What type of camera should you buy?

Point-and-shoot cameras are perfect for beginners who just want to click casual pictures without getting too in-depth with changing settings and modes before clicking photos. These cameras are usually compact, lightweight and have easy to use controls. Point-and-shoot cameras also come with a host of scene presets such as Beach, Snow, Fireworks, Landscape, Night Portrait, etc. Here, one just needs to select the mode for the scene to be clicked to capture a perfect image. On the other hand, DSLR cameras cater to the need of professional and enthusiast photographers who like to play around with settings before clicking more artistic, professional photos. DSLR cameras give users an access to manually change the setting based on the scene. What’s more, users can also buy interchangeable lenses for different kinds of photography - close-ups, family portraits, sports and wildlife photography.

Factors to consider before buying a camera

The size of the camera’s sensor plays a vital role in determining the quality of photos captured. It is either indicated as actual dimensions in millimetres or with labels such as 1/1.7-inch. By putting a larger sensor, manufacturers can easily increase the camera resolution. Many people have a common misconception higher image resolution determines the quality of the camera; it isn’t the case. However, the truth is, the number of megapixels is just one of several factors determining the picture quality. The image processors and sensors, each play a vital role resulting in better photo quality. Do note that, a large sensor does need a larger lens, more space and so the camera size also increases. The camera resolution is generally measured in megapixels. With the increase in resolution, you can get crisper and larger images. For a beginner to an intermediate photographer, camera resolution anywhere between 8MP-16MP is more than sufficient. The entry-level cameras and high-end point-and-shoot cameras are perfect to cater to the needs of beginners and average photographers. On the other hand, for professional photographers who want to click photos at events like weddings, receptions, birthdays, anniversaries and parties, DSLRs with resolution between 14MP to 38MP is great. Higher resolution cameras are good for printouts the size of billboards and posters. While the basic point-and-shoot cameras do away with the optical viewfinder, it is still available on advance point-and-shoot as digital screens. DSLRs usually have an optical viewfinder which is the preferred choice. A viewfinder is very helpful when it becomes difficult to view the screen under direct sunlight. The LCD on a camera is helpful for both framing and reviewing photos. Measured in dots – 230,000, 460,000, and 920,000, you should ideally look for the one with higher resolution for better clarity. Some newer camera models also come equipped with OLED displays and touchscreen functionality as well. Buying a camera with OLED display would be a good option as it can help in saving a considerable amount of battery.

Kinds of lenses available

The zooming capability of lenses allows you to get closer to the subject in focus without actually moving towards it. Digital cameras come with both, digital and optical zoom feature. While optical zoom results in good quality photos, digital zoom absolutely ruins the quality. We recommend turning this feature off, since its available in almost every point-and-shoot camera today. The zoom capacity of any digital camera is determined by the type of lens it comes equipped with. For instance, a 18-55mm lens on a DSLR has zoom capacity of around 3X. A lens is an important part of any camera assembly. There are different types of lenses available to suit the photography needs. While compact cameras come with a fixed lens, DSLR cameras give the user the ability to switch lenses. The aperture is one of the main things to keep in mind while considering lenses. These can give you control on the amount of light that enters the camera, and they also play an integral role in adding depth-of-field blur to the images which is ideal for portraits and macro photography. All DSLRs and almost all prosumer cameras give users the option to control the aperture manually, something basic point-and-shoot cameras don’t.

• Standard lens (30mm-70mm) is good for portraits and casual photography
• Telephoto lens (70mm to 300mm) is ideal for sports and portraits
• Super Telephoto (more than 300mm) is good for wildlife and sports photography
• Wide-angle (18mm-33mm) is good for landscapes, group and street photography
• Ultra wide-angle (less than 18mm) is good for architecture photography, like capturing photos of bridges, historical monuments, skyscrapers, etc.

