21 Sep 08 NIKON PRESENTS FIVE NEW COOLPIX CAMERAS
Nikon’s New COOLPIX Digital Cameras Developed with Consumer’s Digital Photography Needs in Mind
MELVILLE, NY (August 24, 2006) - Consumers stand in front of a digital camera counter telling themselves they want an easy to use camera that takes great pictures. Nikon today unveiled two new “L” or Life series cameras and three new “S” or Style series cameras with the consumer’s picture taking needs in mind. These new cameras incorporate existing Nikon technologies that have excited so many new digital camera users and added additional useful features to enhance the overall photography experience.
“Developed with the consumer in mind, Nikon has combined exceptional features with world-renowned quality design and style at attractive prices,” says Bill Giordano, General Manager Marketing, COOLPIX for Nikon, Inc. “From entry-level to advanced technologies, our designers and engineers have done an outstanding job of adopting design styles and intuitive technology that directly address what the consumer asks for - a camera that looks great and performs just as well.”
Every camera in the COOLPIX family is equipped with Nikon’s In-camera Image Innovations to fix common photo problems. This system includes Face-priority AF*, which automatically finds and focuses on a subject’s face, In-Camera Red-Eye Fix, which automatically corrects red-eye, and D-Lighting, an innovation that automatically corrects images with insufficient light. The cameras are also equipped with Blur Warning, which alerts the user when an image is blurred, and Best Shot Selector, a feature which automatically identifies and saves the sharpest image from a series.
In addition, every new COOLPIX camera features TV Quality Move Mode** (recording movies at up to 30 fps with sound), Noise Reduction - to produce better results during low-light conditions; a broad choice of White Balance selections and a convenient Help Button, which is never further than a push of a button away, giving easy-to-understand explanations for all functions throughout the menu.
Memories Made Easy with Nikon’s COOLPIX L5
Continuing the Life series digital cameras, Nikon has introduced the COOLPIX L5 which combines high-quality features like a 5x Zoom-Nikkor glass lens, an incredible, bright 2.5 inch LCD and same advanced Lens Shift Vibration Reduction (VR) found in many Nikon DSLR lens systems. Lens shift VR technology allows the user to make the most of the 5x zoom. Adding to the convenience are three unique Nikon image innovations accessible via a One-Touch portrait button, which activates Face-priority AF, In-Camera Red-Eye Fix and D-Lighting. The L5 runs on two AA-batteries which power this 7.2 effective megapixel camera and is compatible with the widely available SD memory card.
Nikon’s COOLPIX L6 Keeps Memories Going and Going
Nikon’s L6 digital camera adds powerful imaging performance, easy operation and outstanding battery life that allows the user to shoot with greater confidence for better-looking results. The L6 boasts 6.0 effective megapixels and a 3x Zoom-Nikkor glass lens, making it a cinch to capture everything from pleasing portraits to expansive landscapes with true-to-life color and fine detail. The L6 can take an unprecedented 1,000 pictures on a single set of the included Energizer® e2® Lithium® AA batteries, the most of any camera in its class.
Highly convenient, such extended battery life is ideally suited for travel or when capturing important events, such as a wedding, where you can’t afford to run out of power.
The COOLPIX L6 offers light sensitivity beyond conventional compact digitals, with settings up to ISO 800. This means users can shoot pictures in lower light without having to use a long exposure. It also allows users to select higher shutter speeds for the capture of fast-moving subjects.
Nikon’s COOLPIX S9 Blends Stunning Design with Innovative Picture Technology
Nikon unveils new the COOLPIX S9 for style-savvy consumers who want a fashionable camera at exceptional price. The S9 blends beautiful aesthetic attributes and advanced imaging technology. The S9 is a 6.1 megapixel, easy-to-use camera in a slim, stylish body. The camera is equipped with a 3x Zoom-Nikkor ED glass lens to ensure sharp, creative freedom and a 2.5 inch LCD screen to compose and share images.
For ease of use, the COOLPIX S9 makes it seamless for consumers to access Nikon’s In-camera Image Innovations through a One-Touch Portrait Button, located on the top of the camera.
