Photography Buyers Guides: All About Canon Cameras

Canon offers so many different cameras that it's hard to choose which one is right for you, but here are some basics about the Canon brand.

Cameras have sure changed over the years, from the old models which took a giant lightbulb for a flash, to cameras that give you the picture in a minute or two, to the newest in digital cameras which require no film. Although cameras which do take film are still manufactured by Canon, there are many other options for today's photographer. If you haven't gone digital yet and still prefer a small camera with 35 mm film, there are nearly a dozen different types of Sure Shot cameras which are compact and easy to use. These cameras often fit right in a jacket pocket or purse and can be adjusted to take pictures in bright light or setting sun. Sure Shot cameras have a variety of options, depending upon which one you choose, from oversized viewfinders to built-in flash with red-eye reduction. Other features on these cameras can include remote control, for photos with the photographer in the picture, adjustments for taking nighttime photos and even a caption option for attaching captions to your pictures. They even have these little cameras in a waterproof version for taking underwater shots. Some features come standard on most Canon cameras, like zoom for getting really good, close shots or date imprint which prints the date of the photo on the picture automatically. These cameras are easy on the budget, too, with some costing around $150. The ELPH by Canon are another set of cameras which, although they take film, offer the photographer a few different options than those of the Sure Shots. Some of these differences are shock-proof exteriors and the ability to select the size of the shot that the camera will take. Other models have drop-in film features and self-timers. The ELPH cameras are a little more expensive than the Sure Shots, with the average price being $500.

The Canon EOS series gives you the option of 35 mm or digital photos. Many extras are installed on these cameras, including the ability to take continuous photos of up to10 frames per second. Auto-focus guarantees perfect picture quality, while various shooting modes assures just the photo you wanted. And, the great thing about the EOS cameras is that no matter which camera you choose, you have a host of accessories to select from which accommodate each camera. The accessories are designed to fit most of the EOS cameras and include rechargeable batteries, assorted lenses for those who wear glasses, cords for hanging the camera around your neck or even on your bike, and adapters which allow you to plug the camera in and save on batteries. Some of these cameras, although packed with features, can cost as little as $199.

The newest in digital cameras are also available from Canon. Small and compact with no film to deal with, these cameras can hook directly to your computer for editing or printing on your personal printer. It's also easy to send your photos via email to a printing company or department store, then you can pick them up in person. After taking your photos, you can connect to the internet and send the photos through an email to a friend or save them for a background on your desktop. Digital photography offers many more options for the finished print than a 35 mm camera, but cost a little more, with low-end models running about $500 and high-end models going into the thousands of dollars. One thing many people don't know about digital cameras is that they use up batteries pretty quickly, so when investing in one of the digital models, you might consider also purchasing the rechargeable batteries.

No matter which model of camera you choose, Canon has had a decades-long reputation for making a good, solid camera which takes great pictures and offers many features. There's a camera by Canon made for just about anyone's budget, too. Visit your nearby Canon store or go online for more info before choosing the one that's right for you.

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