How to Pick the Ideal Digital Camera

 Do you know how to pick the best camera? What features do you consider? How costly should it be?

Here's the answer: the best camera out there on the market today is... the one you're actually going to use.

For most amateur photographers, any camera is the best camera.

Okay, you probably didn't want to hear that. But it's true. No camera will instantly give you great photos if you lack great composition and exposure. Cameras don't take pictures, photographers do.

Fine, we hear you. So what camera should I buy?

If you're an amateur photographer, keep to the low-end of cameras, one that you can afford. Then teach yourself about composing photos, exposure, along with other techniques.

Once you determine that you enjoy photography as a hobby and you would prefer some advanced functions, then you can sell your old equipment and graduate to higher-end models.

If you figure out that you've got a secret gift in taking great pictures and you're thinking that you may genuinely wish to make some money from your talent, then you can spend more money on fancy equipment.

But your cash goes furthest if you get quality lenses. This will make a bigger impact than buying a costly camera body.

What features should I look for?

The biggest misconception when picking a camera is that the megapixels make a big difference in the quality of your images.

Unless your image is going to be plastered on a billboard, every camera presently on the market should be perfectly sufficient to satisfy your MP needs.

Instead, think about these distinctions between high-end DSLR vs. low-end DSLR vs. point-and- shoots.

• Price (the difference between the top and bottom could be a few thousand dollars)
• Response time (the time it will take the camera to take the photo after you hit the shutter)
• Auto-focus
• Functionality in low-light conditions
• Video functionality
• Weather-proof bodies

So here's how to tell if you are a true photography buff: if you're always snapping pics with your camera, particularly of things that many people probably would not consider photogenic, then you can consider yourself a real aficionado. In this case, you're probably a person who would take advantage of the extra features of a DSLR.

So be honest with yourself and figure out exactly how much you will use your camera before you spend the money. If you plan to carry it with you constantly, then go for it!