|
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
If you have a photographer on your Christmas gift list, getting the right present can seem like a nightmare. After all, you want to get them something related to their passion for photography, but you don't want to make a fool of yourself by getting a gift that's completely useless or embarrassingly sub-par.
Worry not!
Here is a "map" to the features that serious photographers want their cameras to have.
Digital vs. Film Cameras
Today, most photographers prefer digital cameras, except for some professionals and some photographers who have been using film forever. So, be sure to find out which your photographers prefer.
Camera Lenses 101
If you're going to buy a camera, you need to know a thing or two about lens quality. In fact, if you can't afford an entire camera for your gift-giving needs, you may want to think about buying a single lens.
The lens makes all the difference in the world between a sub-par photograph and a great one. In fact, almost every serious photographer has at least a half-a-dozen lenses in the photography kit.
Most serious photographers prefer SLR (Single Lens Reflex) technology. Nikon and Canon are well known for having the best SLR products on the market.
Lenses come in three different varieties -- standard, wide angle and telephoto. If you want to buy a standard lens, buy one with a focal length of 50mm. If you want a wide angle lens, opt for one with a shorter focal length and if you want a telephoto lens, opt for one with a longer focal length.
When buying lenses as a gift for photographers, it's always best to look into exactly which lens is needed and for what type of camera.
Focus
Avid photographers usually prefer cameras with manual and auto-focus features. This means the photographer can manually focus the camera if he or she prefers, but if they don't want to hassle with focusing, they can also opt to have the camera focus itself.
Many of the higher-quality cameras on the market offer both auto-focus and manual focus features.
Automatic Loading (for Film Cameras)
Most photographers prefer cameras that load film automatically, although some do prefer the old traditional manual-load method. Before buying a camera as a gift, find out which type of loading mechanism the photographer prefers.
An Ever-Evolving Market
When it comes to photography, the market is always evolving. New models appear constantly and what was cutting edge a year ago is antiquated today.
- - -
Keep an eye on the market and pay attention to what the photographers around you are raving about. It will give you great insight as to what's hot and what's not.
| 