Part 1: Choosing the right camera...

I'm not a professional and certainly NOT an expert in the subject, but practically able to advise a bit on the subject of choosing a camera. If you are a professional photographer, you will know much more than whats written here, and certainly won't need to read this blog... :) Anyways, for those of you who would like some advise, here goes... Remember, this is advise about choosing the right camera for YOU, not the latest or greatest piece out there...

Lets start, by asking some questions, things you need to ask yourself:

Q: what type of pictures do you aim to take? and how often?
- If you want to take few pics once in while and like to share them quickly, you could just invest in a really good smartphone (if you don't own one already). If you want to better than smartphone quality photographs and would like to print them too, you might want a compact camera or one of the high end digital cameras with long zooms. If you like nature, go trekking/hiking/camping often (maybe venture into wildlife photography) Or simply want the best quality photos, definitely go for an entry to mid level DSLR (its worth the investment).

Q: how careful are you with expensive gadgets?
- It's a practical question, so do ask yourself this. The more you spend, the better quality cameras you can buy, but how careful will you be? The answer to this question could also lead you to the accessories you will need for your camera. Like a strong bag, screen protector, etc.

Q: would you like a compact camera to fit in your pocket, or enthusiastic to carry a hefty camera?
-  Again a practical question, about how big you want the camera to be. Do you need something that will fit in your purse or trousers, or are willing to lug around half a kg (or more)? You might go all out and buy a DSLR, but will you be enthusiastic all the way, or just the initial few weeks/months? I know friends who buy DSLRs, then later get bored, or don't fancy carrying them around and it collects dust. Only you know yourself best, so think about this...

Q: would you print a lot of your pictures?
- If so, the pics you take on your smartphone might not always be good enough. It might look good on the phone, but will be pixelated when you print or view on a big screen. Usually, 5 Megapixels shots can be printed upto A4 sizes (if you haven't used digital zoom), and I think all cameras these days will have atleast 5Meg, but more on this later.

Q: would you do advanced post processing on the pics?
- RAW images are useful if you do wanna do post editing, so if you wanna do this, look for cameras that let you take shots in RAW too (or both JPEG and RAW simultaneously).

Q: most important, whats your budget?
- This basically decides everything... :) Like all gadgets, there will be new models coming out every 6 months or max in a years time. So do you want the best now, and keep it for years to come, or would you like newer models later? Maybe you are not sure and just venturing into photography with limited budget and will expand later?

Now, looking at the above questions, I'm hoping you're getting a drift of what I'm leading into. The marketplace is filled with all sorts of cameras. Loads of manufacturers making all sorts of camera, with all sorts of features, so it can get really tricky to narrow down to the ONE... So apart from sifting through all the camera models out there, you need to know what you really want out of your camera, and hence the above questions to start off...

I really didn't think I would write so much, so lets treat this as part 1 of the topic of choosing the right camera...

[Will be continued... Part 2 link]