Digital Photo Resources
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Research - It's THE Most Important Part of a Camera PurchaseNo one wants to spend their precious time or money only to find out later they could have gotten an easier solution, a better deal or a better product. Believe me, I know, because I have been a victim of my own lack of knowledge more than once. That's why at Digital-Photographic-Resources, we decided to share information about which digital cameras, photographic gear, software, and teaching are the most popular. In that context, we also examine user satisifaction to provide you a way to get to the bottom line with much less time and effort invested.
First: Choose a Camera That Is Right For You There is usually a temptation to get the most expensive camera and supporting gear that your money can buy. The sad thing is that there are so many great cameras sitting on shelves just because the persont that bought it does not know how to use it and has not had the time to learn. It would be so much better if you are simply taking the photos you want to take, even if it is with a throw-away camera. The bottom line here is to get somethng you can actually use. Perhaps you upgrade, but upgrade to something that is reasonable, or have a plan to learn how to use the camera and gear you are buying. Get something you are comfortable with. Now, that is easier said than done in these times of major advancements in camera technology. There are now so many options, from simple point and shoot models to mirrorless cameras with interchangable lenses, to inexpensive digital SLRs, to hugely expensive full frame digital SLRs. Camera Trial by FireOne of the best suggestions I have ever heard is to do a hands-on trial of the camera you propose to purchase at a camera store. (Even better, if your friend owns the model you are considering, borrow it and take some photos with it.) Don't buy the camera when you are trying it out. This is very important. Avoid the impulse to slap down the plastic just because you are there and the salesperson is looking at you expectantly. Oh, I forgot to say that you should take a storage card with you when you go. Then take the storage card home and upload the photos to your computer to check out the quality. Do they look like you want? Was the camera easy to handle and figure out the settings? If your answers are not a definite, resounding YES, move on to the next model. Don't rush. This is a decison that you will have to live with. Is Price Your Major Deciding Factor?I have been there many times on this one. Just know that there are lots of models in the same price range, and most are different with regard to what they offer. You can probably get a good camera for what you have to spend. This is where reading buyer ratings comes in. Search for a camera that has the special features you want. That should be your first priority. You will find one at the price you want, that is unless you want a full frame DSLR for $500. You must be reasonable in your expectations. SLR (single lens reflex) Interchangeable-Lens CamerasMore and more folks are buying these types of cameras. There is good news. Prices are coming down, especially on entry level digital SLRs. And now there is a whole new market with the emergence of four-thirds cameras and mirrorless cameras. The mirrorless design is very competitive with traditional DSLRs as far as price is concerned. Add to that the size of the camera can be much smaller because of the mirror being removed. This is quite attractive to people who don't want the weight and bulk of a professional camera. HD Video is also becoming a major player in still cameras. It is almost possible to be a professional videographer using a still camera equipped with video. The quality is that good. Compact Cameras (aka Point and Shoot Cameras)Many of us still like cameras that can be carried in a purse or pocket, and technology has also been improving on these little gems. For you, this may be the best option. Even though the image quality is not as good as the more expensive SLR cameras, it is getting better. And not everyone takes photos that will be printed in wall-sized murals anyway, so a compact digital is fine. There are also many of these compacts that have lots of controls for the photographer to be able to take the exact picture they want. Of course there are the pro-sumer cameras that are like compacts on steroids. They are not as small so they don't fit into a pocket, yet they are smaller than a DSLR. And they have capabilities close to those of the DSLRs, some even able to shoot RAW. Cameras that Rate: Equipment: I have taken the time to research digital camera web sites and blogs to find out which cameras the experts are touting as the best. There are many camera review sites on the Net, but the two that I use most are www.imaging-resources.com and dpreview.com. The folks at these two sites have "scientifically" examined every aspect of the cameras and equipment they review, and I know I can trust their evaluations. And, just as important, in my estimation, are the user ratings. Are the folks who buy the products satisfied that they got good value when they laid out their hard-earned cash! The bottom line: It really is not the "bottom line" on this page, but look for this reference at the bottom of each review or comparison web page. For the recommendations on this website, I have combined the technical reviews and the overall user satisfaction. Photo Processing Techniques: Again, I have spent countless hours and days learning how to process my digital pictures. Find easy to understand tutorials right here (soon). Get the best online training. Photo Editing Applications: Software applications abound. Which ones are the best? Can I edit my photos without spending a king's ransom? Yep, it's all here. I'm glad you found this site. I hope you will find exactly what you need here. Feel free to browse. Buying Online: In my humble opinion, it is much better to purchase your cameras or software online for two reasons.
**Beware of purchasing Hardware (such as cameras.. especially cameras) and Software from online dealers who have less than excellent credentials. ALWAYS check for buyer reviews before committing your $$$ to a new, seemingly incredible deal. When buying cameras, there are some online stores that will offer an unsually low price on an item, then try to force the buyer to purchase addtional products such as batteries or memory cards that are ridiculouly overpriced. Or worse even, they sell inferior products from other countries that are not covered by manufacturer's warranties. Go to ResellersRatings.com and type these online camera stores into the search box to compare the results (hint - two have excellent ratings and two have "bottom-of-the-barrel" ratings):
Highly Recommended Online Camera Stores B&H Photo
Amazon.com Abes Of Maine Using the Links on this website: As noted above, the recommended online stores that you arrive at when using the links are highly recommended and reputable sellers of cameras, hardware, and software. You will recieve the best treatment and usually the best price. When these links are used, there is a percentage of the sale that comes back to Digital-Photographic-Resources.com so that I can do what I do - providing you with the very best information. Using the purchase links does not affect the price you pay in any way. Thanks very much for your patronage. |
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is by far the easiest store to purchase just about anything - rating is 8.11