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From the Studio Desk of:
Ruth Collis

A consumer camera would be the next step, if you're upgrading from a cell phone camera. Consumer cameras have the lens built in (non-detachable), and is what the general public would use for vacations, family, and general use. These are readily available at Best Buy and electronic stores.

The first thing to really do is Make a List of your needs and then find the camera that will meet that. What do you need the camera for?

• jewelry photographing
  (would need a good optical zoom, and flash or studio lights)

• speed
  (photographing fast cars, this includes fast moving waterfalls, or a passenger taking pictures from a moving car window, would need a speed/sport feature or fast ISO settings, where you can change the speed of the shutter to match the current conditions)

• fashion models
  (this requires a zoom lens so you can get up close shots without intimidating the model)

• underwater use
  (complete underwater waterproof camera, or housing that will fit what camera you have, depth level, clarity, and operate efficiently)

• poster format
  (if prints are what you want, you may want the larger megapixel (MP) camera, like 10 MP or 12 MP. The larger the MP, the larger prints you can make, and there are large format printers you can get for this purpose)

• web use
  (a camera using photos for the web will require you to dub down pictures, meaning create pictures that are small enough in size to be uploaded, as the web sees quality up to only 72 pixels per inch. File sizes need to be generally small so web pages will load fast, or for use in sending pictures to cell phones that have a smaller format. A 5 MP camera or less would work for this, but is not readily found, and still maintain the quality.)

• general use
  (most cameras often come now with multi-use dials that adjust the camera's settings for a certain type of photo automatically, such as auto, portrait, landscape, flower, sport, and night mode)

You might want to consider what features you would be looking for, like a large LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) on the outside of the camera for quick viewing of the picture you just took, a camera that transfers photos easily to your computer with the least amount of technical issues, or small size for easy portability. If you seem to always take blurry photos, and don't want to lug around a tripod, you might want to look for a feature called image stabilization or vibration reduction, where the camera seems to float and has sensors that adjust the camera back to where it should be when tilted off course.

Unfortunately, if you get a camera with so-called everything, you will be disappointed, as the best cameras are made to do really well for one specific thing. If you want a video camera, don't expect great still picture quality from a camcorder. If you've noticed a video feature on your still shot camera, you'll see that the frames per second and video size are majorly lacking. If you want a hidden spy camera, the quality always lacks. Underwater cameras usually don't give great shots above water. Travel waterproof cameras will always lack quality. So get a camera you have one main use for. If your one main use is the best of everything, you will end up with a lot of cameras, or be rich enough to have a manufacturer make what you want.

Some key points to look for or think about are:

OPTICAL zoom. This is different than DIGITAL zoom. Optical zoom is where the lens of the camera actually brings the subject closer optically, or mechanically drawing the lenses out to get the eye physically closer. Digital zoom is where the photo ALREADY TAKEN is zoomed in more, and here is where you lose quality each time you blow the image up more, because the pixels separate and render a bigger (yes) but blurry image. The digital zoom seems to be a useless feature, unless wanting to look closer at a smaller object in the picture you took.

A good zoom to find is 10X zoom. This may be harder to find, but is a decent zoom range.

Image-brightening feature
Ask for a camera with Automatic Gain Control (AGC). This is an invaluable function that brightens images not only under low light conditions, but where you don't think it's dark. With this feature, your images will turn out "as you see them", rather than "darker than you see them," which is how every other normal camera seems to work. I personally would not get a camera without this special image-brightening feature.

Megapixel size
Bigger is not always better. Sales people will try to sell you the highest top going MP camera, but then you will have to get a higher capacity camera storage card, AND TRANSFERRING all these high resolution photos to your computer, will take FOREVER... unless you have high computer processors and have a high definition interest. Also, over a shorter amount of time, your computer will fill up faster with photos. You will then have to consider external hard drives or alternate storage solutions.

A camera that has less megapixels, or can be adjusted to use less than 5 MP will keep file sizes low and still give good quality. The Sony A100 has a 10, 5.6, and 2.5 MP setting, which using 2.5 will render amazing shots.

Photo storage
Check what type of photo memory card the camera uses and if it will fit what slot your computer has. If there's no slot for it, check into what external card readers would fit the camera and your computer.

Extra Accessories
camera case (to protect your camera)
memory cards (you don't want to run out of space when you're on vacation)
spare batteries/recharger (a few times of being functionless in the field will cure this)
tripod (for steady shots to avoid blur)
lens cleaner kit (grabbing the camera and fingerprints resulting, always happens. Be prepared.)

REVIEWS!
I cannot stress enough the importance of checking reviews on any electronic items before buying it. Better to have your heart set on something and check the reality of other's experiences before buying, than waste your time, money, and much stress getting something that doesn't live up to the standards it claims. Better to let others' experiences speak for what you are thinking of buying, than your own that have not trod that path before.

A good way to do this is go to Amazon.com, and type in your desired camera, cell phone, razor, camcorder, or whatever you want to buy, and below the product listing, you will find the truth written there by users who have bought that same thing you are now looking for, in most cases. They will tell the good and the bad. Use them as the guinea pigs, not you.

Then go to the electronic store near you and get the item with a warranty (a big store chain is best to go to, so they don't go out of business, and will be there to honor your purchase over time). Most warranties online will offer only current replacement value, rather than the value at what you bought the item at. If you buy it in the store with warranty and it breaks within that period, they have been more likely to fix or replace your same product, or give the next model up if they don't have your model in stock.

A professional camera is the next step after a consumer camera, where you might pay for just the camera body, and buy lenses separate, that would meet your needs. After using a consumer camera for awhile, you will know more of your needs and what you like and don't like about what you've been using.

This detachable lens is called an SLR camera (Single Lens Reflex), and will get your more quality shots, be quicker in responding, have more features, and is used for professional landscapes, photographing art, model photography, travel, and commercial uses without the limitations of a consumer camera.

It is a good idea to buy an extra battery, spare photo storage cards, lens cleaner kit, soft spongy neck strap to lessen arm pain in holding the camera long periods, a tripod that will keep the camera still, depending on your needs, and can be found at specializing Camera shops. If you live near Los Angeles, drop by Samy's Camera and talk to an actual sales person that will help you with your needs. Some will try to sell you what they want, so keep in mind "your" needs because you have to live with what you get.

TIP: If you don't have your user manual for a camera you do have, you can do a neat trick and pull one out of thin air (cell phones too) by typing in to your internet search engine "user guide for (make and model name of your camera)", and you may hunt a little, but often times digital manuals are found on the internet for easy download. Don't pay for it where some sites will trick you into that, but sometimes the manufacturer will have them for free download. You can go to their direct site and type in your model brand.

This camera buying guide may only get you to think about what to get, but your best bet is to actually go into a store and talk to a sales person knowledgeable about cameras and help you with your needs.

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