JISC Photographic

Congratulations, you have decided to treat yourself to a digital camera!

Purchasing a new camera can be fraught with complications and potential disaster because there is so much to look into. First of all, there are numerous manufacturers of cameras out there all competing wildly for your sale so don’t be too eagerly seduced by the price tag. There is a lot more to a digital camera than a competitive price can unveil.

What expectations do you have of your prospective digital camera? Would you like a basic digital camera or prefer something professional?

If you are after a camera that requires no more ability from you than to be able to point and shoot, then the very basic digital camera ought to suit. An LCD screen of around two inches will allow you to browse your image immediately, so having one of these would undoubtedly be a good start!

If you enjoy gadgets, you will love the features on the most basic of digital cameras. But what exactly is a digital camera?

A digital camera produces instant results. It allows us to take photos or video via an electronic image sensor and cleverly provides an instant image to view the moment a picture has been shot. With film however, you would need to develop the image first. The digital camera is a complete godsend for photo journalists and businesses the world over who are required to produce results instantaneously. To top all else, a digital camera is able to store hundreds if not thousands of images on a tiny memory device.

The best kind of digital camera system to go for is that of a DSLR or Digital Single Lens Reflex camera. They offer a special viewing system that works when light is reflected by an in-built mirror from the lens and through an optical viewfinder. Many new DSLRs on the market offer a live viewing mode similar to the preview system on compact cameras.

So, in a nutshell, is there a best digital camera manufacturer to go for? Canon, Nikon, Panasonic or Olympus are all leading names in the digital camera market but the best way to get the best camera is to shop around and check out all the features on offer and how they compare. Better advice still is that you do this online - you’ll save considerable shoe leather! There are online forums to visit in order to clarify any nagging doubts. After doing the ‘legwork’ you will then be ready to visit the camera shops in the high street, to try some out for size and have a chat to the sales team.

After purchasing a digital camera, get to know it and practice taking shots. Then you are well on your way to taking fantastic pictures!!

Happy snapping!