Ten Quick Questions

How would you describe yourself?

Traveler / vacation planner	Animal lover
Expecting a baby / new parent	Gardener / flower lover
Soccer mom	Nature lover
Little League dad	Backpacker
Scrapbooker	Control freak
Designer / painter / artist	New to photography
Jewelry maker / seller	Ansel Adams wannabe
Ebay power seller	Gear head
Stamp collector	Ex-darkroom-troll
Insect collector	Computer geek (like me)




On a scale from total beginner to professional photographer, how would you rate yourself?

Total beginner     Hobbyist     Serious hobbyist     Aspiring pro     Professional




What is your primary motivation for getting a digital camera? Choose one.

To take a BetterPhoto.com online photography course

To win or place as a finalist in the BetterPhoto.com photo contest

To take better pictures (been disappointed?)

To take pictures in extreme conditions - rain, snow, the ocean

To take family snapshots

To do your job (insurance, real estate, home inspector, etc.)

To create special effects using creative techniques and filters

To make money selling photos or doing portraits, events, or weddings




How do you feel about optical quality? Are you the kind of person that:

Examines prints with a magnifying glass to determine sharpness

Likes quality but doesn't lose sleep over it

Accepts pretty much anything




Auto vs. Manual: What sounds best to you?

Auto-everything

Mostly auto, allowing for very occasional creative override

Easy-to-operate, allowing for frequent creative override

Fully-juiced creative super-tool




What do you see as your end results?

Standard size prints

Enlargements

Photos to share via Web or email

All of the above




Simplicity vs. Control: If you were to make home improvements, would you rather:

Do it yourself (retaining self-reliant control but adding complexity and effort)

Farm it out (keeping life simple while sacrificing some degree of control)




In your opinion, what is the coolest thing about digital cameras? Choose one.

Immediate feedback: Reviewing photos in your LCD screen immediately after taking them.

Savings: Cutting out film and developing costs.

Convenience: No longer needing to bring film to a photo lab and pick up prints.

Control: Printing your own photos, working with the "digital negative" (Raw).

Compact size: Some cameras being tiny.

Versatility: Changing ISO on the fly.




In your opinion, what is the biggest drawback? Choose one.

"There are drawbacks?": Too new to digital cameras to know.

Slowness: Delay between moment the button is pushed and the moment camera actually takes the picture.

Complexity: Difficulties with getting photos off the camera, onto the computer, and into prints.

Lack of creative control: Some cameras having either no creative override or controls that are difficult to use.

Poor image quality: Some cameras producing inferior, less-than-sharp, less-than-perfect pictures.

Depth of field limitations: Some cameras not allowing you to get isolated, selective focus.




Final question: Are there any other features you know you want?

Creative exposure controls	Mega megapixels	Raw
High quality lens	Zoom lens	Interchangeable lenses
Macro	Filter threads	Responsive shutter button
Control of flash	Hotshoe / PC port	Shallow depth of field

Brand

Price