The COOLPIX S9 offers a Stop-Motion feature for creating fun, stop-motion animated video shorts. To use the feature, the consumer simply needs to pose an object that they want to animate, take a picture, re-position the object and photograph again. Opaque versions of previous shots are shown on the camera’s LCD to assist users when positioning and repositioning their object. Once shooting is completed, the S9 automatically creates a Quicktime™ video of the object’s movement in-camera.
The COOLPIX S10 Offers Adventurers and Photo Enthusiasts Image Stabilization in a Mighty 10x Zoom Camera
The new COOLPIX S10 features an incredible 10x optical Zoom-Nikkor glass lens, Vibration Reduction (VR), 6.0 effective megapixels, a 2.5″ LCD and an innovative, compact swivel design allowing the long-zoom camera to fit into a shirt pocket. The powerful 10x, optical zoom combined with Nikon’s VR and innovative body design gives digital photographers unprecedented freedom and creativity with the ability to take pictures from a wide range of angles such as overhead, from the hip and even self portraits.
With the advantage of Vibration Reduction (VR) capability, the COOLPIX S10 allows users to overcome camera shake to take sharper, more stable pictures in a range of shooting situations. The S10 includes a High-Sensitivity option up to an impressive ISO 800.
Furthermore, the COOLPIX S10 adds new entertainment to photography with Nikon’s Pictmotion function that lets users combine images, movies, music and visual styles for automatically produced audiovisual shows, in-camera. It’s easy for everyone to gather and watch Pictmotion shows together because the LCD of the COOLPIX S10 has an impressively wide viewing angle of 170 degrees.
The New COOLPIX S7c Takes Great Images and E-mails Them!
The new COOLPIX S7c combines high-quality imaging performance and style with impressive new photo sharing technology to make the S7c the most technologically advanced compact digital camera that Nikon has ever released.
The S7c is a 7.1 effective megapixel camera with a 3x Zoom-Nikkor ED glass lens with a One-Touch Portrait Button that acts as a shortcut to three Nikon In-Camera Image Innovations. The COOLPIX S7c also offers Vibration Reduction (VR), Pictmotion and a High-Sensitivity mode up to a 1600 ISO and the new Stop-Motion feature.
The S7c incorporates Wireless transfer, which enables a photographer to send pictures from the camera’s memory to a computer or printer wirelessly. The COOLPIX S7c is also compatible with Nikon’s all-new COOLPIX CONNECT service that lets users take pictures and then e-mail them to friends across the world in mere seconds.
Nikon and T-Mobile™ have partnered to give Nikon customers the amazing ability to email pictures directly from the new COOLPIX S7c.The first time you connect your COOLPIX S7c in one of the 7,000 T-Mobile HotSpot locations, your one year of complimentary T-Mobile Camera Wi-Fi service (for digital cameras) will be automatically activated*. Simply turn on your COOLPIX S7c, choose Wi-Fi mode to automatically connect your camera to the T-Mobile Hotspot or open access network, and you can email pictures directly from your COOLPIX S7c. You are connected right out of the box!
The new COOLPIX camera line-up will be available nationwide September 2006. For more information about this and other COOLPIX cameras, please visit www.nikondigital.com.
* One year of T-Mobile HotSpot service begins from the first time you automatically connect in a T-Mobile HotSpot location. Does not include access at Wi-Fi roaming locations. This offer expires on September 30, 2007.
T-Mobile and HotSpot and design are federally registered trademarks and the magenta color is a trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG. © 2006 T-Mobile USA, Inc.
About Nikon
Nikon, At the Heart of the Image™. Nikon Inc. is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes the Nikon Total Imaging System of consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, Nikkor optics, Speedlights and System Accessories; Nikon COOLPIX® compact digital cameras; COOLSCAN® digital film scanners; 35mm film SLR cameras; Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics. At the heart of every Nikon camera is Nikon’s Exclusive Feature System, making it easy for anyone to take amazing digital pictures. Through the Nikon Spirit Initiative™, the company, plays an active role in supporting aspiring and advanced photographers through a variety of philanthropic organizations, educational programs, events and workshops. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers to the web’s most comprehensive photo learning and sharing communities.
