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What camera should you use? Film or digital? Compact or SLR?
People hardly ever ask me that question, but I tend to tell them anyway.
The question in the past used to be whether you could get a “real” camera that took decent photos (as opposed to some plastic toy).
The problem now is that you are spoiled for choice. On balance, it has to be said that it is better that way around!
The answer lies in what you are going to be using your camera for; if you are simply taking record shots of family and friends, then you just need to get yourself a decent digital compact. They are not all created equal, but it is amazing what you can buy even on a modest budget. If you are not sure which models are the ones to go for, then check out the web - there are a huge number of camera reviews out there.
However, if you are interested in the image itself in its own right - then you should do yourself a favour and try out a quality film camera. The good news is that these can now be picked up for very little of your cash on sites such as ebay. Try a manual-focus SLR with a quality 50mm prime lens (not a zoom). With good quality film, you will be amazed at the quality of results that you can achieve. With the aid of a scanner, you can of course convert your images into digital files for use on the web or to edit in your favourite photo-editing software. The only downside is that once you see what quality film can produce, you may be reluctant to revert to your digital camera! This danger is all the greater if you start using medium format equipment- also available for modest prices on ebay. You have been warned!
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