Before you are able to take the kind of photos you want to take, it is important to think about the equipment you would like to start out with. Probably the most important decision you will have to make is what kind of camera to buy. There are so many options and brands now that the whole process can seem quite overwhelming.
Shopping for Cameras:
If you are planning to become a serious photographer you should probably buy an SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera. The term single lens reflex comes from the fact that the camera has a view of the subject through a single lens and that view is reflected to the viewfinder so the photographer can see exactly what is going to be in the picture. The Digital SLR's are getting so advanced that it's very hard to choose a film camera over a digital. The main advantage of an SLR camera over a point-and-shoot digital camera is the fact that you can change lenses and filters whenever you want to, although new point-and-shoot cameras have increasing optical zoom and similar capabilities. Point-and-shoot cameras are also a great idea if you just want something simple and small that is convenient to carry wherever you go.
What to Look for in Lenses:
Lenses are what your camera uses to focus on the world. All lenses are defined by their focal length and aperture. The focal length tells you what the angle of view is and how far it magnifies. The aperture is the amount of light that the camera is letting into the sensor. Any lens lower than 50 mm focal length is considered wide-angle. Any at 50 mm is considered normal. And any lens above 50 mm is considered a telephoto. But there are also zoom lenses that have a variable focal length. With a zoom lens you can cover a wide range such as 28 mm to 105 mm or 80 mm to 210 mm.
Lenses can be very expensive and very cheap and it is usually the faster lenses or the ones with the wider apertures that are the highest priced. The faster lenses are more appealing primarily because they can produce better pictures in dim light without a tripod. But it is quite possible to find great lenses at low prices. Probably the first lens you buy should be broad range zoom lens such as a 28 mm to 105 mm. The slight drawback of zoom lenses is that they are slower and they don't quite match the sharpness and contrast of a fixed focal length lens.
Do You Need any Filters?
Another very important item that you should definitely acquire is an ultra-violet filter (UV filter). It is a simple piece of glass that screws on to the end of your lens and protects it from scratches, dust, dirt, moisture and fingerprints while reducing unwanted ultra-violet light.
But when you buy a UV filter you might as well get a polarizer filter as well. A polarizer filter is most commonly used for darkening the sky by cutting through atmospheric haze. This affect can also dramatically improve the results of black and white photography. Polarizer filters are also good for removing reflections from glass or water.
Get a Tripod:
We would also strongly recommend that you buy a tripod of some kind which is vital when there is not enough light to handhold a picture. Some of the best pictures you've seen at dusk, night, or just when it's cloudy have almost certainly been taken using a tripod. Tripods allow you to use your camera's full range of shutter speed and aperture combinations which can sometimes creating amazing unexpected results.
You should pick a tripod that is plenty sturdy but also convenient enough to carry wherever you might want it. You also might want it tall enough so you can look through your camera at eye level.
Some Memory Card Details:
Memory cards are extremely convenient with digital cameras but you need to make sure you have all the space on them that you want. It is always a good feeling to know that you can take all the pictures that you want when you think you have a good opportunity. Most SLR's take Compact Flash memory cards, smaller cameras usually either take Secure Digital memory cards or Sony memory sticks.
It is convenient to have only one format of memory card if you have multiple cameras because then you can interchange them even between a big SLR and a small point and shoot camera. The smaller cameras usually use secure digital cards and Sony memory sticks but some very nice ones use compact flash cards. One thing you must always do is remember to format the card after you unload pictures and put it back into the camera or else you won't have the full capacity of the card.
If you are looking to buy a new digital camera you should consider these things or you might have regrets later.
Richard Schneider is a digital photography enthusiast and founder of http://www.picturecorrect.com/ which offers tips and news about digital photography, digital camera reviews, photoshop tutorials and computer wallpaper.
executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport carWhen my old Olympus digital camera got broke while caving... Read More
One technology that hasn't kept up with the rapid pace... Read More
Disposable Cameras (also called single-use cameras) first came on the... Read More
There is a wide world of photography. It touches each... Read More
Underwater digital cameras are fun and easy to use under... Read More
The most important part of buying a digital camera is... Read More
Having an efficient work flow is essential for photographers. In... Read More
Your first thought when you read "Alligator Farm" might be... Read More
Being such a fascinating device as the digital camera, this... Read More
Photos are a great way to share your travel experiences... Read More
So you have this great new camera. Now you're standing... Read More
As you might imagine the paradigm shift from traditional film-based... Read More
Photography is a vast world. There are many different types... Read More
So, you want to become a digital artist but paying... Read More
STAY CONNECTED WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.Making your own digital photo... Read More
Reflected Light Readings for Film and Digital ImagesIn order to... Read More
I love panoramas. There's something very appealing about their shape.... Read More
Once in while I receive e-mails or phone calls from... Read More
There are many kinds of disposable cameras. All disposable cameras... Read More
Every Mom wants to take great photos of their babies... Read More
Outlined below is a list of genres that call for... Read More
If you think that digital cameras are for snapshots only,... Read More
Did you know that in many cases digital photos are... Read More
Have you read the manual that came with your digital... Read More
Some compact cameras are small enough to fit in your... Read More
O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..Babies make the best and the worst subjects to photograph.... Read More
The business of stock photography has drastically changed over the... Read More
Point and click. The new life of digital cameras gives... Read More
PrefaceIn order to understand color management, it is important to... Read More
Almost all of us will have seen this particular photographic... Read More
Here's the challenge. You have to photograph small items for... Read More
While digital photography offers you the ability to review photograph... Read More
Did you know that in many cases digital photos are... Read More
Purchasing any gift item for your child is a mind-numbing... Read More
Portrait is defined as, "A likeness of a person, especially... Read More
Purchasing a digital camera is a wise decision, particularly if... Read More
If you're like me, you have hundreds of photographs sitting... Read More
A photo buyer calls for a picture of pigs. It... Read More
Almost any shot will look better if you take two... Read More
In a traditional camera, the lens was king. If the... Read More
One of the most common problems when dealing with scanned... Read More
IntroductionModern cameras are highly automatic in operation. They have auto... Read More
You may have joined the photo-sharing craze to share your... Read More
Most digital cameras today boast of greater resolution and picture... Read More
Every device needs a driving force to operate, just as... Read More
Choosing the right digital camera for general use can be... Read More
Panasonic is a world-renowned consumer electronics company today. Its digital... Read More
Tight BudgetsTight budgets are common these days. But the demand... Read More
We all love our animals. They do such funny, adorable,... Read More
You may have already started to make money from your... Read More
Photography |