20 Sep 08 Kid Tough Digital Camera - Strong and Durable
Author: Atomsri Sukpo
A kid tough digital camera is a great fascination amongst the young generation of today. These cameras are reasonably priced. They come with numerous options, funky colors, and cool looks.
Nowadays, kids have a great fascination towards technology. Whether it is a toddler or a preschooler, every child wants a digital camera for himself. So, if you are looking for a kid tough digital camera, you need to opt for something that is strong and durable. It should also have features that help in creating clear and colorful imaging. It depends on the age of your child as to which camera will suit you the best.
Nowadays, digital cameras are a rage amongst people of all ages. They are made in a way that they are long lasting. They help you to take beautiful pictures. They make a perfect choice for young ones.
Kid Friendly Digital Cameras
A kid tough digital camera is extremely reasonably priced. It comes with features that can make photography a total fun experience for your teenager. Casio and Canon manufacture their digital cameras keeping all the requirements of kids in mind. These cameras have numerous functions and features including a variety of accessories.
Fisher Price also makes kid’s digital cameras that are a real craze among them. These digital cameras make very good gift items. They are really helpful during vacations, day trips and even in family get togethers. You can click beautiful pictures and preserve them for the future. They are available in funky colors and cool looks.
Points To Remember While Choosing a Kid Tough Digital Camera
- It should have an expandable memory. This is really important because if a kid digital camera has no feature of expandable memory, you will not be able to take as many pictures as you want.
- Make sure to look for memory card or expandable memory in the camera’s features list.
- It must have a flash. This will help your child to take great indoor shots. If you do not have a flash, then the indoor pictures will appear very dark.
- A kid tough digital camera must have a USB connection. It is better than serial connections as the latter has very less speed of download.
- A kid tough digital camera should come with megapixels. If it has less than one megapixel then chances are that the images will be blurred. As a result the prints that come out will also be blurred.
- Make sure it has additional features like playing in the movie mode in order to record short digital movies.
- Look for complete automated features, including focus and zoom.
- It should have easy and understandable controls.
- It needs to be sturdy and reasonably priced.
- It must have a good resolution.
- There should be a provision to add special effects like captions, or clip art.
- Make sure they include customizable cases and camera straps keeping in mind fashion conscious youngsters.
Kids love digital cameras. They want to click the pictures of their friends and family members and cherish them. Thus, a kid tough digital camera is a good gifting option for them. The tips above will help you choose the best type of digital camera for your child.
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20 Sep 08 The Secret to Buying a Digital Camera
Author: Dave Poon
A digital camera comes so handy nowadays. Compared to using a traditional camera that uses film, taking with you a digital camera on your nature trips, tours, special occasions and formal gatherings is more convenient and fashionable too as most digital cameras come in sleek and smart modern designs. There are also lighter and easy to use compared to your old-fashioned camera.
If you do not have one yet, buying a digital camera instead of a conventional one would be a better option. Aside from the abovementioned advantages, buying a digital camera would provide you the following benefits:
1. You can take as many photos as you want as digital cameras have large storing capacity. 2. You don’t have to worry about buying film. 3. You can preview photos taken (provided there’s a preview LCD), delete unwanted pictures and take another one till you get the desired shot. 4. You have many options as to the resolution, quality and size of the photos. 5. You can connect it to your computer and easily transfer data stored in it. 6. You can edit the photos in the computer before printing. 7. You can select the photos you want o print out as well. 8. You can upgrade it so you can take and save more pictures in it. 9. You can use it to record sound and video as well. 10. You may directly connect it to a printer and print out photos without the need to transfer images to your pc.
After deciding to buy a digital camera, the next thing that might be bothering you now is how to buy the right digital camera. Buying a digital camera needs some careful analysis, too. Especially if you are not too familiar with the technical aspects of a digital camera, you would have to research and carefully understand what those pieces of information that you have gathered mean. Buying a digital camera starts with actually knowing what you really want. It is only upon knowing enough that you can make a better decision of which digital camera to buy.
