Buying a camera is a highly personal decision that’s going to be different for different people. Some will value a feature-heavy camera more than others, who may well value a cheaper and more affordable camera instead.

In light of that fact, this guide won’t be predictable and tell you which the hottest models are at this very moment—that always changes, after all!

Instead, this guide will be a timeless primer on exactly what you have to look for when you buy your new camera, whether you’re a high-end enthusiast who wants a pricey camera or just a beginner who values affordability and simplicity more than anything else. No matter what model or price range you’re interested in, there are always constants that apply to any camera you’re considering. With that in mind, here’s what you absolutely must keep in mind when buying your new camera.

photo by Randy Heinitz

Figure Out What You Need

So many people who buy a camera—particularly first-time buyers—get lured into the trap of purchasing a camera that’s really beyond what they need. It’s quite easy to fall into this trap, what with all the bells and whistles in terms of features that cameras boast nowadays.

You can avoid this by asking yourself pertinent questions prior to going into a store and getting overwhelmed with the sheer variety of choices.

Ask yourself what you need your new camera for. If you’re only using it when you go on vacation or small trips, then you might not need the sophisticated models that the pros use. Ask yourself what sort of photography you’ll be using your camera for. Are you going to use it for macro, sports, landscape or low-light photography? Will you be taking pictures mainly indoors or outside, in bright light? Do you already have a fair amount of experience with cameras? Of course, the best question is, what’s your budget?

Ask yourself these questions and answer honestly, and you’ll be in so much better position to make the correct choice for your needs when you see what’s in store. Even write the answers down if that helps.

Beware All the Extras

When you’re looking at cameras in a store or browsing through them at online retailers, you’ve got to remember that the price you’re seeing is likely not going to be the final amount you’ll shell out. After all, there’s a host of extras that you’re either going to need or simply just want because they increase the pleasure and functionality you’ll get from using your camera. Here’s a brief list of some very common extras, some of which you may be tempted to buy along with your new camera:

• Reflectors
• Lenses
• Memory cards
• A camera case
• External flashes
• Monopods
• Tripods
• Filters (including other types of lens attachments)
• A recharger

Of course, some retailers are going to bundle some of these extras with certain cameras; others are going to offer you a discount if you purchase more than one item at the same time. Though bundles seem like a good value for the consumer, they won’t always satisfy your needs. You’ll get some useful items in a bundle, but, more often than not, you’ll also get something totally irrelevant to your needs, so evaluate bundles carefully.

For example, a bundle may include a memory card with your camera purchase, but it may only provide you with an 8 GB memory card, but these days, you should aim for something along the lines of a 16 or 32 GB memory card.

Read as Many Reviews as Possible

Part of being an educated consumer is knowing about what you’re planning to buy. One of the best ways to familiarize yourself with cameras you’re considering is to read as many reviews as possible about specific models you have your eye on.

When you read online reviews, you’re freeing yourself from being dependent on the advice or opinion of the camera salesman with whom you’re dealing. It can be risky to just take the word of the salesman since you can never be sure if he actually has a sales incentive for the particular model or brand he’s pushing.

Two great places to start reading reviews are on online retailer’s websites (Amazon, etc.) and camera magazines. There are some splendid camera websites that provide both professional and user reviews of many different cameras that are available on the market (sites like Digital Photography Review and Imaging Resource are great for this). Help yourself by using these free and highly informative resources!

Try Physical Buttons and Manual Controls First

Beginners who want to eventually blossom into knowledgeable photography enthusiasts shouldn’t immediately buy a DSLR when they’re just starting out. They can become serious photographers by learning on a more affordable, compact camera that features only manual controls for exposure compensation, aperture, focus and shutter. After all, before you shell out big bucks for an expensive DSLR, you should first learn the basics by experimenting with manual camera controls, thus developing valuable picture-taking experience.

If you’re a beginner, just look around for a camera that features traditional dials and buttons for manual controls. You’ll get at least a couple of benefits by doing this.

First, you’ll find that, by the time you finally purchase a DSLR, using these controls on a DSLR will be more intuitive. Second, touchscreen manual controls aren’t all they’re cracked up to be anyway because their responsiveness can be inconsistent depending on what you’re doing.

Value a Speedy Burst Mode and Startup Time

The so-called burst mode of a camera can also be termed its continuous-shooting speed. Essentially, it’s the capability of your camera to fire its shutter continually and do so effectively. While it is an underrated feature, it does serve a very valuable purpose for both photography novice and professional alike.

It empowers you to capture a great shot if your subject happens to be moving erratically, regardless if it’s a fast-moving athlete, a baby who just won’t sit still, or a hyperactive family pet. Get a camera that has a burst mode of at least 3 frames a second. However, remember that burst modes are not the same for every camera. Sometimes, a camera’s burst mode may well lower a picture’s resolution in order to improve the processing speed.

A quick startup time is also important in choosing a camera. These days, shutter lag isn’t a really significant issue anymore. For the most part, every camera on the market now utilizes autofocus quickly as the shutter button is half-pressed. It then snaps a photo right after. No camera’s perfect, though, which means that today’s cameras can still cause you to miss snapping a picture in some serious ways.

Search until you find a camera that allows you to turn it on and then take a picture approximately within one-and-a-half seconds. Sometimes, you might even have to deactivate the camera’s splash screen that’ll come on after the camera’s been powered up.

There’s No Substitute for Hands-On Experience

This can be said about many things, but it’s especially true when you’re trying to decide which camera to purchase. If you’ve done your due diligence and narrowed down your selection to a few camera models, then it’s time for the most fun part: Using your hands to play around and experiment with them! Simply head to your neighborhood digital camera store and request to see and fumble around with them. There’s almost nothing better than holding the camera in your hands to make an accurate determination with regard to whether it suits your needs!

One of the better ways of getting hands-on experience is by hitting one camera store after another in succession. Choose a commercial area in your city or town that’s got a lot of camera stores lining its streets. Then, go around from shop to shop and ask the salesmen for their recommendations. You’ll usually find that certain brands and models are repeatedly recommended in various stores, but the best part of this approach is you’ll get to see every camera in action, demonstrated by various people. As a result, you’ll receive a more balanced and well-rounded demonstration, which will help you make a more educated consumer decision.

Negotiate, Negotiate, Negotiate!

Fast forward to the end of this process: You’ve finally selected the camera of your dreams that suits all of your needs, but you still need to work out another important aspect, which is the price. Go online to find the most competitive prices for the camera you want to buy. Then, armed with this information, it’s time to put on your haggling hat and head to your local stores to see if you can negotiate their asking price down.

Retail stores are usually more open to negotiating on price and even including some extras to make the offer more enticing. It also can’t hurt to ask about any discounted or free promotions that feature camera cases, prints, filters, additional batteries and the like. Some stores may even be interested in offering you a trade-in for older gear. It never hurts to negotiate!

Buying a camera is a lengthy process if you want to do it right and avoid buying a lemon. You shouldn’t rush said process, and you’ve got to have the patience to do the research, ask the right questions, and negotiate on price. Only then will you be satisfied that you got the best possible camera for your specific needs.

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert in photography, it’s always annoying to end up with a camera that you, only after the fact of the purchase, determine doesn’t suit your needs.

Save yourself the hassle, aggravation and lost time and money by implementing the above pieces of advice when you go camera hunting. You’ll never again end up with another camera purchase that you’ll regret!