Laurence Chen - Take Control of Buying a Digital Camera

Copyright 2009

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TAKE CONTROL electronic books help readers regain a measure of control in an oftentimes out-of-control universe. Take Control ebooks also streamline the publication process so that information about quickly changing technical topics can be published while it's still relevant and accurate.

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This update mainly brings information such as prices, megapixel ranges, and models up to date to reflect the current state of the market, especially in , page 89).

I've also added information about Auto ISOsee particularly , page 40.

If you printed version 3.0 on a home printer and wish to update your book, but don't wish to re-print the entire document, I suggest that you proceed as follows:

The page numbers on your resulting printed copy won't be exactly sequential or correct, because it will now have a mix of old and new pages, but otherwise, these steps should give you a fully updated, printed book. If you want the page numbers to work out, you'll have to re-print the entire ebook. (Note, you can also click Print on the cover of the ebook to get a more professional looking printed copy.)

Version 3.0 of Take Control of Buying a Digital Camera contains these updates and improvements over the 2.0 edition:

Maybe you have a baby on the way or you're going on a trip soon. Maybe it's time to replace your old camera. For whatever reason, you want to make better pictures and a new camera is going to help.

Photos of happy smiling faces dance through your headuntil you get to the store and discover an overwhelming set of camera choices, camera features, and associated gizmos. Today, most digital cameras are loaded with lots of buttons and features, some of which you may never use or care about (but which you end up paying for anyway).

In this book, I guide you through the process of buying a camera. Using a form-follows-function philosophy, I help you decide which shapes, sizes, buttons, and features are important to you. I explain camera features not in isolation, but in the context of using them in the real world. Will the camera help you get the shot or will it hinder you? (A feature that hinders you is not a featureit's a problem.) And I cut through the marketing that is often more about the latest technical wizardry than the end product: a good photograph.

This guide covers consumer point-and-shoot cameras and digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras. Consumer cameras are built to suit many needs, usually as all-in-one devices. Today's cameraswhich have become specialized computers in their own rightare not all built alike, so buying one requires thought. DSLRs are even more complex than consumer point-and-shoots because they are built to work with parts of a system, such as lenses and lighting units.

I start by helping you think about how much to spend. Then I show you some not-so-obvious ways in which a camera is used, so you can look for one that fits your usage style. Don't think you have a style? Not to worry! I help you identify one. With all this in mind, I explain various camera features with an eye on how they help you accomplish your picture-taking. Finally, I cover a few accessories you may want in addition to a new camera, and I briefly survey photo software.

Along the way, I also share some of what I've learned in my years working as a professional photographer. As you learn about digital cameras, you can use my explanations and tips help you make better photographs. Digital cameras are remarkable tools to help you see the world with fresh eyes. Feel free to experiment and see the world anew!