Tip #22: Buying a Camera -- Part 2

I took a walk around a Frys store last evening. Wow! The camera department must have had 200 different models. The choices truly were overwhelming. My recommendation to visit a camera specialty store has been confirmed. Do it to save your sanity.

About five years ago, I was faced with the decision to buy a new camera. A new grandson was on the way, and I knew I wanted a camera better than the point-and-shoot, a Casio Z3, that I had used for several years. I knew I wanted less shutter lag -- the time between pushing the shutter and the time that a photo is taken. I knew I wanted to return to an SLR format, and I knew I wanted to stay digital. I spent hours researching on the Internet, and finally, I walked into a camera shop and asked the guy behind the counter to help. I had always heard that Nikon was a good camera, so I let the discussion go in that direction. The dealer was very helpful and recommended a couple of models.

I returned to the Internet to read reviews of the models that I learned about at the store. I found Ken Rockwell's web site and read his reviews. Ken does a very thorough review and makes good recommendations. His current proclamation of the finest point-and shoot camera is a Canon model. He also made a very solid review of the Nikon DSLR that I favored. I bought the D40x and shot with it for several years. About a year ago, I upgraded to a Nikon D7000, selling my D40x to a friend that was just getting started.

What's left to do? There are many factors in the decision process. Do your online research. Introduce yourself to a camera dealer in your area and get better educated, then enjoy the camera that you buy. In the central Texas area, I highly recommend Precision Camera.

Still need a recommendation, here is one I gave to friends a short while back:

BTW, the Nikon web address is www.nikonusa.com. The camera models that I mentioned are the D3100, D5100, and D7000. Depending on your budget, any of them would work great for you. All three are SLR cameras and are a major step up from either a phone camera or a small point-and-shoot. I highly recommend a visit to Precision Camera. The staff, there, are very knowledgable and can help you with your decisions. They often have specials for camera body and lens purchases [as do most dealers].

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Tip #21: Buying a Camera -- Part 1

On the topic of buying a camera, I must warn you, I am biased toward quality. As a result, my first recommendation for you is to find a local camera dealer and spend some time in the shop, looking and browsing. The camera specialty stores have trained staff that are usually photographers, themselves, and the shops are typically certified and authorized dealers for the equipment that they sell and repair. They will will also let you hold the product and will explain all the controls. Be prepared to answer the question, "what kind of pictures do you want to take?"

Avoid the department stores and big-lots stores, at least until you become educated. The department stores are typically authorized dealers, but the staff is trained to sell a little bit of everything and may not have the skills or knowledge beyond what they read on the glossy product brochures. When you have become educated about the various products, you may be tempted to buy a great deal. Consider this: when you walk out, the giant department store no longer knows you.

Which camera style should you purchase? If you have a recent vintage camera phone, learn to use it. If you prefer a separate camera, then you have many choices. There are point-and-shoot models; there are 4/3 cameras; there are mirror-less models; there are models that take movies; there are models with more pixels and fewer pixels; and there are DSLR's. In short, there are so many products that the choices are overwhelming. Generally, you cannot go wrong, if you choose something from Canon or Nikon. There are other good manufacturers, but, like I said, I am biased toward quality.

Stay tuned for Part 2.


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Tip #17: Take Pictures

Practice makes perfect, so here we go.

This tip is an audience participation tip. Choose a subject, any ol' subject, and take 25 shots of that object. Try different camera settings, use flash, don't use flash, daytime, nighttime, try different angles, up close and not so close, just take photos of your one chosen subject. Then, choose the best shot of your collection of 25, and send it to me, along with a short description of what you learned from the exercise. I will build a gallery of our images with descriptions for everyone to enjoy.

Send your photos to dave@awestruck-images.com.

To practice what I teach, I will take my 25, too. Happy Shooting!

Click here to visit Shoot-25 gallery.




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Tip #12: Who to Follow

If you are reading this, then you know there must be more. I follow several photographers and consider them mentors. They may not know me, but I know them and their work. On my main site, Awestruck Images, I list several links to other photographers. The list ranges from pros who write books and teach to those that have taken family photos of me and mine. I have learned something from them all.

You can find the links on the right hand side of the main page just below the posting archive.


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