Shutter Speed & Focus points

The shutter speed is also an important factor to look into when buying a camera lens. It is expressed in seconds. In general terms, the more the amount of time the aperture is open, the more amount of light reaches the camera sensor but it can make photos blurry. When capturing a photo, shutter speed can dramatically impact on how the moving objects appear. Shutter speeds are denoted in this manner - 1/2s, 1/4s, 1/250s, 1/1000s, 1/8000s, etc. Similarly, long exposure shutter speed is expressed as – 1s, 2s, 4s, 8s. For instance, using long exposure time, you can intentionally blur the moving objects to create an artistic effect. Similarly, short exposure time can be used for capturing fast moving objects. Before capturing a photo, a camera uses auto-focus points to focus on the subject. After pressing the shutter-release button halfway, you will first notice the focus points. Some cameras have 9, 11 or even 45 focus points. More the focus points, usually, faster the focusing and more accurate it is.

Battery type and capacity

Now the type of battery used in a camera and its capacity is an important aspect to consider when buying a camera. While most mid-budget and high-end cameras come with special rechargeable batteries, the entry-level compact cameras are compatible with AA size batteries. These cameras also allow you to use rechargeable Ni-CD and Ni-MH batteries. The more the battery capacity, the more number of photos your camera will allow you to capture. Remember that using the screen all the time and using flash can drastically reduce the battery.

• Image stabilization

When taking pictures indoors and outdoors, your hands are likely to shake a bit, which in turn will result in blurry images? A camera with image stabilization will compensate for your hand’s movement, and reduce or eliminate the blurriness. There are two common techniques used to obtain blur free images - OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) and DIS (Digital Image Stabilisation). So, if you intend to capture blur free photos and videos, look for a camera with these features in them.

• Video Recording Resolution

While most cameras can record videos, some are capable of recording 720p (30fps) videos whereas other support 1080p (30/60fps) video recording. So when looking for a digital camera, do look for its video recording resolution and frame rate. Higher frame rates are preferable as they tend to offer smoother video playback and the ability to create slow-motion videos.

• Flash

If you are planning to click photos in low light or in complete darkness, you may want to check how powerful the flash on the camera is. Having a digital camera with a good flash range will help you in clicking bright and more detailed images, even in complete darkness. Some manufacturers give the ratings of the flash in their specifications sheets.

Miscellaneous Features & Accessories

Most high-end digital cameras these days come with a GPS receiver. When you click a photo, the location information is also stored alongside the image. This is useful to sort the images by the places where you clicked them. Wi-Fi connectivity is another new addition in cameras these days. The feature allows you share and transfer the photos from your camera to a computer without having to connect it to a cable. Other features like Face Detection, Smile Detection, HDR (High Dynamic Range) and Panorama are some other features that you can look for in a digital camera. Of late, there are cameras being launched that run on Google’s Android OS. They include a large touchscreen and connectivity features such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. In terms of functionality, they work like any other Android device; except the lack of a calling feature. You can also download and install apps from the Google’s Play Store. So, you have all the freedom to download camera and photography apps from the Play Store, such as Camera360, FxCamera, etc. and click some amazing photos and be able to share them on popular social networking sites. Camera accessories are add-ons that you can purchase to use with your camera. Some of the popular camera accessories include covers and cases, a tripod stand, additional battery packs and interchangeable lenses. Wired and wireless remote controls are also available that let you click images from a distance. Memory cards with higher capacity up to 64GB are also available that can allow you to capture and record more photos and videos. However, before you buy a memory card, do look for the maximum capacity supported by your camera and the class of memory card. A higher class memory card supports faster read and write speeds, which is useful while clicking burst photos or doing high quality video recording. Some cameras are also compatible with optional flash guns that can offer more powerful light and thus let you capture brighter images in low light scenarios. The additional flash guns are powered with AA size batteries and do not require to be powered by the camera. Hopefully, this buying guide will have cleared some of the misconceptions and give you some tips on how to choose a camera properly. If you need further advice, head over to any of our Reliance Digital stores where an executive will be able to help you choose the right camera for your need.