3 Kids and Us

5 Things to Check When Buying a New Camera

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Before you diagnose yourself with Gear Acquisition Syndrome (G.A.S.) or the unnecessary want of getting something new; it would be healthy and wise to test out first the 5 things to check when buying a new camera.  Who knows? You could have been wrong and this new camera is really what you need and not just what you want.

  1. It starts with a why.

When the world has already offered you the best, there is clearly just a little room for improvements. With that, the task of choosing a new camera and let alone decide whether you really have to buy one no longer becomes just a pushover.

Valid reason is the game changer. Your present camera must be really old or it’s broken and buying new seems to be the most practical solution. Additional needed feature is also valid.

Nobody really knows exactly what will happen next. So to future proof this, also consider new and necessary features as one of the 5 things to check when buying a new camera. Remember, necessary here is relative. Your specific need is sometimes different than others. Everything depends on the situation. One example is when you need a full frame and not a crop sensor.

In other words, your conscience is your first guru.

  1. You also need to consider a budget consideration.

Now that you get why you have to buy it, next is you have to think if the price is really worth it?  Is the return of investment from your photography passion bringing back profits? To make things simpler to you, less than 500 USD is the target price. Several factors are considered here, like what the general population of photographers really just need, and what trusted brands average price is.

The present world of photography offers everything that is already good enough – ideal body stabilization, interchangeable lenses, deep dynamic range, brilliant image quality, fast auto focus and desirable high resolution. Because of this, a value of less than 500 USD is definitely most adequate – the supply of quality products is phenomenal you know!

David from Cameraseals can help you with his review on the best camera under $500 here => https://cameraseals.com/10-best-cameras-under-500-2017/

  1. Lens resolution and lens compatibility is important.

The megapixel marketing is nothing but a myth because the pinnacle suitable number of megapixel for a good camera has long been reached ages ago.  Focus more on the lens, because nowadays, it is easy to find a high resolution and adequate megapixel camera at a fair price anyway.

It makes sense because everything will be put to naught if your lens cannot give the proper resolution that your camera can actually provide. It’s like you are limiting its capacity when it can actually reach better performance.

Interchanging lens definitely provide convenience. So in 5 things to check in buying a new camera, it is a common sense to see to it that your camera body is harmonious to your lens. Lens mount adapters are also available in the market. It is your job as well to see to it that they actually support your lens and the harmful or augmenting effects they may bring to the specific features of your camera are understood well. Read your manual!

  1. Don’t forget your storage space and computer specs.

Bigger pixels result to bigger photo files. Buy a camera with more internal storage capacity, as well as having memory cards which can store lots of data. Larger raw files won’t be problems then and to access them quicker is another advantage if you don’t have to resort to external hard drives and other dedicated storage arrays.

Also, the aspect of photo processing should not be left unattended. Make sure you won’t get a slow processing experience. You can do this by making sure that your computer’s system configuration is in sync and in par with your new camera.

  1. Check the manufacturer’s claims and disclaimers on repair, support and maintenance.

Protection given by product warranty is a common thing but in reality, a business is a business. It is for the benefit of the manufacturer if it will find loopholes to any of your outcry. So bear in mind that it is your right to see the manufacturer’s claims and disclaimers, and written warranty before you even buy your camera. Don’t take them for granted.

If something is really off to be considered for a warranty, then make sure that you understand the service and support platform that your product manufacturer offers and that you get the most out of it.

So before you venture on researching the next newer version of cameras or the next newer and cooler features of the product; study everything first and let 5 things to check when buying a new camera guide you, accordingly.

An Introduction to Digiscoping

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If you have been looking for a reason to prise the kids away from their screens and various devices, what better way to encourage them to get outdoors in the fresh air with digiscoping? All kids like watching wildlife, and with digiscoping, they can do just that. Although it requires a lot of practice, it should keep the kids entertained for hours, which is great for those long summer holidays when all you seem to hear is “I’m bored.” Some photographers have perfected the technique of digiscoping to the level where they have photographed some amazing photographs of birds and other wildlife, which would otherwise be impossible with a traditional digital camera.

The first step to digiscoping is to assemble the right kit. Digiscoping is increasing in popularity which is growing the number of products that are available on the market. If your family already owns a digital camera, you’re halfway there. Another piece of kit you will need is a spotting scope, and an adapter to connect your camera and spotting scope.  A spotting scope is essentially a kind of telescope that creates an upright image. Unlike a normal telescope, a spotting scope is much smaller, and it doesn’t have as much magnifying power as a regular telescope. Also, the majority of spotting scopes are weatherproof; being resistant to fog and water.

If you don’t have any equipment to start digiscoping, a quick search online will reveal all the equipment that you need, and stores such as Phone Scope offer great and up to date equipment. The best camera is one that has a flexible focus and shooting mode. The camera that you need will also require a 3x optical zoom to stop black circles from appearing around the image.

Digiscoping Basics

Before you begin digiscoping, it is important to understand the camera and the spotting scope, so when you eventually merge them together, you get a great result. Practice first with still objects in the garden like a tree or a garden ornament so you can perfect your technique. Then once you have mastered the basics, you can move on to larger birds such as ducks in the local park or geese at the farm because they move more slowly and are easier to photograph. Then once these have been perfected, you can move onto small animals.

If you are considering digiscoping as a new hobby, you will need to purchase the equipment, but before you decide on buying a spotting scope, it is important that you try it out first. There are two main types of digiscope; straight and angled. The straight scope is best if you intend to use it primarily for photography while an angled scope is more suited to a birder who takes the odd photograph now and again.

Finally, a great digiscoping image is all about the right amount of light. The more light, the more illumination and the less motion blur there will be. If you are using a zoom eyepiece on the spotting scope, it is recommended that you set it at the widest possible setting. This reduces blurry images and camera shake.

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We left our home in Sydney, Australia many moons ago in May 2012 and, other than a brief stint back in Perth for Christmas and a wedding in early 2014, we have been travelling the world nomadically ever since, running a business from our laptops and we’re here to show you how to do it!