There are several factors you need to consider in buying a digital camera. First and foremost is the resolution of the photos (the number of pixels in a photo); next is the memory. The resolution will determine the quality of the images so if you want high-quality photos buy only high resolution digital cameras. The memory on the other hand (expressed in MB) determines how many high-resolution or low-resolution images can be stored in your camera.
Taking into account the purpose for which you are buying digital camera would help you decide on thing more clearly. If you simply want a camera you can bring along anywhere anytime to capture wonderful moments and scenic views without the intention to display those photos, you can start with a digital camera with fewer features. As you master the art of photography, you can buy a more advanced kind of digital camera.
Of course, your budget is also very important. You cannot buy something that is way beyond your means. You may choose a digital camera with fewer features however it can be upgraded in the future. This will help you save money for the mean time without sacrificing the quality of the product.
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20 Sep 08 Canon Elf Digital Camera Will Make an Exellent Choice for the Choice Hobbyist Photographer
Author: Muna wa Wanjiru
Digital cameras have been used for different occasions and events. These events can be weddings, birthdays and pictures of nature. The various Canon digital cameras are suited for both the novice photographer as well as the more experienced professional. In the digital camera range the Canon Elf Digital camera has the ability to provide superior images to the users.
The various models of Canon Elf Digital cameras are about the size of a credit card. The Canon Elf Digital camera is considered to be among the smallest digital cameras that have been produced. While this camera is small in size it still manages to give you high quality pictures.
The Canon Elf Digital camera cases are made from strong substances like steel that will protect the camera body from a variety of difficulties that you may encounter. The stylish look will make this an appealing digital camera for you to buy. Most of the newly made Canon Elf cameras have a flat appearance.
Some of these digital cameras will have an automatic lens cover. This cover will protect your digital camera when it is not in use. Since the Elf camera is made from steel and it has a protective covering for the camera lens you can take this camera along with you whenever you go out.
There are many great features that can be found with the different digital cameras like red eye reduction, fast shutter speeds, and a variety of scene modes like automatic, sports action mode, portrait mode, and landscape mode.
Most of the digital cameras that are being sold in the world are known by one name like Nikon, Minolta and Canon Elura digital cameras. The Canon Elf Digital camera models will have other names in a variety of countries.
For instance, in Japan the Canon Elf Digital camera is called the Ixy Digital camera, and in Europe and South East Asia it goes under the name of Digital Ixus.
The best fact that is known and recognized about the Canon Elf Digital camera range is that it has been designed to merge traditional photography with that of digital photography.
The many experts who review various digital cameras state that the Canon Elf Digital camera line has some superior digital camera products that are excellent for anyone who is looking to expend their picture taking abilities with no problems.
The Canon Elf Digital camera will make an excellent choice for the amateur hobbyist who is looking to expend their photographic abilities, and also for the novice who is just starting out on their photographing jaunts.
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19 Sep 08 Tips On Buying A Good Digital Camera
Author: David Swanson
One of the top selling items on the market today is the digital camera. People enjoy taking pictures when on a trip or vacation, at sporting events, when the flowers are in bloom and just about any other occasion that may arise. Countless teens are taking pictures at the most random events in order to put them on their “myspace” page. Pictures capture moments and preserve memories. With a digital camera you are able to save these photos on your computer and print them at your convenience. Instead of wasting a roll of film that you used to use in a regular camera, you are able photograph as many things as you want and delete the bad shots and save only the best digital images. So the real question is; which digital camera is the best to buy?
There are so many digital cameras on the market today it can be very difficult to make a decision. If you go to any store with an electronics department or if you are looking online, you are bound to see a whole line up of different digital cameras promising the best product with highest quality photos. It is helpful if you have a friend who is knowledgeable about digital cameras. They can possibly steer you in the right direction.
If you are not lucky enough to have such a friend, I have listed a few key things to look for when shopping for a digital camera. One of the first things to look for in a digital camera is the amount of mega pixels. The higher the mega pixel the digital camera has the better photo quality you will receive. This means that when you try and enlarge the picture, the resolution of the photo is going to be better or possibly worse depending on the different mega pixel levels. If you have a one mega pixel camera, when enlarging your photo, the quality is going to quickly deteriorate. The opposite will occur with your digital photos when you have a seven mega pixel digital camera. Another thing to look for when selecting a digital camera is the LCD screen. The better digital cameras will provide a LCD screen so you can frame your picture easier. Try to find a camera with a LCD screen about 2.5 inches or larger for maximum results. Also notice the zoom strength when you are researching digital cameras. The best digital cameras will provide up to a 10x digital zoom for your all your close-ups.
