Photography - Things To Consider Before Buying A Camera
By Richard Schneider, Fri Dec 9th

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 tostart out with. Probably the most important decision you willhave to make is what kind of camera to buy. There are so manyoptions and brands now that the whole process can seem quiteoverwhelming.

Shopping for Cameras:

If you are planning to become a serious photographer you shouldprobably buy an SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera. The term singlelens reflex comes from the fact that the camera has a view ofthe subject through a single lens and that view is reflected tothe viewfinder so the photographer can see exactly what is goingto be in the picture. The Digital SLR's are getting so advancedthat it's very hard to choose a film camera over a digital. Themain advantage of an SLR camera over a point-and-shoot digitalcamera is the fact that you can change lenses and filterswhenever you want to, although new point-and-shoot haveincreasing optical zoom and similar capabilities.Point-and-shoot are also a great idea if you just wantsomething simple and small that is convenient to carry whereveryou go.

What to Look for in Lenses:

Lenses are what your camera uses to focus on the world. Alllenses are defined by their focal length and aperture. The focallength tells you what the angle of view is and how far itmagnifies. The aperture is the amount of light that the camerais letting into the sensor. Any lens lower than 50 mm focallength is considered wide-angle. Any at 50 mm is considerednormal. And any lens above 50 mm is considered a telephoto. Butthere 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 105mm or 80 mm to 210 mm.

Lenses can be very expensive and very cheap and it is usuallythe faster lenses or the ones with the wider apertures that arethe highest priced. The faster lenses are more appealingprimarily because they can produce better pictures in dim lightwithout a tripod. But it is quite possible to find great lensesat low prices. Probably the first lens you buy should be broadrange zoom lens such as a 28 mm to 105 mm. The slight drawbackof zoom lenses is that they are slower and they don't quitematch the sharpness and contrast of a fixed focal length lens.

Do You Need any Filters?

Another very

important item that you should definitely acquireis an ultra-violet filter (UV filter). It is a simple piece ofglass that screws on to the end of your lens and protects itfrom scratches, dust, dirt, moisture and fingerprints whilereducing unwanted ultra-violet light.

But when you buy a UV filter you might as well get a polarizerfilter as well. A polarizer filter is most commonly used fordarkening the sky by cutting through atmospheric haze. Thisaffect can also dramatically improve the results of black andwhite photography. Polarizer filters are also good for removingreflections from glass or water.

Get a Tripod:

We would also strongly recommend that you buy a tripod of somekind which is vital when there is not enough light to handhold apicture. Some of the best pictures you've seen at dusk, night,or just when it’s cloudy have almost certainly been taken usinga tripod. Tripods allow you to use your camera's full range ofshutter speed and aperture combinations which can sometimescreating amazing unexpected results.

You should pick a tripod that is plenty sturdy but alsoconvenient enough to carry wherever you might want it. You alsomight want it tall enough so you can look through your camera ateye level.

Some Memory Card Details:

Memory cards are extremely convenient with digital butyou need to make sure you have all the space on them that youwant. It is always a good feeling to know that you can take allthe pictures that you want when you think you have a goodopportunity. Most SLR's take Compact Flash memory cards, smallercameras usually either take Secure Digital memory cards or Sonymemory sticks.

It is convenient to have only one format of memory card if youhave multiple because then you can interchange them evenbetween a big SLR and a small point and shoot camera. Thesmaller usually use secure digital cards and Sony memorysticks but some very nice ones use compact flash cards. Onething you must always do is remember to format the card afteryou unload pictures and put it back into the camera or else youwon't have the full capacity of the card.

If you are looking to buy a new digital camera you shouldconsider these things or you might have regrets later.

About the author:Richard Schneider is a digital photography enthusiast andfounder of http://www.picturecorrect.com/ which offers tips andnews about digital photography, digital camera reviews,photoshop tutorials and computer wallpaper.