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21 Sep 08 Choosing Your First Digital Camera
Author: Kirsten Whittaker
Digital cameras are no longer a luxury these days, with high resolution mega pixels and sophisticated features coming within a very appealing price range. And thanks to many comprehensive digital camera reviews, it’s easy to pick the most sought after features and qualities and still stay within a budget.
Most people turn to digital photography because they like the ease of printing and sharing the photos on the web. Business owners choose the digital quality for their product catalogues or brochures, students employ digital cameras for their projects and with digital cameras in most recent cell phones, even a child can take a snap and publish it instantly on the web. And thanks to the newest lens and zooming qualities, you don’t have to be a seasoned pro to shoot close-to-professional images with modern digital cameras.
You can hardly find a digital camera today with resolution lower than 2 megapixels - two million color dots per picture. This is a decent quality for most uses, including printing the photos for the home or school use. The higher the megapixel rate, the bigger photos you can print without sacrificing the quality. However, if you are not a professional photographer or a graphic professional who deals with upscale images all the time, you don’t really need a digital camera that produces more than 8-megapixel camera - and these rarely become available for less than $1000. Plus, if you seek to print large detailed photos, make sure you have a high-quality printer that can reproduces all the tiny details that make a difference.
When you pick a digital camera, you should also pay attention to the zoom number. Digital cameras have two different kinds of zoom. Digital zoom enlarges all pixels digitally, while optical zoom enlarges the image with the lens magnification. Since you can always enlarge the image later, on the computer using the Photoshop or other image manipulation program, you would be better to concentrate on higher optical zoom rate. The average optical zoom for midlevel digital cameras is 2 to 4x.
There are a few other options to consider: whether a digital camera uses a rechargeable batteries (zoom and LCD screen consume a lot of energy); whether the digital camera has a standard flash memory (you may need to buy a few more flash memory cards in future), and if the menus are easy to understand. If you travel a lot, you may want a digital camera that is lightweight and compact.
Even if you decide to pick the least expensive digital camera to serve your basic photography needs, you will still enjoy all the benefits of digital photography: no film rolls to buy, no wasted photos to dispose of and best of all, no waiting time to get them printed. New models of digital cameras are constantly launched, and the older ones are becoming less expensive day by day. Know your priorities, check the most recent digital camera reviews, and there should be a digital camera to perfectly suit your needs.
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21 Sep 08 Ten Points to Remember When Buying a Digital Camera
Author: Ernie Delgado
Professional photographers know exactly what they’re looking for when they purchase a digital camera. Years of experience and fine tuning digital cameras every day makes the choice clear for them. For the rest of us, a new camera purchase can be a daunting experience. I know when I first got into digital cameras the technology seemed a little intimidating- but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s a short guide with ten things to look for when, as an amateur photographer, you’re ready to replace that antique sitting on the top shelf of the closet.
1. Resolution – When digital cameras first came out, it was all about the megapixels. There was a wide variety of sizes (and prices) available- however, now most of even the smallest digital cameras are 5 megapixels, which is more than adequate for your typical 4×6 vacation photos and the occasional 8×10. The time to go larger is when you want to regularly create larger pictures- or you want to be able to zoom in on areas of specific detail and print those. The compromise you must make for those larger pictures is more space used on your memory card, so if you get a higher megapixel camera, make sure to pick some extra cards.
2. Exposure control – For most amateurs, aperture size and shutter speeds are a mystery. What should I use when? The manufacturers have addressed this with scene preset modes. Picking the correct mode allows you to select the proper settings of, for example, a close-up by simply clicking ‘Macro Mode’ instead of manually configuring the camera. If you’re interested in digital cameras as a hobby, manual configuration options are something you should look for.
