A buyer’s guide to cameras:
Get a better picture for buying a new camera
Introduction
Whether you’re snapping pictures of your mates on a night out, capturing holiday good times or honing your artistic skills, there’s never been a better time to get into photography. Modern cameras are compact, hi-tech and easy to use, making it super-simple to create striking images that will last a lifetime.
Digital technology has totally revolutionised photography – those bad old days of hit-and-miss results and expensive development are now well and truly consigned to history. At the same time, digital storage and internet photo-sharing sites like Facebook and Flickr have brought the cost way down by allowing you to share the fun without having to print out hundreds of shots that only end up gathering dust in a cupboard.
And it’s not just still images either. Most digital cameras can now shoot good quality video as well – perfect for capturing those laugh-out-loud moments.
Budding filmmakers are in for a treat too – camcorders now offer incredible performance in terms of picture quality, size and price. So if you fancy giving James Cameron a run for his money or just filming your latest travel adventure, there are options available for everyone. Even the latest 3D technology is starting to become available to the masses – so you could make a sequel to Avatar if you have enough blue make-up to hand!
What you actually need will determine the right camera for you. Start by making a realistic list of what you want to do with it and where you want to take it:
Size: Do you need a camera small enough to fit into a pocket or handbag? Are you really going to cart an SLR, tripod and spare lenses around with you on a night out?
Environment: Is your new camera going to have an easy life or are you planning on sticking it in your backpack for that kayaking holiday? Choose wisely as accidents can be expensive.
Subject: Are you planning on launching a professional career on the back of an award-winning exhibition? Or will you just be taking snaps of your mates on the beach? A 14 megapixel, HD-video, wide-angle camera can do both, but a basic model might meet all your needs while saving you cash.
Situation: If you take a lot of pictures at night, indoors or of sporting events, consider a slightly higher spec model – unless you really like that ‘artistic’ blurry look. Nothing exposes a camera’s weaknesses like low light.
Digital compacts
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The massive range of digital compacts on the market can be quite bewildering. With so much choice, so many claims and such varying prices, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But fear not – help is at hand. With a little research and some careful thought about what you need, you’ll soon be able to narrow it down to a few models.
How much do I need to spend?
On the face of it, it’s pretty hard to tell the difference between a £500 digital compact and a £50 one just by looking at them. But inside those little black (or silver, or grey – or even pink in some cases) boxes there can be a whole world of difference. Check out the technical specification and compare models on more than price alone.
A modern budget compact will produce pretty good results. The picture quality, build and features won’t match the fancier models but it will take a passable picture and you won’t have to worry about dropping it off the side of a mountain or into a pint glass. Once you pass the £100 mark the quality starts to increase. And the more you spend the better everything will get.
What to look for
Resolution: A digital camera’s image resolution is measured in megapixels. The higher the number, the higher resolution image you’ll get. This is one of the main factors in determining image quality but it’s not the only consideration. It’s easy to get hung up on these numbers but in reality, anything above 6 megapixels will produce amazing images that will be fine unless you want to blow them up to poster size. Anything above 10 megapixels will produce seriously huge images and processing them will require a powerful computer. To put it into context – the cameras being shoved into pop stars’ faces by the paparazzi only had 10 megapixels until fairly recently and now you can get more than 10 megapixels in some of the simpler models.
Lens: A camera with relatively few megapixels can produce better images than one with more if it has a better lens. Most lenses produced by the big manufacturers are truly excellent these days, but beware those flashy looking products from unknown brands at prices that sound too good to be true. It’s sensible to read impartial reviews once you’ve narrowed your choice down to a few models. Wide-angle lenses (22mm and under) are popular right now as they allow you to capture more of the action without having to get everyone to huddle up closer or keep walking backwards until someone trips over the dog!
Zoom (optical and digital): Zoom comes in two ‘flavours’: optical and digital. Optical is achieved in the traditional way – by moving an actual lens in and out to achieve the zoom effect. Digital zoom is a function of your camera’s electronics and will reduce image resolution and quality. Generally speaking, a wide optical zoom range will give you high quality results while digital zoom only really works on a camera with lots of megapixels to play with.
Image stabilisation: Remember all those shaky shots of you as a kid that your mum and dad took? Well your own images shouldn’t be nearly so blurry thanks to modern image-stabilisation technology. The camera will automatically compensate for trembling or movement to ensure sharp images, no matter how unsteady your hand might be. If you’re shooting inside without a flash, a camera with image stabilisation might give three sharp shots out of every five you take. Without stabilisation, you’re looking at more like one in five.
Screen: It might sound obvious but your camera’s screen lets you see what you’re shooting and is particularly important on those models without a traditional viewfinder (which are becoming more common). A good screen should be big enough and bright enough to let you see what you’re snapping even in bright sunlight or looking at it from an angle. Some modern models now have slick touchscreens just like your iPhone, but it’s still unclear just how useful these gadgets are in the real world. Cool though…
Modes and features: Higher-end compact cameras pack a lot of complex electronics into their tiny bodies that allow you to achieve the kind of results only professionals could previously reach. Where you once needed an encyclopaedic knowledge of depth of field, exposure times and lens apertures, all you need now is the ability to twiddle a knob to select the right mode – such as indoor, portrait, night-time, fireworks etc. Some more complex models include manual options for photographic black belts to fiddle with to their hearts’ content, but most mere mortals end up ignoring these.
Sensitivity: Higher-end digital compacts have much more receptive sensors which capture more light and will produce much better quality results in low light situations without using the flash, particularly when movement is involved.
