What To Look For In A Camera

[RBennett]

Ok, so this is something that I have been thinking about starting for a while because I thought it could be EXTREMELY helpful in that it addresses the number one question we see all the time: "What kind of camera should I get?" I know that we see this asked dozens upon dozens of times (and I am not tired of seeing this asked) but I thought it might be helpful to educate all of us and others as to what to look for when searching for a camera. One of the websites that we see thrown around to compare cameras is dpreview.com so I thought I would use my own camera (Pentax K100D) as the guinea pig so that people could understand what they are looking at/for.

Just look at everything that gets thrown at someone that just wants to compare cameras! I think too many times, people get hung up on megapixels and they necessarily think more is better and that's not always the case. More means that you can blow a picture up to a larger size without losing the resolution. And "What is sensor size and why is it important?"

Basically, I just wanted to start something that might be of use to others that are wanting to get themselves a new camera but not sure what to look at.

What is it that you look for first when purchasing a new camera? For me it was sensor size, followed by shutter speeds, and then ISO and megapixels. What is everyone else's thoughts!

 

[photo_chick]

My absolute first consideration is how it fits in my hands. I have freakishly small hands so for me size really does matter.

After that... I look at image quality samples. Stats are great, but I'm more interested in the noise levels and overall image quality with a given lens.

Then I go though the ISO range, burst rate, buffer size... and on down the list. Megapixels are not a consideration for me... I was happy back when we only had 4 or 8 there. Neither is Live View, movie mode or image stabilization.

But that's what's important to me. To someone else, like someone with shaky hands, image stabilization might be the priority. Or someone with poor eyesight might need a solid auto focus system and live view. People have to evaluate what features are important for their individual needs and that's what a lot of people forget when they reccommend cameras ot others.

 

[July Kitten]

For me, first and foremost, it's image quality. I'm a design professional I'm extremely picky. Whenever I'm in the market for a new camera, Digital Camera Resource Page and Steve's Digicams are indispensable.

2. Durability is also an issue. Every year I take about 3,000 photos for personal use alone — which a pocket camera isn't really built for, so I end up having to replace mine every 10-14 months. Even so, I want my camera to be sturdy for as long as I have it.

3. Boot-up time and shutter lag: as a compulsive photographer, I can be a little impatient!

There are other factors, of course, but I'm sure y'all would get bored listening to me ramble on. I try not to lose sight of the fact that the best camera doesn't always guarantee the best photograph ever taken. And, of course, there's always Photoshop!

As for digital SLRs, I only have one, purchased four years ago. The only reason I chose it was because it was the the digital equivalent of the film SLR I had at the time. (It worked out well for me, but always do your research!) Despite its age, it's still functioning as it should; the things I'll consider when choosing a replacement are battery life, lens/accessory compatibility, internal flash, and its size/weight.