The Basics: Advanced Digital Cameras

If the ever-growing number of tiny digital cameras in the marketplace has you feeling nostalgic for the days of 35mm film cameras, you might be a candidate for an advanced digital camera. Advanced models carry the look and feel of those traditional film cameras, with large lenses, boxy camera bodies and a hefty and sturdy feel. After using one of these digital models, you might fool yourself into thinking you're using film again, just like the old days.

With an advanced digital camera, you're going to find high-end performance and features. You can control various components of the exposure manually. Although some advanced digital cameras will operate in fully automatic mode, you'd be wasting your time and money by operating an advanced model as a point-and-shoot camera.

If you choose an advanced digital camera, be prepared to spend some money. They're expensive models, and they can require a lot of add-on components to achieve the top performance. Unless you have some experience as a photographer, you probably aren't going to want to spend the money for an advanced model. Even a low-end advanced digital camera will cost you about $1,000. You easily can spend a few thousand dollars on an average model and several thousand dollars on a professional-level model. And that's before you have to spend money on extra lenses and other items, including large memory cards. Fortunately, the feature list and performance level of an advanced digital camera justify the price -- as long as you can take advantage of the camera's features.

Advanced digital cameras have several benefits, but perhaps the most important one is the photographer's ability to exercise as much control of the shot as he or she wants. Experienced photographers can make use of manual-setting features on advanced digital cameras to achieve a certain look or to yield a specific type of exposure. With a point-and-shoot model, the camera controls the exposure and other settings, leaving you little room to make adjustments. With most advanced models, you can use interchangeable lenses, giving you a lot of options for expanding your camera's capabilities. You usually can add an external flash to improve indoor photo-quality. You can use tripods and remote shutters with these models as well.

Advanced digital cameras typically carry high resolutions and achieve high-end photo quality. However, unless you're an experienced photographer making extremely large prints, you probably won't notice significant differences between advanced digital cameras and high-quality point-and-shoot or ultra-compact models. Snapshots and small prints typically don't reflect the photo quality and powerful capabilities of advanced models.

How To Shop

Here are some questions to think about when considering purchasing an advanced digital camera:

Why are advanced models so expensive? Advanced digital cameras carry top-end components, making them work extremely well but also making them expensive. Advanced models also carry many features and options that more inexpensive automatic models don't offer. Experienced photographers demand more power and capability from their cameras. As with most things, if you want top-of-the-line performance, you have to pay more for it.

If I buy an advanced digital camera, will my photos automatically improve? That would be a nice guarantee for manufacturers to provide; however, if you find such a guarantee, let us know, because we've never seen it. If you're an inexperienced photographer, you might receive improved photo quality from an advanced model, mainly because of the larger resolution, better response times and high-quality lenses with such models. However, because advanced models often require photographers to control more manual settings, inexperienced photographers might have some problems achieving the same exposure and focus they receive with fully automatic cameras. Unless you're making large prints, inexperienced photographers probably won't significantly notice improved photo quality with an advanced model. Experienced photographers will be able to take advantage of the features of advanced models and achieve high-quality photos.

What are some drawbacks with advanced models? In the world of tiny cameras bodies and ultra-compact models, you can consider advanced digital cameras "old school" models. They're bulky, which is a drawback for some people who are used to carrying their camera in a pocket. Advanced models can be very difficult to learn to use, thanks to a large collection of features, many of which you can set manually. Most advanced models don't offer fully automatic modes, either. Obviously, however, expense is the most significant drawback for most people. Advanced digital cameras carry a high initial cost, and you will probably have to spend another few hundred dollars -- at least -- for necessary add-on components.

How do I know if I should buy an advanced digital camera? If you find yourself unhappy with the results of your fully automatic digital camera, wishing you could control the exposure or shutter speed to improve photo quality, you're a good candidate for an advanced model. Those who want to make large prints or who are interested in learning more about photography are good candidates, too. If you're happy with the results of your point-and-shoot model or if you don't want to spend the time needed to learn to use an advanced digital camera, you probably aren't going to be able to justify the investment in a high-end model. Photographers looking to take their work to a higher level will appreciate the capabilities of advanced cameras.

How can I save some money when trying to buy an advanced camera? You usually can't save a significant amount on the camera body, unless you're willing to purchase an older model or unless you stumble on a great bargain. However, you can save money on some add-on components on occasion. For example, if you already own some lenses from a particular manufacturer, sticking with that manufacturer for your next camera probably means you can reuse those lenses. In addition, if you know which components you'll need immediately, you can save some money initially by looking for camera "kits," which contain a few components, such as a lens or two, to go with the camera body. Such kits usually are a little less expensive than buying each component separately.

When shopping for an advanced digital camera, you will be somewhat limited in where you can shop. Unlike consumer-level models, which appear in many types of stores, you're more apt to find advanced models only in electronics stores and photography stores. You might find a low-end advanced digital camera in a department store, but you won't find high-end models. Some Internet stores carry advanced models, too.

If you're willing to spend a few thousand dollars for an advanced digital camera, we wouldn't necessarily recommend always going with the store that offers the lowest price on the model you want. Because you might need help using the camera to its fullest, you might need add-on lenses and you might need repairs at some point, it's important when choosing a merchant to take into account the type of service you will receive after the sale. It might be worth spending a few hundreds dollars more at a store that you know will provide great service versus purchasing from a store that will give you no post-sale service. With budget-priced, easy-to-use models, such service isn't as important.

One advantage to shopping for an advanced model: Unknown manufacturers typically don't enter this area of the market. Only the best camera manufacturers offer advanced models, and many of them are well known from their work with 35mm film cameras. By sticking with well-known manufacturers, you'll receive a high-quality piece of equipment.