3. Zooms –There are two types of zoom available, optical zoom and digital. The one you should really pay attention to is optical zoom- pictures using optical zoom are sharper. Also understand that when the camera is using the higher magnification settings, it will be more vulnerable to shaking, so you may want to pick up a tripod if you’ll be using that zoom most of the time.
4. Size – Take a little time to think about what you’re going to be using your camera for. There’s always a tradeoff between size and functionality- here’s a quick summary:
a. Ultra Compact – small, light pocket sized cameras. Some may have fewer features.
b.Compact- fit in a modest camera case, great for point and shoot pictures.
c. Advanced- more functionality here along with more size. Typically we see buttons for modes as opposed to menus (which saves having to navigate), better zooms, and they also accept accessories (lenses, filters, etc.)
d. Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) – Heavy and large, these offer the best functionality; typically professionals and serious photographers use them.
5. Weight – Hand in hand with size is camera weight. Generally speaking, more features equals more weight, so think carefully about what you really need. A small, light camera with fewer features is a better choice if you want to take it everywhere and get lots of pictures, as opposed to a heavy monster you dread having to lug and only use once in a while.
6. Batteries –Basically batteries come in two formats, proprietary battery packs, and then there are cameras that accept AA batteries. If you get a camera with the proprietary pack, it’s worth it to purchase another one as backup, because invariably you’ll want to take a picture and the battery will die. I recommend getting a camera that allows you to use AA batteries- if you need to buy a set in pinch you can, and you also have the flexibility of buying rechargeables and using them again and again.
7. Speed- When you are ready to purchase, be sure to check out the lag on button press. If you want to photograph things in motion (kids, pets, sports, etc) it can be very frustrating to try to snap that perfect picture and have the image captured 5 seconds later after the moment has passed. Some cameras offer continuous shutter mode, which allows you to snap pictures in sequence. For most amateurs 5 frames per second is adequate.
8. Manual Focus – part of the beauty of digital cameras is most of them take care of focusing for you. In some situations you may want the ability to manually focus to bring out detail.
9. Low Light Modes – Some cameras have auxiliary lights to help focus or even night vision mode. If you’re going to be taking pictures at night, it’s worth the money to add this to your checklist.
10. Accessories- Most people focus exclusively on the camera, and the accessories are an afterthought. Depending on where you buy your camera, you may be able to get a package deal that includes things you would have to buy anyway, like a case, memory cards, extra batteries and the like. If you buy your camera in a camera store don’t be afraid to negotiate, many will give you a better price or throw in extras like photography lessons.
When you buy a digital camera there’s no need to be intimidated, just do some research online and have an idea of what you want to do with your camera, create a list of important points, and then buy with confidence.
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21 Sep 08 Digital Camera - the Easy Way to Take Pictures
Author: Roberto Sedycias
In comparison to film cameras, digital cameras have number of advantages which includes displaying the image on the camera screen right after recording, a single small memory device can record thousands of images, records video with sound, provision to edit images, and above all storage capacity can be re-used by deleting the images. There are numbers of devices available that has in-built digital cameras like mobile phones, PDA`s etc. Specialized digital cameras are fit into astronomical devices like The Hubble Space Telescope.
Digitizing images on scanner and digitizing video signals are much older than making of still images using digital signals from an array of discrete sensor elements. It was then used for astronauts to provide onboard navigation information during their visit to planets. It provided the still photos of stars and planet locations during transit and also additional stadiametric information for orbiting or landing guidance while approaching planet.
Steven Sasson, an engineer at Eastman Kodak, attempted to develop first digital camera with solid state CCD image sensor chips. But it was just a technical exercise. The true digital camera was Fuji DS-1P developed in 1988. And the first commercialized camera was Dycam Model 1 in 1990. Then in 1991, Kodak launched its Kodak DCS 100. Else Casio QV-10 was the first consumer camera in 1995. Nikon D1, a 2.74 megapixel camera was the first digital SLR developed in 1999. And in 2003, Canon 300D, first 600 megapixel camera was launched.
