When it comes to choosing a camera, many people face specific difficulties. Before you buy a new device, it’s a good idea to know what types of cameras there are, how many megapixels you need, what is ISO, and more. You need to buy a good camera if you want to be a professional photographer and capture the most beautiful and interesting events. By the way, if you want to read about the pros and cons of Nikon vs Canon, have a look at the article on Skylum’s blog.
In this topic, we will tell you about the most important factors that will help you choose a good camera that meets your needs and goals.
Types of Сameras
Before you take any kind of camera, you should decide what exactly it will be used for. After all, most often we choose a device for certain types of shooting: professional, amateur, underwater, and others. To begin with, let’s talk about the most common types of cameras and find out what class is best to use for specific purposes:
- Compact cameras are small in size. They have a nonremovable lens and a small sensor resolution. These devices are easy to operate: they do not need to be adjusted manually and take a long time to focus on the subject. Compact cameras are safe to take on trips, hikes, and walks. It is better to take pictures in good daylight, otherwise, the picture will be of poor quality or blurred.
- DSLRs are prized by professionals for their detachable lens, optical viewfinder, and high-resolution sensor. The settings can be adjusted manually. Thanks to this the images are of high quality and clear.
- Mirrorless cameras with interchangeable lenses are becoming increasingly popular among professionals and amateurs. They don’t have a mirror or optical viewfinder but instead use an LCD screen or electronic viewfinder. These cameras are compact and have a removable lens and a large sensor. However, they run out of power quickly, but you can buy a spare battery.
For amateur photography, a compact semi-professional camera would be the best choice. For professional photos, DSLRs are the ideal option. For travel, an ultrazoom or compact camera is best, preferably with a viewfinder, as the built-in screen will not allow you to see the image on a bright sunny day.
Sensor Size and Its Role
The more objects and small details the camera can capture, the higher the resolution of the sensor and the larger the photo frame. However, you shouldn’t rely on this parameter alone to determine the quality of your photos. A lot also depends on the physical size of the sensor, which is measured in inches and affects not only the quality of the images but also the sensitivity to light and the amount of noise in the image.
Therefore, when buying a camera, it is extremely important to look less at the resolution and more at the size of the sensor. And if you have two cameras with the same resolution, you should choose the one with the larger physical sensor.
Selecting by Specifications
The key to choosing a camera is undoubtedly its specifications. Let’s take a closer look.
ISO Sensitivity
The higher the value of this setting, the better the picture will be in the dark. However, there may be a high level of noise. Amateur compact cameras range from 80 to 3200 ISO. This is enough to get good pictures in medium to low light. DSLRs and mirrorless cameras are closer to 25,000.
Also, pay attention to the luminosity. This is the main indicator of a lens. It can be either variable or constant. The value of this parameter is usually written on top of the lens.
Focus and Focal Length
Beginners need autofocus. Professionals, on the other hand, prefer manual focusing, which gives them more options for working with the frame.
The longer the focal length, the closer distant objects will appear. The possible focal length range is also indicated on the lens near the aperture value. This characteristic should not be confused with digital zoom.
Memory Card and Battery
Modern cameras most often use SD cards, which have a high speed of recording and reading data, reliable protection, and small size.
A genuine brand-name battery allows you to charge your device faster. And you can do it directly in the camera. The AA battery is considered more versatile and convenient in cases where it is impossible to charge the original battery from the outlet, for example, when traveling or camping.
Flash
It can be used to take pictures in poorly lit rooms and low visibility conditions. However, some cameras allow you to add a flash, which is also something to look for when buying a camera.
Conclusion
Now you know what factors to consider when buying a camera. Don’t forget that no matter what kind of device you have, a photo editor never hurts. You don’t have to use Photoshop to improve your photos. Check out Skylum’s new state-of-the-art photo editor, Luminar Neo. It’s AI-powered and has an intuitive interface that even a beginner can pick up.
