Paris Dukes uses several different cameras in taking her photos for scrapbooking. In her purse she carries an Olympus Stylus Epic, a point and shoot that prevents her from missing a priceless moment. She also uses a Canon EOS ELAN II SLR, which is fully automatic, and a Canon G-2 digital.

A Nikon is also the camera of choice for Brookes Hunt-Gilman. She uses a Nikon N-80, which allows her to choose either fully automatic or fully manual operation. Brookes likes her Nikon because it’s simple and easy to use, lightweight, and has great optics. “It focuses better than I do,” she explains. The Nikon also gives her the ability to grow, with the option to purchase additional lenses, filters, etc.

What are some steps you should follow to go about purchasing a camera?

Know What You Want And Need

Brookes recommends that you determine your needs before you go out shopping. If you’re looking for something to just snap a few candids with, you probably don’t want anything fancy. If you think that you might want to add to your camera equipment later, you should get something you can grow with. Also, know what particular features interest you, such as water resistance, red eye reduction or auto focus. Make sure you think about details such as what kind of negatives you want, how you’ll carry the camera and what kind of lighting you will shoot in?ou’ll need to choose between APS (Advanced Photo System), 35mm and digital, you’ll probably want a camera with a strap on it, and you will most likely want a flash.

Keep It Simple

If you’re a beginner or a basic photographer, LeNae suggests starting small with a basic lens and moving up. “Be really aware not to get trapped into buying attachments or a really sophisticated camera,” she warns. “Get something simple, something you can figure out without a manual.”

“A lot of the point and shoots on the market are just incredible. They take good pictures and are easy to use,?adds Brookes.

Do Your Homework

It’s vital to do your research before you buy.

Talking to friends who have cameras is a good way to research. Find out what their cameras can do and what they do and don’t like about them. The Internet is a great way to look up information on various brands and models. Consumer Reports and many camera magazines will allow you to read reviews of products and comparisons of different models.

Photographer John McNally recommends you read all you can about the cameras you’re interested in, then go look at each of them prior to purchasing, in order to get a feel for them. While reviews can tell you all about a camera’s features, they can’t tell you if the camera is for you. This will allow you to see if there are any aspects that you don’t like which may not come across in product reviews. For example, the camera may feel too large for your hands, or the viewfinder may be too hard for you to see through.

In your comparisons, be sure to look at zoom ranges on similar models, warranties and the types of batteries that a camera uses. While some use the standard “AA” batteries, others may use unusual types, which are more expensive. Considering this may be important because not all stores carry special batteries and you never know when and where yours may die.

If you prefer to have someone show you various models rather than reading about them, you can go to any reputable camera store in your area for assistance.

Compare Prices Before You Buy

Once you’ve decided exactly what you want, you can go out and find the best price. The Internet is also a good tool for price comparisons. You can purchase your camera at a camera store, a department store (Target, Sears, etc.), or even through the internet or mail order. Companies such as Wolf Camera and B & H Photo operate mail order purchasing and may be good places to save a bit of money. Again, be sure to look into warranties, shipping costs, etc. prior to purchasing. Brookes warns shoppers to be aware, smart, and cautious. “If the price looks too good, it most likely is.”

Going Digital?

Many of the same steps apply when you’re purchasing a digital camera. Know what you want and need, do your research, and compare prices.

If you’re considering a digital purchase, keep these pros and cons in mind:

Pros:
• Digitals store photos on storage cards that are reusable, meaning you don’t have to purchase film. These storage cards can hold over 250 images instead of 24 or 36, like a roll of 35mm film.
• With the digital, you have the option of reviewing your images before printing them. You can delete images and retake them or edit them on a computer.
• You also have the option to select which pictures get printed from your digital, resulting in fewer stacks of unwanted pictures and preventing you from paying for photos that don’t turn out.
• Digital images can be easily sent to friends and family over e-mail, no scanning required.

Cons:
• If you like to have prints of your pictures, it isn’t as easy to do as dropping off a roll of film.
• You must be careful to watch the number of pixels you shoot your images at, or you can limit the print size of your photos and raise the cost of prints.
• Many digitals do not have interchangeable lenses, restricting your options to grow, and those that do are often steep in price.
• Digital camera batteries are notorious for short battery lives. Try to find a camera that uses “AA?batteries or has a battery that is rechargeable.
• Losing pictures on a digital can be twice as damaging as losing them on a roll of film, because so many images are stored in the same place.

If you’re planning on using a digital for e-mailing images only, a camera with less than two megapixels will work just fine. However, if you’re planning on printing images, you will need a camera with at least two megapixels, according to John.

Printing quality digital photos at home also requires the right kind of equipment, both a printer and a program such as Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, as well as the available memory on your computer to save images. You can, however have your images printed commercially, as there are a number of companies that allow you to download the images via the internet and have them printed and sent to you. “You don’t have to invest in a quality printer or the time,?says LeNae.

If you already have a camera and are planning on updating, don’t discard your old one. LeNae keeps her old camera loaded with black and white film at all times. While you may not use the roll all at once, this will allow you to shoot just a couple of shots of each event, and then you won’t be forced to choose whether to use color or black and white in your good camera. This will also allow you a little variety when you’re picking photos for your scrapbook pages.

Disposable cameras can do as good of a job as any other. Scrapbooker Susan Cobb usually uses a disposable camera, and explains that, “some of my favorite pictures of my kids have been taken with a disposable.” It’s also not a bad idea to keep a disposable on hand for emergencies like when you run out of film or when an unexpected photo opportunity arises.

Remember

The quality of your camera is not the only factor that determines the quality of your photos. Knowing what you want in terms of photos (close-ups, above or below shots, etc.) for scrapbook pages can also be key to your success.

In fact, LeNae says “Scrapbooking has improved the quality of my picturetaking.?/p>