There are various types of digital cameras available. For videos, there are professional video cameras which are used in television and movie production. Camcorders come with inbuilt microphone and a small liquid crystal display to watch video while recording and playback. One can get still photographs also with them. Webcams, attached to computers, can capture full-motion video and are also available with microphones or zooming ability.
In live-preview digital camera, there is an electronic camera that can be used to frame and preview before taking the photograph and also to review stored photographs. Many of such cameras can take motion pictures. Then the recorded images can be transferred to computer, printer or any other such device. USB mass storage device enables the camera to function as disk drive for computer and Picture Transfer Protocol is then used.
To use Firewire, storage device is removed from camera and inserted into other device. Compact digital cameras, small and portable with inbuilt flash, are easy to use, and images are stored using Lossy compression. They might be able to capture motion picture but that to a limit. Bridge or SLR like camera is higher-end-live-preview camera with more advanced features like superzoom lenses, takes movies with sound, etc. Digital rangefinder, a user operated mechanism, is capable to measure subject distance.
Apart from above mentioned digital cameras, there are other categories also. Professional modular digital camera systems are used in studios for commercial production. Line-scan camera systems, based on focusing mechanism, are used in industrial settings to capture images of constantly moving materials. They capture images at extremely fast with high image resolutions.
Most of the digital cameras come with pre-set modes for different applications. Data can be transferred through USB port, Firewire port, USB PTP mode and even through wireless connections like WiFi, Bluetooth etc. These data are mostly stored in Microdrives, Joint Photography Experts Group (JPEG), Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) and RAW. Formats for movies are AVI, DV, MPEG and MOV. Recently MP4 format is also developed. Digital cameras have small but powerful batteries to operate for enough length of time.
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19 Sep 08 Consumer Reports - Digital Cameras
Digital cameras, which employ reusable memory cards instead of film, give you far more creative control than film cameras can. With a digital camera, you can transfer shots to your computer, then crop, adjust color and contrast, and add textures and other special effects. Final results can be made into cards or T-shirts, or sent via e-mail, all using the software that usually comes with the camera. You can make prints on a color inkjet printer, or by dropping off the memory card at one of a growing number of photofinishers. You can upload the file to a photo-sharing Web site for storage, viewing, and sharing with others.
Like camcorders, digital cameras have LCD viewers. Some camcorders can be used to take still pictures, but a typical camcorder’s resolution is no match for a good still camera’s.
WHAT’S AVAILABLE
The leading brands are Canon, Fujifilm, HP, Kodak, Olympus, and Sony; other brands come from consumer-electronics, computer, and traditional camera and film companies.
Digital cameras are categorized by how many pixels, or picture elements, the image sensor contains. One megapixel equals 1 million picture elements. A 3-megapixel camera can make excellent 8×10s and pleasing 11×14s. There are also 4- to 8-megapixel models, including point-and-shoot ones; these are well suited for making larger prints or for maintaining sharpness if you want to use only a portion of the original image. Professional Digital cameras use as many as 14 megapixels.
Price range: $200 to $400 for 3 megapixels; $250 to $400 for 4 and 5 megapixels; $300 to $1,000 for 6 to 8 megapixels.
IMPORTANT FEATURES
Most Digital cameras are highly automated, with features such as automatic exposure control (which manages the shutter speed, aperture, or both according to available light) and autofocus.
Instead of film, digital cameras typically record their shots onto flash-memory cards. CompactFlash and SecureDigital (SD) are the most widely used. Once quite expensive, such cards have tumbled in price–a 128-megabyte card can now cost less than $50. Other types of memory cards used by cameras include Memory Stick, Smart Media and xD-picture card. A few cameras, mainly some Sony models, use 3 1/4-inch CD-R or CD-RW discs.
To save images, you transfer them to a computer, typically by connecting the camera to the computer’s USB or FireWire port or inserting the memory card into a special reader. Some printers can take memory cards and make prints without putting the images on a computer first. Image-handling software, such as Adobe Photoshop Elements, Jasc Paint Shop, Microsoft Picture It, and ACDSee, lets you size, touch up, and crop digital images using your computer. Most digital cameras work with both Windows and Macintosh machines.
