Wow, we've covered most of what you need to know to make an informed
digital camera decision. About the only thing that remains to be
covered is batteries, and then it's time to pick a digicam.
Batteries
Just like computers and so much else of modern life, a digicam isn't
any good at all without electricity. Digital cameras can be real
battery hogs, and when they run out of juice, you're out of luck unless
you have a spare.
Rule 1: Always have a spare, whether that's a set of alkalines, the
lithium battery your camera uses, or an extra rechargeable cell.
Murphy's Law says your battery will die when you can least afford it.
With a spare, you trump Murphy's Law. (Of course, you do need to
keep a spare rechargeable battery charged....)
Rule 2: Consider rechargeables unless your digicam sees very little
use. Some of those alkaline batteries cost $15, so a $50-75
rechargeable can cover its cost in a few weeks or months. There are
some awesome deals on third-party rechargeables on
eBay.
Rule 3: Think about alkaline backups. When I first got my Canon
PowerShot A50, I bought a rechargeable and a charger, but I kept an
alkaline as my backup battery until mid-2002 - then I finally bought a
spare rechargeable. Kudos to Olympus and others who make cameras that
can use both rechargeables and regular "you can buy 'em anywhere" AA
alkaline batteries.
Picking Your Digicam
There are a lot of brands and models out there.
Some parts of picking the right camera are objective. You need a
enough megapixels to get the quality you need. And you have a certain
number of dollars to spend.
Other parts are subjective. You know whether a reflex-style camera
or a viewfinder model will better meet your needs. You have some idea
how much zoom range you want to match your style of photography.
Some parts don't matter. Compact Flash vs. Memory Stick vs. Secure
Digital vs. xD-Picture shouldn't even enter the picture unless you now
you need a very high capacity or extremely high speed memory card.
Some parts are hard to judge. My bias, as someone involved with
photography for the last 30 years, is toward camera manufacturers, not
consumer electronics or computer companies. I know what kind of cameras
Pentax, Nikon, Canon, Minolta, and so many other camera companies make.
I don't know how Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba, Epson, HP, and others think
about cameras. But that's my bias, and fact is that Sony has taken over
Konica-Minolta's digital camera business, Pentax makes cameras for
other companies, and there are no hard and fast rules. Read the online
reviews.
Most stores will be biased toward the lines they carry, mostly
because they know them and don't know the competition. That's where the
Web comes in. Now that you know what you're after, look at the camera
profiles on several sites. See which models seem most likely to meet
your needs.
Then go to the digicam review sites, such as Steve's Digicams and
Digital Photography Reviews. See
what the digital photography experts have to say about handling,
quirks, and the outstanding features of the models that fit your needs.
But don't make up your mind yet.
Finally, go to
Walmart or Sears or Best Buy or whatever big
national retailer in your area stocks digital cameras. Look at the
models you're interested in. See how well they are constructed. See if
the layout makes sense or seems confusing. Handle the camera and see if
it's comfortable. Don't expect much expertise behind the counter, and
don't plan to buy there. And never buy a floor model from a big box
retailer, as you have no idea how mishandled it's been.
Find a real camera store with a decent digital section. Odds are
they'll have some models the national retailers don't, and you can
count on them knowing a lot more about photography in general than
anyone in the electronics department at the big box stores. Find
someone who knows digital and chat about the models that interest
you.
Remember that this person will have different biases than you do.
That shouldn't prevent them from addressing your needs; if it does,
find another salesperson. Get a photographer's perspective on the
cameras you're considering. Invest some time, and consider buying from
the camera experts instead of the consumer electronics chain. Their
advice and expertise is with the extra money.
Don't rush in. Learn. Study. Handle. Then choose the one that seems
to best meet your needs. By taking the time to make a better decision
up front, you're less likely to be disappointed six months from
now.
