Digital camera, bridge, reflex, film, the vocabulary of photography can seem complex, and the market is so vast that one can get lost. A few pointers and tips to buy the most suitable device for your needs.
The Silver Film: A Bygone Era?
At first, it is important to dissociate the digital and the film. Silver is what we can find in granny’s granaries. They require a photo film.
Some will find that they are too old, yet it is a mode of photography, which has returned to fashion, defying digital techniques. The “surprise cliché” during the development attracts many enthusiasts, just like the “vintage” aspect of the photographs.
However, filmmaking is still a rather expensive technique if we add up the purchase of film, the price of development and the price of the apparatus itself. Although the good old disposable camera can be used to test for silver!
Compact Digital Camera (P&S): Many Advantages
The digital camera (P&S) is the most widespread and often the least expensive model in the world of photography.
It has many advantages: Its price, its size (it is small, light, slips a little everywhere and can accompany you at any time, traveling). Many brands have developed very good quality cameras, powerful zooms, new technologies, allowing the taking of photos of very good quality.
The number of pixels (indicators of the definition of the image) also tends to increase constantly, but know that beyond 10 megapixels, the quality is very good, and the difference is insignificant, even with a 16 or even 18 megapixels. A remark that applies to all types of cameras.
The Digital Bridge: A Good Compromise
First of all, why a “bridge”?
It is simply a model that bridges the gap between conventional Point-to-shoot cameras (P&S) and the single-lens cameras (SLRs). It was created to satisfy users seeking more quality, but not wishing to spend a big budget for a reflex.
Today, the bridge market has expanded, offering a very large range of products, in terms of price, quality, and ergonomics.
Digital SLR: For Real Photographers
The camera known as “reflex” is intended for people who are a little more experienced.
It is a camera consisting of a camera (“body” of the camera) and a lens, which can be changed according to the needs of the photographer.
There are objectives specific to macro photography (for close-ups and details), others more adapted to portraits, landscapes. The handling is more complex than for a simple camera.
The smartphone: For live pictures
At a time when smartphones are in full expansion, we could not pass over their photographic quality.
Although they will not be able to replace a high-quality camera, they are very practical and their quality remains very good.
In addition, the smartphone accompanies us throughout our activities, which is convenient to take snapshots quickly and to share them with a click on social networks. Moreover, it fits in the pocket.