Most university students will have lots of new adventures to record while in college; but let’s face it, these days, young people want to take excellent photos of their dorm room parties and campus life and appear cool while they’re doing it. A contemporary camera in hand not only helps folks save their college memories, but it also can make users look like experts among their colleague while recording.
Students can effortlessly stash today’s digital cameras in book bags or pockets while strolling around campus. They can even buy models with built-in wi-fi; which promotes regular image sharing for relatives back home; particularly useful considering that many universities provide no-cost WiFi throughout campus.
Online photography school alumnae from Degree Jungle have assembled a checklist of the sexiest cameras that college students are purchasing this holiday season. If you’re a mom or dad with a loved one in college or a student buying things for yourself, the information listed below may help limit your search time.
So Many Cameras to Select From; Which Brand Should I Buy?
The two largest creatures in the digital camera zoo are Nikon and Canon, and folks should certainly spend their hard-earned cash on one of these two brands if they must invest in expert devices. Lens and add-on components in both the new and secondhand camera marketplace ensure these brand-name devices are, essentially, sure things.
How a camera system handles in the student’s palms (it should really feel comfortable) and exactly what functions the student wishes in their equipment are the two foremost questions to address when selecting a design among the Nikon-Canon’s line up. Media scholars will more than likely operate their devices all day, which requires sophisticated, yet, comfortable cameras; while regular students may just prefer easy point-and shoot devices.
Take note that here are additional suppliers available (i.e. Sony and Olympus) that produce good-value digital cameras; however, these devices do compel users to trade off a bit on either image quality or functionality.
Digital Cameras for Easygoing Clickers: The Point-and-Shoot
College students who don’t have time to tinker with functions like shutter speed and F-stop may want to have a look at a point-and-shoot (POS) camera before reviewing more complex DSLR equipment.
Nikon’s innovative POS designs have captured lots of interest over the last couple years. The Nikon Coolpix S6500, for example, owns a sixteen mega-pixel resolution, an extra-long zoom range (12x) and wi-fi for on-the-spot image posting over well-liked social media networks. Students work with a user-friendly touch screen to save and send their photos into cyberspace, and Nikon’s Best Shot Selector (BSS) can assist the novice photographer in quickly choosing the most effective setup for any climate.
Canon’s ELPH collection is a practical choice for a well-designed, trendy, smaller device, and the PowerShot 500 is among the most attractive pocket cameras available this season. Canon designed its trademark functionality and picture quality into a touch screen, POS machine that couples IGIC-4 Image Processing to enhance image capturing in low-light conditions without the need for a flash. This dependable pocket shooter’s optical image stabilizer even assists folks, who are new at taking snapshots, catch that perfect shot.
The Sony W350 integrates performance and style at an affordable price. Sony constantly produces excellent, market-friendly camera systems, and yet this device is one more example of a slim, eye-catching smart-model. The W350 possesses a fourteen-mega-pixel resolution and an optical zoom that centers well at close range. Smile detection and “press-and-sweep” scenic view features are also included in this basic, but dependable, camera that can fit inside a pocket or handbag.
Pro-Cameras for the Photo Journalist Student and Amateur Photographer
Ambitious, experienced photographers may want to opt for a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera to document their college moments. DSLRs own “detachable” lenses that have mirrors, which enables folks to view the images they’re about to capture via reflective view finders.
DSLR advantages include improved picture quality; lens-changing versatility; quicker shutter speeds; and better ISO range and depth of field, with nearly all the above-mentioned components controlled manually by the user.
A Little More About Entry-Level DSLR Lenses
Most DSLR cameras in the marketplace include a standard 18-55 millimeter lens, which delivers wide-angle views to views that just the human eye can see. For additional zoom, most manufacturers offer telephoto lens sets. Hence, concessions are made when acquiring an all-in-one type lens, but the freedom of possessing a single lens for everything does help make shooting less complicated, particularly in video recording. Students can always add more specific lenses to their collection as their skill-sets expand.
All-night parties attach to university living (following finals, naturally), but it is difficult to find a POS camera that can acquire excellent images in shadowy locations. Enter the DSLR D3100, an entry-level, sophisticated machine that handles fantastic shots in dimly-lit areas. The formula is in its CMOS-DX sensing unit and large f/5.6 peak aperture. A three-inch LCD and 1080p, HD video-mode tuck away among this camera’s many components, which include a NIKKOR, 18-55mm-f / 3.5-5.6 G, VR-Lens and built-in, pop-up flash.
This user friendly, lightweight device is really a heavyweight among digital SLRs. The Rebel T3i from Canon showcases an 18MP, CMOS sensor and DIGIC-4 image processor for securing greater, picture quality and speed. It lets students record high-definition video and even gives them a Video Snapshot function for improved movie capturing. The digital camera’s fast, nine-point AF platform guarantees flawless focus, and its three-inch, ClearView LCD empowers elaborate assessment of all images captured.
Sony’s newest DSLR is a concise trade-off between size and DSLR strength. Its APS-C sensing unit is smaller than many DSLR devices, but the A3000’s 20.1 MP, easy-mount lens doesn’t cut corners on application. With a 3.5 fps burst mode and user friendly screen, the A3000 device sports RAW capturing and a twenty-five point auto focus application, all for a budget-friendly price tag.
A Final Word
The most meaningful factor whenever purchasing a digital camera is to locate one that will get the job done. Students should try to find a device that they can mature into, even if that implies investing a little more. Cash paid on components today may spare hassles in upgrading down the road. When visiting the retail store, students should experiment with lots of different models to find out if the camera’s controls fit well in their hands, and to make sure that the camera feels comfortable around their necks. Folks certainly don’t want to purchase a digital camera heavier than they can endure, or buy something more complicated than they believe they can manage.
Author Bio: Chris Thatcher is a freelance writer with over 10 years experience in high school and college education. He’d love it if you checked out Degree Jungle. When he’s not writing about education technology, Chris enjoys life in his hometown of Seattle with his wife, two sons and his Dalmatian Samuel.
