A-Photo Mag

How many times do we hear of people going out to buy a camera and ending up with something too complicated, something not applicable to their use, something they cannot understand or use easily? The first thing you need to keep in mind is the fact that what is applicable to one photographer may not be the right camera to you. Ask yourself why you want the camera at all - is it for your outings with family friends and for snap shots? Is it for dedicated segments such as landscape, architectural or panoramic photography? Are you a professional photographer looking for a versatile system? Cameras have conveniently been divided into the basic divisions of compacts, prosumer level and professional cameras. Let us look at the major differences between the categories. Of course this article is aimed at the absolute novice, who does not have much of an idea about photography.

Compact cameras are generally aimed at the non-professional segment of the camera buyers. However, this by no means implies that they are substandard cameras. It does imply that these cameras may have limited applications as compared to the versatile professional cameras. Compacts have in-built flashes, generally come with their own rechargeable batteries, have fixed lenses with a certain zoom range and today have interesting features such as image stabilization. Perfect for the odd family picnic and portraits with your friends. However, compact cameras usually do not allow you too many manual controls, which means they may not be the best bet for the creative minded. It is also true that compacts are able to deliver excellent pictures within their limited abilities.

SLRs are single lens reflect cameras, and have remained the favorite with photojournalists since the seventies when they became more popular than TLRs. SLR cameras have removable lenses, which make them versatile tools - you can use a different lens for every different type of photography. Maybe a wide angle for your interiors and landscapes, a 150mm for your portraiture, and a 500mm for sports photography. However, the ‘Dont use canon to kill mosquito’ philosophy is most applicable if you do NOT know much about photography and buy your self an expensive SLR simply because you believe the more money you shell out, the better the product you get. That may be true, but not of much use if you do not know how to use one, and neither wish to learn.

Prosumer cameras are rightly called semi-professional cameras as well. They generally have all the manual controls that you could ask for, have an SLR-like appearance but do not allow interchangeable lenses. However, some of them have such a wide range on the in built zoom lens, that you would probably never require to change lenses for most photographic applications. You do not spend money on extra lenses, and you never have a problem with dust getting in to harm the sensor. Such cameras are often used by upcoming photographers and students of the subject.