Comments on: A Guide on how to buy a Digital Camera for the Rest of Us http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/2010/01/how-to-buy-a-digital-camera/ Just a Girl trying to find a balance between being a Shopaholic and a Saver Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:24:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Meg http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/2010/01/how-to-buy-a-digital-camera/comment-page-1/#comment-34175 Meg Tue, 12 Jan 2010 06:10:26 +0000 http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/?p=4744#comment-34175 I've got a Canon P&S (an Elph, 1200 something I think) and a Nikon dSLR. Sowwie FB, I love love love my dSLR. ;) I'm also the crazy nut who carries a tiny backpack with said dSLR, planning to take it everywhere and snap one picture a day for 2010. (11 days in and so far, so good.) For most people, P&S is definitely good enough. I know my Canon does excellent macro photography, and you even get some of the blur I can easily achieve with my SLR; it was my first P&S that would do that. But, if you're crazy like me and can sacrifice or inconvenience yourself or just enjoy the heck outta photography, an SLR is the most fun toy ever. :P I've got a Canon P&S (an Elph, 1200 something I think) and a Nikon dSLR.

Sowwie FB, I love love love my dSLR. ;) I'm also the crazy nut who carries a tiny backpack with said dSLR, planning to take it everywhere and snap one picture a day for 2010. (11 days in and so far, so good.)

For most people, P&S is definitely good enough. I know my Canon does excellent macro photography, and you even get some of the blur I can easily achieve with my SLR; it was my first P&S that would do that. But, if you're crazy like me and can sacrifice or inconvenience yourself or just enjoy the heck outta photography, an SLR is the most fun toy ever. :P

]]> By: Lisa@waterstonephoto http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/2010/01/how-to-buy-a-digital-camera/comment-page-1/#comment-33817 Lisa@waterstonephoto Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:28:00 +0000 http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/?p=4744#comment-33817 I think you just about covered everything - except the megapixels. The max number of MPs required for a decent 8x10 enlargement (given the photo was taken on optical zoom and not digital) is 8MP. That's what one of my SLRs runs with. Something else to consider when purchasing a camera are things like a timer and tripod screw. I would also suggest that the camera has a optical viewfinder; sometimes those digital screens take up a lot of battery power! Final note, how durable is it? When considering the purchase price of a new camera, you've got to take into account the quality of the body. Plastic coverings on the card/battery slot? If they snap, it'll be easier for the camera to get dirty inside. Just a thought. Great post though. Thanks for sharing! I think you just about covered everything – except the megapixels.

The max number of MPs required for a decent 8×10 enlargement (given the photo was taken on optical zoom and not digital) is 8MP. That's what one of my SLRs runs with.

Something else to consider when purchasing a camera are things like a timer and tripod screw. I would also suggest that the camera has a optical viewfinder; sometimes those digital screens take up a lot of battery power!

Final note, how durable is it? When considering the purchase price of a new camera, you've got to take into account the quality of the body. Plastic coverings on the card/battery slot? If they snap, it'll be easier for the camera to get dirty inside. Just a thought.

Great post though. Thanks for sharing!

]]> By: Mrs. Money http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/2010/01/how-to-buy-a-digital-camera/comment-page-1/#comment-33802 Mrs. Money Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:52:32 +0000 http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/?p=4744#comment-33802 I think it's imperative to have a good memory card and extra battery too! Great guide here! I think it's imperative to have a good memory card and extra battery too! Great guide here!

]]> By: Frugal Trenches http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/2010/01/how-to-buy-a-digital-camera/comment-page-1/#comment-33809 Frugal Trenches Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:34:47 +0000 http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/?p=4744#comment-33809 oh my gosh this is fabulous!!!! oh my gosh this is fabulous!!!!

]]> By: marisol http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/2010/01/how-to-buy-a-digital-camera/comment-page-1/#comment-33792 marisol Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:10:34 +0000 http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/?p=4744#comment-33792 Great post! I just purchased a digicam for my mom and had to do some research for her since her needs and mine are completely different. One thing that I am going to suggest she do is read the manual. So many people don't read it and then wonder why their camera isn't doing what it said it would. Great post! I just purchased a digicam for my mom and had to do some research for her since her needs and mine are completely different. One thing that I am going to suggest she do is read the manual. So many people don't read it and then wonder why their camera isn't doing what it said it would.

