19 Sep 08 Mini Digital Camera: a Buyer’s Guide
Author: Russ Snapper
A Mini digital camera can be a best travel companion if you love to travel and are constantly on the move. The mini digital camera is most preferred now for travelers and photographers because of its small and unique size and easy to use features. To use this ultra compact camera, you don’t need to be a professional photographer. But you can be a good photographer with the enhanced resolution offered by the small sized camera that improves the quality of ordinarily photographed items also.
The availability of the following features can be checked out before you buy a mini digital camera.
Megapixel rating: Giving attention to this rating helps you to estimate the volume of information stored with each photograph taken. Resolution of the photographs depends on the Megapixel rating. Mini digital cameras have higher Megapixel ratings for storing more information and for getting great quality enlargements. For most of the pictures that fall under 4 x 6, a minimum of 3 mega pixels will be good for your camera.
Batteries: Battery usage is to be determined before you buy a mini digital camera. With a set of batteries, most bad cameras produce around 50 shots. However ensure that your enhanced mini digital camera produces around 500 shots with a set of batteries. Rechargeable AA batteries can be used for a longer duration of time and is beneficial and economical in the long run.
Other Features:It is advisable to choose a mini digital camera that is fast. When the shutter is pressed, time is taken for processing an image and this time gap varies for different cameras. Some cameras have a time gap of 5 seconds and for taking a second snap, you have to wait for that time. Due to shutter lag also, time can be consumed. Shutter lag is the time taken for the auto focus feature to terminate and then trip the shutter to start. Therefore ensure that your mini digital camera is really fast. Also ensure that your mini digital camera is having an optical zoom rate of 5X to 10X for getting better zoom for having close-up shots.
The mini digital cameras have an Inbuilt LCD screen, which helps you to frame the shot before clicking. You can immediately view the picture after clicking. Most mini digital cameras have autofocus feature and you have to ensure that this feature is fast. For a mini digital camera having a zoom factor of 10X and above, ensure that it has image stabilization to remove the shaking effect caused while taking pictures. Mini Digital cameras beautifully capture your moments of joy with least effort.
As an example, we will now look at the features of a Key chain Mini Digital Camera, MiniDIG. Some key features are Flash; Auto Formats; JPEG; White balance; Auto Shutter; Auto Resolution; 640×480, 320×240; Pop-up viewfinder; EV compensation; Auto System compatibility and Windows 98/SE/2000/XP.
The key chain mini digital camera is tiny and small enough to fit onto a keychain and however has an internal memory of 16MB SDRAM and 300K CMOS sensor. This inexpensive, cute looking Digital Camera is a great little device to take along for spot photos for insurance claims or during vacation holidays and serves as an exciting addition to your keychain. This can also be a wonderful gift for children looking to have their first camera.
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19 Sep 08 A Handy Digital Camera Review For Those Considering Buying One
Author: Brooke Hayles
In today’s society, A digital camera is a must have item if you want to keep up with the latest trends. They are convenient to have and unlike a conventional camera, you can delete any picture you do not want right away because as soon as you take the picture, you can view it. For those of us who are not familiar with what to look for in a camera, a digital camera review is very helpful.
Shopping Tips
When you first start shopping for a digital camera it can be very confusing. A digital camera review can assist you in many ways. It can explain to you the difference in cameras features such as mega pixels and how many pixels you may need, zoom features digital or optical. If you have little knowledge of digital cameras, a digital camera review may help you save a lot of money by not purchasing a camera that has features you do not need.
Digital Camera Comparison
You will find several models of digital cameras within the same price ranges.
The Canon PowerShot A530 is an economical camera that is compact and has features such as 5 megapixels, a 4X optical zoom, auto focus with red eye reduction, audio recording and date and time stamp.
Another Choice for a digital camera that has become popular is the Kodak 5MP EasyShare C533.
This camera also has 5 megapixels is audio and video capable, but it also has 3X optical and 5X digital zoom. The features of this camera also include black and white and sepia pictures as well as a 4 second shutter speed.
The Nikon 5.1MP CoolPix L3 is indeed a cool sleek camera to own. It runs on AA batteries and the features include 3X optical and 4X digital zoom. There are four different effects that this camera offers and also comes with audio recording, a blurred picture warning, and red eye reduction.
As you can see, a digital camera review can be very helpful in describing the features of different cameras and can assist you in making an informed choice.
Digital Camera Reviews
Many of the websites that design and sell digital cameras will have a section for comments and reviews.
The website owners will often provide a digital camera to employees and independent contractors to so they can write a digital camera review. There is also a section where consumers can leave their comments about the cameras they purchased.
