A digital camera.
There is an enormous supply of camera models available on the market today. Digital photography is now the most common photography type; however, film and film cameras are still available. There are three types of digital cameras: compact digital, referred to as point-and-shoot cameras; advanced compact digital; and digital single lens reflex. Each has its advantages and disadvantages for the beginning photographer.
Compact Digital Cameras
These cameras are small and compact and fit in a pocket or purse. The system in these cameras is similar to film cameras in that it uses a lens to channel light onto an electronic sensor rather than film. Compact digital cameras are designed for easy use on an automatic setting. They also have limited video with sound capability. They have mode settings geared to choose appropriate exposure for the type of photo being taken. These modes are usually portrait, landscape, and sports. Some have a mode called "kids and pets" that works similarly to a sports setting.
The drawbacks to these cameras are that few of them allow the photographer to make choices for aperture openings, shutter speeds, light sensitivity, known as ISO settings, or color/temperature balance, known as white balance settings.
Advanced Digital Camera
Cameras of this type are similar to their smaller cousins but are more closely aligned with digital single lens reflex cameras, since they allow the photographer to make exposure adjustments. While all have an LCD screen for composing images, many of them also have a separate viewfinder. This is handy when taking photographs in full sun that make it difficult to see the subject on the LCD screen.
Advanced compact digital cameras have an automatic setting and all the mode settings that the smaller compact cameras have, but also have settings for creative shooting. They also are able to take video like the smaller compact cameras and they come with lens accessories.
Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera
These are cameras similar to single lens reflex film cameras in size and basic controls. The difference is that instead of film, the cameras have image capturing electronic sensors. Digital SLRs have a through-the-lens viewing system which is obtained with the use of an in-camera mirror that flips up at the time of exposure. Many new digital SLRs now have live view available on the LCD screen.
These cameras make use of interchangeable lenses, enabling the photographer to go from wide angle to telephoto, and to use specialty lenses. Digital SLRs have larger sensors than their compact cousins, and there are models that employ full-frame sensors, rendering photos that are truly 35mm in size.
Making Camera Choices
The beginning photographer could choose any of the digital cameras depending on what they want to achieve. Choosing a small compact digital camera would enable a beginner to concentrate on developing good compositional skills without having to be concerned about exposure decisions. It might be a good choice for children with an interest in photography as the cameras are easy to use and are reasonable in cost.
Choosing a Film Camera
There are still many excellent single lens reflex film cameras on the market and due to the popularity and transition to digital, they can cost considerably less than a comparable digital model. All varieties of film, both negative for prints and transparency for slides are also available. Good laboratories that process film can be found online. While a choice of one of these cameras takes away the ability to review photographs at the time they are taken, using film can be an excellent learning process for a beginner.
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