When some of us purchase a digital camera, or almost any electronic gift, our first instinct is to buy the digital camera that we would choose for our own use. We are, after all, savvy shoppers and we know our digital cameras from the menu to the zoom lens.
That might not the worst tip for buying a digital camera as a gift, but it may not fit the recipients interests of level of expertise.
If the camera is for a novice who is learning digital photography, a starter camera suitable for storing and sharing images over the web is probably an appropriate gift. You won’t need an abundance of megapixels for this type of camera use, but you should buy a good brand that’s easily portable (size) and has controls that fit the recipients hands.
If the camera is for a child under the age of 13, you can go to a 3.5 megapixel for their first starter camera with a modest optical zoom and easy preset controls. This will allow them to grow into the digital technology and they might surprise you with the results.
For the older person learning to use a digital camera, a 4.0 megapixel will most likely meet their needs. You can find this resolution in a wide variety of name brand cameras at affordable prices. My first digital camera was a 1.2 megapixel that I bought many years ago before the technology advanced, but it created good images for the web by using the optical zoom lens.
If the gift is for an experienced digital camera user, you’ll need a little more information about how the camera will be used and for what purpose. Generally, a 5.0 megapixel resolution with a good optical zoom capacity will meet most needs for this photographer. This camera will produce a good print of 11″ X 14″ images with clarity and good detail.
For good value and price reduction, you can buy refurbished cameras that come with full warranty or you can buy cameras at your local camera shop. Buying at your local shop has advantages because you can get expert advice from the proprietor and they always have sales.
You can alternately buy digital cameras on the Internet by comparing several digital brand cameras for size, specification, and price. Easy to use buyer guides are available to help you make the right selection.
The things that are important to know in buying a digital camera as a gift is how the camera will be used and for what purpose and the level of expertise of the photographer. Most of us use our cameras to capture family, friends, and special occasions. Our level of expertise is not expert but with a little experience, we’ve learned to produce good quality images.
The handling of the camera is up to the gift recipient. A child will only want to know the basic operations while the father might want to know more about how to capture a sunset in all its glory. Buying the right gift camera is the key to their learning process, but once the gift is in their hands, its up to them to learn how to produce good images.
After all is said and done, if you’ve done your homework, you can be satisfied knowing that you gave them the gift that meets their photographic needs.