Jay Sousa: The Range Finder
Welcome to Sousa on Photography. Each column will explore a different topic of photography.
At the end of each column I'll give you a photo exercise to work on that will be fun and help you become a better photographer. I will also discuss various genres of photography, such as portraiture, landscape photography, action photography and fine art photography. So let's get started!
As a professional photographer and photography educator, the No. 1 question that I get is: "What is the best camera to buy?" Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your point of view, you have a lot of choices. Some important considerations when buying a camera are budget, intended use, interchangeable lenses, ability to shoot in manual mode, raw capture (more on that in a future column) and megapixels.
Pixels may be the single biggest source of confusion to the camera buyer. A pixel is an electronic light-gathering speck, if you will. The sensor on your camera is rectangular and holds the pixels. Pixels are measured in millions. On the low end, a camera might have 2 million pixels; on the high end, 21 million pixels or more. Generally speaking, the more pixels translates into better image quality and the ability to make a larger print.
There are four categories of cameras to pick from. Let's start with the one that almost everyone has -- in your cell phone. Although the quality of the images made from a cell phone camera has improved greatly over the past couple of years, it isn't the best bet for a serious photographer. They are great to document an event and share the moment instantly with family and friends.
The other three categories are subcompact point-and-shoot cameras, advanced point-and-shoot cameras, and DSLR cameras. DSLR stands for digital single lens reflex, a camera similar in look to a 35 mm film camera.
The subcompact point-and-shoot cameras are the most common, and you'll have a huge selection to pick from. These cameras are the lightest and smallest, with most able to easily fit in a shirt pocket or purse. They will have a zoom lens but not much else. You won't be able to make many adjustments to the image or have a lot of creative control over your pictures with a point-and-shoot.
The next level camera is an advanced point-and-shoot. These cameras are bigger and have more features that allow you to have control over your images, such as manual mode. Manual mode lets you adjust the amount of light that strikes the pixels, giving you more flexibility in your photography. (Fear not, my next column will be on how to make a perfect exposure shooting in manual mode.) This level of camera doesn't have interchangeable lenses, but the zoom lens will be more powerful and of better quality than a subcompact point-and-shoot.
The last type of camera is the DSLR. At one time, DSLRs were used by pros and serious amateurs. Today, these cameras are among the hottest-selling digital cameras on the market. Prices have gone down and the quality up. These cameras have the most features, including interchangeable lenses, larger sensors that can handle more pixels, manual shooting mode, raw shooting capabilities, faster continuous shooting modes for fast action, hot shoes for flash units and superior image quality. These cameras range in price from about $600 to several thousand dollars for high-end pro models.
OK, so I know what you are all asking yourselves. What does Jay Sousa shoot? I am a Canon guy, and my primary camera is a Canon 5DmkII. I have a Canon 50D as a backup and a Canon G10 point-and-shoot that I keep in my truck at all times, just in case.
Now go out and make some great photos.
Jay Sousa has been a full-time professional photographer for 32 years. He owns both Jay Sousa Photography and Gallery on the Square in Merced, teaches photography at Merced College, and leads private and group photography workshops. You can contact him at jay.sousa@sbcglobal.net.
This story was originally published August 27, 2011 at 1:21 AM with the headline "Jay Sousa: The Range Finder."