All of us love to shoot images that are picture-postcard perfect. And the multitude of camera options available today leaves us utterly confused about what to buy. Here’s a basic primer on what you should know before spending your moolah.

What do you need it for?
First, assess what you need a camera for. Is it just for the occasional family party, picnic, event or vacation? Or are you interested enough in photography to graduate onto to some more serious hardware than basic point and shoot shutter work? Is the overall size and weight of the camera important? What about the LCD? Do you like shooting portraits? Birds and animals etc., etc? And what’s your budget? These are a few basic questions you need to ask yourself to determine your needs before buying a camera.

Types of cameras
Cameras come in various sizes, weights and capabilities. At the entry level are what are called compact point and shoots. Point and Shoot (P&S) cameras though pocket-sized devices are no longer all that basic anymore in both features and functions. You can pick up a diminutive P&S with a wide-angle to 30X zoom (that’s 28-840mm focal length) or a giant 3-inch LCD screen now. P&S prices range from `12,000 to `30,000.
Next come prosumer or bridge cameras. It’s often said that this breed is for the confused and that the category is dying or already dead. Well, they aren’t, and it isn’t. A bridge camera, while being fairly bulky to lug around and typically weighing 400-450 gms, offers several unique advantages. These include, close to SLR-like handling, no lens changing (hence no sensor dust issues), very versatile focal length and zooms, fairly advanced functionality and great HD video capabilities. Typical price tags? `20,000 to `35,000.
And right on top of all these comes the big daddy digital SLR (single lens reflex) camera with its interchangeable lens that you see amateurs and professional photographers carrying around. D-SLR cameras cost `20,000 at the entry level with a basic kit lens and at the top end — with vast array of lens and accessories available — the sky is the limit.

The megapixel myth
No matter how much hype has been hammered into your head, remember: the key to great image quality from a camera is not megapixels but sensor size. Most digital SLR cameras you see around you today come with sensors that are 220 sq mm to 430 sq mm. The snazzy P&S hangs in at about 20 sq mm to 40 sq mm. To close the loop, that camera in your mobile is a paltry 4 sq mm or max 8 sq mm. At the top of the spectrum, sit full frame digital SLRs. These boast of sensors that are as expansive as 860 sq mm! And that is the same as a 35mm film camera will give you.
More megapixels will only give you huge poster pictures (which most of us never need). A 5MP camera can give you a 2592x1944 pixel photo or an 8.1-x 6.1-inch print at 320dpi. Do you really need more?

Final image
Whatever camera you get there’s one common factor — you. Now of course, as a rule, the better the camera, the better the image. But there’s no exception to the rule that every rule has an exception. The camera is only a tool, the magic it creates depends on how you wield it. Whatever you own can serve you better than you imagine, with just a bit of cleverness and care.
The writer is a part-time publishing consultant and a full-time devotee of all things tech. Contact him at ashishone@gmail.com