It is not always necessary to spend a lot of money. Keep your eyes open for the sales. We were able to purchase a very high quality digital camera with 7.5 mega pixels on sale and have been very satisfied with our photos.
Taking pictures with a digital camera is a great way to capture moments that will stay with you forever. It is important to purchase a high quality digital camera in order to save these precious moments. There is a variety of digital cameras available on the market, so do your research before choosing the one for you.
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19 Sep 08 Digital Revolution With Canon Digital Camera
Author: Saris Hunsanugrom
There were times when cameras were considered to be a rich man’s luxury but nowadays, clicking pictures with camera has become an important part of our daily events. With the constant improvement of technology, cameras have undergone a sea change and it was in the late 1970’s when digital cameras saw the light of the day.
The first digital camera was Sony Mavica, an analogue camera that used video floppy. However, since then, various brands launched digital cameras such as Nikon, Kodak Casio, JVC, Sony and Olympus to name a few. However, Canon Inc. Japanese MNC specialized in the manufacturing of computer printers, photo copiers and cameras. Canon started its operation in the year 1934 with Kwanon camera.
Ever since Canon started manufacturing its camera operation, it became a hugely successful company and a cynosure of camera lover across world. Presently, Canon digital camera is well known for its state of the art technology and advanced features that make it a well known brand name. Some of the high end Canon digital camera includes Powershot series like Powershot G9, SX 100 IS, S5 IS and TX1.
Canon digital camera EPH services include Powershot SD 950 IS, SD 890 IS, SD 790 IS, SD 870 IS, SD 770 IS, SD 1100 IS, SD 750, SD 850 IS, SD 800 IS and SD 1000. Canon digital camera’s A series includes A 460, A 550, A 470, A 560, A 580, A 570 IS, A 630, A 710 IS, A 590 IS, A 720 IS and A 650 IS to name a few.
Apart from Canon digital camera, Canon is famous for its Canon EOS camera system that comes with Single Lens Reflex (SLR) technology. However, for amateurs who love to shoot and capture moments of love and joy, the Canon digital camera Powershot series is the best digital camera that comes with DIGIC processor and state of the art design.
Some of the highly rated Canon digital camera include Canon Powershot SD 1100 IS that supports 8 mega pixels and 3X zoom. Some other quality features include image stabilization, auto focus features for perfect shot. It supports JPEG file format and has a 2.5″ LCD display with 32 MB of internal memory as a part of Secure Digital Memory Storage feature.
Canon Powershot SD950 IS comes with 12 mega pixel and 3.7 optical and 4X digital zoom feature. It also supports movie and sound mode. Its basic features include image stabilization, auto focus, 2.5″ LCD display, Secure Digital Memory of 32 MB. Canon Powershot A590 IS includes image resolution of 8 mega pixels and optical and digital zoom of 4X, face detection focus, movie mode and manual and auto exposure along with 32 MB memory and 2.5: LCD screen.
Canon Digital Rebel XTi / Canon 400D comes with 10.1 mega pixel, file format of RAW and JPEG, DIGIC II processor, 9 point CMOS auto focus, micro drive support and automatic vibration and dust reduction. Apart from it, there are
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19 Sep 08 Digital Cameras - How They Work
Author: Ted Burns
Digital cameras come in various sizes, shapes, and specifications and offer a variety of impressive features.
Digital cameras are quickly gaining popularity around the globe. Many people already own one and routinely use it for their own pictures. Their use have become part of the culture among many communities and industries.
Digital cameras also have become part of a broad package of combined features with other hand-held tools, such as PDA devices and cellular phones. This makes the use of both devices much more convenient, having them combined in one, rather than two or more, functional instruments.
Digital cameras, moreover, not only can be used for still photos as with conventional cameras, but also for taking videos. An owner needs only to upgrade the camera’s memory card to increase storage capacity.
