![]()
Chapter 1: Picking Out the Right Camera
Before you are able to go out and take award winning pictures or make photography your full time income, you need to be able to pick out the right camera that will make all the difference in how well the pictures look. There are many different types of cameras that you can choose from and it all depends on what you would like to do. For example, you will need a different camera for fast action sports compared to family portraits. Figuring out what you would like to do with the camera and how much you have to spend for the features can help you to make the right decision.
Fundamentals of the Camera
Sensitivity, aperture, and exposure are three of the most important things that you can use to help your pictures look amazing. The exposure is how long your shutter is going to be open; the shorter amount of time, the faster paced pictures that you can take without all the blur. The aperture is how wide your shutter will open, affecting how much light is able to get into the picture. The sensitivity is how sensitive the film or the sensor is to the light that comes into the picture.
A fast exposure is important if you would like to reduce the amount of blur that is in your picture or freeze some of the movement that is going on. You will want to have a fast exposure for pictures that include a lot of movement such as sports events, racing, and so on. A slow exposure can be nice when you are worried about poor lighting and want to still get a good picture. You will have to find a nice medium based on how much speed is going on, how much you are worried about the blur, and how much light is in your picture.
Next on the list is the aperture. A small aperture is going to limit the amount of light that you are able to get into the picture, but it will give you a better amount of depth of field, or focus into the picture. For example, if you have a face that is sharply focused but your background keeps coming out blurred, your depth of field is not deep enough. But if there is something in the foreground and something in the background that are both focused, your depth of field, and the aperture, are both working great.
Picking the Right Camera
Once you understand some of the basics of a good camera and how you can make the right decision for your camera needs. Here are some of the things that you need to consider when it comes to picking out the perfect camera.
Define Needs
The first thing that you will need to decide is what you would like to accomplish with this camera. A camera for parties is going to work differently than one for traveling or taking pictures of high action sports. So before you get started searching for a new camera, take the time to write down your goals for the camera. What do you plan on using the camera primarily for? This can help to narrow down some of the choices that you have.
If you plan on using the camera a lot you should invest in one that is higher quality. Cheaper cameras may help to save you some money upfront, but if you use them a lot you are going to find they break and won’t last as long as you would like. For those who are just getting into photography and want to take a few pictures here and there for fun, a less expensive camera is fine. But if you are interested in starting a photography business and will use the camera on a constant basis, pick one that is higher in quality so you won’t have to rebuy a camera just a few months down the line.
Figure Out a Price
You will need to decide how much you would like to spend on your camera. While you should budget a little higher to get a good quality camera, there is still a lot of variation in the prices of these cameras as well. Finding the middle ground between a good quality camera and the price that you are willing to spend is sometimes a challenge, but being a little bit flexible on both can help you bring the perfect camera home.
Choose Digital or Analog
Both of these are going to have benefits as well as negative and it is often about what you want out of your camera. Analog is the film camera and many professionals as well as hobbyists have switched over to this kind of camera, or stayed with it in the first place. These are able to provide the high quality that you are looking for in your pictures while costing less. There isn’t an issue with noise like some digital cameras although there can be an issues with grain on the film. If you are planning on taking lots of pictures though, you will find that producing the film is going to get expensive. Add a scanner to your budget to save some money on producing your pictures if you want extra copies.
Digital is growing in popularity because of the cost of printing film pictures can get expensive. Plus you get the advantage of checking out your pictures as you take them to ensure you are getting the perfect picture each time, which can save you a lot of money in the end. As a beginner, you may want to consider a cheaper digital camera so you can get some practice using the camera and figuring out which features you want before spending more money.
SLR Versus Point and Shoot
If you are going with a digital camera, it is time to learn the difference between point and shoot and SLR. Point and shoot cameras are ones that you will be able to point your camera at your chosen subject, zoom out or in, and then take the picture. These do not take much effort and are great for the beginner photographer who doesn’t know how to adjust all the di...
