Which camera is right for me?

Julie Hartwig, Tin Can Bay Camera Club

I am often asked for advice – What camera should I buy? Is this make/model any good? In the current digital age, cameras are loaded full of gadgetry that will help most people take good photos in a broad spectrum of conditions. There are even some phone cameras that are now giving results comparable to digital cameras.

The main question to ask is, what you’re going to use the camera for. If it’s just family and holiday snapshots and sharing to social media, then you want something compact and easy to use that’s going to give you results. For this, point-and-shoot compact cameras or a good smartphone are the way to go. For the most part, they are relatively inexpensive and come loaded with features.

If you’re more serious about photography and want to capture wildlife, birds, astro-photography and any other specialist genre such as landscape and portraits, a DSLR or one of the new breed of mirrorless cameras, all of which have interchangeable lenses, are preferable.

More sophisticated equipment does equate to more expense, but if you want the results … you get the picture. These types of cameras do require knowledge and skill to operate and obtain the desired results.

Generally speaking, the best camera is the one you have with you. If you need help with a photography or camera problem, regardless of which camera you have, come to our next meeting at TCB Library. www.tincanbaycameraclub.wix.com/tcb-camera-club.