Things You'll Need:
- Budget
- Research Time
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Step 1
Determine a budget range for how much you want to spend; this way you can target cameras you can afford and not was time researching those you cannot.
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Step 2
What will you be photographing the most? The kids playing sports? Family vacations or landscapes? Look for models that provide the best features for your needs. For instance, if you’ll be photographing action shots, look for cameras that have can shoot at high speeds.
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Step 3
How many megapixels you will need really depends on how much you’ll be printing photos. If you plan on making large prints of your photos, you will need more megapixels (e.g. 10-megapixels). If you’ll be using it just for casual use and to share photos with friends and family, a basic 2- to 4-megapixel should suffice.
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Step 4
Once you figure out which features are the most important, narrow down the models that have those features and fall within your budget. For example, if your budget is between $300 and $400, find the cameras within that price range that offer the most megapixels.
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Step 5
Use online consumer reviews to compare the handful of cameras you’ve narrowed it down to – this will give you a clear idea of the usability and the pros and cons of each camera. Know the details and all the specs of each camera including megapixels, optical zoom, LCD screen and more.
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Step 6
Even if you plan on purchasing a camera online, visit the stores to handle each camera. Find a working model of each camera so you can browse the features and see the LCD screen. Get a feel for each one and note which ones you’re comfortable shooting with.