The marketplace offers a number of digital camera brands that provide a wide range of features. Olympus, Canon, Nikon, Kodak, and HP are some of the better-known brands of cameras offering the conventional 35mm to digital. Other key camera manufacturers include Sony, Panasonic, and Casio.
Digital Camera Considerations
Differing from conventional cameras, digital cameras have a small LCD screen, and sometimes an LCD screen plus viewfinder. The LCD screen is similar to TV screens that allow the photographer to see the picture, even before snapping it. Some have large screens that enable the photographer to see more of the subject and background.
Digital cameras also come with memory slots that hold a memory card or “stick.” The amount of memory available in them ranges from megabytes to gigabytes. Of course, the more memory, the greater the cost. However the extra storage capacity may be well worth the additional expense.
Another purchasing concern is the battery. Some digital cameras use disposable batteries. However, they wear out quickly, so most people recommend rechargeable batteries for longer energy life. Typically a rechargeable battery and a charger come in bundle with the camera unit.
Finally, consider the way the pictures are downloaded. Though many digital cameras come with a USB port which easily connects to a computer, there are others that necessitate removing the memory card and positioning it with a reader to download pictures.
Digital Camera Features
Camera buyers should know at least the basic features of their camera of choice before making an expensive purchase. Though the snapping of pictures is fundamentally the same from camera-to-camera, there are features that make one brand more appealing than others.
For example, the number of mega pixels used when taking pictures - meaning millions of pixels that help with the clarity of the pictures - should be one of the primary considerations to most buyers. Pixels are the individual “dots” that make up the content of pictures.
As such, cameras offering a greater number of pixels can produce larger images with better resolutions than those with less. Be aware, though, that cameras using a more pixels consume more camera memory when storing the images.
The camera’s zoom function is also critical. Most digital cameras are enhanced with a two-zoom capability; the optical and digital. Optical zoom uses a moving lens and makes the subject in the picture appear closer, while digital zoom crops or stretches the image.
Finally, don’t neglect the importance of the camera case’s durability. Some digital cameras are made predominantly of plastic materials - and are consequently more fragile - while others are comprised of a combination of plastic and metal alloy.
Either type has limitations in the amount of jarring that can be sustained without internal damage. Spend a little extra money to purchase a case that will protect your camera investment.
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18 Sep 08 Digital Camera Basics
An electronics on-line discussion forum contains a story about an elderly woman who wanted a simple camera to take pictures of her grandchildren. When she received a digital camera for Christmas, she looked puzzled for a moment and then asked, “Where do you put in the film?” This humorous example demonstrates how the revolutionary technology of digital cameras may be mystifying for those who have difficulty grasping the concept of a “filmless” camera! For almost a century, photography enthusiasts sagely discussed such topics as 35mm film, light meters and F-stops; today, digital cameras have made such topics all but obsolete.
Howstuffworks.com contains an article by Gurevich, Karim, and Wilson that greatly simplifies an explanation of how digital cameras work. Very simply, they explain that CDs, mp3’s, and DVDs all share the same technology: they convert traditional analog “wave” data into digital data based upon “bits.” In so doing, this radical shift in technology has changed greatly – and forever – how we do things and what has become possible including digital “filmless” cameras. While film cameras depend upon chemical and mechanical processes, digital cameras contain a computer that records images electronically.
In 1994, Kodak and Apple developed and sold the first digital cameras. Today there are hundreds of models to choose from, depending upon the type of pictures you need, the complexity with which you’re comfortable, and what digital camera you can afford. For everyday use, most people prefer a “point and shoot” camera that isn’t complex, takes good quality pictures that can be loaded onto computers or printed for personal use and to send to friends, and is affordable. According to a number of consumer guides and customer reviews, the top ten digital cameras in the low, mid, and high price ranges are:
1. Nikon D300 (high)
2. Canon EOS 5D (high)
3. Canon EOS 40D (high)
4. HP Photosmart M547 (low, great value)
5. FujiFilm Finepix S700 (mid)
6. GE A730 (mid)
7. Nikon D200 (high)
8. Canon EOS Digital Rebel Xsi (high)
9. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 (mid)
10. Canon EOS 30D (high)
The point should be made that what constitutes a “great” digital camera is usually in the eye of the beholder. One person’s “top ten” list is almost certain to differ from another person’s. For example, a digital camera that is making devoted converts is the Casio Exilim series that sells in the mid-level price range, depending upon your digital camera photography needs. On the other end, Digital Camera.com rates the Pentax Optio E-10 as “the worst digital camera ever.”
