CAMERA BUYING SUGGESTIONS
Mar 25 '00 (Updated Apr 05 '00)
Buying a new camera is like buying a new automobile. What type of camera and/or lens should I buy? What brand should I get? Where should I buy my camera?
WHAT TYPE OF CAMERA SHOULD I BUY? You must ask yourself some questions. Do you want just standard point and shoot type photos to stick in a photo album and give to Aunt Mary? Or, do you intend to enlarge them to display? Are you critical on detail, sharpness and clarity?
Cameras come in three different types or classes:
Single Lens Reflex (SLR) - These are the cameras professional photographers use in their daily work routines. It consists of a body, a lens and an external flash unit. This type of systems allows you to choose from a wide variety of lenses from super wide-angle 7.5mm (fish-eye)to a mind boggling super telephoto 1200mm. You may also attach an external flash to its hot shoe or you can attach a flash using a synchronization (PC) cord. Generally, speaking, you will get the best results from this type of equipment. But realize that this type of equipment can be expensive.
Point and Shoot (Range Finder) - If you are familiar with cameras, these are your Nikon One-Touches, Canon Sure Shots, Minolta Freedoms, Pentax IQZooms, etc. All you have to do is drop your 35mm film into the camera and you are on your way to taking photographs. You may have to set certain minor controls like zooming, picture image controls (close-ups, portraits, macro, etc) but that is about it! No focusing or setting of apertures is requires because the camera does everything for you! Even setting the film speeds! Most cameras have a built-in flash. Do realize that this camera does have it's limitations such as a higher incidence of red-eye (because the flash is too close to the lens axis). Also, you zoom length is very limited -- usual range is from 28mm to 135mm.
Advanced Photo System (APS) - Several years ago the major camera manufacturers came together and designed a totally new camera and film system called APS. Film format is 24mm. The film is in a cannister. You never have to touch the film unlike a 35mm roll. All you have to do is drop the cartridge into the camera and the camera loads the film to the first available frame. When the roll is completed, just take it to your processor. Your film is developed and returned to you in the same film cartridge! You never see or touch the negative. An Index Print will be returned with your photos and film cartridge so you will know exactly what is on that roll of film. I'd recommend this camera for those who just want standard photos and will not enlarge the photographs beyond 5X7. At the present time, I feel the print quality on APS film format is about average.
Of course, there are your 110mm and Polaroids too but these are very limited in what you can do so I will not elaborate on them here.
WHAT BRAND SHOULD I GET? Here you find a wide disparity in suggestions. I will highlight the major manufacturers out there. Nikon, Canon, Minolta, Pentax, Olympus, Kodak and Vivitar are your major producers of great quality cameras.
In general, Nikon and Canon are the top choices for professional photographers. Minolta and Pentax are also known for very good point and shoot cameras. Olympus has a great water-resistant camera called the Infinity which is great to stick in ones shirt pocket for ski or fishing trips.
WHERE SHOULD I BUY MY CAMERA? Like a good automobile dealer, choose a camera store that provides you with: 1) Sales and service AFTER the sale; 2) Make sure that dealer is an authorized sales dealer for the brand of your choice; 3) Ask if they carry ALL accessories geared toward your equipment such as filters, adaptors, etc. If not, will they gladly order any accessory form the manufacturer for you?; 4) Ask about repair service. Do they send their equipment to the manufacturer or to an authorized service center? Or, do they leave it up to you to send and ship the item elsewhere? Most competent dealers will ship the equipment for you charging only a nominal fee for this service.
If you buy by mail-order to take advantage of lower prices; don't expect your local camera dealer to be very friendly with you on technical support issues. Although some dealers have great customer service, many will tell you to call the dealer who sold you the product for technical support. After all, they didn't make the sale. Also, if your product fails after a couple of weeks, you have no recourse but to deal with that mail-order company. So it is give and take about trying to save some money. I like dealing with my local camera dealer because if I have any problems with the product, he/she can resolve it right there -- no hassles of packaging the product, shipping it to the mail-order store and most of all, being without your camera!
Don't get me wrong, I have had experience with three major camera stores in different states. I have had nothing but great service from them BUT I have also heard horror stories too.
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