Buying a Camera
It can be a little confusing shopping for electronic devices these days just because there’s so much out there. It can be a little intimidating, but hopefully this buyer’s guide I put together can help. Here you will find some helpful tips on what to look for based on your budget and the needs of this program.
When looking for a digital camera, here are a few key things to look for:
Types of cameras and Prices
When purchasing a camera, stick to these names: Olympus, Fuji, Nikon, Canon, Panasonic, and Kodak. If you see a name brand you’re interested in that’s not on this least, drop me an email and I’ll be happy to check it out for you: fmccarthy@cmths.org
Basic pocket camera with average zoom typically costs $75 - $200 based on the features. This type of camera is fine for everyday use and would be considered the minimum requirement for our program. This is what they typically look like:
The next step up from the pocket camera is the “Bridge camera” which run in the $150-$300 range. These cameras look like a cross between a pocket camera, and the larger SLR (single reflex camera) that has the interchangeable lenses. The cameras are a great choice for students that are considering photography as a profession, or just really enjoy taking pictures and want to get more out of their images.
These cameras typically have manual features for more user control, and much larger zoom lenses that are great for action, portrait, and close up photography. They also tend to have the video recording features. Here are a few examples:
The last type of camera, also the most expensive camera, the SLR, or Single Reflex Camera, that takes different types of lenses, flashes, and other accessories. These typically starting at $450 and up. I would recommend this camera to any student that is serious about photography and is following it as a career path. This is the industry standard type of cameras that advanced ametuers and professionals use. I would try to stick with one of the “Big Three” names like Canon, Nikon, and Sony. There are other companies like Panasonic, Olympus, and Samsung that makes these types of cameras, but most accessories can only be found on the internet and not in the local store. If there’s one that you may be interested in, send me the link to it or email me the model name and number to fmccarthy@cmths.org
Here are a few examples:
