Buying a camera is no easy task especially for a beginner. There are many options available in the market from different sizes, capabilities to differences in pixels.
Have you finally decided to upgrade from your mobile phone camera? great choice!
Let’s take a look at some important considerations when buying your first camera.
- Cost
Naturally, this is the first thing that will come to mind when you decide to make the investment of getting yourself a camera.
You want to come up with a budget and narrow it down as much as you can.
What was that, what do I mean narrow it down, you said?
Well, if say you wanted to spend not more than $1,000 on your camera, there are too many options available under this price.
A better alternative is to say between $700 and $1,000. Now the list gets smaller.
Remember cameras come with accessories such as lenses and tripods and you will need to factor this as well.
Note that higher priced models are usually of better quality and come with better features than their lower priced friends. Keep this in mind when deciding on a budget.
- Camera type
There are 3 main types of cameras that you should be aware of in order to make the right choice between them. These are point-to-shoot cameras, DSLR cameras, and mirrorless cameras.
The point-and-shoot type is small, compact and easy to carry. The lenses are inbuilt and feature a decent zoom.
One thing about mirrorless cameras is that they are very simple to change the lenses. They come in a variety of features depending on quality.
DSLR or digital single lens reflex cameras are the most popular. They feature different lenses and offer the most options from buttons to Wi-Fi connectivity.
- Sensor
Remember the old cameras that came with a film?
Well, the film was replaced by the sensor. Sensors come in varying megapixels and are different as far as their sensibility to light is concerned. This is why they are such an important consideration.
It then comes as no surprise that the bigger the sensor and the more sensitive it is to light, the pricier the camera tends to be.
- ISO
Speaking of light sensitivity, you need to learn about the sensors ISO.
ISO measures how sensitive the sensor is to light. For the best images in low light conditions, go for a high ISO of 1:1600 and above.
- Lenses
These are super important as light first gets in through the lenses.
Go for lenses that have a decent zoom, allows plenty of light and are able to provide clear and crisp images without distortion.
Note that higher magnifications are not always the best as they could affect image quality. It’s about finding the right balance. The image should be as natural as possible when trying out the camera.
- Plenty more stuff.
Cameras can be a tricky equipment to buy with all the available accessories. Other things that you may need to consider include the built-in flash, touch screen, tripod, weather sealing, memory card slots, and video features.
