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Getting A Great Deal on A Great Camera |
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The photography world used to be professionals rushing around with three camera slung round their neck and a bag full of gear. They developed and printed their own pictures, or hired an expensive lab. The rest of us made do with a one button camera and taking our film to the local drugstore.
We amateurs have come a long way. With the great camera deals available, we can now produce high-quality photographs with cameras costing under $1000, sometimes way under. All you need is the right equipment, and practice.
You can divide the current digital camera market into 3 basic categories. In order of feature options and image quality, they are: "point & shoot," "non-SLR," and "dSLR cameras."
The "point & shoot" or P&S is simplicity itself--a lens, an LCD screen to compose and review your shot, and a shutter button. Self-focusing, they choose shutter speed and aperature (f-stop) for you. These are great for family snapshots, or for a beginner to learn composition. They require virtually no maintenance or training, and are available under $100.
The "non-SLR" camera can function as a P&S, but also allows you to move towards becoming a "prosumer" or "serious amateur." On "AUTO," a non-SLR will function as a P&S, though the superior lens and technology will result in a better picture. You can also manually control shutter speed, aperture, and adjust to specific lighting conditions. You'll need a few days to discover most of the features, a few weeks to learn more advanced functions. A non-SLR usually costs $150 to $600.
The dSLR (digital single lens reflex) is the professional's choice. Much like a film camera, iit has a traditional shutter and a viewfinder. They are compatible with a full range of lenses, external flashes, filters, and other gear. You can expect to spend several months mastering your dSLR, though you'll be able to snap some good pix right out of the box. DSLR bodies start around $800, lenses around $200. A beginner's kit will be
Having chosen the type of camera you want, you should decide what size of the images you want. Image size is measured in megapixels. The more megapixels, the larger and more detailed your images will be.
In a P&S, you can get good camera deals between 4 and 7MP. Some P&S cameras offer more, but the lenses aren't good enough to warrant the extra resolution. In the non-SLR, 7MP, 10MP and 12MP cameras are common. You can an excellent deal by going with 7MP, and still have 4x6 prints to work with. If you want to print 8 by 10 or larger, go with 10 to 12MP. For the dSLR, there really is no limit. Some produce images as large as 20 or 40MP, though these cost 3,000 or more. On entry-level cameras, 12MP is a standard size, and will allow you to enjoy all the features a dSLR offers.
We hope that this article has helped you narrow down your choices and get the best camera deal for you. Happy shutterbugging!
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