Best Digital slr Camera for a Beginner Photographer: The Kodak Pixpro

Photography is one of my favorite hobbies. I've had a camera and taken pictures of everyone and everything for nearly as long as I can remember.

I owned film cameras back in the day, even an instant camera or two. About ten years ago I stepped into the modern age and purchased digital cameras.

I only bought the little flat digital cameras. I thought they were the best buy for me. I bought them because:

1. I thought small was convenient
2. They were cheaper
3. I thought they took great photographs
4. I thought the professional style cameras were too expensive and hard to use

That was my thinking until I purchased the Kodak Pixpro AZ361.

Even though I've been taking pictures for a long time, I still don't know the art of photography.

I don't know about white balance or ISO or EV values. I know that they are what make great photos great, but that's about it.

One of the reasons I shied away from the more professional style cameras was because of that. Why would I spend money on a camera that I couldn't use? Photography is supposed to be fun.

Until you learn what ISO, white balance, EV, or aperture is, the Kodak Pixpro really gives you professional looking photographs with little effort on your part.

One of the best things about the Pixpro is that it's goof proof. Everything is automatic. All the settings set themselves to the proper levels, all you have to do is point and shoot.

This camera isn't just for beginners though. If you know what white balance, ISO and EV values are, there is a manual mode that allows you to change everything yourself.

If you're a visual learner and not a learn-as-you-go type, the Pixpro comes with a manual on a CD that will help you along the way.

Either way, I find it's as easy to use as my old camera.

Another reason I didn't want to take the plunge to buy an SLR style camera was because of the need to buy lenses depending on what you were photographing.

For example, I love to take pictures of flowers, but I know to take really good pictures of flowers a macro lens is needed.

A friend of mine that is a photographer has complaining about lenses costing as much as a camera I would buy. I wanted a camera that didn't require me buying expensive accessories.

What makes the Pixpro so great for a beginner photographer is that it has 36X zoom and macro capability already built into the camera.

Now I can take great flower macro pictures and I don't need an extra lens.

I don't have to ever buy a lens. More importantly, while my photographer friend is busy changing out lenses on her camera, I'm happily shooting away with my camera.

Besides, who wants to carry around all that luggage?

My current camera, a Casio Exilim, had served me well, but after surviving a house fire and three years of use, it was time to find another great camera that would take great pictures for the next few years.

Price was a top concern of mine. The price of cameras can easily push $1,000 or more. I wasn't willing to fork over that much money.

My Exilim had cost me about $150 when I bought it. I thought I'd spend somewhere around that figure when I was shopping around.

When I saw the Kodak Pixpro, I knew it was my next child. The price wasn't too much over what I'd spent previously, it was $199.95. It came with a lot of accessories and that is really what pushed me over the edge.

So is the Kodak Pixpro worth its price? I definitely think so. You can easily pay that much for a good slim line digital camera that doesn't have half the features the Pixpro does.

Add in the 8GB SDHC card, the neck strap, lens cover, and photo software that comes with it, it makes it well worth the money.

Photography is a hobby for most people. It should be fun and relaxing, not expensive and technical.

If you're a beginner and you want to take professional looking photographs, then you should consider the Kodak Pixpro AZ361.

It's easy to use, it's reasonably priced, and, most importantly, it makes your pictures look great.

In the end, isn't that all that counts?