Digital Camera Types
Choosing the right digital camera for yourself can be a daunting task. Many models and levels of expertise are on the market. Find out which is the right one for you.
Cell phone Cameras.
Almost all of today's cell phones have cameras built into them. These range on average from 1.5 mega pixels to 3.5 mega pixels. Essentially these are good for taking "on the fly" pictures that you might send to somebody right away. They are also good for taking quick pics that you might post on your favorite social networking site. If you are looking for more control and quality of picture to print, then keep reading.
Basic Model Cameras.
The basic digital camera is the simplest to use. Turn it on, find your subject, and shoot. There are no adjustments to fiddle with, and you might even get a small amount of zoom to bring your subject closer. These cameras average between 3.0 and 6.0 mega pixels. This is enough to print an average 4"x6" photo, but not much more. This type of camera will run between $50 and $200 dollars. Keep reading if you are looking for more from your camera.
Mid-tier Models: The biggest category of cameras.
Mid-tier cameras start to add multiple features to allow you to do more in relation to your subject. You will find the zoom anywhere from 5:1 to 12:1. You will also find a range of resolution from 6 to 12 mega pixels. In addition to these increased features, you will find additional features such as: Manual controls, different exposure settings, internal photo editing, and much more. These will require a new photographer to reference the user manual.
Cameras in this category will run from $200 to $600 dollars. You might also want to buy some extras like additional memory cards, and a cleaning kit.
Digital SLR's.
These are as close to "pro" as you can get without paying the pro price. These cameras are great for the photography buff and photo student alike. You should get between 6 - 12 mega pixels, which will print beautiful photos for your albums. While these camera's have an "auto" mode, you are buying them for all the manual features and other flexibilities that they offer: Speed (3-5 pics per second), interchangeable lenses, auto/manual focus, and manual shutter/aperture modes. These cameras will cost between $600-$1,500 dollars, plus all the little extras that you most certainly will want: Additional lenses, memory cards, cleaning kit, flash kit, filters, and of course the case to carry all of your new items.
Professional SLR's.
These are for the professional, not only because of the features, but because of the cost. Speed is the pro's best friend, and these cameras are so fast, that you will not notice any lag time. You can burst 6-10 pics per second with no compromise. Your photo quality will be produced by anywhere from 12-24 mega pixels. Cost? You can expect to pay anywhere from $3,000 to $8,000 on average (of course, that could just be for the camera body!).
So now you know some of the major differences between camera levels. It's up to you to be honest with yourself about what you want to achieve with your photography. No use paying for features that you will never use or take interest in. Remember: Technology keeps moving forward faster than we can keep up with it. Don't hit yourself over your head because you purchased a camera, and find out 6 months later that it is "outdated". Happy shooting!
David has been writing articles online for almost 2 years now. Come check out his latest website which offers great articles and resources on allergies and asthma, including a free E-book: health-tips-e-book.