Let's Talk Gear...

Whether you're an Amateur, Serious Amateur or Professional Photographer your choice of camera gear is a personal one. Yes, we all listen to friends and colleagues as they give their reasoning behind their own choices, but the final choices we make take many factors into account:

So how do we make the tough decisions. A list of requirements is a great place to start:

Let's look at each one of these points in a little more depth.

Budget - So how much money do you have to spend? Is the camera for personal or professional use? Will you be making any money or just exploring your photography?

Longevity - How long are you expecting to use this camera? Keep in mind that the rapid pace of digital technology means that the camera you buy today will be yesterday's gizmo in six months. Traditional cameras have never had that to worry about, but we are seeing fewer new models being introduced.

Format - What is the largest image that you will require? With the newer films and the advent of scanning, if you choose to stick with traditional film cameras, here's what you can expect:

35mm - Up to 20" x 30" print
Medium Format - Up to a 30" x 40" print
Large Format / 4x5 - Up to 50" x 60"

Megapixels - Once again you must ask yourself "What's the largest image I will ever want to reproduce?" Here's a handy guide:

Less than 1 Megapixel - 1,024 x 768 pixels or 2.25MB = 2.5" x 3.5" @ 300 dpi
1 Megapixel - 1,280 x 960 or 3.52MB = 3.2" x 4.2" @ 300 dpi
2 Megapixel - 1,600 x 1,200 or 5.49MB = 4" x 5" @ 300 dpi
3 Megapixel - 2,048 x 1,536 or 9MB = 5" x 7" @ 300 dpi
4 Megapixel - 2,272 x 1,704 or 11MB = 5.7" x 7.5" @ 300 dpi
5 Megapixel - 2,592 x 1,944 or 14.4MB = 6.4" x 8.6" @ 300 dpi

Please keep in mind that different manufactures have different CCD arrays. The examples above may vary. I've also figured sizes based on 300 dpi which I believe gives the closest approximation of film resolution. You can obtaint larger prints if you work with 200 dpi.

For most Professionals the choice is clear; both traditional film and digital cameras are required in their arsenal in order to provide a client with the product that a client may require. For the amateur and serious amateur, the choice may not be as easy. Don't forget that there are other considerations as well;

Lenses
Storage
Flash
Exposure Modes

The best advice we can give is to spend some time determining what you're requirements may be, then invest the time in researching your choice. Use the links provided to give you a head-start in your quest for "Gear Perfection"! Don't forget to talk to your friends and colleagues as well as your local Camera Store Professional. Don't expect to find your answers in a Electronics Superstore that just happens to carry cameras because they're Digital! Read as much as you can about your choice of gear before laying down your hard-earned cash!