So you want to buy a camera?

Photography is a continuously growing field, thanks to the expanding technology and high demand for pictures. Just searching "photography" into Google yields 982 million results. Compare that to a search for "Obama," which only returns 463 million.

Buying a camera can get complicated very quickly. From the different brands to the various technology, it's overwhelming to look through all the options-- especially if you have no idea what any of the terms mean. You also have to consider lenses and accessories

There are many, many brands of cameras: Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Olympus, Sigma… the list goes on and on. People always ask, "What's the best brand?" That's a hard question to answer, because every brand offers different technology that caters to different styles of photography. For example, if you shoot primarily sports, you're going to want a camera that has an extremely fast continuous drive rate (how fast the camera can continuously record images), but a portrait photographer will be more concerned with resolution and crop factor.

The most popular brands are Canon and Nikon, and they are arguably the best ones because of the assortment of cameras and developed technology they offer. If you're looking to go pro, you might want to stick to one of these two brands because most camera accessories are compatible with either brand. But if you're only looking to get a camera for taking better pictures, you might find the technology you need at a lower price through those other brands.

There are a few things you should first learn about camera technology before deciding what camera to get, though. Understanding the function of a camera will help you pick out the best kind for your style.

Camera Vocabulary

DSLR: Short for digital single lens reflex, basically it means that you see what the lens sees. Light passes through the lens and a mirror inside reflects it to a block of glass, which is what the viewfinder looks into. When you take a photo, the mirror flips up and the shutter opens to let light shine on the sensor. These are the cameras where you can switch out the lenses.

Megapixels: They are a measure of the resolution of a camera. An important thing to note here about megapixels is that more in not necessarily better. Camera companies constantly boast about how many megapixels their camera offers. Consumers are lead to believe that the more megapixels their camera has, the better the pictures will turn out. While this has some truth to it, you don't need that many megapixels. A 4"x6" photo only needs 4 megapixels to turn out good. With a simple 20 megapixel camera, you can easily print an 8"x10."

Sensor Size: The size of the sensor determines how much of the scene the camera will record. A full frame camera records the entire scene visible in the lens, while a crop sensor camera records a much smaller portion. Keep in mind that certain lenses work better on a full frame sensor than a crop sensor.

ISO: This determines how sensitive to light your camera is. Even though this helps when shooting in low-light situations, a higher ISO causes more noise and grain in your images. While you’ll want a camera with a high ISO, it’s good to look into the noise performance of the camera. Some cameras produce grainy images even at a low ISO setting.

Continuous drive: The speed of the drive determines how many images the camera can record in rapid succession. This is important for anyone planning to shoot high-speed. Yes, that includes children!

Types of Cameras

Camera phones

While these are a great option, they're only good for printing at a 4x6 size, sometimes 5x7. The sensors in camera phones are extremely small; while they boast about their high megapixel levels, a small sensor can only capture so much. If you are looking for taking nice pictures, I would recommend buying a real camera. They last much longer than a phone, and will produce better pictures.

Point and shoot (compact) camera

This camera is perfect for those who just want something to take pictures with other than their phones. It’s easy to use, fully automatic, and most have different programs to select from that cater to different environments, such as outdoor, fireworks, night time, etc. You won’t need to know any photography-jargon for these cameras. They’re much smaller than a DSLR, so they’ll fit in your pocket or purse when you’re on the go, but they don’t lack in quality. While they are With a compact camera, you get what you see. There are no switchable lenses, but for the person who knows nothing about photography, this is exactly what they need.

Nikon’s Coolpix cameras and Canon’s Powershot line both have some great cameras, and both brands range from small to large cameras. There are plenty of other brands that provide great quality compact cameras for less too.

Entry-level DSLR

If you’re brand new to photography and know nothing about it, this is the camera to start with. It has Manual Mode to give you the ability for creative freedom, but also still has the trusty auto and semi-auto programs so you don’t have to know much to use it. These cameras are perfect for the mom who wants better pictures of her kids, but doesn't understand how to program a camera in manual mode. Even if you don't ever plan on learning about photography, this is perfect for you. The goal of an entry-level DSLR is to have an instant ease-of-use priority.

For this level, Canon’s EOS Rebel line or Nikon’s D3200/3300/5200/5300/5500 line are great cameras and perfect for a beginner.

Enthusiast-level DSLR

This is where the line starts to divide the hobbyists from amateurs/professionals. You have to really know your stuff to use a camera from this line. These cameras perform best if the photographer knows how to use aperture, ISO, and shutter speed to create the perfect exposure. If you're a hobbyist looking to become an amateur, or already an amateur and looking to upgrade your old camera, this is the line for you. While these cameras are not completely up to the pro-level, they are a good stepping stone. These cameras can be really pricey, so I advise if you don't intend on learning the technology of photography to stay away from these cameras. Why pay that much money just to shoot in auto? You can get equally as good pictures with an entry-level DSLR for much less.

Nikon’s D500/610/750 and Canon’s 50D/60D/70D lines are the best choice for an enthusiast or anyone seriously committed to learning.

Professional-level DSLR

The difference between a professional DSLR and all the other levels is the quality of the technology. Professional DSLRs have the highest quality technology of all the levels because the profession demands it. Could you imagine hiring a wedding photographer who’s camera couldn’t perform properly in the dark during your first dance? These cameras are the most expensive though, but if you’re planning on becoming a professional, it will pay off to have a hard-working camera.

Canon’s 5D/6D/7D and Nikon’s D800/D5 fall into this level.

Good luck on finding the camera that’s perfect for you!