Tips on Choosing a Camera

Now is an ideal time to purchase a 35mm SLR camera, there are several reasons for this.

The first is many people are moving over to the digital format so they are selling off their old equipment. This means that it should be available more cheaply than it would have originaly sold at.

Some shops are also selling off their old stock to make way for the digital stock. If you want to digitise your results you can still do so. This is done either by scanning the finished prints into the computer and saving it in a digital form or asking for the film to be developed and stored on a CD ROM or DVD.

Also buying a 35mm means that you can perfect the art of photography by doing all the settings yourself and learning the true art of photography.

When buying the camera you have choices to make such as do you want a manual or auto focus camera.
Do you want a camera that has complete manual over ride or the ability to be used as a fully automatic point and shoot camera.
The type of photography you want to do also affects your choice as wildlife photography requires a different range of lenses that those required for portrait photography.

Once you know what specifications your require then you need to choose a new or second hand camera and also the make. Some manufacturers have a more limited range of lenses available both own brand and also independent.

If money is no object one of the most expensive brands to use would be Leica and these are available both brand new or used.
The more common brands such as Nikon, Pentax and Canon have a reduced range of film cameras available now as they are more biased towards the digital market now. But the advantage of these is there is a wide number of lenses available and they were produced in a large quantity so there is a wide selection of second hand bodies available.

Many of the digital lenses can also be used on film cameras but you need to check the compatability first before you part with your hard earned cash.
The cameras are available cheaply now on both ebay and amazon but also check the independent camera shops as they may do you a good deal and usually come with some form of guarantee.
You need to make sure the camera is fully functioning and buy obtaining one through an independent or specialist camera shop they will have normally had the camera serviced before sale therefore ensuring a good buy.

The main advantage of film over digital is that all 35mm films fit 35mm cameras. With digital there are so many types of memory card which fits which camera can become a bit of a nightmare. For example if you have a Sony digital camera they take memory sticks, the old ones are called memory sticks where as the new ones take a much thinner form called a memory stick duo or duo pro. The old type wont fit these newer cameras as the slot is too thin. But the thin type can be fitted to the older camera using an adpater.

Film prices are normally not very variable where are digital memory can vary from £5 or £10 to as much as £40 or more for exactly the same type and size all depending on where the memory is being bought from.

You need to weigh up all the pros and cons before you deceide on the type of camera you want to purchase.
Happy shopping and get out and enjoy your photography.