Video: Most digital compacts offer video capture as standard now but quality varies. The top models can capture high-res HD moving pictures. But ask yourself if you want or need to pay for such high quality video if you’re only filming your friends doing bad karaoke.
Accessories etc
If you’ve just shelled out on a shiny new camera, you’re going to need a few bits and bobs to keep it in good nick.
Case: It’s going to get dropped and it’s going to get scratched – unless you keep it in a case. From inexpensive neoprene pouches to luxury Italian leather cases, the choice is yours. Choose one that’s going to meet your real-world needs though – Italian leather looks nice but is not renowned for its shock-absorbing properties.
Memory card: If you want to store more than a handful of images you’re going to need a memory card. Formats vary model by model (CompactFlash, MSM, SD and XD) so make sure you choose the right one for your camera. The number of images you can store depends on the size of the card (usually measured in gigabytes) and the resolution setting on your camera. The one you need will depend on how you’re planning to use your camera, but most people will want one big enough to store all the pictures you’re likely to take during a two-week holiday – a couple of hundred maybe.
Digital SLRs
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If you’re more interested in creating really stunning images than snapping your friends falling over, you’re going to want more control, quality and adaptability than even the best compacts can offer.
While relatively expensive, a consumer Digital SLR (single lens reflex) camera will be loads more affordable than the £20,000 cameras top professionals use in studios and on location. But because they benefit from the trickle-down of technology from the very top, modern DSLRs combine incredible performance with real adaptability – without requiring you to sell an organ.
SLR cameras have much bigger lenses that compacts which allows them to capture much more light. This in itself leads to better, clearer images. Crucially, SLR lenses can be swapped and changed to suit the specific shot you’re going for, be it a stunning mountain landscape or a fast-moving motorsport action shot.
Choose your system
There is no industry standard for lenses. If you buy a body from one manufacturer, you can only buy lenses specifically designed to fit it. So if you’re looking for a high-end set-up that will last for years, make sure you choose wisely – you don’t want to shell out for something that immediately becomes obsolete. You can buy additional lenses from independent companies to fit your particular system, which can be cheaper than the options from the big manufacturers.
Many SLRs are sold ‘body-only’, leaving the choice of lens entirely up to you, while others are sold as body and lens ‘kits’. Make sure you check which one you’re buying or it could prove costly.
Pixels Just like with compacts, don’t get obsessed with having more megapixels than the next bloke. Image quality depends on a wide range of factors, perhaps even more with SLRs than compacts.
Size SLRs aren’t necessarily whopping great lumps of metal anymore. In fact, smaller models that don’t need to be humped about in purpose-built bags are proving to be capable performers and more popular than ever. Think about your real world needs and ask yourself just how much size and weight matters. You don’t want to have to leave your camera at home because it weighs too much.
Technology Like their compact cousins, Digital SLRs feature a wide range of advanced functions designed to help you take better pictures – from movie modes and in-camera effects to high-quality image stabilisation and incredible low light performance. SLR lenses are pretty high-tech too – the latest superzooms have an incredible 18-250mm range. Look out for functions you’re really going to use and remind yourself of the kind of results you’re hoping to achieve. If you’re planning to get serious, choose something with enough functionality that will allow your skills to grow and develop.
Accessories Buying a DSLR opens up a whole new world of camera accessories. Some are genuine must-have items such as a proper flash, a bag, photo editing software and a tripod, while others might only be used occasionally such as lens filters, remote triggers and movement sensors. There’s enough out there to keep even the hungriest gear junkie satiated. The only limit is your imagination, your pay packet and how much you can carry.
Camcorders
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Nothing captures emotion like moving images and sound. And digital camcorders allow you to do that almost effortlessly. Pushing the boundaries of consumer technology ever forward, even the smallest digital camcorders can produce jaw-dropping results.
Basic models are now compact and affordable, and stunning HD quality is now beginning to make inroads into the mid-range market. And if that wasn’t enough, the world’s first stereoscopic 3D camcorder has just been released (though you’ll need a 3D TV to view the pictures).
With such a wide range of options now available, there’s something for everyone – from budding movie makers to proud mums and dads.
Pocket Camcorders
A fairly recent innovation, pocket camcorders are making a big impact. Affordable, fun and easy to use, these pocket sized cameras make it easier than ever to record your own footage and share it with friends.
Using a small LCD screen rather than the traditional viewfinder, these must-have gadgets capture high-quality (often HD) pictures using simple fingertip controls. Uploading to social media sites like Facebook, YouTube and MySpace can be done at the touch of a button, allowing you to broadcast your videos across the globe in an instant. Many models also allow you to share the fun with your friends in widescreen by hooking up to your big screen TV!
What to look for
Recording media: Remember tape? No, neither do we. Like digital cameras, most modern camcorders record onto a memory card or an internal memory, allowing you to film hours of risk-free footage before you have to download it to your computer.
HD: Many consumer cameras now record stunning high-definition pictures using ultra-high resolution sensors, the likes of which are seen in digital still cameras. Around 9 megapixels is more than enough for a video camera as even the most advanced televisions can only cope with so much detail.
Image size: Most camcorders on the market film in widescreen which is now the standard aspect ratio. If you find a deal that looks too good to be true, check it out to make sure you’re not buying old technology with a 4:3 frame.
Functions: Look out for some of the same functions a good digital stills camera would have such as image stabilisation, face recognition, optical and digital zoom and the ability to perform in low light conditions.
Screen: A large, good-quality, non-reflective screen will make it much easier to shoot what you want.
Connectivity: If you’re really serious about your filming, you might want to consider whether you need the option of plugging in an external microphone to make sure you capture the sound of what you’re shooting.
