Thinking of Going Digital? (Pt 1)

Digital cameras seem to be the trend of the future nowadays. People from almost all areas of photography are jumping onto the digital bandwagon - wedding photographers, amateur enthusiasts, and especially point-and-shooters. Digital photography truly has its advantages for most photographers. Despite the higher initial investment, you can imagine how much money and time you can save when you don't have to worry about buying and processing film. Especially with the Internet as the preferred form of communication, digital files become much more convenient than paying for scans or scanning pictures yourself.

So, if you're that average point-and-shooting consumer, are you ready for a digital camera? One of the first things to consider is how much and how often you shoot. If you take your camera with you everywhere, you're sure to save on film and developing costs. If you tend to take one or two shots and forget your camera for a year, a regular film camera isn't for you. However, whether you chose digital or an instant camera, in this case, is up to your wallet. For those that already have a film point-and-shoot that they are very happy with, perhaps investing in a negative scanner (remember they also make attachments for the cheaper flatbed scanners) would be the better route. There are many factors to consider beyond just how you use your camera and your budget. In the end, if you feel you're ready for it, you're ready to start looking for your digital camera.

Having sold cameras for several years, the most common question I got was "well, which camera do you recommend?" This was one question I always dodged because what works for me and what I like in a camera is quite individual. There are many aspects of a camera to consider before making your purchase. It's up to you, the consumer, and not the salesperson to figure out what has priority over the other details. Three factors, however, tend to be the top considerations.

First, how much do you want to spend on this purchase? Keep in mind that the camera will probably not be the only item you'll be getting. Digital cameras come with a miniscule starter memory card (8-32MB), so the chance of you buying something bigger (128MB+) is very high. Also, unless you already have a case or don't intend to take the camera outside your house, a case or bag to carry and protect the camera will be very helpful. Digital cases, as I've experienced, tend to be more padded, and consequently more expensive, than similarly sized and featured analog camera cases. Additional warranties, extra batteries, AC adaptors, extra battery chargers, tripods, etc. There are many things you can add to this purchase, so figure out beforehand what you need so you can have an accurate measure of how much of your budget remains for the actual camera.

Secondly, figure out what you'd want to do with the pictures you take. Will they only be posted on websites? Will they be emailed to friends? The 5MB jpg file that can come out of a 4-MP camera may be bulkier than you want. But, if you wanted to print these pictures out or make enlargements, you'll need that extra resolution. In any case, a higher MP camera will give you more leeway in terms of editting, resizing, etc. And, the resolutions available to you will usually be determined by your budget.

Lastly, what others think about a camera after having used them tends to indicate which ones are more reliable, easier to use, etc. Consumer reports are a good way to start but also ask around among friends, coworkers, and even salespeople at the camera store. Salesmen have a lot of time to play with every camera in stock, and, if they didn't, you may not want to be talking to them about what camera is best anyway. But, as with any kind of advice, take it all with a grain of salt. What the photography geek behind the counter likes in a camera may not be what you want or need, so there are personal preferences to consider. Part 2 covers the other common variables that can influence your decision.