Photography News

Considerations Before Buying a New Camera

November 25, 2017 by Rene Anthony

Shopping for a new camera can be an exciting moment for everyone, yet alone a photographer who comes to depend on their camera to make a living. However, with the overwhelming number of options available on the marketplace, it’s wise to take into account several influential factors when you are considering an upgrade or new purchase.

 

Manual Controls and Modes

Although just about all cameras offer some element of manual control, the ease with which one can access and leverage these settings varies considerably from camera to camera. With some cameras it is far easier to make the adjustments on the go, meaning you are saving time that could be utilised to capture a split second moment. In photography, seconds can make all the difference. At the other end of the spectrum, when times don’t call for manual input, it’s worth considering the variety among the pre-set modes available on the camera.

 

Megapixels are not the Be All and End All

One of the common misconceptions among hobbyists and camera enthusiasts, as opposed to professionals, is that megapixels are the most important technical specification of a camera. Not least of which, this is in part due to the high level of publicity and marketing directed towards the number.

The reality however, is that today’s cameras are all well equipped with sufficient megapixels, to the point where any difference is negligible. The size of the work, when printed, would need to be significant for there to be a discernible contrast. Instead, attention should be diverted towards sensor size and quality, which are more attuned to differences in the end product. Larger sensors (ASP-C) are superior for overall quality and low light imagery compared with smaller ones (Micro Four Thirds), although they are not as portable.

 

Body and Feel

Although for the most part camera bodies are somewhat similar, there are sometimes particular nuances when it comes to button layout or the inclusion of a versatile viewfinder. Viewfinders are also categorised by the nature of their screen, be it LCD or OLED – with the latter favoured outside. A camera body may also play into the hands of certain photographers easier than others, especially if they have larger hands or fingers. Keep in mind as well, durability is something that usually correlates with price, so you often need to be prepared to pay a bit more for a sturdier piece of equipment that can withstand the elements and what you put it up against.

 

Lenses

As lenses are freely interchangeable nowadays, the first thing that you should consider if buying a new camera body is whether your existing lenses are compatible with the existing body. One of the prominent concerns on this front concerns mirrorless cameras and the use of lenses from a DSLR. What’s more, the lens should also be up to the task in respect of handling the functions of the image sensor. If things are out of alignment, there will be shortcomings in the level of performance you can achieve relative to the benchmark that is possible.

 

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