Getting the Picture — Choosing a Good Digital Camera

This is a  post written by Hollie Richardson in collaboration with Tesco. Since I am constantly taking photos and have a few different levels of cameras, I always read stuff like this and thought others like me might enjoy this post. Happy reading, shutterbugs. 

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Finding the right digital camera for your needs is a difficult business. There are hundreds of readily available reviews and buying guides out there, but usually, you won’t know a good fit until you take your own set of pictures. Good photographers can achieve accomplished shots with equipment as basic as a pinhole camera, while there are cameras that can make even the most lackluster snapper look good. 

Point-and-click cameras: bring your subject closer

For those who don’t want to be tied down by the weighty body and peripheral kit necessary to a DSLR, the point-and-click digital camera takes the strain out of shots. Wildlife photography will benefit infinitely from the likes of the Canon Powershot SX50, one of the digital cameras available at Tesco. This little beastie is capable of a 50x zoom, bringing subjects closer than a camera phone or DSLR, and with enough settings to give you considerable control over shots.

Camera phones for impromptu special moments

No longer the sole remit of the selfie-enthusiast or Instagram addict, some of the newest generation of smart phones could make you forget there ever was such a thing as the X-pro filter. The Apple iPhone has consistently produced crisp, colorful shots, and their new iPhone 6 looks set to keep up the good work with a new sensor that includes focus pixels. Its equally accomplished peers, such as the HTC One M8 and the Nokia Lumia series are also striving hard to put the power back in your pocket. Any of these will make a worthy addition to the arsenal of the casual photographer.

DSLR Cameras: for the consummate professional

For those purists who love working with lenses, who crave ultra-definition, and don't mind toting an impressive bag of tricks around, the DSLR is hard to beat. For taking high- resolution product shots, or providing the press with a decent snap, a mid-range DSLR like the Nikon D3000 will do just as well in the hands of a professional as an amateur; its auto mode and VR lens series are very forgiving.

When choosing a camera, it’s worth being realistic about what purpose it will serve. The thought of diving in at the deep end and buying a DSLR might appeal, but beyond the bells and whistles, it’s all being proud of what lies within the frame.

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