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This is the fifth and final installment in the series, “How to Buy a Point and Shoot Digital Camera.”

Finally! The camera is in your possession! Think of all the things you can do with it! But, where to start? First thing to do, of course, is to charge batteries (if you purchased a camera with rechargeable batteries; if not, skip this step!)

Once the batteries are charged, pop them in along with your memory card and turn the the camera on. Take a few test shots—just to double-check that everything’s working ok. Once you’re positive that the camera’s in good working condition, I’d recommend flipping through the manual. Check to make sure there’s no setup you need to do with the camera, such as setting the time. Once everything’s setup, you’re ready to shoot.

It seems like whenever I get a new camera, I never have any idea what to go and take pictures of! Really, the only advice I can give on this matter is get out there and go shoot. Go and take pictures, and make sure to be playing with settings the whole time so you can try everything out and make sure it’s working properly.

So, enjoy your new camera, take lots of photos, and have fun!

This is the fourth installment in the series, “How to Buy a Point and Shoot Digital Camera.”

With the help of this series, you’ve now picked out a camera and decided which accessories you’re going to need. You’re ready to put down the dough, but where should you buy the camera?

The first choice to make is whether you want to buy online or at a typical brick and mortar store (such as RitzCamera or Best Buy). Typically, prices online are cheaper, but you aren’t able to pick it up immediately, and you’ll have to pay shipping charges. The rest of this post is about online retailers, but if you decide to go to an actual store, that’s fine too!

In my experience, B&H is one of the top places to buy cameras and related accessories. They have consistently low prices, quick shipping, and great service. If you look at their rating on ResellerRatings, they have a 9.3 lifetime average. I buy just about all my photo equipment from them.

There may, however, be better deals out there than B&H. I recommend using a tool such as PriceGrabber.com to search for the best deals on what you’re looking for. If you find a site with a great deal, make sure they’re a reputable store. If you’ve never heard of the site, check at ResellerRatings to see what others think. A few sites that also may have good deals are Newegg, Adorama, and, of course, Amazon.com.

If you’re someone who uses eBay a lot, I would caution you against buying from any users there. You are paying a good amount of money, and is it really worth the risk to save a few dollars? A lot of times deals are better other places anyways, so make sure you check around. If you absolutely have to use eBay, make sure the seller has a high feedback rating, and I would also recommend that you only buy new cameras, not previously-used models.

So, take a look around at different sellers, and when you find someone that fits your criteria, go ahead and order. (or go to the store and pick it up, if you’re buying offline) You’re camera should be arriving soon, so start planning all the fun things you’re going to do with it!

Make sure to read the final installment of the series, entitled “How to Buy a Point and Shoot Digital Camera: I’ve got the camera, now what?”

This is the third installment in the series, “How to Buy a Point and Shoot Digital Camera.”

You’ve picked out a digital camera, but what should you buy with it? There are endless choices of what accessories to get with your camera, here is my list of essentials:

• Memory Card (or Two)
  This one is a necessity, as you won’t be able to use your camera without it! Many cameras will with one, but typically they are small cards that only hold a couple of pictures. Find out what type of memory your camera takes, and get a card that will allow you to take plenty of photos before running out of space. To decide what size card you need, use a table such as the one here at DigiCamReview to approximate how many photos you can fit. I generally recommend at least a 512mb card—they’re fairly cheap, and you can store a good number of photos on them.
• Case
  I strongly recommend this one. Get a small case to toss your camera in. This way, if you ever happen to bang against something or accidently drop it, there is less chance you will ruin something.
• Extra batteries
  Although not a necessity, these can come in very handy. If you’re out taking photos, the last thing you want to see is a dead battery. If you buy an extra, you always have the option to swap it out and keep on shooting.
• USB Card Reader
  A card reader allows you to download photos directly from your card, instead of having to use the camera and the cable it came with. This method generally has faster transfer times, but it does require taking the card out of the camera first.
• Tripod
  If you’re going to be doing any sort of night photography, this is an absolute must-have. A tripod allows you to stabilize your camera during any long exposures (which are necessary at night due to low light levels) and it can come in useful in many other situations as well.

There are plenty of other helpful accessories, and the items in this list are by no means the only accessories you should consider, but they are a starting point, and if I were to only get five accessories, they would most certainly be the ones above.

