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Autumnal April brings school holidays and getting out and about with family and friends.Whether you’re embarking on a road trip or simply exploring the picturesque great outdoors, a dedicated digital camera is the best way to capture those treasured moments along the way in all their glory. Words Bec Summer CAMERAS IN FOCUS

L et’s first address the elephant in the room: why do you need a dedicated camera when you have a smartphone? Indeed, smartphone cameras have advanced to a point where they now rival their digital camera counterparts, but they're still no substitute for a dedicated camera when it comes to greater control over settings, larger image sensors and interchangeable lenses – and, of course, ultra high quality photos and video (see page 30 for more advantages). Digital cameras are well equipped to handle the challenges of outdoor photography in a variety of lighting conditions, and can render a scene exactly the way a photographer envisions it. There’s a camera out there to suit all needs and budgets, and choosing the most current model in your price range is recommended. Let’s take a look at the key points and features to consider, and the principal types of cameras available. How will you use it? From simple point-and-shoot compact cameras to the more advanced DSLR and Mirrorless types, a quality digital camera is good for all-purpose photography. However, should you wish to capture fast moving action like sports or wildlife, look for one that shoots at high frame rates and has good auto focus.

How does it feel? Ergonomics and portability are important, especially when shooting on the go. You don’t want a cumbersome camera body when shooting handheld. Check out in-store

Let there be light Aperture (also called f-stop) refers to the amount of light an adjustable lens allows into the camera, while ISO is an adjustable setting that controls its sensitivity to light. A low ISO value is best for bright conditions, and high for low light shooting.

demo models to get a feel for the weight and positioning of buttons and dials to get the right fit for your grip. It’s all in the lens The type of lens largely determines image quality. Point-and-shoot cameras have a fixed lens, while more advanced types have interchangeable lenses that can be swapped out for others, depending on the subject. Prime lenses have a fixed focal length (the distance between the lens and image sensor), while zoom lenses can be wide angle, mid-range, and telephoto. Many cameras that use interchangeable lenses offer the choice of a ‘kit’ lens included, or the camera body only with the lenses sold separately. When choosing a camera body always factor the cost of lenses into your budget, and check your existing lenses are compatible if updating. A sense of the sensor The bigger a camera’s sensor, the better the image quality, particularly when shooting in low light. Sensors can be APS-C (good for speed, travel and street photography), or full frame (for low light shots, landscapes and portraits).

Eyes on Look for a camera with eye-tracking mode, which locks the focus on a subject’s eye and tracks them, resulting in fewer photos being out of focus. Video on the go From Full HD to 4K Ultra HD, digital cameras capture high-resolution video in incredible detail, and some include inbuilt image stabilisation and inputs for an external microphone. The final shot Invest in the best photo editing software and watch some tutorials to learn how to use them. Post-production skills can enhance and organise your images and let your creativity run wild.

28 APRIL 2023

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