Choosing a Camera—Part 3

And today brings us to the final segment on our three-part series on camera selection.  As you’ll recall from the Monday and Wednesday installment, our buyer needs a camera in very short order.  They’ve been tasked with photographing a prom party.  Additionally, our buyer has limited experience with cameras, a little time using a friend’s Nikon DSLR, and no background in manual photography.  On Wednesday I gave a series of suggestions in three categories of cameras.  Today brings us to the pros and cons of those suggestions:

Compact cameras:

Pros:

Very compact and easy to haul around all day with minimal effort; easy to hide away in a small bag or purse.

Cons:

Smaller sensors, more prone to noise at higher ISO settings in dim light situations.

Limited by attached lens in most cases (most are in the 4x to 5x range), although sometimes (depending on the make/model) there are add-on lenses that increase wide-angle and telephoto capability . . . but at the cost of aperture (lens speed/light gathering capability).

Generally less sophisticated, but usually have a good, wide-ranging set of scene modes from which to select.

ILCs:

Pros:

Larger sensors.  Indeed, the Sony NEX uses an APS-C sized sensor common to most DSLRs.

Fairly compact and easy to carry around, especially when compared to heavier, bulkier DSLRs.

Good range of scene modes.

Cons:

Limited lens selection, especially on the wide-angle side.

New technology/concept/design that still isn’t a proven seller in the marketplace, although I think this segment will catch on as it has a definite niche.

Still pricey for the capabilities you’ll get.

DSLRs:

Pros:

The most versatile of the lot.  Everything from extensive manual control to abundant preset scene modes.  But, ironically, the more professional/upscale the model, the fewer scene modes you’ll get, as this segment is geared toward the truly experienced photographer who doesn’t normally need all those scene modes to get the most out of the camera.

Huge range of lenses, flashes, and other accessories not only from the primary vendor but also aftermarket manufacturers as well.

Best ISO sensitivity by far.

Very competitive market segment, so you get a lot of camera for the money.

This is the type camera you purchase if you want to learn and get more involved in photography later.  Your system and capabilities can grow to suit your future needs.

Cons:

Big, bulky, hard to lug around all day.  No way you’re going to hide these babies.

Additional lenses aren’t cheap, especially if you buy really good glass (and you should always buy the best glass you can, especially as the megapixel rating goes up—the high resolution of most of these cameras will expose inferior lenses pretty quickly).  On the upside, you can get some really quality glass from third-party vendors at up to half the cost of a comparable OEM lens

Once you pick a system, you’re locked into it for probably life unless you win the lottery.  A lens collection for, say, a Canon makes it just far too expensive to later on switch to a Sony or Nikon system.  Choose wisely before you make the plunge.  Keep in mind the company’s record for innovation, support, and other factors before you commit.

You’ll find yourself upgrading the camera body every few years to keep up with technology, but at least your lenses should continue to work with future upgrades for years to come.  Be prepared to purchase a new body at least every other generation.