Camera Choice - Which is the best one for you?

Tonight on our UStreamTV show we are discussing camera choice. We've had a lot of people ask us what type of camera they should buy, and really it all comes down to maybe 4 issues - 1. How much do you want to spend? 2. How advanced are you in photography? 3. What are you looking to do with your images? 4. How comfortable are you with the actual camera in your hands?

As professional photographers for over 30 years, we've had just about every kind of camera you can image, with the exception of 4×5 View Cameras, which I've heard were WONDERFUL! We've owned 35mm cameras - Pentax, Canon, Nikon, Minolta - medium format Mamiya 645, and the even larger Mamiya RB67. All were great cameras that did the job we expected from them and helped us advance in our career by producing awesome images. Always upgrading as newer models were introduced, we knew Digital was on the horizon and jumped in with both feet in 1998. Our first digital camera was a Kodak which was 3.2 megapixels and cost over $15,000!!! Can you image??? Since then we've used the Fuji S2 (had a couple of those and loved them!) and then upgraded to the Fuji S3s. (Nikon bodies) We now use pretty much the 4 cameras we will be showing you tonight on UStream TV - a couple of which have already become the "older" models, but until we see something that really "grabs" us to upgrade, we'll probably hold off for awhile, since they keep coming out with new models pretty quickly. (That's me talking - Ed will probably beg to differ!)

The cameras we now own are - (I'll start with the smallest)

Sony Cybershot DSC W100 - it's probably about 4 years old but it's my vacation "fun" camera. It takes great shots, 8.1 mega pixels, has a large viewing area on the back and takes video too. Best of all it fits in my little "wrist" wallet. There are some that are thinner - but I've got this one and I love it! To check out the newest version of this camera - click on the link at the bottom of the page.

Next is the Canon Powershot S3 - 6.0 megapixels - Ed got this when he went to an Internet Marketing Seminar - it does takes awesome photos, great video, and is still a fairly small camera - We purchased the newer model for our son for Christmas last year - for more info on it, check out the link at the bottom of the page.

The next one is another favorite of mine - the Nikon D40x - 10.2 megapixels - (the newer model is the D60) - It's an SLR with the interchangeable lenses, and it's a very light camera that fits well in my hands. I use it for fun but also at Wedding Receptions! Yep! I get great candids shooting with the camera set at Auto or Program and using the on-camera flash! Sure, I get some red-eye, but I'm a Professional Photographer who knows Photoshop - my favorite pastime! A couple of clicks and the blue eyes are back! It's also a great camera for me to be more creative with shooting on the manual option. Everything good all rolled into one camera. I may eventually want to upgrade since I like this camera so much. To check out the newer model click on the (you got it) link at the bottom of the page.

And last, but certainly not least - we love our Nikon D300 - 12.3 megapixels! It's a great studio camera as well as a great camera to capture candid events and personal photos. The options of what you can do "inside" this camera are endless, and unfortunately, we don't use all that is offered to us. I could sit for hours just playing with all that the camera can do, and I highly recommend that you DO this with the camera that you own. To see more about this camera - you know what to do!

So, go out and find the camera that "fits" you, and if I can give you some importrant advice from one who's "been there" - before you go out to shoot anything - especially if it's an important event - KNOW YOUR CAMERA! Don't be afraid of it - if something isn't working correctly, know what the problem is and know how to correct it. Take your instruction booklet and read every word - you'll be glad you did!

Lata - Sue