Make sure to read the next installment in the series, entitled “How to Buy a Point and Shoot Digital Camera: Where should I buy the camera and accessories?”

This is the second installment in the series, “How to Buy a Point and Shoot Digital Camera.”

So, you’re at the store, and the salesperson is rattling off specs, and you really have no idea what they’re talking about. What do you really need to know, and what is just superfluous? Here are my suggestions on what you should really concentrate on:

• Get a camera you’re comfortable with.
  Go to the store, pick up some cameras and find one that feels right in your hands. Sure, that 238 megapixel camera is cool, but will you feel comfortable using it? If the camera doesn’t feel right in your hands, don’t buy it. You need something you will want to take pictures with, not a camera you dread pulling out.
• Figure out what you’re taking pictures of.
  Are you taking pictures of flowers? Get a camera with a good macro setting and close focusing distance. Looking to take pictures of Little Jimmy playing baseball? Get one with a good optical zoom. See what I’m saying? You need to get a camera that suits your purpose. So before you go out and buy a camera, ask yourself what you’re using it for, and you will be a lot happier with your decision.
• Don’t worry yourself too much over specifications.
  Too many people fall into the “more is better” trap in the land of digital cameras. To be honest, if all you’re doing is printing 4×6’s, you’re not going to need anything more than 3 megapixels anyways, so who cares if you get a 5 megapixel camera instead of a 10? Also, always make sure to check zoom numbers. Ignore anything called “digital zoom”: it’s bogus. Basically, all digital zoom does is crop your image in camera, resulting in a loss of quality. Look for a camera with a decent optical zoom for normal use (2-3x is probably fine) or higher if you’re looking to do a little more with it (say, if you want to get photos of far away wildlife).
• Don’t go cheap.
  You don’t need to spend $500 to get a good camera, but be wary of anything that seems too cheap. Many digital cameras in the sub-$100 range are junk, quality-wise. If you can’t afford a decent camera now, wait and save until you can, you won’t regret it.
• Get a well-known brand
  This one goes along with “Don’t go cheap.” It’s just not worth it to go with a no-name camera. Make sure you spend your money on a well-established brand, such as Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony, etc. (There are plenty more “good” brands out there, I just would rather not waste space listing them here.) If you’ve never heard of the brand, I would caution you to get a different camera.
• Research.
  Browse online and off for reviews of cameras. One site I highly recommend is DP Review. Read what others think, look at sample images; if you’re going to be spending a good chunk of money, why not be positive you’re buying something of quality?

At the end of the day, the first bullet in this list is the most important. I always tell my friends to make sure they go to a store and try out the camera before buying it—if you’re not buying a camera you’re comfortable with, you’re not making the right decision.

Make sure to read the next installment of the series, entitled “How to Buy a Point and Shoot Digital Camera: What accessories do I need?”

[tags]digital camera, buying guide, point and shoot[/tags]

This is the first installment in the series, “How to Buy a Point and Shoot Digital Camera.”

So, you want a digital camera, but there are so many options out there. Do you get a compact point and shoot or a big ol’ DSLR? This series is all about point and shoots, but the first decision to make is if a P&S is right for you. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• What will I be using the camera for?
  If your main subject is friends and family, and you want a camera to carry with you to different parties, etc., a point and shoot should be perfect for you—you won’t need to lug around a giant DSLR, and you can toss most P&S cameras in a pocket or purse. If, however, you’re aiming to have a good deal of control over your photo, with the ability to change white balance, aperture, shutter speed, etc., you might want to look at more advanced cameras.
• Will I want to play around settings, or will I use the camera strictly in Automatic mode?
  If you’re looking to constantly be changing settings when taking photos, a point and shoot camera may not be right for you. A DSLR will offer better flexibility creatively, but you are giving up the compact size of a point and shoot. If you really could care less about manually tweaking your photos, and you just want good shots from the start, a point and shoot will most likely be perfect for you.
• How much am I willing to pay?
  Generally speaking, P&S cameras are cheaper than DSLRs. If budget is a concern, it would be much more worth your while to spend a smaller amount on P&S than splurging on a DSLR. You can generally get a decent P&S for $200-300, whereas an entry-level DSLR can cost $500-600 plus the cost of additional lenses.
• How much do I care about image quality?
  If you absolutely want top image quality, you are going to want to go with a DSLR with a top-quality lens. DSLR generally perform better in low-light conditions and they usually have more megapixels, resulting in the possibility of larger prints. This point is a bit moot, however, as P&S cameras are becoming better and better. For everyday snapshots, 99% of the time a good P&S camera will give you good enough quality for a great 4×6 or even 8×10 print
• Do I want to have to read the manual?
  P&S cameras, for the most part, are easy to use. DSLRs, for the most part, are not. If you want to be able to take the camera out of the box and start taking photos, and you have never used an advanced camera before, go with a point and shoot. Instead of spending your days wading through the manual, you can spend them taking photos, which is why you bought the camera in the first place, right?

