How to Buy a Digital Camera

If you’ve never bought a digital camera before, or if you’re looking to get a new one, it’s important to know how to buy the best one, so you get teh most bang for your buck. Before you get started, you need to ask yourself a few important questions, such as:

What is my budget?

What types of cameras have I already owned?

What do I want my camera to do?

How often will I be taking pictures?

How experienced am I at photography?

What will I be taking pictures of?

There are basically three levels of camera user:  Beginning, intermediate, and advanced.  Beginning photographers usually want a camera to take personal pictures of family and friends, and may not know a lot about cameras.  A beginner isn’t a die-hard photographer, and so may not want to read a lot of reviews before purchasing.  The camera will likely be used to upload photos to electronic devices and websites, and will be carried around in a purse or pocket.  A camera for a beginner needs to be small and easy to use.

An intermediate user typically wants a camera that is easy to use and has a good flash, good lense, and good viewfinder.  Extra options on the digital camera are welcome, as long as they’re easy to use.  This means every option needs to have simple point and click capabilities.  Cameras that are loaded with options but that don’t require any technical knowledge to use are good for the intermediate user, such as the Canon PowerShot SD850IS or the PowerShot A570IS.

Advanced users have typically owned digital cameras before and are interested in learning how to take professional quality photos.  An advanced user has some technical knowledge of how cameras work, but wants to learn more.  While something very complex may not be what an advanced user needs, having lots of optional and extra features to play with is important.  An advanced digital camera user is often willing to spend top dollar to get the most recent, technologically advanced, top of the line camera.

For all three levels of user, the best way to find the right camera is to ask a salesperson at the camera store which camera has the above-mentioned features that are appropriate for their level.  Then, try out a few cameras of your own particular level in the store to see which one is the most comfortable and easy to use for you, and which one best meets your needs.