Extreme Digital Photography: Beyond Point-and-shoot
When my old Olympus digital camera got broke while caving during a family camping trip, I had mixed feelings. For quite some time I had felt that the quality of some of my pictures was hampered by the limitations of that camera, but I did not look forward to spending the money on a new one.
The old camera wasn't bad, but there were certain situations where it was difficult to get good pictures with it. When taking pictures at my son's basketball games, for example, the camera would slow the shutter down to try to improve the exposure, and this would cause the fast-moving players to just look like a blur. The flash was of no help, because it didn't work well from that distance. All I could do was change the ISO sensitiviy, and that made the pictures grainy. Also, the camera was slow, so I'd often miss a good picture by about half a second. At football games, I had another problem; the players were just so far away that the camera's zoom wasn't enough.
For a while, I tried using my old Yashica 35 mm film camera. I even bought a fairly large telephoto lens off ebay and managed to get some really nice football pictures that way. Unfortunately, though, I found that I wasn't saving any money by not buying a new digital as the photo processing was so expensive, especially by the time I added the extra cost of asking for cd's. Also, the Yashica had a manual focus, which allowed maximum control, but sometimes I wasn't quick enough with the focus and the shot was spoiled. Worst of all, since I couldn't see the pictures until I'd paid for the processing, a couple of times I found that there were few if any good shots on an entire roll. With digital, I would have simply taken a lot more shots and deleted the bad ones.
So, finally I decided I needed a new digital, but I was spoiled by the control that the Yashica gave me. Simple point-and-shoot was not good enough. I wanted a camera with good optical zoom (digital zoom is just a marketing gimic) that would give me the ability to take control of more of the camera's features. I also wanted a camera with a quality lens (an oft overlooked feature in consumer cameras), but I did not want to spend a lot of money. I finally settled on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ3 3MP Digital Camera with 12x Image Stabilized Optical Zoom.
Everybody looking at digital cameras seem to look mainly at MP (megapixels), but 3MP is good enough for photo quality 8X10's if you don't do a lot of cropping and enlarging. So, that's a great area for potential cost savings. Personally, I'd rather spend my money on features that will actually help me take better pictures, not just bigger ones. And the Lumix is loaded with such features. Consider also that if you get a higher MP camera, you also need a bigger, more expensive memory card as well.
This camera is admittedly too large to be pocketable, which may be an issue for some people, and if you use the adapter for filters it makes it even more bulky. However, it's pretty light weight (due largely to the battery type) and I like a camera that fits into the hand nicely instead of feeling like a toy. Also, there is a reason why professionals lug around those big cameras. It's because they take better pictures... if you know how to use them properly. Most people don't realize that a telephoto lens is not just for taking pictures of things far away. They are also great for portraits. And for taking pictures of my son's football games, the more zoom the better.
One of the great thing about this camera for me is that my wife, who wants things to be simple, can use the camera in "simple mode". So, she can take great pictures of kids birthday parties and such without having to learn all the features of the camera. I have also used the "simple mode" sometimes, but for basketball games and other extreme situations, I have the option of using shutter-priority or manual modes, and have been able to achieve better results. And with the 12X optical zoom, the camera is great for football games too.
I've seen postings on the internet where people who have bought digital cameras are wondering why they can't seem to get good pictures in certain situations. The answer is simple. Most cameras are made for the average user who wants something small and simple. They aren't made to work well in extreme situations.
In this article, I have described what my needs were when buying my camera. Your needs may be entirely different, and may also change over time (as mine have). However, if you carefully evaluate your individual needs and take into consideration the pros and cons of different cameras before you buy, you will surely avoid some annoying surprises.
The author, Greg Bonney, is the owner of Bonney Information and E-Commerce and founder of Scoutcamping.com (http://www.scoutcamping.com).
Copyright © 2005 Bonney Information and E-Commerce.
Related Articles:
Masterclass Digital Photography Workshops in Tuscany Combine Professional Teaching and Exotic Photo Opportunities
Renowned multi-discipline photographer and masterclass instructor Javier Ideami has teamed up with Tuscan expert and professional travel photographer Mark Abouzeid to create a breakthrough, once in a lifetime learning experience for digital photographers. Their digital photography masterclass combines carefully planned lessons in a professional photography studio with numerous opportunities to explore the most scenic areas of Tuscany, including several secret locations known by Abouzeid.
