In the old days...(you can feel a story coming on here...haha)...
...there was very little to go on other than a magazine ad or if
you were lucky, an actual tv ad promoting such a product.
Even then, there was little, if any information that could be garnered
in regards to quality, workmanship, abilities or the like, unless
you actually went in to the local retailer and held it and tried it out for
yourself.
These days, there is so much information to be had not only in a visual
sense, but in a technical and comparative level that makes it easier for
the average consumer to simply bite the bullet and order online, the
camera of their choice. That combined with the return policies of
internet suppliers make it easy to take the chance, knowing that it
can be returned without question with a full refund.
Whether that's a good thing or not is fodder for another topic.
It's a good question and one that has many answers, depending on the
type of consumer a person can classify themselves as these days.
Personally, before my first purchase of a digital camera, I found myself
researching the choices online to quite a degree. It was at that time
that I stumbled upon DPReview. The information and knowledge that
the users of this site had to offer was worth gold in my opinion, and armed
with that information, I was able to make a conscious choice towards what
I felt at the time was the best camera for my needs and it worked out
quite well. Very well in fact.
Since that time, I have made further purchases because of the great
folks here, along with the information and the features available in comparing
the vast choices of equipment out there on the market...sight unseen in regards
to actually holding and using the camera of choice.
To date, I have yet to be discouraged or taken aback by any of the choices
that I have made.
Perhaps for a person new to the game, I would suggest visiting a retail
outlet, just to see for themselves, just what it is that they are getting into.
I would think that it's to their benefit in doing so, especially if they can find
a knowledgeable dealer / retailer that is willing to spend time with them
as a "first time" buyer, to help steer them in the right direction and finding
the right camera for their needs. Focus here however, (no pun intended),
is that you are now dealing with one individual, instead of a collective choice
of what I find to be, very well informed owners and users of any brand
of camera.
However, for some, the more you read, the more you can
become overwhelmed or confused...and this is where it's all important for those looking for the first time...to ask themselves...
"What is it that I am looking for in a camera"?..."What do I want"?
It happens all the time here and short of actually "holding" the camera, I would
suspect that a lot of people have faired out quite well in asking the so called
"newbie" questions that they do...because I am always impressed with the
level of diplomacy, helpful information and advice that is offered up here on these
forums.
Put another way, you could give 3, 5 year old kids 3 different pencils and the one with the cheapest pencil, may in fact draw circles around the other 2 kids heads while the other 2 sit there shoving them up their collective nostrils, trying to figure out which end to sharpen?
It most cases, it depends on the user of such tools that ultimately makes the difference and whether they hold it in their hands or not to begin with, before such a purchase, that will define if they are capable of overcoming any shortcomings or benefits that a particular model will have?
Back to the point of the question...we have a plethora of information these
days that will pay dividends, if the time taken to research such products is at first explored...in order to answer the question as to what your needs are.
If that's not sufficient, then YES, I would think a trip to your local
camera retailer should be considered in order to leave no stone unturned.
Just my personal thoughts on the matter and once again,
a very good question indeed.
Thanks
Kim
--
Shoot first and ask questions later!
