The Practical Guide to Going Digital
Digital camera technology is here to stay. A vast majority of people have already transited from film to digital. That's hardly surprising considering the slew of advantages digital cameras bring with them- instant feedback on the photos you take, being able to experiment in photography without wasting film, a chance to correct minor artifacts in your image or even creatively dabble with them before printing them out, and a greater ease in storing and sharing them with others. Ever falling prices of digital cameras and the pace of technological improvements have meant that only a few aficionados have resisted the crossover to going digital. This article is meant to act as a rough, layman's guide to buying a digital camera and the first steps to take in exploring the digital world.
The main steps involved in choosing the right camera are as follows- introspect on your interests and desires in photography, research and narrow down to a list of cameras that fit both your needs and budget, compare these for features offered and read more exhaustive reviews for each camera, and finally after zeroing down on one camera, begin to fraternise with colleagues who might have to travel abroad soon! It's very likely that a first time buyer may not know what aspects of photography might enthuse them; photography is after all an interest that only slowly grows and develops. Worry not, as most cameras should prove able enough in all normal scenarios. Over a period of time as you identify your interests (and the shortcomings of your camera), there is always an opportunity to upgrade your camera. It might be reassuring to know that most people having more than a passing interest in photography thus end up owning multiple cameras!
Which one is for me?
The first step in choosing the right camera is to identify the basic type of camera you intend to buy. Digital cameras can roughly be classified into the following three categories:
1. Point and shoots (P&S)- The most basic of the three, targeted predominantly at 'the family-user' whose main interests would be in taking pictures of relatives and friends, pets and interesting sights while on travel. The focus is on keeping the camera compact, easy to use and carry around. This does not necessarily mean that they produce poor image quality.
2. Prosumers- These offer the user a better control over photographic parameters, and in most cases a greater zoom range, allowing the user to capture a wider variety of pictures. These are targeted at photo hobbyists and passionate amateurs. These are not as compact as the P&Ss. In recent times their prices have fallen quite a bit, making them an attractive proposition even as a first buy.
3. Digital SLRs (DSLR)- The big daddy of the lot and meant for the serious amateurs and professionals. The main advantages of a DSLR are- a discernible improvement in image quality (especially when shooting in an uncompressed image format), faster response times when taking pictures, and an ability to accept multiple lens types suited for different tasks. But these advantages are to some extent offset by a marked increase in camera size (though many serious photographers prefer the secure feel of a big solid camera as compared to the smooth slippery hold offered by a similar credit-card sized device). This means that on a meaningful photo expedition you will be saddled with one huge camera, and a load of add-on lenses; not quite ideal if you would like to go skipping gleefully on a trek! A DSLR is prone to problems like dust entering the camera when lenses are changed, and hence requires greater care while handling. And finally the bottom line- with the buying of a DSLR (which itself is more expensive than either of the other two types- a decent entry level DSLR could cost you twice as much as a good prosumer camera) tags along the associated costs of purchasing additional lenses which in most cases are more expensive than the camera itself!
Other factors to consider
Having decided on the kind of camera, one also needs to consider preferences for other factors such as:
1. Camera resolution- The resolution of a camera (expressed in mega pixels or MP) decides how much detail you can capture in each photos. The higher the MP rating, the more the detail you can capture per photo. But this leads to a larger file size for each photo and hence the camera memory fills up faster too. Many people unwittingly fall prey to the MP race and buy cameras touting large MP values. In reality to start of with, one need not look at cameras with resolution greater than 5 MP. This is more than sufficient to take A4 sized printouts and to create wallpapers for a 19 inch monitor. A larger resolution is only required to make huge enlargement of photos or if one wants to only crop out a small part of each photo and still be left with sufficient detail.
2. Zoom and focal length- A large optical zoom is a must if one is interested in taking photos of animals or birds in the wild. If you decide to buy a camera with a large zoom factor (6x or more) ensure that it also provides Image stabilization as shaky hands at a large zoom end up producing very blurred images! Similarly if it is the private affairs of flora, insects or still life that interests you, a good macro focal length is a must. The smaller the macro focal length, the closer you can get to your subject, and hence the better are the details you can capture. A macros focal length of less than 10 cm should provide satisfactory results.
3. Exposure settings- Chose a camera that allows you to tinker around with aperture and shutter settings. This will allow you to experiment with a variety of interesting photographic techniques like speed photography or shooting with a shallow depth of field.
4. Type of battery- Cameras either run on AAA batteries (normal and rechargeable), or on rechargeable Lithium ion batteries. I find that the later last longer per charge, and so if you are a very frequent camera user, repeated spending on AAA batteries will literally drain you out in the long run.
That's what the web is meant for!
One can get elaborate camera reviews on the Internet at popular websites such as www.dcresource.com, www.dpreview.com and www.steves-digicams.com. They analyze various aspects of a camera and compare it to similar competing products. The also display sample unprocessed pictures from each camera, which can give you a good idea of how sharp or saturated images from that camera would appear. These websites also post a number of user opinions which make for useful reading.
Where to buy from?
The US still remains the best place to buy a camera. Not only are the latest models not immediately available in India, when they do become so they end up costing almost one and a half times what they would cost in the US. If the need is not urgent, it might be prudent to wait for about six-eight months after a camera is released before buying it. Since the digital camera market is so competitive, and since models get outdated fairly soon, camera prices often drop a fair bit after release, especially during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season (if you really must buy the camera in India, then try posting queries on a city specific group of a photo-sharing forum like www.flickr.com). Buying the camera online is always more economical then buying it in a store. Details on the best deals available can be got from websites like www.pricegrabber.com. Make sure you also invest in camera accessories such as a large enough memory card (at least 512 MB), a compact and well padded camera bag, and a protective neutral filter in case of a prosumer or a DSLR and a mini tripod that fits in the camera bag.
What next?
Once you lay your hands on the camera, read the camera manual completely (if you are really excited and simply can't wait, try reading an online version even before getting the camera). Experiment with different camera settings to evaluate what gives you the best exposed pictures. There are plenty of online tutorial sites to improve your photography skills. Subscribe to an online group dedicated to your camera where people share tips, problems and experiences (you will know that it's time to unsubscribe when the group gets inundated with offers on other products that 'excite' you). And finally, do join and participate on one of the many photo sharing sites such as www.flickr.com where you can share your photos with others, receive valuable critiques and get bright ideas on how to take pleasing pictures.
Do remember that the mythical perfect camera does not exist. The results from a camera will only be as good as the ability of the person peering through it! Here's wishing you good luck and success- the digital world awaits you!
Note: Crossposted at Desicritics.
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