Point & Shoot Cameras Digital Cameras

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Purchasing a camera can be hard as it is a significant investment. For some, it's required for work, making it even more daunting. With this guide, we look to help you understand more about cameras and guide you through choosing the best fit for you.

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Sony DSCH300B High Zoom Point and Shoot Camera (DSCH300B)

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Buying guide

Shopbot's Official 2020 Buying Guide for Digital Cameras

Let's Look at Some Key Factors to Consider:

· Type of cameras

· Lenses

· Design & Features

· Sensor

· Storage

Types of cameras:

Brand is the first thing we look at, with 5 leading names on the market being Sony, Fujifilm, Canon, Nikon, and Olympus. Each have their own merit and give a very distinct image and video style. Canon and Nikon are best known for their DSLRs, Sony and Fujifilm are known for their mirrorless cameras, and Olympus is known for their point & shoot cameras.

· Point & Shoot

Point & shoot cameras are lightweight and compact, making them the perfect on the go device. They are easy to use, as their features are simplified, however limiting shot versatility. Being the cheapest option when it comes to digital cameras, they have become redundant as smartphones have filled this gap.

· Crossover

Crossovers are reasonably priced, have more features and capabilities than a simple point and shoot.

This is a good fit for novice photographers, as they are easy to use. Perfect shots are simple, and they have a vast variability thanks to their high optical-zoom and excellent image quality.

· DSLR

Digital single-lens reflex cameras combine the optics and mechanisms of a single-lens reflex camera with a digital imaging sensor. The main feature with DSLRs is that they have an optical viewfinder vs. a digital one; this gives a more accurate view of shots with no latency.

These cameras are for more seasoned photographers and videographers as they have endless options and features. Their equipment and attachments such as lenses, flashes, remote triggers, extended batteries, and so much more offer grate versatility and cover a broad range of photography.

· Mirrorless

Mirrorless cameras are relatively new to the world of photography. They have most definitely changed the game thanks to the electronic viewfinder. For this reason, professional photographers have moved towards these devices as you have a more accurate representation of what the image will be before taking the shot, giving better on the fly control.

Lenses

The critical point here is to look at what brand of lenses you prefer and choose a device that fits your needs. You may already have a few lenses, so it may be best to get a device that fits your make as they can’t interchange. For the first time, buyers look at something that can grow with your skills and choose a brand that offers versatility.

Lenses vary based on what you’re shooting:

· Fisheye 8mm-24mm lens is suitable for shooting Ultra-wide, Panoramic, cityscapes, landscape, real estate, and abstract shots.

· Wide-Angle 24mm-35mm lens is suitable for shooting landscapes, architecture, and forest photography.

· Standard-Prime 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, or 135mm lens is suitable for shooting portraits, weddings, street and documentary photography.

· Basic Zoom 55mm-200mm lens is a good all-rounder for shooting portraits, weddings, and wildlife.

· Macro 50mm-200mm lens is suitable for shooting ultra-detailed photography, food, and super close-up nature shots.

· Telephoto 100mm-600mm lens is suitable for shooting professional sports, wildlife, and astronomy.

Design & Features

The design needs to be comfortable and lightweight with a good grip. The buttons and ports need to be easily reached, and can the settings be changed on the fly. Will you need a touch screen, and can it be calibrated? Should the screen fold out? Make sure it has the ports for attachment and setting range needed.

Sensors

A large part of choosing a digital camera; is the sensor, and there are two factors to look at, the megapixels and full-frame or cropped sensor.

It’s not necessary to go for the most number of megapixels possible as you wind up paying way more than you need to. The average uses will suffice with a 13MP-18MP sensor. The higher megapixels only matter when printing A3 or bigger.

Full Frame vs. Cropped (APS-C) sensor

Cropped sensors crop the photo compared to what you see when looking through the viewfinder. Entry and mid-range range cameras often have a cropped sensor.

The full-framed sensor seen in most advanced DSLR’s and mirrorless cameras capture the full image as seen through the viewfinder.

Storage

With storage in cameras, it's not just about the size of the card, but the speed as well. Having a slow transfer rate can hamper quick shots or those continuous action shots. Best to look at a camera that supports a class 10 and over card with at least 80Mbs/s transfer speed.

So, to wrap it up dear Shopbot readers, look at your preferred brand, camera type, and lenses. Make sure you get the data power you need for your purposes and the features to make your images stand out.