Do You Know The Meanings Of The Most Common Digital Photography Terms?
As with any subject of interest, it is important to be familiar with and understand the terminology - and digital photography is certainly no exception People that understand the meaning of common digital photography terms and abbreviations have the knowledge necessary to purchase digital cameras and understand the features they offer
Beginning Photography Tips, A Few Basic Tips For Taking Digital Photography
My first tip for taking digital photography for anyone whether they are beginning, or have some degree of experience is ?don?t be frightened of your camera? Get used to handling your camera so that you feel comfortable with it
Where Can I Find Good Digital Photography Backdrops?
Digital photography backdrops are very important as they provide an attractive background that can enhance photographs a great deal More digital photographers than ever have turned to digital photography for many reasons, which include the convenience, cost, and ability to make photos unique looking by enhancing the images
Making Money With Digital Photography And Live Events
A few years ago I became interested in digital photography, mainly for web publishing and
personal reasons. You know, how nice is it now to NOT have to deal with film, scanning
pictures, and the costs of developing all of those "not great" photos that you didn't know were so
bad until you paid to have them developed!So, at the time I got my first digital camera a friend of mine was playing in a rock band, and
needed pictures for their web pages and promotional printings and ads.
Digital Photography: What Does It Mean?
Digital photography is very popular these days. If you have recently shifted from film cameras to digital photography, it is essential that you understand the various terms and abbreviations associated with it:
Digital Photography - Simple Tips And Advice To Help You!
For sure, even those of us who've always owned digital cameras for a long time can use tips on how to make better pictures and troubleshoot when problems arise. And beginners to digital photography need a little guidance to build confidence in their ability to take great shots.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Digital Photography
1. Lesser cost
Nokia Camera Phones | Digital Photography With Nokia Camera Phones
There's a hidden photographer in everyone. Most of us just need a camera and an opportunity. Camera phones give us the portable technology to make the most of any moment. Many cellular phones now come equipped with an advanced technology camera that can make you an instant digital photographer. Grabbing the hottest deal on the latest camera phone couldn't be easier with the many carriers and sales specials available these days.
Ten Quick Digital Photography Tips
If you're looking for some quick and easy to apply digital photography tips, you're in luck We have ten good ones just for you
Digital Photography Tips
Digital photography tips for the professional photographer benefit from following traditional rules whether using traditional or digital equipment. Whether you're buying a digital camera or want to learn more about the one you own, we've got the digital photography tips to help you.
Digital Photography Camera Requirements
If you are taking the plunge into digital photography, you are going to need a camera. Speed is the key consideration in choosing a digital camera. Because digital cameras need time to transfer the image to your storage media, it is an important issue. This is referred to as 'shutter lag' by the photography pros. With candid photography, a three-second shutter lag can mean the difference between taking a blah, ordinary photo, or capturing your child with the perfect grin.
Digital Photography- Printing Made Easy
The excitement of digital photography has increased manifold with the introduction of digital photography printing equipment. Anybody can obtain this equipment and start making prints right from their home. The days of worrying about the film running out and going top processing labs for taking prints are over!
The Secret To Enhancing Colour In Your Digital Photography
It's quite an extraordinary thing, colour. It can enhance or diminish emotion in a digital photo. It's really that powerful. Yet working with colour, it can assist the photographer to emphasise, dramatise or detract from a certain feeling in a digital photograph. Its funny that colour can impact our senses to such a degree. When there is the absence or presence of certain colours we can feel a certain level and depth of emotion. So how can we add drama to photos by using colour? Well the first thing to understand about colour is what it does to our senses as I have just briefly mentioned. To understand what impact colour has on us think of a digital photo that has we must look at what colours mean. For example think of a color that has lots...
Extreme Digital Photography: Beyond Point-and-shoot
When my old Olympus digital camera got broke while caving during a family camping trip, I had mixed feelings. For quite some time I had felt that the quality of some of my pictures was hampered by the limitations of that camera, but I did not look forward to spending the money on a new one.