Tech Tip: Selecting a Digital Camera

Gizmodo has a good article on how to select a new digital camera. As appraisers we take and store a lot of images and having the right camera for the assignment certainly helps both on site and while writing and formatting the appraisal report. I have an iPhone 3Gs which has a decent camera, but I rarely use the phone camera unless I dont have one of my other cameras with me. I also have a Canon point and shoot, and a Nikon D-3100 DSLR with speedlight/flash and difuser.

The point and shoot I usually take on walk thru assignments, and as a back up in the event there is a problem with my main camera. The Nikon D-3100 is what I use on most assignments and it has been an exceptional camera for my needs. I like the DSLRs (I am now on my second one) because they are fast and the zoom mechanism is a rotating dial on the lens. It focuses fast, and I can zoom in out very quickly.

The Gizmodo article reviews how to select a phone camera, a point and shoot, an EVIL and DSLR (entry, mid and high end). If you are in need of a new camera, it is a good starting point. It lists what each type of camera is best suited for, the pros and cons, and what to buy.

Gizmodo states about DSLRs

When it comes to DSLRs, you're generally choosing between Nikon and Canon and picking the best one you can afford (while bearing in mind that a cheaper one might suffice). There are other manufacturers than Canon and Nikon (such as Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, ) but they offer one of the largest selections of great lenses and it's hard to go wrong with any of their cameras. Generally you're going to get something good when buying a DSLR, so once you know your budget your choice will almost always come down to the specifics.

When making your choice you have to think about what you're going to use it for. Is low-light the most important thing to you? Do you want a full-frame, 35mm-equivalent sensor? What about video? Do you want a camera that takes SD cards or CompactFlash? How important is the autofocus system? First things first, you want to make a list of the features that are most important to you. Then go and read reviews of different cameras and see what's the best fit. Generally you should just get the cheapest camera that does the job you need it to do. It's easy to want a higher-end DSLR that promises magic wishes and world peace, but if you don't need it you can end up blowing a lot of your money on things that don't matter. Before you buy, keep that in mind.

While selecting the right DSLR is going to be pretty specific to your needs, we have a few favorites.

Click HERE to read the full article on selecting a digital camera.

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