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Choosing the Right Digital Camera

Digital cameras are so affordable.  With the ability to view your photos in your camera and delete those that are not wanted - everyone can become a budding photographer.  Cameras are so advanced that you don't have to be an expert to take professional looking shots. 

Some simple points to help you decide what type of camera you need.

1. Determine what you need.

Before you go shopping, have a think about what you want to use your camera for.

  • What type of photos do you want to take?  Portraits, landscape or sports?
  • What conditions?  Indoors, outdoors?
  • Will you mostly use the auto settings or do you want more control?
  • What features are you looking for?  Zoom, image stabilization, face recognition?
  • Where will you take your camera? Have it on hand at all times, take it out for occasions?
  • How much money do you want to spend?

2. What else do you need?

When you purchase a digital camera, there are usually other items that are not included that you may require.  Do you already own potentially compatible gear?  For example, memory cards or lenses that you already own may fit your new camera - this may save you some cash.

  • camera case
  • Memory cards
  • Spare batteries/recharger
  • Lenses
  • Filters
  • Tripods
  • External flash.

3. Megapixels are not everything.

When digital cameras first came on the market, the higher the mega pixels, the better the quality of the picture.  These days a camera that has less than 10 megapixels is pretty rare.  The difference between 10 and 18 is indistinguisable on standard prints or monitors.  If you want to print your photos in poster size - then you would need to consider a camera with a greater number of megapixels.

4. DSLR or Compact

While DSLR cameras are now more affordable, they are usually bigger, heavier and can be more complicated to operate.  There are separate guides available to assist you with making a choice between DSLR or Compact.  The important thing at this point is to refer back to your needs in point 1. 

5. Optical & Digital Zoom

If one of your needs was to have a good zoom on your camera, the larger the optical zoom, the better.  Digital zooms simply enlarge the pixels in your shot, which makes your object appear closer but it can also make it look more pixelated and out of focus.

6. Do your Research

Do a little research and read reviews to help you narrow down the field.

7. Hands on

At the end of the day, there is nothing like having the camera in your hands and trying it out to determine whether a camera suits your needs.  Your local Retravision store has a large number of cameras on display that you can try.  Test out the different features and play with the settings.  The sales person will be able to assist you with the functions and negotiate a great price.