Tips and Techniques
From Members and Experts
Members are encouraged to submit Tips and Techniques that may benefit other club members. See Photogram Submissions box for deadline and submission information. On a space-available basis, the Photogram editor may also include articles or excerpts culled from outside sources.
Web Search for Camera Reviews and Forums.
By Jerry Reece
You can go to the Buying Guide on the left. The side by side comparison and the features search are both helpful. The features search and then the side by side comparison can be a good starting point in your search.
At column of items on the left, go to Cameras then to the brand you are interested in. A series of cameras will be presented. Click on a camera for specs. If a review is indicated, click there. For an opinion about the camera, use the small drop down window and go to conclusions. Watch for "Highly Recommended" in green or in a silverish oval.
The Buying Guide/Features Search is helpful in finding cameras with specific features. You have to limit the search as it will only display ten cameras. If it displays ten, check the comments to be sure it got all for which you were searching. This is a pain sometimes as you have to give more specifics and then alter specifics to get more cameras with the feature.
In addition, you can go to forums and read what people are saying (or asking). Take these comments with a grain of salt. Some participants often have had limited experience with the camera discussed. Some are professionals and some are just beginning in photography.
dcresource has a quick way to move about a lot of cameras and gives some quick ratings at the same time.
Look on the left for Recent Reviews. At the end of that section is the entry "All Reviews". Click on "All Reviews" and choose the camera that you are interested in. The section called "How does it compare?" has some conclusions. Further down, the section "Want another opinion?" links you directly to some of these other sites reviews of the same camera. This can be a handy way to get multiple opinions on the same camera.
Use the camera brand list on the right or select the camera from the lists at the bottom to select the camera that you are interested in. Click on that camera and an image of it appears somewhat on the left side of the screen. If you click on the picture of the camera you go to more specs and some opinions. Here is also a list of reviews and/or related forums that you can click on. Again a good way to get around to several reviews regarding a particular camera as well as related forum discussions.
Clicking on a brand in the list of camera brands gets a listing of that brand’s cameras that you can scroll through to help find the features you are interested in.
Select English. Click on Reviews in the left side column. Select the camera you are interested in and click on it. To get an evaluation, use the small pull down window at the top of the specific camera review page. The window is labeled "Review Sections". Go to "Our Opinion". There is a standardized table re: the camera.
Click on Camera Reviews in the list on the left side. Click on the number of mega-pixels that you are interested in. Scroll down and select the camera that interests you. Click on the camera name to get the review. If you select the Review Page called Steve's Opinion, using the small drop down window, you will get another opinion. Steve also will use recommended and highly recommended.
Select Dave's Picks from the column at the left of the screen. Use the Table of Contents to determine how you want to search. Next, scroll down past the "Here are the most popular..." section to Dave's own picks. Here you will find a short summary and a link to his review of the camera. Watch for his statement "Highly Recommended". He uses it sparingly.