If you’re shopping for lenses instead, take the same factors into account that you would for choosing a camera. Fixed focal length, or prime lenses, are generally less expensive than zooms, but can also be somewhat limiting depending on how they are being used. Heavy-duty, weatherproof lenses, such as those in the esteemed Canon L-series lineup, will bear a price tag that reflects their higher quality. Dedicated lens manufacturers such as Tamronor Sigma also offer a huge selection of great “off-brand” glass that can end up saving money on a purchase. Once you factor in budget, you can further narrow your choices. Assuming that you or whomever you’re shopping for do not already own an extensive lens collection, there are several things you can keep in mind to help expedite the process. For shooting insects, flowers, and other tiny details, a dedicated macro is a fantastic choice. Every photographer who loves broad landscapes or architecture needs a decent wide-angle lens. When shooting a distant subject, such as wildlife or sports, a sharp, fast telephoto is second to none. Lastly, standard- and medium-length telephotos make fantastic “walk-around” lenses for everyday applications and portraiture. Additional things to consider include maximum aperture (the wider, the faster), image stabilization technology, and autofocus motor.
Mirror-less Digital Cameras
Mirror-less cameras are more popular now than ever.
Like DSLRs, they consist of an interchangeable-lens system each with its own network of dedicated accessories and accompaniments. As their name would suggest, they do not house a mirror to divert light into a viewfinder. Instead, they operate similarly to a point-and-shoot, with light falling directly onto the image sensor. This allows shots to be “previewed” on the camera’s LCD screen before each click. Eliminating the bulky mirror and shutter components makes their bodies much smaller and lighter than their DSLR contemporaries. With mirror-less systems, photo enthusiasts and professionals are given the freedom to shoot RAW and capture high-resolution images without toting bags of heavy gear.
The Pentax Q10 has a relatively small 1/2.3” image sensor, and is compatible with all Pentax Q-Mount lenses, as well as K-Mount lenses with the proper adapter.
The Olympus OM-DE M1 is an indication of mirror-less cameras’ rapid improvement in technology and design. Whereas many mirrorless cameras face slower autofocusing (especially in low light), the OM-DE M1 rivals the speed of a DSLR by employing both contrast and phase detection AF. It accepts lenses designed for the Micro Four Thirds System. Sony garnered the attention of the photography community when it released the full-frame a7 and a7R this fall. The a7R omits the optical low-pass filter of the a7. This increases resolution, enabling superb sharpness in even the finest details. Both cameras are compatible with Sony E-Mount lenses.
Much like DSLR's, mirror-less cameras can range in cost, and lens expenses must be factored in separately. Its easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of cameras on the market, but have no fear: with some basic research, you can easily analyze your budget and needs to score the perfect gift. If you need more guidance, contact B&H for advice.
Info Found At:bhphotovideo.com
Info Found At:bhphotovideo.com
How to Buy a Digital Camera
Determine what you need
A mistake I see some digital camera buyers making is that they get sucked into buying cameras that are beyond what they really need. Some questions to ask yourself before you go shopping:-What do you need the camera for?
-What type of photography will you be doing? (portraits, -landscapes, macro, sports)
-What conditions will you be largely photographing in? (indoors, outdoors, low light, bright light)
-Will you largely stay in auto mode or do you want to learn the art of photography?
-What experience level do you have with cameras?
-What type of features are you looking for? (long zoom, image stabilization, large LCD display etc)
-How important is size and portability to you?
-What is your budget?
Ask yourself these questions before you go to buy a camera and you’ll be in a much better position to make a decision when you see what’s on offer. You’ll probably find the sales person asks you this question anyway – so to have thought about it before hand will help them help you get the right digital camera.
Megapixels are NOT everything
One of the features that you’ll see used to sell digital cameras is how many megapixels a digital camera has.
When I first got into digital photography, a few years back, the megapixel rating of cameras was actually quite important as most cameras were at the lower end of today’s modern day range and even a 1 megapixel increase was significant.
These days, with most new cameras coming out with at least 5 megapixels, it isn’t so crucial. In fact at the upper end of the range it can actually be a disadvantage to have images that are so large that they take up enormous amounts of space on memory cards and computers.
One of the main questions to ask when it comes to megapixels is ‘Will you be printing shots’? If so – how large will you be going with them? If you’re only printing images at a normal size then anything over 4 or so megapixels will be fine. If you’re going to start blowing your images up you might want to pay the extra money for something at the upper end of what’s on offer today.
Keep in mind the ‘extras’
Keep in mind as you look at cameras that the price quoted may not be the final outlay that you need to make as there are a variety of other extras that you might want (or need) to fork out for including:
-Camera Case
-Memory Cards
-Spare Batteries/Recharger
-Lenses (if you are getting a DSLR)
-Filters (and other lens attachments)
-Tripods/Monopods
-External Flashes
-Reflectors
Do you already own any potentially compatible gear?
Talking of extra gear – one way to save yourself some cash is if you have accessories from previous digital cameras that are compatible with your new one.
For example memory cards, batteries, lenses (remember that many film camera lenses are actually compatible with digital SLRs from the same manufacturers), flashes, filters etc.
DSLR or Point and Shoot?
While digital SLRs are getting more affordable they are not for everyone. Keep in mind that they are usually bigger, heavier, harder to keep clean (if you’re changing lenses) and can be more complicated to operate than point and shoot. Of course there are some upsides also.Optical Zooms are King
Not all ‘zooms’ are created equal. When you’re looking at different models of digital cameras you’ll often hear their zooms talked about in two ways. Firstly there’s the ‘optical zoom’ and then there’s the ‘digital zoom’.
I would highly recommend that you only take into consideration the ‘optical zoom’ when making a decision about which camera to buy. Digital zooms simply enlarge the pixels in your shot which does make your subject look bigger, but it also makes it look more pixelated and your picture ‘noisier’ (like when you go up close to your TV).
If you’re looking for a zoom lens make sure it’s an optical zoom (most modern cameras have them of at least 3x in length – ie they’ll make your subject three times as big – with an increasing array of ‘super zooms’ coming onto the market at up to 12x Optical Zoom).
Read reviews
Before buying a digital camera take the time to do a little research. Don’t JUST rely upon the advice of the helpful sales person (who may or may not know anything about cameras and who may or may not have sales incentives for the camera they are recommending).Read some reviews in digital camera magazines or online to help you narrow down the field. There are some great websites around that give expert and user reviews on virtually every camera on the market – use this wonderful and free resource.
Negotiate
After you’ve selected the right digital camera for you it’s time to find the best price.
Once again, I generally start online and do some searches to find the most competitive prices on the models I’m interested in. With these in hand I’m in a good position to be able to negotiate in person with local stores and/or with online stores. I generally find that retail stores will negotiate on price and will often throw in freebies. Online stores are more difficult – most bigger ones don’t give you the ability to negotiate but smaller ones often will if you email them.
Don’t forget to ask for free or discounted bonuses including camera cases, memory cards, extra batteries, filters, free prints, cases etc. I even know of a couple of stores that offer camera lessons that you can ask to be included. Some stores will also consider giving you a trade in on older gear.
I generally do negotiating from home on the phone and only go into a store to pick up the camera after a price is agreed upon.
Info Found At: digital-photography-school.com
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