One thing that puzzles most of us when buying a camera is which one to choose. There are hundreds of cameras on the market today, most of which are made by manufacturers with very good track records. All cameras will work well in most circumstances but we need to look at the finer details to get the best value for our money.
As a landscape photographer, I am out in all sorts of harsh conditions so I want a camera that is versatile to my needs. When I buy a camera the first thing I look at is the strength of the outer shell. The shell needs to be strong if you are out and about each day. Normally the weight of the camera will give you a good indication of the durability and strength.
There are many manufacturers to choose from, but if you are buying an SLR in digital or film format, Nikon or Canon are the main players. If you enjoy photography purely as a hobby and are planning to buy a digital compact camera, there are hundreds to choose from.
I normally stick to the main manufacturers, but before I buy, I read photo magazines. Most photo magazines carry featured articles about the latest equipment on sale and they are constantly testing them to give their readers accurate feedback. This may spare you a lot of money and help you decide which camera to buy and which one will best suit your needs.
If you are buying a compact camera I would definitely recommend checking out these magazines. There are so many to choose from and the prices can vary a lot. If you do decide to buy a compact pick one that accepts removable memory cards, otherwise you may run out of memory taking holiday or family snaps. Also, pick one that will offer you a reasonable size print. A 2-megapixel camera will allow you to print a good quality 10 x 8-inch print. Also, make sure that the camera’s software is suitable for your computer.
If you are buying an SLR digital or film camera you are moving more closely toward the professional end of the market where prices can be quite high. Most SLR will allow you to capture images that can be enlarged to a good size. You will also be able to use interchangeable lenses on most SLR and add a strobe unit where extra light is needed for accurate exposure.
For any photographer who works in a specialized area, there are also specific cameras available. Photography manufacturers produce a range of cameras for professionals in digital or film format. Where large images are needed manufacturers sell large-format cameras. These are ideal for landscape or advertising photography. There are also portrait digital cameras available for professionals.
Buying an expensive camera will not make your images better. Regardless of your equipment, you should be able to take good images with any standard compact camera if you apply good photography techniques. A good camera will enable you to be more creative with manual settings and will give you a higher resolution image but your creative eye will still work the same.