The file format commonly used for photos is JPEG, which is a compressed format. Some cameras can save photos in uncompressed TIFF format, but this setting yields enormous files. Other high-end cameras have a RAW file format, which yields the image data with no processing from the camera.
Digital cameras typically have both an optical viewfinder and a small color LCD viewer. LCD viewers are very accurate in framing the actual image you get–better than most of the optical viewfinders–but they use more battery power and may be hard to see in bright sunlight. You can also view shots you’ve already taken on the LCD viewer. Many digital cameras provide a video output, so you can view your pictures on a TV set.
Certain cameras let you record an audio clip with a picture. But these clips use additional storage space. Some allow you to record limited video, but the frame rate is slow and the resolution poor.
A zoom lens provides flexibility in framing shots and closes the distance between you and your subject–ideal if you want to quickly switch to a close shot. The typical 3x zoom on mainstream cameras goes from a moderately wide-angle view (35mm) to moderate telephoto (105mm). You can find cameras with extended zoom ranges between 8x and 12x, giving added versatility for outdoor photography. Other new cameras go down to 24 or 28 mm at the wide-angle end, making it easier to take in an entire scene in close quarters, such as a crowded party.
Optical zooms are superior to digital zooms, which magnify the center of the frame without actually increasing picture detail, resulting in a somewhat coarser view.
Sensors in digital cameras are typically about as light-sensitive as ISO 100 film, though some let you increase that setting. (At ISO 100, you’ll likely need to use a flash indoors and in low outdoor light.) A camera’s flash range tells you how far from the camera the flash will provide proper exposure: If the subject is out of range, you’ll know to close the distance. But digital cameras can tolerate some underexposure before the image suffers noticeably.
Red-eye reduction shines a light toward your subject just before the main flash. (A camera whose flash unit is farther from the lens reduces the risk of red eye. Computer editing of the image may also correct red eye.) With automatic flash mode, the camera fires the flash whenever the light entering the camera registers as insufficient. A few new cameras have built-in red-eye correction capability.
Some cameras that have powerful telephoto lenses now come with image stabilizers. These compensate for camera shake, letting you use a slower shutter speed than you otherwise could for following movement. But an image stabilizer won’t compensate for the motion of subjects.
Most new 6- to 8-megapixel cameras come with full manual controls, including independent controls for shutter and aperture. That gives serious shutterbugs control over depth of field, shooting action, or shooting scene with tricky lighting.
HOW TO CHOOSE
The first step is to determine how you will use the camera most of the time. Consider these two questions:
How much flexibility to enlarge images do you need? If you mainly want to make 4×6 snapshots, a camera with a 3- or 4-megapixel resolution will be fine. Such a camera will also make an 8×10 print of an entire image without alteration that looks as sharp as one from a 6- or 8-megapixel model. But to enlarge the image more or enlarge only part of it, you’ll want a 6- to 8-megapixel camera.
How much control do you want over exposure and composition? Cameras meant for automatic point-and-shoot photos, with a 3x-zoom lens, will serve snap shooters as well as dedicate hobbyists much of the time. The full-featured cameras in the 6- to 8-megapixel range offer capabilities that more-dedicated photographers will want to have. Two of the more important capabilities are a zoom range of 5x to 10x or more, which lets you bring distant outdoor subjects close and also lets you shoot candid portraits without getting right in your subject’s face, and a full complement of manual controls that you determine the shutter speed and lens opening. ‘
Once you’ve established the performance priorities that you need from a camera, you can narrow your choices further by considering these convenience factors:
Size and weight. The smallest, lightest models aren’t necessarily inexpensive 3-megapixel cameras. And the biggest and heaviest aren’t necessarily found at the high end. If possible, try cameras at the store before you buy. That way, you’ll know which one fits you hand best and which can be securely gripped. In our tests, we have found that some of the smallest don’t leave much room even for small fingers.
