Buying a Digital Camera?
I just started using eBay and I’m addicted. I sell a lot of stuff.
Anyway, I don’t own a digital camera to take pictures of my stuff for sale. I am currently using my Blackberry (which takes decent pictures), and then I have to email them to myself.
I need a relatively inexpensive digital camera (under $200), something easy to use, and something that can easily, and quickly download to my computer.
I am planning on purchasing it through eBay, so I am willing to look at a slightly used or refurbished, as well as new camera.
What should I get?
Thanks
People so often ask: "Which one is a good camera to buy?"
Here is my 10 cents on the subject:
Point & Shoot cameras are wonderfully handy because of their small size.
When light conditions are ideal, they even take really nice photos – all of them do.
However, they all DO have limitations – they don’t do very well in low light situations (i.e. noisy photos, hard to avoid blur, etc). The little onboard flash is very harsh at close range, and doesn’t reach very far.
Many of them have no manual functions, so you are limited to only very basic photos, you can’t compensate for unusual situations, or do many fun "tricks" and special effects.
P&S’s also suffer from frustrating shutterlag and many of them chew through batteries rather quickly.
However, if you’re ok with all those limitations, then go ahead and pick one, most of them (the same type and same price range) are rather similar. Personally I would pick either a Canon or a Nikon, and would certainly stay away from Kodak.
A higher end P&S will give you more manual options and better quality. Many of those even give you the option of adding a proper flash (which makes a big difference to your flash photos).
Don’t worry too much about megapixels…. there is a limit to how many pixels you can squash into a tiny P&S sensor before you actually LOSE quality rather than gain it.
Don’t worry about digital zoom, in fact, don’t EVER use it. It simply crops away pixels, i.e. destroys information. The only real zoom is optical.
Decide which features are important to you, and look for cameras that have that feature.
Then go compare a few models on www.dpreview.com .
The very best thing you can do for your success is to borrow some books and learn about photography. A bit of knowledge will make a much bigger difference to your photos than your choice of P&S camera can.
For what it’s worth – if I was in the market for a P&S camera right now, my choice would be a Canon Powershot SX10 IS http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=144&modelid=17630
For product photography, that movable flip screen is wonderful!!!!! You don’t have to bend yourself into weird positions, you simply adjust the screen – your back would love you for it!
Comments
People so often ask: "Which one is a good camera to buy?"
Here is my 10 cents on the subject:
Point & Shoot cameras are wonderfully handy because of their small size.
When light conditions are ideal, they even take really nice photos – all of them do.
However, they all DO have limitations – they don’t do very well in low light situations (i.e. noisy photos, hard to avoid blur, etc). The little onboard flash is very harsh at close range, and doesn’t reach very far.
Many of them have no manual functions, so you are limited to only very basic photos, you can’t compensate for unusual situations, or do many fun "tricks" and special effects.
P&S’s also suffer from frustrating shutterlag and many of them chew through batteries rather quickly.
However, if you’re ok with all those limitations, then go ahead and pick one, most of them (the same type and same price range) are rather similar. Personally I would pick either a Canon or a Nikon, and would certainly stay away from Kodak.
A higher end P&S will give you more manual options and better quality. Many of those even give you the option of adding a proper flash (which makes a big difference to your flash photos).
Don’t worry too much about megapixels…. there is a limit to how many pixels you can squash into a tiny P&S sensor before you actually LOSE quality rather than gain it.
Don’t worry about digital zoom, in fact, don’t EVER use it. It simply crops away pixels, i.e. destroys information. The only real zoom is optical.
Decide which features are important to you, and look for cameras that have that feature.
Then go compare a few models on http://www.dpreview.com .
The very best thing you can do for your success is to borrow some books and learn about photography. A bit of knowledge will make a much bigger difference to your photos than your choice of P&S camera can.
For what it’s worth – if I was in the market for a P&S camera right now, my choice would be a Canon Powershot SX10 IS http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=144&modelid=17630
For product photography, that movable flip screen is wonderful!!!!! You don’t have to bend yourself into weird positions, you simply adjust the screen – your back would love you for it!
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