Choosing the right Digital Camera for Shooting in Low Light

OK, so you plan to start your own picture web site and you need a digital camera.

Great, just what the world needs... another rave picture web site.

I think you should consider taking pictures of something else, just to be a bit more original, but If I absolutely can't talk you out of it, then I suggest buying a Canon Digital Camera. We have used exclusively Canon cameras since 2002. I have owned 4 and all of them have been great. My first Canon was a 35mm film Canon Rebel SLR, which I still have. I miss the feel of the shutter snapping in an SLR, but I don't miss the huge size and weight. It was miserable to constantly lug around a full size SLR.

In 2006 I started to use a compact digital camera with manual adjustments.

I can't say I like the feel of a digital camera, since for the most part there is no tactile feedback at all (unless you get a digital SLR), but the money saved in film and photo processing is amazing. In 2002, our photo budget was about $60 a week. In 2002, our food budget was also about $60 a week.

Today a decent Digital Camera like the Canon A590 is about $120.00 with a 2GB SD Card. That means that I could buy a brand new digital camera, use it to take pictures at two parties, THEN THROW IT AWAY, and it would cost the same as the price of film and photo development for two weeks with my a 35mm film camera.

Better yet, digital cameras are incredably small and light. I usually keep mine in my pocket and I barely notice it. For one massive in 2008, I actually had to stuff my camera in my shoe, since security said that no digital cameras were allowed.

The average digital camera will work extremely well if you have enough light, but of course at parties their usually isn't enough light. You can turn up the ISO to 800 or 1600, but then your pictures will be grainy. I suggest an external LED Light panel. Sime makes on that is about $40 and it will light up the area in front of your camera very well.

Notes:

I have considered getting a Casio Exilim Card Camera for its extremely small size and mass, and I hear that the movie and picture quality is good, but I have bought one yet.

Some Canon Digital Cameras can be upgraded with a wide angle lense that lets you zoom out more and get wider shots. If possible, buy a camera that has a very wide angle to begin with.