Don't go crazy buying an expensive camera, but you'd better take a little time to find out what camera you'd like. Here are some basic photography technique of a camera.
Basically, all cameras are the same and, given identical film and settings, a cheap camera will take the same photograph as an expensive camera. More money doesn't directly buy your more quality but more control over the image.
A camera is a box with a hole in it. You can make one out of a shoe box with a window of transparent paper on one side and a small hole in the opposite side. Physics teachers call this a 'pinhole camera.' Adding more controls, mainly to do with the lens, produces different types of cameras.
1. Disposable Camera.
These one-time use cameras are easy to carry and take surprisingly good shots. They are great for people shots at parties.
2. Compact Camera.
Perfect for snapshots. I like a small, pocket-sized camera with a flash (for people's faces), a self-timer, a wide-angle lens (28mm for impact), and a panoramic mode (looks cool!). The downside to not having a zoom is that you're limited to the lens provided.
3. SLR.
The choice of amateur and professional travel photographers. The Single Lens Reflex feature which allows the viewfinder to look through the main lens instead of its own fixed lens allows you to remove and replace the lens. Interchangeable lenses give you more creative control of your shot. You can make a super-wide shot with a 'short' lens, or enlarge a very distant object with a 'long' lens. You can also control the aperture (the size of the hole) which allows you to decide what is, and what is not, in focus. The downside to the SLR is that you now have more equipment to buy and carry.
4. Medium- and Large-Format.
These are bigger versions of the SLR camera which allow you to use larger (and thus higher resolution) film. Mainly used by stock photographers, the equipment is large and heavy and, therefore, inconvenient for basic travel purposes.
5. APS.
The Advanced Photo System (called Advantix by Kodak) uses a smaller film - 24mm instead of 36mm - which means the cameras are smaller and lighter. This is good for travelers. However, because the APS is new, there is currently a smaller range of equipment suppliers and film developers available.
Look for a camera with the simplest layout of the features you need and, as with the stock market, only invest in what you understand.
