What To Look For When Buying A Digital Camera

9 things to check when ownership a new camera

If you're buying a new photographic camera and departing with a substantial chunk of cash, yous'll want to know you're getting exactly what you expect – and that yous're getting the all-time possible deal too.

The first thing you'll want to do is to bank check our buying guides, whether y'all're after a unproblematic point-and-shoot photographic camera, a mirrorless model or a full-frame DSLR. Later on something else? Hither are a few others:

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After that, make sure to keep the following in listen:

ane. Check it'southward the right model

This probably sounds like an obvious one, but some retailers (particularly online) don't label their models every bit clearly as they ought to, which leaves you having to work out which version of a detail camera you're really looking at. For instance, if you lot fancy buying the Sony A7 on Amazon Uk, yous'll detect information technology listed as the Sony Sony ILCE7B.

To add farther defoliation, some manufacturers proper noun their models differently in other countries. Canon, for example, names some of its more inferior DSLRs differently in the The states than information technology does in the Uk, while Panasonic also oft changes the serial name or number, depending on where a camera is beingness sold. And so, the Lumix TZ90 in the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland, for example, is actually the Lumix SZ70 in the United states.

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2. Make sure information technology works with your existing lenses

Want to utilise a new camera with an older lens? New cameras frequently work with older eyes, but the state of affairs is different with each manufacturer.

Canon'southward latest DSLR bodies tend to work with older EF lenses without issues, and things similar autofocus and metering should work as expected. As long as you don't mount EF-S lenses onto EF bodies (which can crusade damage to the camera), yous should exist fine.

Nikon bodies often work well with older F-mount lenses, although some work with limitations and others may fifty-fifty damage the host camera. And Pentax has had then many revisions to its K-mount over the years there'll usually exist something to carry in listen when using an older optic with a newer torso.

To utilize older Nikon and Canon DSLR lenses on the companies' latest Z mount and RF mount bodies, y'all volition need to take the appropriate adapter.

You may well want to use lenses from a different mountain on a newer body, and this is often possible, although some bodies will naturally be more all-around because of how they accept been physically designed. If in uncertainty, check to encounter whether an adapter for the lens'due south system to the camera you lot plan on using exists, making sure you have the lens-to-photographic camera society the right way round.

3. Check to see what else is in the range...

People often change between photographic camera systems, only it can be a bit of a nuisance if it means selling all of your bodies and lenses. For that reason, it's a skillful idea to think alee and take a expect at what else is in the range, such as models yous may want to upgrade to at some point. Indeed, it may be the instance that you end up opting for a different model with a more than obvious upgrade path than ane you originally intended to go for.

4. ... and what's being promised in the near future

Nikon Z lens roadmap (Image credit: Nikon)

Manufacturers sometimes release lens roadmaps (higher up) to show how a system will develop in the brusk term, with lens names and expected arrival times. These are particularly useful for newer systems with fewer lens options equally it gives people more confidence to buy into a system that's not fully developed.

Sometimes they may simply mention what volition shortly be available while announcing other products. Either way, just because there's no ultra-wide-angle, macro or super-telephoto lens to utilise with your intended buy correct, it doesn't mean information technology isn't coming. Keep and centre out for these announcements when manufacturers unveil new products and you lot're less likely to be disappointed as you come to expand your organisation in hereafter.

5. Recollect about whether your existing lenses will do the camera justice

1 thing a lot of people notice when moving upwardly to a photographic camera with more megapixels than they're used to is that their images lack some seize with teeth. On close inspection they may appear only a picayune soft or perhaps quite blurry. So why is this?

Information technology's ofttimes downward to a number of things. Beginning, yous wouldn't have scrutinised images to the same extent on a photographic camera with a lower-resolution sensor. Aught about your lens has inverse, of course, y'all're only examining details in a scene at a greater level than you have been. Such sensors can really taxation a lens'south capabilities, so any slight softness or optical aberrations that weren't visible before may now outset to testify.

Read more: The 8 best portrait lenses for Nikon users

As well, whatever minor camera milkshake may now be more credible in such images, and then your technique needs to be spot on. Using a slightly faster shutter speed, or an constructive paradigm stabilisation system (whether it'southward in your body or lens) can help. Some image stabilisation systems besides need a brief moment to settle for maximum effect, and then take your time and endeavour to press the shutter-release button downward more gently.

6. Understand whether any features take limitations

Some cameras that capture 4K video tin merely practise and so at 15fps. Some may fifty-fifty apply a ingather factor to footage, making it harder to achieve wide-angle framing. Meanwhile, other cameras may take impressive continuous shooting rates, simply they may non be able to maintain this for very long, making them less practical in use.

Headline features may sound impressive but it pays to check the specifications carefully on the camera manufacturer's website and so that you don't finish up buying something that isn't fit for purpose.

Making certain you take the right memory card will also help with recording loftier-resolution video or with faster continuous shooting rates, so check what the manufacturer recommends in the camera'south transmission. You lot can typically view these online earlier you lot buy, again through the manufacturer's website.

vii. Examine third-party organisation support

Just because your camera'due south manufacturer does not offer a specific accessory for use with your model, it doesn't mean you lot can't find it elsewhere. The most pop systems tend to attract a variety of 3rd-political party accessory options that are specific to your organization, from camera grips to improve treatment to lens adapters to provide cross-system compatibility.

Read more: The 50 best camera accessories

Some of these accessories may bring surprising benefits. The Metabones Speed Booster (above), for example, not only allows you lot to mount a lens from one organisation onto the body from another, but information technology as well gives you a wider maximum aperture than what the lens would normally allow.

viii. Find out whether you lot tin can claim cashback

Cashback (also know as a rebate) is regularly offered on cameras, and information technology'due south not e'er limited to older models that manufacturers are just trying to clear.

To be eligible, nevertheless, yous may have to jump through a few hoops. You will typically have to buy your model through an approved retailer, during a specific timeframe, and you'll take to make full out a form with your proof of purchase.

It may as well be the example that you get your money back on a pre-loaded credit bill of fare rather than as banking concern transfer or check. In any case, it'south typically worth the try, particularly as cashback sums can run into three figures.

9. Cheque whether you can extend the warranty

Every new photographic camera should come with a warranty of some kind but it'due south not uncommon for manufacturers to offering an extended warranty in one case y'all register a photographic camera (or lens) online. So, whereas you may have a year a standard, registering the camera on the visitor's website may requite you an additional year, if not longer.

This is sometimes indicated on the photographic camera'south packaging, or on the website from which you buy your model, although there may also be a card inside the box with details on this. You'll typically demand y'all camera's serial number and details from your receipt, so brand sure to keep the latter in a safe identify.

It'due south likewise often possible to buy these warranties separately through the manufacturer's website, merely you lot may not find these to be skilful value.

Read more: 23 things to check when buying a new lens

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The old editor of Digital Camera Globe, "Matt G" has spent the bulk of his career working in or reporting on the photographic industry. For two and a half years he worked in the trade side of the business with Jessops and Wex, serving equally content marketing manager for the latter.

Switching streams he also spent five years as a announcer, where he served as technical writer and technical editor for What Digital Camera before joining DCW, taking on assignments equally a freelance writer and photographer in his ain right. He currently works for SmartFrame, a specialist in image-streaming engineering science and protection.