With all these differing opinions, what’s the best way to buy the digital camera that’s right for you? If you simply want to take personal pictures, choose a digital camera that has at least three megapixels. This will give you good quality pictures at a very affordable price. Remember that the higher the number of megapixels, the better quality your pictures will be, but the digital camera you choose will be more complex and more expensive. Also consider the size and shape of the camera; is it easy for you to carry in your purse or pocket? Finally, be sure your digital camera has at least 256-512 megabites of space on its memory card so you won’t have to buy additional memory cards. Taking all these factors into consideration will help you enjoy capturing treasured memories for years to come.
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18 Sep 08 Digital Camera Buying Tips For Novice Photographers
Author: Roberto Sedycias
Life is a stream that lets memories flow away as we leaving them behind. Although, it`s difficult to find time to look back and reminisce your past memories in this fast-paced world, sometimes we feel really special to muse over the pleasant moments of those bygone days that take us into a sweet nostalgia. Hence, people make it a point to capture their special moments with the help of digital cameras no matter how big or small the occasions are.
Digital cameras have become so popular in the last couple of years that many cell phone manufactures have started offering mobile phones with a built-in camera. Although, cell phone cameras let people capture photograph as and when they like, their use, however, is limited to certain occasions. This is because mobile phone cameras are unable to offer the clarity and precision that standard digital cameras can offer. This brings the necessity of buying a digital camera among many people who are passionate about photography.
But, here is the deal - if you are one of those first-time buyers of a digital camera, you are likely to face some or other problems while buying which is going to hurt your decision. Remember the following points before you go and buy a digital camera for the first time.
Determine your needs:
Before you decide to buy a digital camera, determine your specific needs. Do you need a digital camera just for fun such as capturing pictures and sharing them with your family and relatives via email, or do you want to learn the nuances of professional photography? Knowing your specific requirements will help you in buying the right digital camera and saving money as well.
What`s your budget:
Digital cameras are available with price range starting from 100$ to 1000$. However, you should set a particular budget before buying the gadget. Actually, what you want to do with the digital camera decides the money that you are required to spend on it. For instance, if you want to buy a digital camera for professional photography, you may have to spend a few hundreds extra than if you want to buy a standard digital camera used for amateur and fun photography. If you are buying a digital camera for fun, it should cost you between 300$ and 400$ with all the standard features.
The mystery called megapixel:
Megapixel is critical to the clarity of a picture when you take pictures with the help of a digital camera. Hence, higher the megapixel of a digital camera, clearer the pictures that you will be able to get with it. What should be the megapixel of your digital camera? If you are going to use your digital camera to take and share pictures with your friends, family and relatives for fun, a 2-mega pixel should be ideal for you. If you are looking at taking pictures of professional quality and bigger size, buy a digital camera that should be have at least 4-5 megapixel.
Zero in on the optical zoom:
If you are not familiar with the lingo of digital camera, you are most likely to confuse between digital zoom and optical zoom. Many manufactures will try to sell their digital cameras on the basis of digital zoom. However, you should know that digital zoom gives you larger image compromising the quality. Go with the optical zoom as you can get enlarged pictures with good quality.
Compatibility factors:
When you buy a digital camera, make sure you figure out if it is compatible with your personal computer. This is because you are going to use it along with your computer. Usually, specifications and minimum requirements are mentioned in the digital camera manual. Ask the sales person to explain them to you if you are not able to understand them properly enough.
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18 Sep 08 Cheap Digital Camera Varieties
Author: Russ Snapper
Major manufacturers such as HP, Kodak, Samsung and Fuji offer cheap digital cameras too. Cheap digital cameras generally have lesser advanced features such as multiple file resolution settings, optical zoom, optional image file type settings, advanced automatic exposure meters, large capacity memory cards, replaceable lenses and waterproofing. Most of the cheap Digital cameras are of point and shoot type.
