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Digital cameras
By Lori Grunin, Senior editor |
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If you're looking to put a digital camera under the tree for that special someone this holiday season, you need to do more than just surf specs and compare zoom lengths. There's a host of other things to consider: warranties, accessories, and PC and media compatibility, to name a few. Research is key; common sense won't hurt either. Check out these 10 tips for a dose of both.
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Don't ignore the warranty. While it may look like the real deal, a camera that doesn't have a warranty card is most likely of the gray-market variety--meaning it's an unauthorized import or a resale camera that won't be covered by the manufacturer. We suggest you steer clear.
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Never purchase a camera without testing it first. Size and design are just as important as image quality. If you plan to buy online, make sure you swing by a store first and try a few models on for size. You may find that a compact camera will suit your giftee's small hands just fine, or that your Aunt Gertrude's paws are too big to comfortably navigate through the options on that pricey ultracompact camera.
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Don't skimp on accessories. Most cameras come with memory cards, but they're typically too small to save more than just a few pictures at the best-quality settings. Leave some room in your budget for a media card that will hold lots of images. And don't forget about power: some cameras come with rechargeable batteries and a charger, but not all of them do. Find out what kind of batteries are provided with the camera you're considering and make sure to budget for rechargeables if they're not included, as well as some extras for emergencies.
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Don't forget about the PC. You can't have your lucky recipient saddled with 4,000 photos and nothing to do with them. If he or she is the type to play with or retouch images, you'll need to make sure the machine has the appropriate image-editing software, enough system memory to work with the software, the right printer for making prints, and enough storage space to hold everything. Consider adding a DVD-R or a CD-R drive for archiving purposes and a media card reader for easy file transfer.
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Don't assume you know your recipients' photo habits. Take the giftees to a store to try out different cameras. Quiz them on how they shoot. Do they like to play with settings, or do they leave on the defaults? Do they want a model they can grow into or one they can understand immediately? If the recipient is an enthusiast who currently has a film SLR, you might want to spoil the surprise so that you can find out about any lens or lens adapter compatibility issues, required exposure controls, add-on flash needs, and resolution requirements--key concerns for this audience.
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Don't buy just for today; plan for the future. This is especially important when deciding on which resolution to go with. Sure, that budget 2-megapixel model is fine if the person you're buying for wants only to e-mail vacation photos to friends and family, but what happens when your recipient wants to make a large print of a favorite shot? That's when you'll start kicking yourself for having passed up the higher resolution. To avoid this, write out a list of all the possible ways your budding photographer might share or use photos and shop accordingly.
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Steer clear of ugly photo gear. There's an entire subset of the camera market devoted to pretty toys. If the potential recipient cares a tiny bit more about how something looks than about what it can do, look for slim, silver, design-intensive gear and focus less on the reviewers' performance quibbles. But beware of finishes that might scratch easily.
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Don't forget about card compatibility. Your recipients' lives will be much simpler if you buy a camera that takes the same type of media as their PDA, their camcorder, or their other consumer electronics devices. The fewer media cards and adapters they have to fiddle with, the more they'll enjoy your gift.
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Don't rule out a camcorder. Cameras typically capture fairly short, cruddy video clips, and most consumer camera models can't shoot fast enough to catch action. If Mom needs a device for preserving memories of her daughter's soccer debut, a camcorder might be a better option.
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Don't neglect research. If you don't have a clue where to start, our digital camera guide is the place. And even if you think you know it all, check out the guide anyway; you may pick up some useful tips along the way.
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