Buying a Digital Camera, figuring your best route to choose a model.............................

 

(I know digital cameras are complicated, confusing, and frustrating...so I have been working on rating cameras and finding user specific help on models and compiling it, I have one that even confounds me... it's like a mission for me to conquer and solve! Advanced DSLR's are easier to use then this one, it's a prosumer level point and shoot)

 

Anyone using a digital camera? Try to avoid using "Auto" settings, use scene, program, or advance settings like aperture priority settings. Avoid using Auto White Balance and avoid using Auto ISO/ISA settings...

I have put together a collection of "User Tips" for Specific Digital Camera Models so anyone can benefit the best use out of their camera, these are non-factory recommendations so they are tried and true methods unlike factory tips which tend to be based on what a camera should do in theory ...in other words they designed it to do this or that and since it was designed it will... which is far from the truth. You can't access my data base of information but you can access your own, look for people that post thorough info on using a specific camera model and compare that with technical reviews, but regardless ... there is bias, preference, styles, and types of photography at hand or in play so remember that...technical reviewers bias towards manufactures out of taste or money...it's true. Stay away from ratings users make and sites compile, this is pure garbage and 100% not scientific or reliable info. Canon pro-sumer models are the most over-rated cameras on the market today and that's my opinion, I like some of them but how does a company consistantly place their models, most all of them time and time again in the high upper levels if not top ratings, over and over? It's too obvious to me. They even get accolades for ease of use on models that are way to over done and complicated! Extremely good cameras get reviews and then you have an article that ends up focusing on the one nit-pick thing that is redundantly mentioned more then anything good! But, but. but, ...but what? It's great, but the Canon is always just a bit better? Comon! If Canon is the yardstick to measure everything, then why do companies bother to compete for second place? Because they are winning the market share war. Everyone buys them so they must be the best... consumer self-fraud analysis theory which is created and controlled through money thrown in the right places..

 

Try to set your camera to shoot an ISO of 100 or less only outdoors, carry a white card and set the white balance to the actual available light at hand, use program mode, aperture priority, or specific scene settings on your dial...then find a person on the net that has experimented and posted recommendations on your specific model. Try DP Review, Steve's Digicams, or dphotojounalist for some great performance techniques if you can't find any on your specific camera ... you can shoot like a pro.... guaranteed. Auto settings are pre-programmed and many times are based on specific conditions, things like background colors or avaiable light at hand...sun brightness, glares, concrete walls, grass, sky, etc... can all "fool" these settings ...this can cause things from off colors to poorly exposed, contrast problems, and other distortions that aren't natural...pink whites? pale blue whites? colors that aren't quite what you actually saw when you took the picture...

 

I have been an amatuer photographer for over 30 years now, film cameras are easier then digital. These digital cameras are extremely advanced but even the best are no better then a cheap point and shoot when you use "auto" settings, so if you have a decent camera separate your camera from those little pocket cameras where it counts, add color, depth, and richness that you paid for...this is my theory. Unfortunately these cameras that cost a few more bucks require a course and through some research I have discovered some short-cuts other people have made that can give the advantages that these cameras have.

 

FYI, if you are looking for a point and shoot that is awesome? The Olympus C-5050Z or the C-5060 and 7070...The 5050 is an older 5 meg camera and the other two cost more because they are newer, but the 5050 takes high quality pictures that are amazing if you use the tips provided ... the 5050 takes just as good as Canon Rebel XTi or just about any entry level DSLR. Not based on any performance review, actual tried, tested, and proven use that is spectacular and almost beyond belief... Reviews are nice, they are generalizations and many times the reviewers are biased or even spoiled...they are quicker reviews then they tend to make you believe...it's not practical for anyone to be an all-around reviewer of cameras, nearly impossible. Many many many times I see a camera get a reduced rating for reasons that don't make sense...

good examples are cameras that produce fantastic pictures but have low ratings because the screen is too small, it doesn't turn on fast enough, it doesn't take pictures quick enough or it doesn't have this or that...you have to read every single review throroughly. The ratings users provide are shamefull...where's the credentials of the user? Is the user 14? It's great, it sucks, it's a nice camera are like 80% of the review comments?

Based on what? Sitting there it looks like a nice camera, it looks great? It should be good it cost $400? It sucks because why? The store I bought it from caused a problem? They were late shipping it? Do you know how many people use reviews for airing consumer complaints about sellers? User reviews are simply worthless the way any of these places do it... They are not reliable sources...999 users rate this excellent, so what? 400 are 16 or younger? 200 will have the thing sit around far longer then they use it which is only to take birthday party snap shots? So ratings based on user satisfaction are 100% wothless to me and mostly for a good laugh because if you think about it...I could give my workers or even paid workers...compensation to go write user reviews and tilt this information... There are virtually no restrictions, sign up anything you want in the boxes, name, age, or maybe if you're bored write a review for something you don't even own? Will the FBI knock on your door one day to see proof that actually did or do own that item you reviewed? It's not about whether it happens, it's all about..."it can" and because it can be false? What's the best is to read a review where the so-called user is complaining that people representing a maker are creating the reviews or people from an opposing maker are writting bad reviews on the item to make theirs look better! What a huge waste of space user reviews are.... I don't own an Olympus C-5050Z I did bit I sold it because I was disppointed and discovered that the Panasonic FZ-20 was a much better and superior quality camera so if my mention stuck or sticks... this is exactly what I mean...

 

How many reviews on eBay boast "I am expert International ...so and so" or "I received the camera in good order" as if your experience as a buyer and your opinion of the seller has anything to do with the performance of a certain camera model? Or because you provided some credentials without anything material to support that, we are supposed to accept it? I can tell you how much research and experience I have but the bottom line is this; I'm human and suffer from an opinion that could be swayed by many factors... so the only real advice I could give anyone is to 'research' your specific model and discover how involved other people get using it and if it's so new? Then just like anyone you are gambling and rolling the dice on hope.