In the end, you really need to look at your uses for the camera and ask yourself if you really need the extra features of a DSLR. Most of the time, a point and shoot camera is the best choice, as it is portable, easy-to-use, and, provided you buy a good one, great quality. If you really want creative control, however, you’ll want to look at a DSLR.

Make sure to read the next installment in the series, entitled “How to Buy a Point and Shoot Digital Camera: What should I look for when buying?”

I’ve decided to do a series over the next few days on my tips on buying a point and shoot camera. I’ve been asked countless times by friends and family about “what camera should I get?,” and I’m aiming to help answer that with this series. I’ll cover everything from what features to look for to where to buy it from, so keep checking back over the next few days.

I’ll be posting my first part of the series later today, “Should I get a digital point and shoot?”

Just a note: in case you’re new to the world of photography, a “point and shoot” camera is typically a compact camera at a smaller size. Lens are not swappable, and advanced features such as manual exposure are generally limited. A “DSLR” or “SLR” (the “D” represents digital) is what you may think of when you think of a professional photographer. Lenses are swappable and the user has far more control over their photos. I’ll be posting a “how-to” on DSLRs sometime later as well, so if you’re looking for a little more control, I’ll let you know my thoughts on what to look for.

The installments are as follows:

1. Is a point and shoot right for me?
2. What should I look for when buying?
3. What accessories do I need?
4. Where should I buy the camera and accessories?
5. I’ve got the camera, now what?

In no particular order, here are my top 5 ways to improve your photos that have definitely helped me in the past.

• Use a prime lens
  Get yourself a prime lens (one that doesn’t zoom), or, if you can’t switch lenses, set it to one focal length and don’t change it. This will force you to move around and try new angles and perspectives. It will push you out of your comfort zone, and it will give you a little different view on the world.
• Go somewhere new
  There are only so many times you can take photos of the flowers in your backyard—try going somewhere new for a change! Whether it’s the next neighborhood over, a new town, or a new continent, it will make you adjust your photography to accomodate new subjects and will give you a chance to break out of any habits you’ve gotten stuck in.
• Learn how to use your camera
  Now, this one may seem kind of stupid, but it’s not. Even the greatest cameras in the world won’t do a darn thing if you don’t know how to use them. Read your manual and know everything your camera does; that way, when you’re out in the field you don’t need to worry about pulling out your manual to, say, set your exposure compensation or set the aperture, you can just concentrate on taking photos.
• Pick a theme
  Pick something to take photos of, and do it! One book I read said that he had an ongoing theme of trying to find letters of the alphabet in nature. Maybe you can take pictures of red boats, or one room houses. Either way, by choosing one thing to take photos of, it will make you keep trying to find new ways to photograph it.
• Photograph, photograph, photograph
  With the advent of the digital age, it barely costs anything to take hundreds of photos as compared to one. Instead of taking one photo of a person, take fifty! By taking more photos, you’ll learn what you like and what you don’t and your photography skills will increase immensely.

Well, it’s time for my first “how-to,” and this one is a pretty cool one—creating a “soft focus” effect within Photoshop. This works well for flower shots, but it can also be used very nicely with portraiture. Basically, what I’m going to show you how to do is to take an image, like the one on the top below and transform it into the one on the bottom, which gains a sort of surreal effect. Click either of the pictures for a better look at what I’m describing.

This is really simple to achieve, and can be a lot of fun—read on for detailed steps.

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