Tips for Buying a Digital Camera in the Philippines

Here in this country, digital cameras are a hot commodity in the tech market. While there are the powerful DSLR cameras that produce great results in the right hands, as well as cellphone cameras everywhere that make casual photography very accessible at the cost of image quality, there are still the dependable point-and-shoot digital cameras for amateur photographers that are still very much in demand. For regular consumers who want more than just a lo-res shot from a cellphone, here are some tips for buying and shopping a digital camera in the Philippines.

Choose the camera that fits your needs
The best digital cameras are those that fulfill their purpose, just like with any other tool. List down your own necessities and figure out which features you really want in a digital camera. Few things are worse than getting something that has so many features that you won’t get to maximize it. Not only are those full-featured cameras more expensive, but they are also bulkier and more liable to various mishaps. While you don’t really need to take the bare minimum, you don’t need the jam-packed swiss knife of cameras either if you don’t actually need it.

Take note that in terms of size, you want a balance that suits your lifestyle best. Bigger does not always correspond to higher image quality and smaller does not always mean practical and sleek. Sometimes, you will actually hate the smaller ones since you will have your images blurry and of low quality. Most small cameras do not have a fast enough shutter speed and high enough image resolution. Meanwhile, bigger cameras tend to have features that may try to emulate their higher-end counterparts, which is not really necessary.

Digital and DSLR cameras
There are “prosumer” cameras that function like DSLR cameras, for instance. They do have larger and more powerful sensors than the usual point-and-shoot cameras. They are a logical choice for those with a bigger budget, but there are a lot of choices between the top brands. What is good with them is that they can be fitted with various accessories like a real DSLR, although less in variety.

However, most point-and-click digital cameras are already more than enough for most consumer needs. You get to take pictures with one in various lighting conditions and most can even shoot video. They come with expandable memory slots and can be powered by standard AA batteries, so they are convenient enough to use. If you are looking for other features like waterproofing and shockproofing, then look for accessories to do the job.

Photo editing and enhancement
As for image enhancement features, you do not really need them. All you need is a good image editing software to retouch your photos and they will yield better results. Those extra features may be fun to play with, but they only make cameras more expensive while being unnecessary. When it comes to features, you are looking for relevance with your own necessities.

Just like with DSLRs, there are places in the Philippines where you can shop for bargains, like in Hidalgo, Quiapo, Manila. If you have access to such places, then do what you can to shop there if you really want a digital camera. Online classifieds are also helpful in canvassing prices and hunting bargains.