What Type of Camera Should I Buy? - Part 1

Aperature, Shutter Speed, ISO, Bracketing, Metering, White Balance..... Scary? We'll deal with the above issues later, let's just get a camera first.

Frequently, I am asked for advice as to what type of camera one should buy for taking great digital pictures. Normally, a decision has already been made to go with an SLR (single lens reflex) that uses interchangeable lenses. My guess is that the interest in the larger SLRs is the desire for a more professional quality in the images taken. I'm not going to dig deep into the other major technical differences between SLRs and compacts; there are many sites on the internet that you can visit for that type of education.

A friend of mine, who works in the granite remodeling business, recently asked me what type of camera he should buy for the purpose of shooting before and after shots of the job sites that he's been on to better showcase his work in a portfolio. The most important consideration in making a recommendation is the portfolio, or the output. It just makes sense to ask "what do you want to do with the photos? Where are they going to be seen? And how will they be used?" Today's smaller compact cameras are great for snapshots, portraits, and even landscapes. But they don't generally have wide angle lenses or low aperature settings which allow the greatest amount of light into the lens. In my friend's case, he needed to shoot wide angle images of kitchens without being able to move far from the subject. That's just one of the reasons why he needed an SLR.

In wedding photography, a professional photographer uses a removable flash that is often held far from the lens and body of the camera. This is to lessen the chances of getting that dreaded red eye in what could have been a beautiful photo. We'll go over that in another session as well, but suffice to say that an SLR will help reduce red eye if used properly.

One of the best things you can do is go to a professional camera retailer and ask to see demos of both types, hold them in your hands, and get a feel for what you're comfortable with. Let the salesperson explain to you the differences and how these cameras work. Plus it's a little difficult to show you what I'm talking about here, without pictures.

I'm sleepy now, so I'll continue within 2 days, goodnight!

In Part 2, we'll discuss the types and costs of SLRs and accessories.