edits by: Doctor How, Ben Rubenstein, GordonH, Parth (see all)
Are you looking for a digital camera but confused by all the
features, doodads and tech talk? Here's some help in sorting out what's
the best one for you.Steps
1
While brand names can help
you make a decision based on reliability or quality of picture, remember
that sometimes an inexpensive camera will satisfy your needs as well as
a more expensive one.
2
Decide if you want a point and shoot or a digital SLR:
Are you comfortable with wading through menus to change basic settings?
Or would you rather just press a button? Point and shoot digital
cameras may be easier to use, but digital SLR cameras provide you with
much more creative control.
3
Get a grip: Even some
larger cameras have uncomfortably small hand grips. The grip should just
fill the inside curve of your fingers. Many small cameras have no grip
at all. Will you get a major finger cramp just trying to hold on?
4
Don't get too hung up on the megapixels:
The quality of the pixels is the main difference in image quality. A
high quality 6 megapixel sensor will produce better quality photographs
than a lesser quality 10 megapixel camera. Lens quality and camera
responsiveness are far more important. A good 5 or 6 megapixel sensor is
more than enough to create good quality 8x10 prints.Don't get to hung
up on a 1 or 2 megapixel difference. The images will be virtually
indistinguishable from one to the other. If you compare a 8 megapixel
camera to a 10 megapixel camera with equal quality sensors the
difference in resolution will not be significant.
5
Consider your need for speed:
Many cheap cameras have a substantial time lag between pressing the
button and actually taking the picture. If you're going to take
photographs of your kids, or sports and action photos, this is something
to think about. Also, consider the continuous frame rate. For action
shots, a continuous frame rate of at least 5 frames per second is
desirable. The camera should be capable of taking 5 frames per second,
for at least four seconds before the internal memory buffer is filled.
Cameras with slower continuous frame rates or smaller internal memory
buffers will be frustrating, and make certain types of photography
difficult, if not impossible.
6
Battery type is something to consider:
Many cameras use proprietary batteries, rather than standard AA
batteries. Consider that someday, the battery that comes with your
camera will stop working or get lost, and you will need to obtain a
replacement. Your batteries will generally die at the worst possible
time. For example the first day of your vacation, or at your daughter's
wedding. Proprietary batteries need to be fully charged and ready for
use. It's a good idea to have a back up battery charged and ready to use
at all times.
7
Weight quality vs.
quantity: A Digital SLR will give you better quality pictures and can
actually be easier to operate than a point and shoot digital camera.
However, it will weigh more and cost more. But the end photo quality
will be worth it in the long run.
8
Memory card format: SD
or Secure Digital cards are the most popular card format in consumer
cameras, they are available in capacities of up to 32GB. It should be
noted that some older models are not SDHC compliant, so they can not use
SD cards larger than 2GB. Compact Flash cards are the standard in
higher end SLRs, and are available in capacities up to 32GB as well. The
Compact Flash card format has been in constant use since its inception
in 1994, Compact Flash drives and related software drivers are
compatible with nearly all operating systems.
9
Figure in the accessories:
Most cameras don't come with a memory card or a card reader. Add them
in when you're totaling cost. And don't forget batteries. Get an extra
set and a charger. Choose a memory card with enough capacity to hold at
least 400 images at the camera's highest JPEG resolution. This is
equivalent to 11 rolls of 36-exposure film, and is adequate for most
people.
10
Make room for zoom:
With zoom you can switch between close up and a distant point. There is a
very important thing to think about when buying a camera and that is
the difference between optical and digital zoom. Optical zoom uses the
lens it self to bring more distant objects closer. That means that you
get better-quality pictures taken from a distance while digital zoom
works by capturing only the central portion of the entire image received
by the sensor. It basically means that the digital zoom is really only a
cropping tool. Digital zooms only use a portion of the image sensor so
the more you zoom the less image sensor you are using. This results in a
much lower image quality. An optical zoom is much better and uses the
entire image sensor resulting in, no loss of image quality. Don't get
fooled with advertisements about digital zooms. It's the optical zoom
you should be looking for.Tips
- When buying a camera take a good look at memory card prices. Computer shops and office supply shops tend to be a lot cheaper than camera shops
- Look at the lens on the front of the camera - generally a bigger the piece of glass in front will translate to more light gathering capability, which in turn means better performance in low light situations. This is not a hard and fast rule, more like a rule of thumb.
- On cameras with a substantial internal buffer (most medium or high-end models) you won't notice much improvement in speed between normal and high speed cards unless you do action photography.
- Image Stabilization: With this feature, you can zoom in on your kids on stage 10 rows back (turn off the flash)and get a nice clear picture. Cameras without it will blur when you zoom or shake the camera while pressing the shutter.
Warnings
- Do NOT trust websites which impartially test the model you're looking at. There are a lot of self-styled experts who are cheerleaders for one brand or another. Look for evidence, not opinion.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar