So Foto Tip Friday hey, here it is! I have done random postings in the past which vary, so everything from photoshop tips, choosing the right camera, lighting, copyright, pricing and so forth. It seems like there would be loads to write about but its often difficult deciding if I know enough about a subject and therefore can write about it. I have decided to therefore just write what I know! There are a million Photo Techniques and Tip sites out there so the internet is a great resources for learning more.
For some of the old lessons see below.
Today I am going to talk about buying a camera. I have posted about this before and included it on my discussions in the Facebook group however it is a question I get asked all the time, so thought it doesn't hurt to throw it up here again. Next week, we can tackle something new!
So, you have decided to buy a digital camera. Now are you going for SLR or soemthing you can throw in your handbag and take on a night out? This should be one of your first questions and if you dont know, then budget is always a good place to start!
- How much do you have to spend?If you are looking at more than £250 then I would say yes, go for an SLR. Why not?! You can get a whole load of decent camera's these days which give easy, user functions alongside changeable lenses and large memory.
- Memory isnt everything! I am not saying that a 14mb camera isn't any better than an 8mb but its not all about size! The majority will depend on the processor within the camera and also the functions it has in terms of if you have the option of shooting JPEG, Tiff or Raw. So don't just think big! Raw is the best 'type' of image you can shoot, Tiff being the next one down and then JPEG. Bare this in mind if you are looking at shooting high speed stuff or if you know you will be photographing things in the dark or low lighting conditions.
- Size again! Ok so look at the size of the camera. If you are just using it to take on a night out then you don't want something big and bulky. Test them in your hand and carry them around, get a weight and size that is comfortable for you and where you may be using it.
- I personally would recommend leaning towards the larger companies like Canon, Nikon, Olympus and Sony. They aren't market hoggers for nothing!
- Check out the menu on the camera. Is it easy to use, are the buttons in the right place for you. Does it have enough options for you if you want to try something a bit wacky? IS feature packed your thing or do you just want a point and shoot? Also, if you are looking at SLR then does it have a manual mode so that it gives you the opportunity to take your photography skills to the next level if you wish?
- Remember you are probably be going to be buying another camera in 2-3 years so get something you are comfortable with as chances are you will buy the same make next time.
- Optical Zoom is better than digital zoom. Optical zoom is actually the lens moving close towards the subject whereas digital zoom the software within the camera is doing this and making up a fair percentage of the pixel data on the way. Optical zoom will be clearer, sharper and retain more detail. It will be more expensive but if you think you need it or would like something that looks in focus when you zoom in then I would recommend looking at something with an Optical zoom function.
If you have any tips that you want to share, any other pieces of advise that you would like to add for those buying camera's or anything that you would like to learn about and have me post here the please just get in touch. Comments below or pop an email to carli@carli-art.co.uk
C x