There are a few companies that will hire professionals to conduct a digital camera review. These are usually more complete because they list all of the features of every camera they test. The digital camera review will cover how many megapixels that the camera has as well as the zooms and shutter speeds, video and audio. It is a very thorough review that even includes the weight of the camera.
The one drawback there is to a have a professional review written is that it is done in a very short time. The reviewer is not able to accurately write about the everyday use of the camera over a long period of time.
When the consumer writes a digital camera review, they tend to focus on how satisfied they are with the camera. They usually do not list the all of the features; it is more of a personal opinion.
Each of these review types is very useful when a person does not know what to look for in a digital camera. They give both the professional and personal view of the product. It is recommended that you read all the reviews before making a decision.
Summary:
Digital cameras have revolutionized the world of photography, however it can be difficult to choose the camera that is right for you. Digital camera reviews are designed to give the consumer an overall view of each camera before you make a purchase.
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19 Sep 08 Capturing Special Moments With A Digital Camera
Author: Roberto Sedycias
There are millions of people around the world who share a keen interest in photography. The charm of capturing a moment in a camera is truly amazing. Probably, this is one of the strongest reasons why a growing number of people are joining the cult of professional photographic pursuit. Traditionally, taking photographs, film processing and developing them in the dark room was a painfully long process. But as digital technology evolved, it enabled camera manufacturing companies to come up with high-end digital cameras.
Digital cameras are an ideal gadget for taking pictures without having to worry about running out of snaps of roll which is the case with the traditional film cameras. This apart, there is no need of having to wait till the entire roll of film gets used just to find the blown-up pictures in the dark room. Digital cameras allow you to take any number of photographs and see each one of them right after you take them. Also you can connect your camera to the USB port of you Personal Computer and store your snaps there in a folder. What is more is that you can customize each photograph, thru software, just the way like it. In case, you want to take a hard-copy of the pictures, you can always use the printer to get your favorite photograph printed out.
Buying a digital camera is a matter of serious deliberation. Since different brands of companies are offering cameras with special features, you have be aware of the standard features of the digital cameras in order to be able to make the right purchase. The following are some of the must-know tips that you should be familiar with before you swipe you credit card in a digital camera kiosk of a shopping mall or punch in the CVV number in the box while shopping online for a captivating camera.
Price Range:
The price of digital photographic cameras can usually range anything from US$100 to $1000. If you are buying a digital compact camera for the first time, then don`t go for an expensive one. It is quite easy to get tempted into spending a lot of money to buy a digital SLR camera offering features that are just of no use to you. Get to know your needs and settle for a prudent purchase. Ensure that the digital camera you pick should be light-weighted and easy-to-use. Later on, after you learn the basics of digital camera photograph, you may opt for an high-end edition.
Features:
The standard features of digital cameras of all make are almost similar except for some special features introduced by some renowned brands in the market. Features such as zoom, automatic functions, special effects, black & white images and video recording facilities are usually offered by most brands. However, as a prudent buyer you have be careful of the claims some manufactures might be making. For instance, the feature of digital zoom magnifications may not actually live up to your expectation level if you are hoping to get the optimal clarity especially if you are aiming at say 8×10 or larger size photos. Do not be tempted by the flashy promotional gimmickry of the brands. Consider the features keeping your pre-established price range in mind.
Lens:
All digital cameras provide two types of zoom features: optical and digital. While the optical zoom feature is based on the lens magnification and gives you images with a sharp and crystal-clear clarity, digital zoom relies on the magnification of the digital image which results in less sharp and fuzzy images. Make sure that the digital camera you buy should at least have the optical zoom features. However, as mentioned earlier, you have to be careful of the digital zoom magnification claim. You can look for digital cameras having lens auto focus and image stabilization features.
Image Resolution:
Image Resolution or Pixel Resolution is one of the most striking features of digital cameras. For personal and email purpose digital cameras having 2.0 mega pixels will deliver clear photos. However, many manufactures are now offering digital cameras with 8.0 and above mega pixels. You get better and clearer images with higher mega pixels. High mega pixel resolution plays a key role in image enlargement. So if size matters to you, consider this aspect seriously.
Battery Type and Longevity:
If you are likely to use the digital camera for outdoor activities, it is important to consider how long the built-in batteries will last. Even if you think of using some extra rechargeable batteries, just make sure whether the digital camera you are buying support the same batteries.
Every digital camera has the LCD Screen feature. Just make sure that the screen size should be at least 2 inches or above. It will give you better and clear images.
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19 Sep 08 How Do I Choose a Digital Camera?
