Practice

(M-Au)Welcome to “Photography for Beginners.” I’m Rudy and I’ve been working in the photography industry for over ten years. The topic of our first class is “How to Buy a Camera.” Nowadays, there are so many cameras on the market that the task of choosing one can be very overwhelming. Tonight I’m going to give you some tips to help you narrow your search.

Basically, there are two types of camera: the compact camera, and the Digital Single Lens Reflex or “DSLR”. The compact camera is automatic. You press a button, and it takes a picture. It’s also very small. The DSLR is the kind professional photographers use. It has manual settings, so you can adjust settings yourself, and change lenses.

I’m going to pass around a few cameras of each type, so you can compare them. I use these for my own work in my studio…so, please handle them carefully!

Before choosing a camera, you should ask yourself a few basic questions. Your answers to these questions will help you pinpoint which type of camera is best for you.

Your first question should always be “Why am I buying a camera? What will I use it for?” Do you want something simple that will let you snap pictures of your friends and family? Or do you need it for those fabulous scenery shots you plan to take on your next vacation?

Next, think about how comfortable you are with new technologies. Are you interested in learning photography techniques, or do you just want a camera that’ll get the job done?

Portability is another factor. Are you looking for something small and light, or are quality photos your main concern, so you won’t mind carrying around a DSLR, even though it’s much larger than a compact?

Finally, how much are you willing to spend? A DSLR can cost a few hundred dollars or a few thousand dollars. You’ll want to find the best quality camera within your price range. Sometimes spending a little more will get you a better quality camera, which you’ll be more satisfied with in the long run.

Now that you know what questions to ask before buying a camera, I want you to think about how you’d answer each one. Then, we’ll discuss which type of camera might be most suitable for each of you.