These days, many people use their smartphone to take photos. They’re excellent for capturing snaps on the move or taking selfies. However, if you want to take your photography a bit more seriously, a smartphone camera isn’t going to do. It can only do so much before you need some more options. So you will probably want to look for a digital camera to help you take your photos. You might want something you can carry with you everywhere or just a camera you can have on special occasions. Before you decide which one to buy, consider the factors below.
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What Do You Want to Use It For?
The first thing you need to think about is for what purpose you want your camera. For most people, it will be a casual gadget that they get out whenever they’re having fun. You want to use it to preserve memories when you go on vacation or to get pictures of your friends. However, you might be thinking about taking photography more seriously. If you are, you probably don’t want to jump straight into getting a professional camera. You’ll end up with a complicated camera and too many options you might not even use. Another option is to get a bridge camera, between a simple digital one and a professional one. It will offer you more control over your photos without overwhelming you.
How Portable Should It Be?
There’s no doubt that you will want to carry your camera around. But some cameras are more portable than others. Do you want to be able to slip it into your pocket or the phone pocket in your bag? Or are you fine with a camera that takes up more space and perhaps even needs its own bag? You can get plenty of small digital cameras that you can carry with you wherever you go. For example, the Canon PowerShot G7 is small enough that you won’t notice it’s in your bag most of the time.
Essential Specs to Compare
There are lots of specifications you should look at when you buy a camera. You might be unfamiliar with a lot of them, so consider these:
- Megapixels (MP) – most cheaper cameras will have at least 14Mp
- Zoom – look for at least 5x optical zoom
- Image stabilization – this helps you take clearer pictures by reducing blurriness
- WiFi – with WiFi, you can upload photos straight from your phone, sometimes to Facebook and other social media
- Face detection – if you mostly photograph people, this helps to recognize faces
Your Budget
Of course, you also need to consider your budget. The better the camera, the most expensive it’s going to be. But you don’t want to spend too much on a camera that’s too complicated for you. You could pay a few hundred or even less, or you could spend thousands on a professional camera. It’s worth paying a bit more for something that will last longer.
There are lots of things to consider if you need a new digital camera. Don’t make your purchase before you’ve given it a lot of thought.