- D50’s Ease-of-Use and Attractive Pricing Set to Bring the Thrill of Nikon Digital SLR Performance to More Consumers than Ever Before
- 6.1-Megapixel D50 Arrives in Stores in June 2005 for an Estimated Street Price of $899.95 (D50 outfit, with the new AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED lens)
- Two New DX Nikkor Lenses Offer More Options and Versatility
MELVILLE, NY, APRIL 20, 2005 - Nikon® (www.nikonusa.com) has taken another bold step forward in redefining the digital SLR landscape today by introducing the highly anticipated D50™ digital SLR camera. The D50 is the smallest, lightest and easiest-to-use Nikon digital SLR camera to date, and is designed for the broadest range of consumers including family memory-keepers looking to take advantage of the image quality, speed and responsiveness Nikon digital SLR’s offer, as well as photo enthusiasts and amateur photographers who want to capture brilliant digital pictures with vibrant color and immaculate sharpness. The new entry-level D50 makes exceptional digital SLR photography a reality for everyone.
“With the new D50, Nikon intends to bring a fulfilling digital SLR photography experience to more consumers than ever before and help them capture their most precious memories with great quality and ease. The D50 inherits the high image quality, responsiveness and speed consumers have come to expect of Nikon’s digital SLR cameras, while also embodying a simple, intuitive and compact design, so anyone in the family can use it without hesitation,” said Steve Heiner, general manager for Digital SLR Camera Systems at Nikon Inc. “The attractive price for the D50 will expand the market substantially and ensure many more people can enjoy shooting with a Nikon digital SLR this year.”
The Ultimate Family Camera
The D50 stands out as ideal for families searching for that perfect camera to capture timeless memories during important occasions and life events such as weddings, first homeruns, birthdays, prom night, and golden anniversaries, among others. The D50 is the perfect combination of intelligent, easy-to-use features and impeccable image quality, and at an estimated street price of $899 (for the D50 outfit with the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED lens), it represents an excellent value for its capabilities. The camera’s seven Digital Vari-Program modes make capturing the moment easier than ever, and the new “Child” mode, for example, assures that moms and dads don’t have to be photography experts to capture the most vivid color and contrast when taking pictures of their children. The D50’s “Child” mode automatically adjusts several of the camera’s settings, including ISO, shutter speeds, and white balance, to produce optimized images when taking pictures of children. The D50 promises to be an ideal tool for parents who refuse to let memories pass them by.
The D50 also includes a full range of manual controls and custom settings, so users can grow with the camera, and advanced photo enthusiasts can find themselves right at home with a D50 in their hands.
Hallmark Nikon Image Quality and Performance
The D50 incorporates several important new Nikon technologies to ensure a rich, yet simplified experience for consumers. With a new 6.1 effective megapixel Nikon DX Format CCD image sensor and a highly advanced image processing engine, the D50 produces dazzlingly faithful images capable of tremendous enlargement, yet manageable in overall file size. Nikon’s new 3D Color Matrix Metering II ensures accurate exposure control in all types of lighting situations by automatically comparing input from its frame-wide 420-pixel metering sensor for each scene to a large onboard database of over 30,000 scenes from actual photography. Professionals and amateurs alike rely on Nikon’s exclusive light metering technologies that produce ideal exposures instantly. Newly developed exposure evaluation methods detect highlights and shadows in the frame, and compensate for them to help prevent inaccurate exposure. Shutter speed choices in the D50 extend from 30 seconds to an action-stopping 1/4,000
second. A high-speed flash sync speed up to 1/500 second makes great fill flash photography possible and Nikon’s i-TTL flash technology makes it automatic.
Simple Sophistication
The next evolution of Nikon’s popular scene-optimized Digital Vari-Program modes simplifies picture taking, and helps users take incredible pictures with very little effort. The Digital Vari-Program modes also free up the user to think about capturing special and fleeting moments instead of getting overwhelmed with buttons and dials. Selecting one of the seven simple icons from the handy exposure mode dial optimizes otherwise complex settings and ISO-equivalent sensitivity to produce consistently remarkable results. The newly added “Child” mode mentioned earlier makes it easier to take memorable pictures of the little ones complete with vivid color and contrast that are ready to print without the fuss of adjustments within the computer.
Instant Gratification
Unlike lesser systems, the Nikon D50 is always ready to shoot when that special moment or expression presents itself. From the moment the power is turned on, the D50 is ready to shoot in an imperceptible 0.2 seconds. The shutter responds almost instantly when a picture is taken, thereby minimizing “shutter-lag” and virtually eliminating a common frustration of digital photography. Continuous shooting at 2.5 pictures per second can be maintained for a burst of up to 137 pictures, making action photography a reality. Pictures taken are instantly processed and recorded to a compact SD (Secure Digital) memory card, and a new USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface supports faster transfer of images when connected to a computer.
