How to Decide

Roadmap to a Camera Purchase

Our map is based on both our own experiences with digital cameras and those of colleagues who also have made the journey many times. In it, we break down the decision-making process into the following ten issues:

  1. What are you photographing?

  2. What are you going to do with the pictures?

  3. What are your immediate photographic needs?

  4. How much photographic and computer experience do you have?

  5. How much time do you want to invest in learning how to use a new camera or piece of software?

  6. What are the “must have” features and qualities you need in a digital camera?

  7. What other important features (besides image quality) do you want the camera to have?

  8. What can you afford to spend?

  9. Evaluate and compare the top three cameras ...

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