See more photography-related strips by Aaron Johnson at www.whattheduck.net

The first photography.101 lesson we had was that it’s not about the camera, but we also mentioned the importance of good tools. This is why we’d like to help you pick a better camera.

You see, it’s way too easy to get robbed at the camera store. Yes, camera prices may be dropping, but it’s still too easy to get suckered into buying a camera for certain features that you don’t really want - or need.

Mind the megapixels
There are compact cameras out now shooting at 12 megapixel - you don’t want them. A 2 megapixel camera will actually give you decent 4″ x 6″ prints. I know - I used to own one. Don’t believe me? Design215 gives you a good idea of how large your prints can go. Based on the chart, unless you plan on making poster size prints on a regular basis, there really is no reason to go beyond 6, or even 4 megapixels.

In fact, getting a larger megapixel count could actually hurt you. As I’ve mentioned before:

The more pixels you try to cram into a tiny sensor, the harder it gets for each individual pixel to grab details. As each pixel on the sensor gets smaller, the amount of noise in the image increases.

So don’t buy in to the idea that more megapixels equals a better camera. Look into its other features instead.

Don’t be too sensitive
The megapixel myth is getting old - that’s why camera manufacturers are looking at other features to brag about. One number many of them are shouting out is the ISO number.

In the days of film, the ISO number referred to the sensitivity of the film - the higher the number, the more sensitive the film. ISO 100 film is meant for sunny days, 1600 and 3200 are meant for concerts and near-black venues.

In digital photography, the numbers mean pretty much the same thing, but with one crucial difference - the sensor doesn’t really get more sensitive. Instead, the processor on your camera amplifies the signal from the sensor.

Sounds simple enough, right? Here lies the problem: the sensors in most compact cameras are too small to work effectively in low light. At higher ISO settings, you end up with noisy pictures.

Why? The explanation, in snippets from dpreview.com, is this:

The CCD sensor used in most compact digital cameras is small

If you’ve got two sensors with 10 million pixels on them and one is over 10x smaller than the other, the pixels themselves will also have to be a lot, lot smaller to squeeze them all in

The trouble with very small pixels is that they are a lot less effective at gathering light

You need a lot of light to produce a signal from the sensor strong enough to record an image

What you are really doing [when raising the ISO] is amplifying the signal from the CCD - you can’t actually increase the sensitivity of the sensor itself.

Like all electrical circuits, CCD sensors are not perfect, and produce some noise

At higher ISO settings… the noise gets amplified too and you end up with an image where the noise is much more visible.

If you really want to work in low light, get a DSLR like the Canon EOS 400D or the Nikon D40X. With a bigger sensor and faster lenses, you can really take better pictures in low light.

Don’t try to get too close
There are two classes of zoom on your cameras: optical and digital. The only one you should really care about is optical.

Why? Optical zoom magnifies an image before it reaches your camera’s sensor. Digital zoom, on the other hand, crops the image that has already been captured by your sensor and enlarges it.

If that explanation doesn’t get the point through, then this image from Cambridge in Colour should do the trick.

Even though the photo with digital zoom contains the same number of pixels, the detail is clearly far less than with optical zoom. Digital zoom should be almost entirely avoided.

You don’t get any more detail with a digital zoom than you would if you cropped your image in Photoshop or another program. In fact, you might actually get better results if you do your cropping afterwards.

If you really want to get closer to the action, get a lens with a longer focal length. That, or take a few steps forward.

There you have it
That’s my advice for buying a camera - or at least weeding out the bad ones. The point I’m really trying to make is this: throw the numbers out the window and let other factors influence your purchase decision.

Ask yourself some other questions instead:

Where are you buying the camera? Is the shop reputable? Are the staff helpful and courteous? What sort of warranty do they offer?

What are the reviews on the camera? Do people rave about the brand or do they curse it? What do they have to say about the after sales service?

How does it feel in your hand? Does the unit feel flimsy and cheap, or is it solid? Do you think it can survive a day in your pocket or bag?

What else can you get? Can you get extras like a case, batteries, or memory cards? What about discounts on these items?

Lastly, do you really need that new camera?

Happy shopping!

Tags: camera, buying guide, megapixel myth, resolution, ISO, digital zoom, optical zoom, Pop Photo Flash, Digital Photography Review, Cambridge in Color, Sean McHugh, flash.popphoto.com, dpreview.com, cambridgeincolour.com