At the start of October I took some programme & publicity photos for Felling Stage Society for their upcoming production of Jesus Christ Superstar and one of those struck a chord with the members of Photography Cafe as again, it took a Photo of the Day and then Photo of the Week award.

These are a few of the others I took for the group

The last image show above also appeared in the local newspaper as part of a preview of the show.

What I can tell them though, is the kind of things to look for and things to consider. From the cheapest models to the ones used by pros, the choices and features are massive and can be confusing. So how do you choose a model?

What camera for what user?

To choose a camera firstly you need to ask what you (or whoever you are buying for) need to get out of it and what you will use it for. What type of photographer are you? If you have the answer to this question, the choice won’t be difficult. As a matter of fact with a bit of simple advice and by asking yourself the right questions, you will have no trouble deciding on the type of camera that will suit your needs. Start by asking yourself what type of photographer you are.

Beginner

Cheap Point and Shoot Cameras

If you do not know much about photography and you do not want to spend too much, or maybe buying for a child, go for a basic camera. These are ideal for your holiday or family photos. They are easy to use (usually just point and shoot) and these types of cameras should have a built in flash and an LCD screen to view the images on. They should also allow you record small videos.

Intermediate

Compact Digital Cameras

If you are looking for a camera you can carry with you and use wherever you are, then it’s a compact camera you will want to look at. Like the point and shoot cameras, their automatic mode enables you to take pictures in almost any circumstance. A lot of cameras in this range are small enough to fit in your pocket or handbag. The compact cameras are an option if you want progress a bit further. You will find the widest choice in this range. Most of them have a resolution of at least 6-8 megapixels and at least a 3x optical zoom. Most will have advanced functions to give the user some control as well the normal automatic mode. Additional preset modes such as night, sport, outdoor, party or snow snapshot allow the user to take pictures without having to worry about the conditions. They combine ease-of-use with a superior quality camera.

Bridge SLR Cameras:

Bridge SLRs are designed for those who don’t want the bulk and extra weight that comes with multiple lenses, but still want similar facilities to SLRs such as high quality optical zoom, Anti shake technology, full manual control, etc. Bridge cameras offer the user the chance to experience quality similar to an SLR without the price.

Advanced

Digital SLR Cameras

If you enjoy photography as a serious hobby or if you want to be able to control everything the camera does when taking pictures, you will want to look at Digital SLRs. SLRs offer the most flexibility and control over image taking, with a few preset modes alongside semi-automatic or full manual controls. They will also have interchangeable lenses as well as additional accessories such as flashguns, filters, battery packs etc. SLRs are created for informed amateurs or for professionals who want to have complete control over every function on their cameras. The emphasis is on functions and performance. At the higher end of the range you will also find High Definition Video recording capabilities. You’ll find these types of cameras are ideal for real photography lovers.

Things to remember choosing a digital camera

Sensor resolution:

It’s on the sensor where the image is created. The more pixels a sensor has the greater detail will be recorded and the larger an image can be printed. This is what is also known as the camera’s resolution.  You can base your resolution requirements around the size of image you want to print. A 5 megapixel camera is more than capable of producing an image which can be printed out at a4 size. However, it shouldn’t be taken that the more pixels a camera has, the better your photos will be. A good photographer will still be able to create a good image from a “lesser” camera but a poor photographer will still take poor photos, no matter how many pixels they use.

The lens:

There are two type of lens, fixed and zoom. A zoom lens has the ability to increase (or decrease) the size of the image being taking, making it appear closer. A fixed lens cannot. Zoom lenses usually vary between 28-210 mm but more expensive versions may go wider or longer. Just to confuse the matter slightly, there are also 2 types of zoom, optical and digital. The one you should really be interested in if you opt for a zoom lens is the optical one. An optical zoom will extend out from the front of the camera body and uses the optics (lens) of the camera to bring the subject closer. Digital zoom is an invention of digital video cameras and uses software to make the image larger. However the bigger you make the image using digital zoom the lower the quality gets

Size and weight:

At one end of the scale there are compact cameras weighing as little as 100 grams, and are not much bigger than a credit card and at the other the Digital SLRs that, added together with their lenses, weigh more than a kilo. It will all come down to personal preference in this area.

The screen size:

As well as the viewfinder, virtually all digital cameras have a liquid crystal display (LCD) that allows you to pre-view the picture you are about to take. From one digital camera to another, the size of the colour screen varies and the comparisons aren’t easy. The screen size is usually measured in inches and is from one corner to the opposite diagonal corner. The bigger the screen, the more easily you’ll be able to view the picture you are going to take or view the pictures or the short video you have taken.

Video Capture:

Most non SLR digital cameras now have a video capture facility (this feature is usually not added to all but the latest, high end SRLs), meaning you can create short film sequences. The quality isn’t always very good and some cameras don’t have a sound recorder. But it’s still handy to capture good moments on video.

Single Use Batteries versus rechargeable:

Almost all entry level and some compact cameras use either AAA or AA batteries. The advantage of this is that they are very common, you can buy them anywhere. The downside is they won’t last very long and so rechargeable batteries are a lot more reliable. Although they can be pricey to start with, it’s worth it in the end as replacing traditional batteries ends up being quite expensive. Mid range cameras and SLRs are usually supplied with a specific Lithium-ion rechargeable battery and extra ones can be usually be purchased.

The ease of use:

The one thing never to forget! It’s no good getting a camera only to find it’s too small or too big in your hands. Testing the camera and it’s functions out before buying it can be useful to check if you like it’s look and feel.

Don’t forget a memory card:

A lot of cameras are supplied with a memory card (or a small amount of built in memory) but it’s unlikely you’ll get more than a dozen images taken before it’s full. It’s therefore a good idea to budget for a larger card (at least 1GB) to increase your storage capacity. There are several types (SD Cards, Compact Flash, Memory Stick) so make sure to check which one corresponds to your camera.

You can view larger versions of all the images by clicking here. You can also view other images from 2010 over at Flickr.

Is your favourite of my images in my top 10? If not, leave a comment and let me know which one it is.