It can be very overwhelming when you start shopping for cameras for the first time. This article highlights some areas for you to look out for when you’re choosing your camera.
Prices
Hopefully you didn’t think that cameras were free! They can get pretty pricey depending on the brand and functionality of the camera. The most cost efficient way to figure out how much to spend is to create a budget and narrow down the list of choices as much as you can. For example, if you are set on spending less than $1,000 on a camera, you will come across many options and may get overwhelmed. If you narrow that down even more, you can find a more specific selection of cameras for you to choose from.
Types of Cameras
All of the different types of cameras can be broken down into three types: DSLRs, Point-and-shoot, and mirrorless. These camera types are pretty distinct but their functionalities can also mesh together:
Point-and-shoot cameras are the most compact and convenient option. These types have a constant lens that is built into the camera. The lenses can’t be changed out, but the range of the zoom is very far. The price of these cameras can vary from inexpensive to expensive.
Mirrorless cameras are the most popular option in the market. Most mirrorless cameras will have interchangeable lenses like a DSLR camera but are smaller in size. While some can provide high-resolution images, mirrorless systems are a good compromise between versatility and quality.
DSLRs are classic-design cameras that come with all kinds of functionality and often come with the big lenses that are interchangeable. DSLRs can be on the cheaper side and can provide you good quality photos and provide you with a ton of control. However, the varying amount of lenses and flashes available can be overwhelming for beginners. The good thing is that all of these things, plus all the other gadgets available for DSLRs, can help you achieve all kinds of creative effects if you play around with different ideas.
Sensor
Cameras transitioned to digital when sensors replaced film. These sensors can differ in size and resolution, which is measured in megapixels as well as sensitivity to light. The biggest sensors with a high resolution tend to be on the pricey side. The majority of cameras use either a smaller sensor, which is known as a cropped frame, or a full frame. The best way to figure out how your camera’s megapixels will affect your image quality is to think of it as the resolution on your television. A higher resolution means a better quality image, and the same is true with the number of megapixels your camera has.
ISO
If you have ever used a camera with film, you may be familiar with this term. This is the measurement of the sensitivity that the sensor has to light. For shooting in low-light conditions, you will want to look at options that not only shoot at a high ISO of 1600 or more but still produce decent pictures.
Ease of Use
As you are likely upgrading from your smartphone camera, you should be looking for a user-friendly option such as an entry-level DSLR, mirrorless camera, or a decent compact camera with good performance. This way, you won’t be spending a lot of money on a high-end camera and will be getting the basic features you need to learn photography.
Resolutions (Megapixels)
Megapixels are one of the primary selling points of camera brands. You might have noticed some cameras offering up to 80-90 megapixels. But do you really need all those megapixels? Huge megapixel cameras let you produce big prints with a lot of details and help you get a magnified view. But these are not great for capturing photos in low light. Moreover, if you are not really looking to capture such gigantic prints, then you can opt for a decent one.
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