Author: J Adams
A digital camera might look like a film camera but they are actually quite different. Both freeze light to make a photograph. Film cameras do this chemically using film. Digital cameras use a light sensitive CCD or CMOS silicon chip to convert light and digital information into pixels.
Pixels are the tiniest areas of light that your digital camera can recognize and change into information. The greater amount of pixels the more detail and higher the resolution the photograph. A low resolution color printout of tree will show that it is green but in a high resolution photograph the leaves and texture of the bark will be more sharply defined.
With digital photographs your have the ability to use software like Adobe Photoshop Deluxe and Microsoft Picture to edit photos and make corrections.
Choosing Your Camera
Important considerations when choosing a digital camera are: What do you want the camera to do? What features do you require? How much do you wish to spend on your camera?
There are professional high end cameras that cost thousands of dollars, cheap throwaway cameras and a huge selection of mid-level cameras available to choose from.
Will you be photographing images for the internet and for email? Will your photos be printed? For regular print size snapshots and web photos a one to two megapixel camera will do. In fact for the web a lower megapixel would be better as higher resolution photos are slow to download.
Do you want a point-and-click camera? Are you someone who just wants to get the picture taken with the least amount of bother. Do you want a camera that does everything automatically and you simply have to press a button? Or, are you someone who would rather figure out the best settings for your camera and make the adjustments manually? It’s always best to find a camera that suits your purpose, need and ability.
High or Low Resolution
High end, high resolution cameras are good for photographs that are to be printed. The greater the number of pixels the higher the resolution. High resolution does not make sense on the web as the extra resolution does not make images appear any sharper. Also, high resolution photos are slow to download on the web.
To print your photographs you will need a good quality color printer. If photos are to be printed, high resolution does make a difference depending how large you want the picture to be. High resolution will give a large print better definition. High resolution cameras cost more. Expect to pay more for high resolution. You also need to check that your printer can handle high resolution prints.
Lenses
Low-end digital cameras have fixed focus lenses made of plastic. With these lenses everything is focused and you don’t need to make a decision what to focus on.
Variable focused lenses are made of glass or high quality plastic. These lenses focus on whatever object you are trying to capture in a photograph.
Most mid-range digital cameras come with auto focus and manual focus built in. Auto focus is for point-and-click photos of whatever is in the middle of the frame. Or, by turning the ring over the lens, you can manually focus the camera. These cameras allow users to switch between auto and manual focus.
Zoom Lenses
Digital cameras have optical zoom and digital zoom lenses. Optical zoom costs more, give a better quality picture, and works the same way as on non-digital cameras with lens adjustments. A digital zoom comes about when the camera makes calculations to manipulates the pixels. Digital zoom gives a less sharp image. Some cameras include both optical and digital zoom.
View Finder
The view finder is what you look through to see what you are photographing. The view finder on both digital and regular film cameras will approximate the picture your lens is viewing. Digital cameras will also come with an LCD display that you can use to check your photographs and decide weather or not to keep them.
Lighting
When it comes to lighting you might not want the camera to make the decision automatically for you. On an auto setting you camera might not make the best lighting choice given the location and environment. At times like this you can appreciate being able to switch between manual and automatic settings.
Digital cameras allow you to test exposure and view a picture on LCD prior to pressing the button fully and committing to a photograph.
Flash
There will be a built in flash that comes with your digital camera. In addition, the better cameras have a location for a flash attachment. This is a good option for producing better quality photographs.
Connecting to Your Computer
You will need a PC USB cable, or for Mac’s - Firewire or Mac USB cable, to connect to your computer. You will also need a cable adapter for your camera’s CF (Compact Flash) or SM (Smart Media) card .
The CF or SM cards are removable high capacity storage cards for your photos. Your camera will use one type of card or the other. Not both. Check to see which type of storage card your camera uses.
USB connections are fast and easy to set up. Older cameras connect through a serial port. USB is faster and does not require that the computer be rebooted before it recognizes the camera.
Batteries and AC Adapters
Digital cameras often come with rechargeable batteries. It is best to have two sets of batteries. One set to use while the other is recharging. AC adapters make it easy to plug into an electrical outlet when you are near by one.
Main Drawback of Digital Camera
The main drawback of digital cameras is shutter lag delays when the camera delays responding after you squeeze the button. It is possible you may miss the moment when photographing moving objects due to shutter lag. Some of the newer cameras are beginning to address the problem.
Select a camera that does what you want it to do, has features you will use and is priced in the range you want to pay. This will be the right camera for you. If your experience is limited and you do not want to take a lot of time learning how to use the camera, go with a point-and-shoot camera. Something without too many features. If you are a camera enthusiast who wants to do more with your camera or is willing to take the time to learn how to use the feature then, by all means go all out.
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