Yesterday, I talked a little bit about buying a SLR camera and some of the pros and cons associated with a professional or prosumer level camera. But not every photographer out there has to work with the most expensive equipment.

Remember, photography is a great hobby, and even a point and shoot camera can get you some great results. But, there is still something to say for having a good point and shoot, a camera that can get the job done right.

So, if you aren’t ready to shell out for a SLR, take some time looking for the right point and shoot camera.

Of course, having a nice point and shoot comes with a cost, too. If you want the right type of lens and power, you need to look in to spending between $500 and $700. There are nice cameras for less, sure. And older models can be just as good as new ones. So shop around. But, take a few seconds here the review some of the things you should be looking for in a point and shoot camera.

Optical vs. Digital Zoom

All point and shoot cameras come with built in lenses. So you have to be happy with your lens, as it is the only one you will get to use. I recommend looking for high numbers in the optical zoom category. Optical zoom is a physical number. The lens actually does the zoom, focusing on an image like a normal lens would. Digital zoom is a product of the digital camera, meaning the camera zooms in on the image after the physical zoom has done its job. Digital zooms often lead to blurry, pixelated images. Optical zooms will provide nice crisp images.

Look for a 6x or even a 10x optical zoom when you’re looking for your next camera. Ignore the digital zoom numbers, as they are often just pricing points.

Viewfinders

Are you taking pictures without looking through a viewfinder? Most point and shoot cameras have done away with the viewfinder and only offer the option of taking a picture using the digital display. Try to avoid this if you can. Having a nice viewfinder can help you frame and compose you photos. It also helps you feel like a photographer, making sure your photos are close to what you see as a photographer. I suggest a viewfinder if at all possible.

Megapixels

Unless you are doing a lot of large prints, you can avoid huge megapixel numbers. Mostly, these are just price boosters these days. You can get buy with a nice 5 megapixel camera, no problem. If you want to pay for the extra megapixels, make sure you are doing so for a reason other than bragging rights. Buying a camera for only for its megapixels is no way to choose a camera. You want a balance of a solid megapixel number, as well as other features like image stabilization and red eye removers. Little features like that go a long way toward better pictures, while more megapixels only translates into larger photos, not better quality work.

Take this advice and then go shoot some great photos. Just make sure they end up on a GiiNii frame. Because good family photos always look better on display.

I recently had a reader ask me my opinion on cameras — specifically whether he should spend the cold hard cash to buy an SLR camera.

So, I thought it might be a good idea to take a second and talk about the pros and cons of upgrading one’s photographic equipment.

Step 1: To SLR or Not?

Single-Lens Reflex or SLR (sometimes DigitalSLR, DLSR) cameras are the current standard for professional photography. If you go to a football game and notice all the photographers along the sidelines; they are using SLRs to shoot the game. Often, these cameras are bulky and they always require the extra purchase of lenses. They are unlike a point and shoot camera in that they offer fully manual control and a wide range of photographic possibilities because of their interchangeable lenses. In short, they are the most powerful type of camera you can own — offering complete control over your image.

Now, with great power comes great responsibility. If you are the type of photographer who wants to take better pictures, you might want the responsibility of learning how to use your SLR. But if you want to simply point and shoot, an SLR isn’t for you. Another responsibility is cost. SLRs usually start at around $1000 and lenses can cost anywhere from $100 to thousands of dollars. Cost is the number one hurdle when it comes to expanding to an SLR.

If you think you’re ready, hop on to step 2.

Step 2: Where to Start

The nice thing about SLRs is there is a wide range of products to choose from. And, because Nikon and Canon (the two major SLR makers) have recently rolled out top-of-the-line products, some of the basic SLRs are dropping in price.

If you have made the decision to jump into the SLR world, I highly recommend the Canon Digital Rebel XTi.