Compact, Lightweight and Designed to Go Everywhere
The D50’s compact, lightweight design makes it easy to carry the camera anywhere there’s a good moment to capture. Its smart design and easily accessible controls provide handling efficiency and ease of operation, helping bring the fun back to picture taking. Newly designed plain-language menus are displayed clearly on the large 2.0-inch LCD screen, and intuitive help menus are available for on-the-spot reference.
A high capacity rechargeable lithium-ion battery helps extend mobility and convenience by delivering the power to shoot up to 2,000** images on a single charge.
Interchangeable Lenses: The Nikkor Advantage
One of the unique benefits of shooting with a Nikon digital SLR is the ability to take advantage of the expansive creative possibilities offered by interchangeable Nikkor lenses. With the introduction of the D50, Nikon also introduced two new DX Nikkor lenses that are ideally paired with the D50 to offer consumers a broad zoom range, while maintaining a lightweight and ultra- compact size. Designed exclusively for Nikon’s D-series digital SLR cameras, DX Nikkor lenses are optimized to achieve outstanding center-to-edge-to-corner image quality, when used with any of Nikon’s digital SLR cameras. Nikon’s DX Nikkor range now includes six high performance lenses that offer unmatched wide-angle coverage and versatility:
-New AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED
-New AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED
-AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5 ED-IF
-AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF
-AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G ED-IF
-AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G ED
The D50 also offers seamless compatibility with Nikon’s extensive family of over 50 high-performance AF Nikkor lenses, providing the same superb color reproduction, razor-sharp image clarity and fast and accurate autofocus performance relied upon by the countless number of professional photographers who use Nikon’s pro digital SLR cameras everyday.
Managing and Sharing with Nikon PictureProject™ Software
Sharing pictures is fun, and Nikon’s new PictureProject software is designed to eliminate the complexities typically associated with sharing, managing and editing pictures on a computer. After conducting exhaustive worldwide research into consumer habits, expectations and requirements, Nikon developed its PictureProject software to be a simple, easy-to-use, and powerful application that addresses most frustrations associated with managing pictures on a computer. PictureProject boasts powerful features wrapped into an intuitive interface that navigates quickly and is easy to master.
The software allows users to easily transfer images to PC’s or MAC’s and browse, organize, and share them. Pictures taken in vertical orientation are automatically rotated. Controls for retouch tasks including brightness and red-eye correction, are intuitive and fast. PictureProject’s In Touch™ plug-in allows users to share photos with friends and relatives without attaching them in an email or uploading them to a website. Instead Pictureproject in-Touch facilitates a direct transfer of the pictures from the sender’s computer to a recipient’s computer. PictureProject In-Touch is included in the newest version 1.5 of PictureProject software and can also be downloaded free of charge via www.nikonnet.com.
With support for JPEG, TIFF and NEF and compressed NEF (RAW) files, PictureProject also works in close unison with Nikon Capture 4 as the ideal companion to its powerful feature set. Capture 4 is Nikon’s advanced image management and editing software designed to offer the most robust and comprehensive performance with Nikon’s NEF (RAW) files. While PictureProject is already a dynamic component to Nikon photography, the software also supports plug-ins, allowing users to add new features, as technology and the digital camera market evolve.
As part of Nikon’s Total Imaging System, the D50 inherits the advantages of the various components of this system, including high-quality AF and DX Nikkor lenses, the SB-800 and SB-600 Speedlights, which enable use of Nikon’s Creative Lighting System, as well as versatile software options, to deliver a new level of operating ease, expanded creative possibilities, and pure enjoyment. The Nikon D50 presents the perfect opportunity for anyone to start enjoying the advantages of Nikon digital SLR photography today.
The Nikon D50 outfit, including the new AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED lens, will be available in June for an estimated selling price of $899.95***.
MAJOR FEATURES OF THE NIKON D50 DIGITAL SLR
Vivid color and sharp details straight from the camera
- New 6.1 effective megapixel Nikon DX Format CCD imaging sensor that produces 3,008 x 2,000-pixel images with accurate color, high resolution and sharp details for great pictures capable of significant enlargement, or cropping for creative effect. File sizes remain manageable, making it easier to take and store more great pictures.
- Advanced digital image processor that marks a further evolution of analog and digital processing and pre-conditioning technologies, producing images that require no preparation in a computer and are ready to print straight from the camera. Image quality is optimized, including auto white balance, auto tone and color control, and real-time processes diminish digital noise to produce beautiful long exposure shots.
