Can you name the best 3 digital cameras to buy for under $200? How about the worst? It can be pretty intimidating for those unfamiliar with digital camera technology to really know if their getting value for their dollar, or just getting ripped off. How do you distinguish the flood of technical specifications between important features, and marketing hype? Knowing what to look for and what to ignore can help ease your buying decision. And save you money.
First things first. Let me just say, that megapixels (MP) don’t mean a damn thing anymore. I know, I know. The biggest print on the digital camera ads and packaging next to the manufacturers name is the number of megapixels the camera can store.
The first thing some salesman is going to tell you about, is the number of megapixels. Just ignore them. Five or six years ago, when the majority of cameras had below 4MP, it was a significant item to consider when deciding which digital camera to buy.
They are lightweight and can fit in your jacket pocket or purse and you can carry them around daily without any effort. They are great for spotting candid moments at parties, on vacation or even at the office.
The checklist should include a spot for recycling time and the shooting modes available as well as the photo affects.
Bigger LCD’s are a big sales point these days with manufacturers and sales staff alike. In this case size is nice, but there are other things to consider as well.
DSLR is an acronym from “Digital Single Lens Reflex”. These cameras are equipped with a live digital viewing mechanism through the lenses that focus on the image. Experienced photographers prefer them over point and shoots because:
It is always better to find out all this information before you buy a camera. Comparison-shopping is the only way to buy a digital camera.
Finally, the most important thing you can do when trying to decide which digital camera I should buy is… hold one. Go to your local camera or favorite big box electronics store and test drive a few models. Take a few pictures around the store. Look for some shadowing areas, and take pictures of those. If they’ll let you, try the camera outside to see how the LCD looks. Ask as many questions as you can, and just get a good feel for the camera. When the pictures look good to you, and the camera feels right in your hands, you’ll know you’ve found a winner.