Image quality is related to Megapixel rating directly and the handling of white balance by the camera. If you want to post pictures on a web site, email pictures or store them on hard drives, cheap digital cameras with a 1.3 Megapixel rating are more than satisfactory. If you want to have images of portrait quality, then you have to look for cameras with 3 mega pixels or higher ratings.
Due to the Megapixel rating, many cameras are expensive. The higher the rating of the mega pixels, the larger the photographs. However, cheap digital cameras will not come with a lot of mega pixels but still may not be necessary at all times. You don’t require a lot of memory if you don’t need very large pictures. Most cheap digital cameras will print eight by ten inches and this is what many people may need.
However, cheap digital cameras can be an excellent gift for young children. If you want to get started in digital photography and if you are not sure how to take it forward, cheap digital camera is an excellent choice. It can also be a spare or a good second camera for keeping in your boat or car for taking advantage of capturing some unexpected photo opportunities. You need not spend a large amount of money for buying a brand new digital camera just for opening up the box and reading the instruction manuals once but not interested to learn all the features of the camera. Still, most people often get discouraged from buying a used digital camera as they feel that they can get great pictures by getting the most expensive camera available. There are many cheap digital cameras available for sale and you may not require all of the fancy features and thus can save money.
You have to think about the overall picture quality you get from a cheap digital camera. It can take amazing pictures outside and if you try to take some inside the house, the quality can be poor. Though you can repair them with some photo editing software, you will not get professional photograph pictures. But you can have it for your basic picture taking needs.
You can look for cheap digital cameras available on a number of websites and can read reviews and blogs from some people who have tried with such cameras. This is the best way for deciding the type of cheap digital cameras suitable for your needs. Many sites have listings of sales, coupons, bargains and cheap deals. You can select a specific deal offered on a cheap digital camera sent to you via palm text message, email, RSS feed or mobile phone amongst others. Such alerts on deals can be customized to enable you to select for receiving only cheap digital camera offers from a particular brand or vendor in an area. You can also customize such that cheap digital cameras can be classified based on the price as everyone has a different budget.
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18 Sep 08 Top 20 Questions to Consider When Buying a Digital Camera
Author: aldrin garcia
My top 20 key questions to ask yourself when buying a digital camera.
1. How many “megapixels” /resolution?
Once and for all, at least to me, you have to get the highest resolution your money can buy at the time you buy. Period.
2. Who made the lens?
Most cameras will give you an idea where the lens was made just by looking at the front of the lens. Know if the lens of your camera came from a reputable company like Leica, Zeiss, Canon, Etc… Lens quality is one of the most important factors you should consider especially if you’re going to use it for commercial, technical or scientific purposes.
3. Will I need interchangeable lenses? How many are available for my specific camera in mind?
Having the option of interchangeable lenses gives you the freedom to experiment with different kinds of focal lengths. Although some P&S (point and shoot) cameras can rival DSLR’s with a generous zoom range for a non interchangeable lens system.
Also note the number of lenses available for use with your specific camera because of flexibility reasons. You can practically cover the entire “zoom range” with interchangeable lenses versus modest zoom ranges on non interchangeable lens systems or P&S cameras.
4. Does it have a zoom capability? What’s the range?
Almost all applications that I listed above will need some form of zooming in (telephoto) or out (wide angle), especially if you don’t have the space to move around the object you are shooting.
For Landscape shots, wide angle shots are very common and appealing while zooming in on the details serves as a break and complements the wide angle shots.
For weddings and events, you need a zoom because there will be times where you are limited by the shooting space and you will have a difficult time moving around. Its a good thing to know that you can do all sorts of framing without even moving from your position.
A nice zoom will give you the efficiency and versatility in your photography, so my suggestion is to go for the longest range you can get (usually from a 7X to a 10X for Point and Shoots).
Also note the speed of zooming in or out as this will be a factor if you’re shooting events like weddings. You will fail to capture that “decisive moment” on a mediocre zoom speed.
