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.
shuttle from O'Hare Bingham .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareHere are examples of two basic videos you can create... Read More
As you might imagine the paradigm shift from traditional film-based... Read More
Imagine taking your new digital camera on a vacation and... Read More
We all love our animals. They do such funny, adorable,... Read More
Women photographers are fortunate. Unlike other titles, photographer has no... Read More
Underwater digital cameras are fun and easy to use under... Read More
The digital camera is essentially a computer-based device, whose core... Read More
You will need an underwater camera housing to keep your... Read More
Using a digital camera to take pictures is great. It's... Read More
A picture is worth a thousand words, so goes a... Read More
By now I'm sure you've used Either a digital or... Read More
Quality digital cameras are becoming affordable for just about everyone... Read More
Are you buying your first digital camera? Well, you must... Read More
When you're driving through the mountains somewhere, and you... Read More
While digital photography offers you the ability to review photograph... Read More
Once you have clicked photos through your digital camera, then... Read More
Photography 101 Part One Equipment: camera, meter, flash, tripod This... Read More
Like most folks you have probably have organized and sorted... Read More
Almost all of us will have seen this particular photographic... Read More
You've read all the "best digital camera" articles, got the... Read More
There's so much you can do with an underwater video... Read More
You are anxious to purchase your new digital camera! You... Read More
We all want to make the most of our wedding... Read More
So you are a small business person or web designer... Read More
A digital camera accessory you should purchase is a spare... Read More
Mishawaka limo O'Hare ..When I promised readers that I was going to do... Read More
By now I'm sure you've used Either a digital or... Read More
When should you use hyperfocal focusing? Well, sometimes when shooting... Read More
Tight BudgetsTight budgets are common these days. But the demand... Read More
Wholesale disposable cameras are disposable cameras bought in quantity. Bulk... Read More
Everyone has a digital camera today and we all take... Read More
Portrait is defined as, "A likeness of a person, especially... Read More
The Vacation Season is fast approaching and naturally you will... Read More
Sony was the first company to introduce digital cameras into... Read More
HP has started making digital cameras only recently. However, the... Read More
So, you have taken lots of pictures with your new... Read More
How many people have pictures in a shoe box? In... Read More
So you have bought a camcorder and have shot some... Read More
There is a wide world of photography. It touches each... Read More
STAY CONNECTED WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.Making your own digital photo... Read More
One of the major problems of the larger cities of... Read More
One of the most common problems when dealing with scanned... Read More
Disposable wedding cameras (also called single-use cameras) will never replace... Read More
Several years ago, I met a fellow photographer - albeit,... Read More
Here are examples of two basic videos you can create... Read More
Digital Photo Diary - memories that last a life timeThe... Read More
Babies make the best and the worst subjects to photograph.... Read More
Get a good face shot: Use Higher quality cameras at... Read More
A few years ago I became interested in digital photography,... Read More
Almost any shot will look better if you take two... Read More
Photography |