Top 5 Things You Need to Know When
Buying a Camera
Published:
From the small camera in your iPhone to the professional cameras by Canon and Nikon, there are common threads that make a camera a camera.
1) Learning The Basics
From the small camera in your iPhone to the professional cameras by Canon and Nikon, there are common threads that make a camera a camera. A photograph is a map of light, the objective of a camera is to capture light by channeling it through a lense and absorbing the light into a canvas. Modern cameras now use electronic sensors that record the data of the light.
- A photograph is a map of light
- The objective of a lense is to channel light
- The objective of a camera is to capture light
2) Understanding Light Capture
Capturing light is controlled by three key tools of measurement. the Shutter Speed: the length the shutter is open, ISO: the sensitivity of the sensor, and Aperture: how much light that is let into the sensor.
- Shutter Speed: The length of time light passes through
- ISO: the sensitivity of the sensor
- Aperture: The amount of light that is let in
3) Q&A, ask yourself these key questions:
- What will you being using the camera for?
- Will you be shooting during the day or at night?
- Will you be shooting inside or outdoors?
- Will you be shooting from a distance or up close?
- Will your subject be in motion or still?
4) Price Point, decide on a budget that fits your needs
- Canon / Nikon
- High price point
- Extensive variety of lenses
- Impressive video capabilities
- Lense options for low-light settings
- Sony / Olympus / Pentax
- Average price point
- Limited variety of lenses
- limited video capabilities
- limited low-light capabilities
5) New vs. Used
Quality cameras like Canon and Nikon hold a high resale value. However, just like buying a car, once it is out of the box, the price drops. You can find a quality camera body that someone might have used leisurely once or twice a year and save a significant amount of money.
When buying used camera bodies, make sure that there are no known issues and message the seller before hand.
