Now that we’ve sorted out where you will want to store, and show off your work, we should really think about what you can use to create your works of art…! Now, there will be many, many options ahead, so if you already have an idea, this can be a sort of confirmation guide as to what you want, and if you have no idea, then this will be very interesting for you.

I will first start off by listing three types of cameras that will probably appeal to you the most:

• Point and Shoot Compact, (referred to as P&S)
• Prosumer Camera, (SLR Like Functionality, but compact and more user friendly
• SLR Digital Camera, (often a DSLR), referring to a ‘Single Lens Reflex’

These are the three main types of digital camera that you will probably be thinking about, particularly if you have no current camera, (or an old one that really does need replacing!).

I will start off by talking about the P&S Camera, its advantages, what it could be used for, and what you can expect from it.

Advantages:

• Compact
• Attractive ‘cool’ designs
• Good fun
• Easy to use
• Easy to share
• Fashionable

Many of the above reasons may not instantly shout out at you for a photographer, but I feel that a compact point and shoot camera can be very useful for someone that has no previous experience in photography, particularly camera’s like Casio Exilims for example, that have a host of premade solutions for specific photographic situations, for example, ‘Sunset’ and ‘Portrait’. This can be very useful when you are starting.

Disadvantages:

• Poor lens quality
• Little zoom functionality
• Little closeup functionality
• Can be very noisy in Low-Light
• Flash can be useless
• Manual control is missing entirely
• Small, therefore losable, damageable…

These disadvantages also list the real reasons why serious/pro photographers avoid much of the compact P&S market, they just aren’t up to scratch with the quality of bigger, prosumer/DSLR cameras.

This as a short summary, can tell you about the P&S camera, it may not be for you, but in a lot of cases, it may be. If you don’t need perfect shots all the time, and won’t be taking pictures in weird and wonderful situations, (for example, extreme Macro, and extreme zoom), it is more than likely that a compact camera will do you fine.

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Next we move onto the prosumer camera, nearly every camera manufacturer has leaped into this market, after its huge boom a few years back. These cameras provide the best bang for the buck, and are most likely the solution for you. I am currently using a ‘Prosumer‘ camera, the FujiFilm S7000. A rather dated model, but it still provides immense quality, in a small casing. These cameras are probably the dominant type on the market, as far as the range of brands and facilities go.

Advantages:

• Full Manual Control
• High Quality lenses
• Larger sensors
• Less noise
• More functions, (ie. more zoom, macro etc)
• More often than not, and EVF, (electronic viewfinder)
• High quality, often metal, housing
• Powerful flash, with support for external guns, (hot shoe)

As you can see from this list of advantages, this nearly corrects all of the P&S faults, and of course this is great, but the key problem with this, is that these cameras will not be as compact, although still very compact all things considered.

Disadvantages:

• Larger
• Less Fashionable
• Not as subtle
• Not as ‘fun’
• Not as interesting, (normally come in black or silver)

What you can also see, is that these cameras have many less advantages, nearly all related to the less compact design. This is very easy to overcome, and I only list these size/design issues, as a comparison with the P&S cameras. This type of camera is the most likely solution for most vaguely serious teenage photographers, as they have the ultimate all rounder capability.

Lastly, we come to SLRs and DSLRs. This is the most likely choice if you are very serious that you will go further. I am going to get a canon EOS 400D This Christmas time, to replace my ageing s7000, and am looking forward to it. The main thing about a SLR is that, when you look through the viewfinder, via the wonder of mirrors, you are in fact looking through the lens, which means you get the most likely view of what your image will be. You also have the advantage of being able to change lenses, giving you virtually infinite possibilities, from the ultra wides, to the ultra zooms, and then to super macro, to fast prime lenses, (fixed length). An SLR is definitely the choice of someone who will continue this as a serious hobby, and most certainly a career.

Advantages:

• Single Lens Reflex - You look through the lens
• Interchangeable lenses
• Awesome image quality
• Virtually no noise at low ISOs
• Awesome solid build quality, metal
• High power flashes, or attachable flash
• Professional future
• Long battery life
• Ultimate manual control
• Ultimate auto control
• Fast, silent AF, (lens dependent).
• Perfection

Obviously, this shows that SLRs are the clear way forward, but of course, the prices are a lot higher than that of the compacts and even some prosumers. I don’t suggest an SLR as a first serious camera, I still think the way I did it, with an S7000 and then switching to an SLR later is a much better plan. Of course, if you have the money, and have had experience, then there is no questioning the brilliance of an SLR.

Disadvantages:

• Size
• No (great) all-in-one lenses
• Cost

And obviously, the small cons list proves this further. It is most certainly a good idea to get an SLR if you are looking at a serious hobby or career path.

Some Examples:

Compact: Canon SD900, Casio Exilim Z1000, Panasonic LX-2,

Prosumer: Canon Powershot G7, Fujifilm S9600, Panasonic F750

DSLR: Canon EOS 400D, Nikon D80, Sony DSLR-A100,

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I think this just about sums up the ultimate information you would need to consider for buying your first camera. Of course if you have any questions, please just email me, or leave a comment on this page.

See you round,

Charlie - Teenage Photographer