Buying a digital camera can be both exciting and exhausting. With such a vast selection available, you might feel swamped and confused several times in the process. The most important thing to remember is to take your time to look at a variety of models and pick one that suits your specific needs and budget.
Sensor sizes
When you’re looking for a camera, one of the most important things to check is the size of its sensor. In general, a larger sensor will give you photos with better quality, but they will also cost a lot more money.
There are generally 5 major sensor sizes that you need to be familiar with: 1 / 3.2”, 1”, Four Thirds, APS-C, and Full Frame. These sensors are arranged in order of size from smallest to biggest. 1 / 3.2” sensors are the smallest ones and are usually found in budget compact cameras. 1” sensors are typically used in bridge or advanced compact cameras. Mirrorless cameras often use the four thirds sensor although some have upgraded to APS-C. Many entry-level and professional DSLRs use the APS-C sensor, but there are some pro DSLRs or even mirrorless cameras that make use of the largest sensor which is the full frame sensor.
Budget is usually the most common limiting factor when it comes to choosing which sensor to pick. Full frame cameras are incredibly expensive, so they are only advisable for use by professional photographers. Don’t worry, though. A Four Thirds camera and cameras that use the APS-C sensor can also produce great photographs with the right lenses and when used by a good photographer.
Types of digital cameras
The section above briefly covered the main types of cameras. In this section, you’ll get to know more about each type.
- Compact Camera – Compact or point-and-shoot cameras are the preferred cameras of casual photographers. They’re very basic and user-friendly, so if you just need a camera to take photos during family gatherings or small occasions, they can serve you well.
- Bridge Camera – A bridge camera offers some DSLR functions such as a full manual mode and longer zoom ranges, but they’re still a fixed-lens type. They’re aptly named because they serve as bridges between compact cameras and DSLRs.
- Mirrorless – Mirrorless cameras are interchangeable lens cameras that offer almost the same functionalities as DSLRs. They’re called mirrorless because they literally don’t have a mirror. This also makes them lighter and faster than most DSLRs.
- Entry/Pro DSLRs – These are the cameras of choice for people who want to become serious photographers (or are already serious photographer). They offer full manual control, a wide selection of lenses and accessories, and exceptional color depth and image quality.
- Full Frame Pro DSLRs – Full frame DSLRs are very bulky cameras that offer unrivaled image quality. Many professional photographers use them to produce high-quality photos that are publishable in magazines or newspapers or for professional event photography. They are pretty expensive, so they’re not advisable for beginners.
Megapixels
Many rookie camera buyers get fooled by the notion that more megapixels mean higher quality photos. While more megapixels allow you to print larger photos or crop bigger parts of your picture without pixelation, they don’t necessarily mean better quality photos. Most mirrorless and DSLR cameras today carry around 16 megapixels which is more than enough for regular photography purposes. Unless you’re planning to print your photos on tarpaulins or show them on billboards, you don’t really need to worry too much about megapixels.
Lenses and accessories
Another thing to keep in mind when buying a digital camera is to take note of what lenses and accessories are available for your camera model. In the case of mirrorless cameras and DSLRs, you’ll probably have to stick with a system for a long time so invest wisely.
Now that you know the basics, you can feel more confident when it comes to picking out your photography gear.
Guest post thanks to George Finlayson