5. Does it have the provision to capture raw images?
Many photographers will say you’ll need this digital camera feature if you want to have big prints from your pictures. Although this is correct, the main reason why you will want this is because of the benefit it will give you…pure total control of your pictures… from exposure, color, metadata, hdr and a lot more.
6. Can I attach an external flash?
Having an external flash capability will give you the power and creative freedom to light your subjects any which way you like.
You can connect your digital camera to all sorts of lighting equipment thus giving you more options and versatility. This comes in the form of a hotshoe or a PC-Sync socket.
If your digital camera doesn’t have this feature, there is still hope because accessories called flash slaves are being sold by third party companies in different flavors that will also do the same job more or less.
7. Does it have a tripod socket?
Some of the most beautiful landscape pictures that I’ve seen are undoubtedly made with a tripod, so this is a must have if you are planning to do this kind of photography.
The “available light shots” in a wedding, still life and product shots, studio and fine art shots … all need a tripod for successful execution… so guess what happens if you don’t have a tripod socket?… You cannot effectively use a tripod!
8. Does it have automatic and manual focusing?
It will not be evident at first why you’ll need this especially if you’re just starting out in photography. But if you’re like me… A total control freak when it comes to cameras… and you really want to express your creative side, this is definitely a must have.
9. Can you attach filters to it? and what filter size?
Creative expression through special effects is just one of the many reasons that makes photography fun and interesting, and experimenting with filters is one creative pursuit you should try with your photography especially if you’re a beginner.
Always remember to ask if the particular digital camera you are eyeing for can handle filters and ask for the filter size. (To save you from buying the right filter with the wrong filter size) Please note that most Digital SLRs should be able to to handle filters as most lenses that come with it have a filter thread built into the lens.
Most P&S (point and shoot) digital cameras normally doesn’t have a filter thread built-in and might need special accessories to accomplish this so you should check to know for sure.
Again, there are many third party accessories that you could buy to adapt filters to your P&S digital cameras that don’t have this provisions. I’ll discuss all about this in a future post so watch for it. (Or subscribe to my announcement list (feed via email) so you’ll know when it’s up.
10. Can I upgrade the firmware?
The good thing about some digital camera manufacturers is that they keep on improving their digital cameras even after they sold it to you… this comes in the form of a firmware upgrade.
Usually this involves an improvement on one or many features of a camera. Be sure that the digital camera you’re planning to buy has an easy way of upgrading its firmware. This comes in the form of either an easy download via the manufacturer’s website (find it and bookmark it now) or a FREE CDROM.
Another caveat - be sure to consider if a downgrade is also possible or available with your digital camera… Why is there a need a downgrade you ask?… Because, you may want to reinstall an earlier firmware… just in case you don’t like the results from a firmware upgrade.
Occasionally there’s a feature that will be removed by the upgrade that you failed to read about and you decided that you just want to keep that feature instead of a bunch of trivial upgrades from the new firmware. (Yes, I personally experienced this.)
11. Are there extra goodies or software that come with it?
Some people ignore the fact that you can save a lot of money just by doing a simple arithmetic. Did you know that you could actually get your digital camera for a lot less if you study the deals and offers on the marketplace?
If you buy a digital camera and it comes with software that you can really use… like photoshop, elements, or any other image editing software for that matter, then you already saved some money you would otherwise spend. Some dealers will throw in lots of extras… If you just simply ask.
Always try to ask for these things that you’ll end up buying anyway if you don’t - like camera bags, extra lenses, extra batteries, memory cards, tripod, lens cleaners etc. Trust me… you will end up buying these things if you don’t ask for it on the deal. What have you got to lose? Simply ASK. Would you believe that I effectively lowered one of my camera purchase cost by as much as 30%? Ask away.
12. Is there Local Support in your area?
Finding the answer to this one will give you a great benefit in the long run. Wouldn’t you sleep better at night because you feel that extra security - that in case there is something wrong with your digital camera, you can bring it in for repair at a moments notice?
Not knowing when your camera will be repaired (or if it even arrived at a distant repair facility) is one of the worst feelings a photographer can have especially if you’re in the middle of a photoshoot or project.