The XTi was my first SLR camera and I had a blast learning about SLR photography using it. Because it is Canon’s prosumer SLR, it has all the major technical features a high-end SLR has, but it is also a little easier to handle. Plus, its small size really is nice. If you shop around, you should be able to find a complete XTi kit for between $400 and $800. As a first SLR, the XTi offers a great platform to learn on and an even better price point. The kit should include one small lens that is nice to start with. But, if you’re investing in an SLR, go big or go home, right?

Step 3: The Lens Question

So, you think you want to buy an SLR. Get ready for a new addiction. Once you start to buy lenses, it’s hard to stop. But, you don;t have to go serious lens shopping right out of the gate. The first thing you will want to do is upgrade from the included lens. My advice is to start with a “walking around” lens.

A good “walking around” lens is key for any photographer. As the name suggests, a “walking around” lens is the type of lens you can use in any situation, the type of lens you throw on the camera and go on a walk with.

For about $50, you should be able to find a 28mm-80mm lens. You can use eBay or another online store, but I really suggest heading to your nearest Ma ‘n’ Pa camera store. usually the folks in locally owned shops are helpful when it comes to picking out lenses. A nice 28mm-80mm lens is the perfect place to start; a little zoom, a little power.

When you do look for lenses, make sure the lens can fit and function with your camera. Even a lens made by Canon might not work with your Canon camera. So make sure to check. You don’t have to buy Canon lenses, either. There are a number of good third-party lens makers. And for cost reasons, if you are experimenting with SLR photography, I suggest going third party until you feel comfortable with your camera.

Conclusion

Overall, I think everyone should be using SLRs. If you have even a slight interest in taking better photos, and SLR makes the whole process fun and exciting. Nothing beats a day out and about with a camera. If you are willing to spend arounf $500-$800 to start a new hobby, I know you won’t be dissapointed with a nice new SLR.

Looks like there’s a trend emerging in the digital scope market. Just last week I was talking about the new Carl Zeiss telescopic lens camera, and now, Minox is hitting the scene with a new telescopic setup.

The Minox Digital Camera Module will come in a number if fittings to provide compatibility with the major lens makers. The setup consists of a 2 3/8″ LCD and a 40x magnification module. Scopes from a number of makers can attach to the setup, offering a variety of zoom levels.

Overall, it looks like a sturdy piece of equipment that could be used for a veriety of things. Sportsmen will dig it, and so will wildlife pohotographers who want to get one step closer to the animals they shoot.

Carl Zeiss, the maker of sweet camera lenses, has a new toy out on the market. The PhotoScope 85 T FL.

Like the scope of a gun or the spy binoculars I talked about yesterday, the PhotoScope can capture far off action digitally.

The lens has a 7 megapixel camera integrated into it and a small display that folds out to show off what you shot.

Some more details from the company:

For all photographers who want a fully outdoor-capable solution with a long focal length, the PhotoScope™ offers a focal length of 600 to 1800 mm (35 mm format). This means that small objects as close as five meters to faraway objects can be captured digitally in high-resolution quality. The PhotoScope™ is compact and thus useable anywhere.

The market launch of the PhotoScope™ 85 T* FL is scheduled for spring/summer 2009.

Question. Do you need a 28 megapixel compact digital camera? Most do not. But, if you are some sort of billboard photographer and you just want to print out your proofs in full size, then sure. Go for it, right.

The new Mamiya DL28 can hand you 28 megapixels. Here’s what the company has to say about it:

For example, even though the DL28’s resolution is an impressive 28 Megapixels, its large sensor allows a pixel size of 7.2 microns, producing images with unmatched richness and color accuracy, low noise and striking highlight and shadow detail. Its 3.5-inch (diagonal) screen is the largest in the industry and offers a bright, high-contrast touch screen that is ideal for outdoor or indoor work.

The camera is strange to me, though. A 28 megapixel compact? Why not an SLR? If you are going to max out features, why not go all the way? Plus, the Mamiya has some other strange options. For instance, the ISO range is 50-800. Really? That’s a strange difference form most cameras that run 100-1600.

Oh well, check it out if you’re into that sort fo thing. But I would just spend the money on a Canon or Nikon SLR.