Battery type and life. All digital cameras can run on rechargeable batteries of one of two types: an expensive battery pack or a set of AA batteries. In our tests of the cameras, neither battery type had a clear performance advantage. The best-performing cameras offer upward of 300 shots on a charge, while the worst manage only about 50. We think it’s more convenient to own a camera that accepts AA batteries. You can buy economical, rechargeable cells (plus a charger) and drop in a set of disposable lithium or alkaline batteries if the rechargeable run down in the middle of the day’s shooting.
Camera speed. With point-and-shoot cameras like the ones we tested, you must wait after each shot as the camera processes the image. Most models let you shoot an image every few seconds, but a few make you wait 5 seconds or more. They may frustrate you when you’re taking photos in sequence.
Your other cameras. If you’re adding a camera to your lineup or trading up to a more versatile model, look first for one that’s compatible with the other cameras. If it is, you can share memory cards and batteries. Designs within a camera brand line are often similar. So staying wit the brand you have lowers the learning curve on the new camera for family members who switch between cameras.
Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.
For the latest information on this and many other products and services, visit www.ConsumerReports.org.
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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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17 Sep 08 Buying a Digital Camera
Family and friends can be pretty far flung these days, so how do you keep in touch? Snail mail and phoning are good options, but it’s fun to be able to share pictures. With the advent of digital cameras, it’s easy to post pictures on a blog or website, or send pictures via email.
Of course, film cameras will work, as you can scan and convert pictures to digital files, but the easiest way to send pictures quickly and cheaply is to use a digital camera.
How To Find What’s Best For YOU When Buying A Digital Camera
There are all kinds of digital cameras available these days, so the trick is to find the one that suits your needs and budget. If you are buying your first digital camera, the lingo and technology are a bit different than for film cameras, so before shopping take time to learn a little and figure out what you’d like to buy.
First, what kind of photographer are you? Do you like total control over the picture taking process, or would you rather just aim the camera and push the shutter button? Then it’s also helpful to decide what you want to do with your pictures. Do you just want to put them online or send them via email, or do you want to be able to print them, and if so, how large do you want your prints?
If photography isn’t your passion, and you just want to have pictures to share, buying a simple point-and-shoot digital camera is probably best. It has automatic settings, so all you have to do is aim the camera, press the shutter and viola! Instant picture!
However, if you prefer more control over the picture taking process, try buying a mid-range digital camera. There is a wide range in both price and features. For the more serious hobby photographer, there are “prosumer” cameras midway between point-and-shoot cameras and digital SLR cameras. They offer better lens quality and usually more features than a point-and-shoot, though those little cameras can come pretty loaded these days!
Digital SLR cameras are top of the line and more expensive. These work more like traditional cameras, having a body with detachable lens. This gives you more options with being able to change lens, but it’s also much more expensive. Just one lens can cost as much as a point-and-shoot digital camera! There’s also usually a steeper learning curve to figure out how to use all the options on a digital SLR camera.
However, if you’re buying your first digital camera, intermediate, “prosumer” and digital SLR cameras probably aren’t the best choice. All the settings and features can be a little overwhelming for the beginner, and your expensive camera may end up collecting dust somewhere. Try a low to midrange camera first and get a feel for digital cameras and what features are most important to you. Then when you’re ready to move up and buy a better digital camera, you’ll have a better idea of what to look for before you lay out your hard earned cash!
What To Look For When You’re Ready To Buy A Digital Camera
You can buy digital cameras in all sorts of places these days, from fancy department stores to discount stores, photography/camera shops and many stores online. While you can sometimes find great deals on-line, if this is your first digital camera, go to shops and look at different cameras if at all possible. It helps to pick it up and get the feel of the camera in your hand to see if it’s comfortable and the controls are easy to use, and you can check out what features it has and how they work.
But what exactly are you looking for?
One of the first things to check out when buying a digital camera is the MEGAPIXELS. A pixel is a single dot in a graphics image. A megapixel is equivalent to one million pixels. A 1-megapixel camera would produce an image roughly 1200 pixels wide by 900 pixels high, a 3 megapixel would be 2048 x 1536 megapixels, and so on. Higher megapixels mean better resolution, but aren’t the whole picture. The main thing to keep in mind is the more megapixels, the bigger image you can print.
