How to Select a Digital Camera

So your looking to buy a digital camera and are wondering how to choose. So, whether you want a compact digital camera or a DSLR, here are my tips for choosing the right camera. I don't get technical much, I just want you to think about "how" you would use your digital camera. So keep reading and lets figure it out....

1) are you an; Artist? Generally Creative? Observant? Perfectionist? Happy sitting in the background at a party? Are you willing to learn and enjoy the art of photography?

OR

2) are you; Anti-artistic? Self-critical? Oblivious to things happening around you? Need to be the life of the party? don't know jack about cameras and just want to take a pic quickly when you want?

Lets look first at what is out there in general. In fact "Point and Shoot" digital photography has come a long way but there is the Digital-SLR (DSLR) for more controlled and professional photography or the traditional film camera.

In this day and age unless you already know you want it lets just rule out the Traditional film camera. So, you've got the Point and Shoot digital cameras and the Digital-SLR (DSLR) camera. I personally use the Canon 30d, which is a Canon DSLR, myself because I fall into the 1st category. However the point and shoots are getting really good now and I could see myself loving being able to have one of those in my pocket for those times when I don't have or am restricted by, the bigger camera. However for me, selecting a digital camera comes down to lenses and the limitations of that with the Point and Shoot camera. With a Point and Shoot digital camera you cannot use multiple lenses.

First take a look at who you are. Are you a 1 or a 2.

If you are a 1.

What are you willing to spend on ANY camera and the additional equipment that makes Photography so much fun and constantly engaging?

What do you want to get out of having this camera? Will it be a toy? Or will it be something you wish to make money with in the future.

Once you've determined what level you will be at personally with your Digital SLR then you can determine what brand you want to go with. I love my canon and find not only the instructions to use the camera simple but the software as well. Everyone will have a learning curve so don't let that deter you from taking your time to find out more about photography by reading online and then finding something that first fits your budget and then fits your personal use growth. Meaning, you spend enough to grow with lenses and flashes and tripods and what not to get years of use from the camera.

If you are a 2.

What are you willing to spend? How large do you want to be able to print to? Make sure to buy a camera over 5mp, most now are, so you can print beyond the 8x10 range.Then find the camera that has the best lens possible in that price range.

I prefer Canons, but have used Nikon's too. Both work fine and have nice software to go with them but Kodak makes the simplest interface with the novice consumer/computer interface in mind. Not the BEST camera but very good software. Just don't get a camera with a lens the size of your phone cameras and expect great quality pics.