Digital camera options have expanded so much that buying
one can seem more challenging than snapping a quality
picture. Getting the right camera for general use involves
some preparation before plopping down the payment.
However, you don't have to research in great depth to make the right choice — you need only know what you want your
camera to do for you. You'll need to consider your own
skills, your budget and how you will use your photographs.
Today's cameras suit all skill levels and needs. There are plenty of cameras made to point and shoot, if technicalities are not your strong suit. And you'll get some nice looking snapshots with them.
Or, do you want to be creative — experimenting with
self-timers, flash, shutter speed, lighting, and photo enhancement features? To fulfill these creative desires, you'll need a camera with a full range of manual controls.
Of course, with the hundreds of digital cameras that are on the shelves, you don't have to make a commitment — many cameras have both automatic and manual settings. It all depends on what you want to spend.
It is important to be clear on what you're willing to spend before heading to the store or checking the online possibilities. You will narrow down the options to save yourself time and prevent regrets later.
Your planned camera usage is also a key consideration. Will you be producing high quality prints? Or will you be using
the camera largely in cyber space, producing images for
online auctions or to upload for friends and family?
Great looking prints require a more expensive camera than is necessary for illustrating an auction item. Digital camera print quality is largely determined by the number of pixels in the image.
To print quality standard sized photos that will last,
you'll need a minimum of a 1-2 megapixel digital camera. Larger photos will require 3 megapixels to get the same quality. With at least 4 megapixels, 11 x 14 enlargements will look sharp.
Another factor for image quality is the zoom lens. Optical zooms are far superior to digital zooms, which do nothing
more than enlarge the pixels. And if you plan to shoot a
lot of wildlife scenes or sporting events, consider buying
an 8x or 10x zoom.
Also, be aware that not all cameras with the same megapixels are created equal. Some have better optics and better zoom
lenses. Some have more features such as the ability to make
short videos. Some have better LCD screens for reviewing
photos. Some have batteries that are proprietary and
expensive to replace. Some are more prone to needing
repairs. So before heading to the store or to your favorite
online site, check out the reviews for the models that
interest you. Simply state your need at a search engine —
something like 4 megapixel digital camera+review.
There is no need to spend hours researching every term and every available feature. Simply familiarize yourself with
basic terminology, know your needs and know which models
have the best ratings in your price range. Armed with this
knowledge, you'll be more satisfied with your investment.
have decided to go to a less demanding publishing schedule soon. I'm thinking every two weeks, however, it could be three weeks between issues. I'll just play it by ear to begin with.
ou wouldn't believe the incredible amount of work that goes into providing you with Web Sm@rts on a weekly basis! This thing isn't even paying for itself. But I never was in it for the money, which is a good thing.
