Head-To-Head Digital Camera Test
Because of the wide variety of digital cameras now on the market, all with different sizes, shapes, and colours, compiled with all the technical terminology describing the cameras, it can be very daunting to walk into a store and purchase a camera off the shelf.
Because of the wide variety of digital cameras now on the market, all with different sizes, shapes, and colours, compiled with all the technical terminology describing the cameras, it can be very daunting to walk into a store and purchase a camera off the shelf. Instead of causing yourself stress, do some window-shopping on your computer. There are many wonderful and very informational websites that can help you pick a great digital camera.
A few good head-to-head digital camera tests are the perfect way to help you narrow down your search for the ultimate digital camera. You can find these types of articles on websites like PC World and CNET Australia. These articles will place two similar digital cameras together and size them up. It is really a test of each of the featured options, the appearance and usability of each camera, in order to help customers decide which camera is right for them.
If you can’t find articles that compare any of the cameras you are interested in. Set up a head-to-head test of your own. You may even find that you retain the information better if you are jotting it down, rather than just reading it.
Create a Simple Spread Sheet
First, you want to create a very simple spread sheet using Excel or a similar type of program. You will list across the top the cameras that you want to research. Two popular and highly rated digital cameras are the Canon PowerShot G12 and the Nikon Coolpix P7000. You can list as many cameras in this row as you’d like, but you’ll need to have at least two.
Down the side, you’ll want to put titles for each row, which will represent the types of information you need to know about each camera in order to make an informed decision as to which camera is best for you. This should include things such as the size or type of camera, type of memory card the camera uses, number of megapixels, zoom information, image sensor type, image aspect ratio, and the crop factor. You may also want to include the charging method, if any accessories come with the camera, and any online ratings or paraphrased user feedback.
Finally, start researching online and enter the answers to each item under the appropriate camera. Once the spread sheet is filled in, you will have a great comparison chart that you can use to make a decision as to which camera you should buy.
Read Customer Reviews
As you are researching your cameras for the spread sheet, make note of any customer or expert reviews from people that have purchased the camera and have use it. It is very important that you not only find out the benefits and good things about a digital camera, but you also need to learn about each camera’s weakness so you will know if it will be a problem for you. You might find a camera has a weakness, but it doesn’t pertain to you, so you keep it on the short list of potential cameras. For example, you are looking at a camera that doesn’t take crisp HD video, but all the other features are ideal for you. Since you won’t be using the video feature anyway, then it doesn’t really matter if the video is a little lacking. But if you really want a high-quality HD video capability on your digital camera, you’ll know right away to cross this camera off your list as it will not meet your needs.
Ask A Professional
When you are getting ready to make a big investment in something like a digital camera, you want to make sure you get your money’s worth. If you are not very technical savvy, you may have a few questions and an experienced photographer or a trustworthy sales associate is a great place to obtain the answers. Who knows more about cameras than the people that work with them every day? If you feel that you might forget all the questions you have, don’t be afraid to write them down and bring them with you. There is nothing wrong with being prepared. You can even bring a print out of your spreadsheet to aid in your discussion with the professional.
Make Your Final Choice
After you’ve done a head-to-head test, or a side-by-side comparison of all the digital cameras that you are interested in, and you’ve talked to a professional photographer or a sales representative in the camera department of a store, you should have at least narrowed down your choices to two or three perfect cameras for you. Now, it all boils down to your budget and on how much you want to spend on a camera. Make your final decision based on how much you can afford. You’ll walk away knowing you purchased the best digital camera for you.