I'm very conservative when it comes to buying myself new "toys". I don't buy every new gadget that comes out, but when I do buy - I get the latest technology and the highest quality I can afford. That way my investment holds its value for a long time and I'm not tempted to replace it so soon.
I didn't buy a digital camera when they first came out. All you could get were 1 megapixel models with no optical zoom capability. Maybe a good replacement for the cardboard throwaways you get at the supermarket, but I much preferred the quality images I got from my (now 20 year old) Nikon 35mm SLR film camera.
When I finally did buy a digital camera a few years ago, I picked up a slightly used 2.1 megapixel from Olympus digital camera with a 3x autofocus optical zoom. At the time, it was as good a value as you could get when buying a digital camera, but technology being what it is - it's now considered a midrange consumer level camera.
Well, while I'm still satisfied with my Nikon film-based camera, I've been thinking about buying a new digital camera for a few months now. That's because I've seen the amazing shots that my friends have taken with their cameras, and I want to be able to get the same results. In addition, I'm using my 35mm SLR much less these days just because it's so much more convenient to use my digital camera, and I've got a bag full of film that I've never found the time to have developed. It's finally time to buy a new digital camera to actually replace the 35mm camera.
Towards that end, I've been reading online guides and digital camera reviews to catch up on exactly what to look for when buying a digital camera. This research is very helpful, as I evaluate which cameras are easy to use, produce high-quality photos, come packed with features, and are the best bargains. In fact, these resources make the task of buying a digital camera easier than I imagined it would be.
Since I've been doing all this research beforehand, I'm ready to make my purchase now that I've decided that buying a digital camera is the right move for me. I've read about people getting fantastic bargains from online stores, so that's where I'll look first. I also read store reviews as part of my research into buying a digital camera, so I know which websites were trustworthy and which ones to avoid. As a result, I'll be able to complete my purchase without a single problem.
Now that I've made the decision, I really can't remember what was preventing me from buying a new digital camera a long time ago! I can't wait to get it so I can play around with the settings, and try out the different features that are available on these newer digital cameras. If you ask me, this is the way photography was meant to be.
If you've been thinking about buying a digital camera, I recommend that you go ahead and do it sooner rather than later. You'll be amazed at how much easier it is to take pictures with this kind of equipment and how much better the pictures turn out.
About the Author
Brandon Layne is a "serious amateur" using both film and digital cameras to shoot primarily outdoor and action shots, and publishes a review of digital cameras on the web.