13. What type of warranty does it have? Worldwide / Countrywide?
If you travel a lot its good to know that a countrywide or even better - a worldwide warranty can get your camera fixed wherever you are. Always bring the warranty card and glue it on your camera bag.
14. Does it have the ability to take video and audio?
I know, most DSLRs don’t have this function. But some non interchangeable lens DSLRs have it. This is a very useful feature to have if you’re on a project or photoshoot and want to document or record a procedure, a moment, or an idea that you would otherwise have trouble remembering or even writing. It’s always a good idea to bring a P&S camera backup that have this function.
The things that you could do with audio and videoclips on a photoshoot are only limited by your imagination… interviews, documentation, funny quips, training procedures, bloopers, etc..
15. Does it have a manual white balance?
White balance is one of the most interesting aspects of digital cameras. Its fun and fascinating to work with. Having this option puts the photography fun-o-meter way way up. In future posts, I will be discussing white balance in detail so be sure to stay tuned.
16. How sensitive is it to infrared?
If you’re planning to make infrared pictures or enter the exciting world of Infrared fine art photography then you’ll want to know if your digital camera can do it.
TIP: There is a simple way to test how sensitive your digital camera is to infrared using a very common device - a TV remote control. For P&S, you can aim the remote control towards the lens and gauge how bright the LED from remote is. This should give you an idea how sensitive your digital camera is to infrared. For DSLRs you will need to take shots of the LED and experiment a little or you can simply research or google the particular camera model you have in mind for other people’s experiences and thoughts about it.
17. How high is the ISO sensitivity? Is it manually adjustable?
ISO sensitivity is a term referring to the sensitivity of film to light. In the digital camera world, it refers to the sensitivity of the electronic sensor in your digital camera in relation to the ISO standard used for film.
The higher the ISO sensitivity of your camera the faster or better it can record a specific amount of light.
High ISO sensitivity is useful for taking better pictures in dark settings… such as inside a church or at night. The higher the ISO setting, the more details you can capture of a dark scene.
One caveat - take note of the amount of noise a particular camera exhibits at higher ISOs. Some people like it and some don’t. Again, don’t be afraid to ask or do research on the noise characteristics of your camera model in mind to see if this is the right choice for you.
18. How high or low can you set the shutterspeed? What are the minimum and maximum aperture settings?
Shutterspeed and aperture settings are the basic mechanisms that drive your camera and controls the amount of light that is exposed by the film or image sensor.
You use high shutterspeeds in action shots and to prevent camera shake, and you use low shutterspeeds for movement effects and bulb or long exposures. You can check for these figures on the websites that I gave you in part 1. You can see it in the technical specifications for a particular camera.
A bulb or “T” function is a nice feature to have because you can take exposures for virtually very long periods of time. Another feature to have is if your camera has a remote control to use this bulb or “T” mode. This gives you the capability to take pictures without holding your camera and adding to the “camera shake”.
With the subject of apertures, a small one (small aperture opening) lets you have a wider depth of field so your shots are sharp from near to far versus a large aperture (big aperture opening) where your shots have a narrow depth of field and appear “selectively focused”.
19. Does it have some form of an image stabilizer?
New cameras coming out as we speak often have this feature. Simply put, an image stabilizer is some form of a mechanism built into the lens or the camera body (depending on the manufacturer and their implementation) that basically prevents you from getting blurred pictures when taking pictures in low light or you are using a long or telephoto lens. Having this feature can mean the difference between a blurry picture (aka no picture!) to a usable one.
20. How close can it focus? Macro abilities?
The closer your camera can focus… the bigger the picture of an object you can take in relation to the image dimensions of the final photo… and the bigger the picture of the object… the more detail you can get. If you want to take pictures of small objects such as flowers and fine details then this is a must-have.
That’s it. Whew.
Do you really have to go over all these questions?… Of course not, but even if you only study and ponder on half of them…and take the time… I promise you that one thing will surely happen…
You’ll be…
a lot smarter!
than when you first started asking these questions… ergo you’ll be in a better position to decide what digital camera to buy… Because you are now armed with the most powerful tool anybody can have
the power of information!
In any case, I hope you find as much value in these questions as many of my friends have and be able to get the camera of your dreams.
Enjoy!
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