]]> By: StackingPennies http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/2010/01/how-to-buy-a-digital-camera/comment-page-1/#comment-33781 StackingPennies Thu, 07 Jan 2010 02:01:17 +0000 http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/?p=4744#comment-33781 Just after I bought my camera, image stabalization became pretty popular. If I were to replace my P&S, I'd look for that as a feature (helps for those of us w/out a steady hand!) Other than that, you covered it. Just after I bought my camera, image stabalization became pretty popular. If I were to replace my P&S, I'd look for that as a feature (helps for those of us w/out a steady hand!)

Other than that, you covered it.

]]> By: girlmakescents http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/2010/01/how-to-buy-a-digital-camera/comment-page-1/#comment-33777 girlmakescents Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:43:00 +0000 http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/?p=4744#comment-33777 Good guide! I have an elph too and LOVE it. Best camera I've ever had, just wish I got a different colour than the plain blue I have, but ah well. The thing I like about it that is different from a lot of other cameras is the setting where you can pick out one colour in a scene and have everything else black and white! So it would only pick out the blues in the scene, or the greens, pinks, etc depending on what you chose, makes for some fancy pics. Although you can also do this on photoshop, it's way easier on the camera. Good guide! I have an elph too and LOVE it. Best camera I've ever had, just wish I got a different colour than the plain blue I have, but ah well. The thing I like about it that is different from a lot of other cameras is the setting where you can pick out one colour in a scene and have everything else black and white! So it would only pick out the blues in the scene, or the greens, pinks, etc depending on what you chose, makes for some fancy pics. Although you can also do this on photoshop, it's way easier on the camera.

]]> By: E_Z http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/2010/01/how-to-buy-a-digital-camera/comment-page-1/#comment-33761 E_Z Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:45:48 +0000 http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/?p=4744#comment-33761 Otherwise, good points overall. I don't know much about digital cameras, but I'd avoid Sony anything. They really haven't done much good since their innovative days of the Walkman & Discman. Just check out reviews for their laptop, Vaio. Canons are a safe bet for user-ability and quality. I haven't heard much or checked out Samsung, but they have a model with an extra-wide viewer because it's touchscreen, so no buttons to take space! And it apparently has a screen on the front so you can see yourself better for self-shots. That is a game-changer in my opinion folks. Expect Canon to match that in the next year or two. As for a video function, it may not be too important, but could be useful in more intimate settings. *wink, wink* :D Otherwise, good points overall. I don't know much about digital cameras, but I'd avoid Sony anything. They really haven't done much good since their innovative days of the Walkman & Discman. Just check out reviews for their laptop, Vaio.

Canons are a safe bet for user-ability and quality. I haven't heard much or checked out Samsung, but they have a model with an extra-wide viewer because it's touchscreen, so no buttons to take space! And it apparently has a screen on the front so you can see yourself better for self-shots. That is a game-changer in my opinion folks. Expect Canon to match that in the next year or two.

As for a video function, it may not be too important, but could be useful in more intimate settings. *wink, wink* :D

]]> By: Alissa http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/2010/01/how-to-buy-a-digital-camera/comment-page-1/#comment-33744 Alissa Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:55:45 +0000 http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/?p=4744#comment-33744 I'm so glad you didn't say anything about MegaPixels. People always want the BIGGEST MP camera out there. Guess what? They don't matter unless you plan on blowing the picture up to like ginormous - which most of us don't do. Just from prior experience, I like to buy lots of 2G memory cards now rather than one big one. I was taking pictures with my giant card - and it corrupted - losing EVERYTHING. So I like to take some pics, switch it out for another day and take more pics so I don't lose anything. I'm so glad you didn't say anything about MegaPixels. People always want the BIGGEST MP camera out there. Guess what? They don't matter unless you plan on blowing the picture up to like ginormous – which most of us don't do.

Just from prior experience, I like to buy lots of 2G memory cards now rather than one big one. I was taking pictures with my giant card – and it corrupted – losing EVERYTHING. So I like to take some pics, switch it out for another day and take more pics so I don't lose anything.

]]> By: SAM http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/2010/01/how-to-buy-a-digital-camera/comment-page-1/#comment-33760 SAM Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:44:56 +0000 http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/?p=4744#comment-33760 Shutter lag time. I've had t on of great little digital camera with terrible shutter lag. Unfortunate. Shutter lag time. I've had t on of great little digital camera with terrible shutter lag. Unfortunate.

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