Choosing a Camera
Page 2 - | Learning
Curve | SLR or Compact?
| Brand? | Pixels?
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The answer is that, although the camera can produce good
exposures most of the time, there are times when, to get the results we
want, we have to apply a little knowhow and select more appropriate settings
than the camera would automatically choose.
Before choosing a camera with lots of knobs and dials it is a good idea
to consider whether you are ever going to bother to learn what they are
all for. I've been around cameras for many years now, and I'm still learning
what all the settings on my latest camera actually do. I never bother
to learn how to do something until I need to. So there are certain obscure
settings that I have yet to find a use for. Of course it would be nice
if we could choose just the buttons we need and have each camera custom
made for us but in the real world all we can do is choose the level of
control based on how much we think we might want to get involved. Generally
speaking an SLR will have more knobs, dials and menus than a compact camera
which will give you more control over your pictures but will have a much
steeper learning curve.
SLR or Compact?
 All
the cameras on the market can be categorised into a few simple
groups. The most important two groups are fixed lens and interchangeable
lens. The fixed lens cameras tend, with a few exceptions, to be
smaller, lighter and more pocketable, therefore you are more likely
to have it with you when you need it. Well that's the theory anyway
but I think we can say that you are more likely to be bothered
to take it with you on that outing to the beach or the zoo.
However even with today's zoom lenses, which are pretty wonderful, you
will often find that you are too far away or too close to get the picture
you want so you need to be able to change the lens for a longer telephoto
or a wider angle. The other major advantage of these single lens reflex
(SLR) cameras is that you are actually looking through the lens instead
of a separate viewfinder so what you see is what you get, although this
is less of an issue now that we can review our photos on the screen of
the digital camera. The down side of these SLR cameras is that you very
soon end up with quite a heavy bag of gadgets and are less likely to carry
it everywhere with you. However much I yearn for a compact camera for
it's handyness I know I would be frustrated by it's shortcomings so
for me the choice is SLR every time.
Digital or Film?
Do they still make film cameras? Oh yes they do and I wouldn't mind betting
that they continue to do so for many years and I wouldn't mind
betting that at some time in the future there will be a retro backlash
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