Approximate Megapixels vs. Print Size
2 Megapixels prints well up to 4×6 inches
3 Megapixels prints well up to 5×7 inches
4 Megapixels prints well up to 6×8 inches
6 Megapixels prints well up to 7×10 inches
8 Megapixels prints well up to 10×14 inches
12 Megapixels prints well up to 16×24 inches
For email, websites and printing snapshots, a 3 to 5-megapixel camera is a good choice. If you want to make high quality 8×10 prints or larger, you need more megapixels. Higher megapixels also allow you to crop down to a smaller portion of the picture while still retaining sharpness in prints.
One other thing to keep in mind when considering megapixels and resolution, be sure you are getting optical resolution. This is the actual number of megapixels the camera records. Some cameras offer interpolated resolution to get bigger pictures from the same number of megapixels by using software algorithms to determine what color pixels to add, so the picture becomes bigger at the expense of clarity.
Opt for optical…
Digital cameras have two kinds of zoom, optical and digital. In this case, focus on the optical zoom. It’s the one that actually uses the lens’ optics to bring the subject closer. The higher the number, the further away you can “pull in” your subject. The digital zoom merely takes the original information and makes it bigger, and once again, clarity is sacrificed. Most serious photographers turn off digital zoom. Stick to optical!
For Your Viewing Pleasure…
Digital cameras commonly use an LCD screen instead of a viewfinder to focus on your subject, though some come equipped with both. Check the size of the screen when buying a digital camera to be sure you can comfortably see your subject. It’s also really handy to have a flip screen that allows you to hold your camera low or high, and still be able to see what’s on the screen.
Fun features…
Many digital cameras offer settings for such things as burst shooting mode, which is handy if you want to take pictures of moving subjects. The camera shoots a series of pictures without pause, then writes the files to memory. Other features allow for manually changing settings, special effects, short digital movie files, using an external flash, and much more. Look over several different cameras, decide what features you just have to have, and which are on the “nice to have but not vital” list. No one camera will do everything well.
Get the Picture…
You’ve got to get the pictures out of the camera to share them. Usually the files are downloaded to your computer through a USB port, so make sure your computer has one. Also, keep in mind when choosing a camera, the more megapixels, the bigger the files. You’ve got to store those files somewhere, so how much memory is available on your computer? Does it have a CD burner.
However, you can still buy a digital camera even if you don’t have a computer. Many photo labs, even in places like Walmart or Kmart, have machines with the capability of making prints and/or photo CD’s from memory cards, and will make a disk of the files, sort of like digital negatives. There’s also the option of buying a photo printer with a docking station for your camera. Just plug the camera into the docking station, and bypass the need for a computer to print.
Cash After Camera
When buying your digital camera, keep some cash in reserve, because there are two more important purchases you need to make.
1. Memory - The digital camera’s equivalent of film, the amount of memory determines how many pictures you can take. Different cameras use different types of memory, so the first step is to find out what your camera uses. The most popular types are: Secure Digital (SD), CompactFlash (CF), SmartMedia (SM), Memory Stick (MS), MultiMediaCard (MMC), and xD-Picture Card (xD).
Cameras are usually packaged with a small MB-sized card. A second card of 64 MB is good, but of course the more MB and the more cards, the more pictures you can take before having to download and erase the images. The different cards are NOT interchangeable, so be sure to buy the right kind for your camera!
2. Battery - There’s nothing more frustrating than being in the middle of snapping pictures and the battery dies. Get extras. It’s worth the expense to have a second battery charged and waiting should the one in your camera lose power. The rechargeable ones are more expensive, but the ability to use them over and over makes them worth the initial outlay of cash.
That’s The Total Package!
There you have the basics for choosing a digital camera. Decide what kind of pictures you are likely to take, what size prints you want to make, how much zoom, and are there any extras you can’t live without? Look for the camera that most closely matches your list in your price range, buy a bigger memory card and an extra battery set, and you’re good to go!
Have fun sharing those pictures with friends and family!
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