- 3D Color Matrix Metering II ensures accurate exposure control and white balance.
Instant, precise response
- Near-instant 0.2-second power-up, and short shutter release lag (response) time.
- Continuous shooting at 2.5 frames per second for a continuous burst of up to 137 pictures without having to wait for the camera to record the images to the SD memory card. (Using JPEG NORMAL - Large settings, and a SanDisk Ultra II 256MB SD Card) The number of continuous shots possible in a single burst may be fewer depending on the type of SD card used.
- Fast 5-area AF system with predictive focus tracking and Lock-on™ delivers greater precision with fast, more consistent subject acquisition and improved focus tracking to capture all the action as it happens. Automatic AF-assist illuminator helps ensure top AF performance in dark situations.
- Fast shutter speed with a range from 30 to 1/4,000 sec.
- Fast flash sync shutter speeds up to 1/500 sec. for great fill-effects under brighter light and back lighted conditions.
- Fast data transfer and recording to SD memory cards keeps the D50 always ready to shoot in any situation.
Accurate automated and manual control for predictable results
- Seven Digital Vari-Program selections for automatic adjustment of all the settings necessary to produce incredible digital photographs including ISO-equivalent sensitivity, white balance, sharpening, tone (contrast), color, saturation and hue for crisp and vivid results that match the intended shot. Selections include Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close up, and Night Portrait.
- Image enhancement options optimize sharpening, tone (contrast), color, saturation or hue while using Auto Multi Program [P], Shutter-Priority Auto [S], Aperture-Priority Auto [A], or Manual [M] exposure modes to best match the picture taking situation. The easy to set choices include Normal, Vivid, Sharp, Soft, Direct print, Landscape or Custom optimization.
- Automatic control over ISO-equivalent sensitivity from ISO 200 to 1600; can also be set manually.
- Optimized exposure with a choice of three TTL (Through The Lens) exposure modes: 3D Color Matrix Metering II with 420-pixel RGB Sensor, variable Center-Weighted Meter, or choice of Spot Meters.
- Auto exposure bracketing helps achieve the exact results desired.
- Flash exposure compensation.
- A choice of three color modes ensures the best match for the shot when operating the camera manually.
Mode Ia: Renders natural-looking skin tones out of the camera. (sRGB)
Mode II: Realizes a wider color range suited for processing or retouching. (Adobe RGB)
Mode IIIa: Renders vivid landscape and flora colors out of the camera. (sRGB)
- Simultaneous recording of compressed NEF (RAW) and JPEG image files for the same shot helps by providing a smaller JPEG image file that can be quickly sent via email and a compressed NEF (RAW) file for more creative flexibility using Nikon PictureProject or Capture software for further enhancement.
Intuitive handling and operating ease
- Light and compact:
Dimensions (W x H x D): 133 x 102 x 76mm (5.3 x 4.1 x 3.0 in.)
Weight: Approx. 540g (1 lb. 3 oz.) without battery.
- Intuitive and familiar operation with ergonomically designed and sensibly located buttons and controls, including the handy multi selector and mode dial.
- Quality optical viewfinder features diopter correction and information display.
- New large 2.0-inch LCD monitor located directly below the viewfinder displays the large fonts of the easy-to-view easy-to-understand menu design, and the intuitive help system dialogs that make understanding camera settings easy.
- Versatile LCD playback options include Single image playback, Thumbnail image playback (4 or 9 pictures at a time), Zoom playback, Slide show, easy Histogram indication for determining highlights and shadow values, and Highlight point displays for even quicker highlight information, with automatic image rotation for vertical shots.
- LCD control panel on camera top makes it easy to confirm settings and camera status.
- Long-life rechargeable lithium-ion battery with power to shoot up to 2,000 images*1 on a single charge.
- Custom Settings for personalizing camera operation to match the individual’s shooting style, or different picture taking conditions.
- Wireless remote control of the D50 can be achieved with the optional ML-L3 remote control.
Easy image handling
- New Small Picture function for saving photos within the camera at the reduced sizes of 640×480, 320×240, or 160×120 for Internet use - either for mail attachments or placement on web pages.
- In-camera page setup support makes it easy to print directly from the D50 to any PictBridge compatible printer via the supplied USB cable.
- Up to 36 alphanumeric characters can be entered in each image’s EXIF header (file information) for personal identification when images are viewed in PictureProject software.
- Video connector and supplied video cable makes it easy to connect the D50 directly to a television for playing slideshows or viewing individual images
Creative and versatile system components
- High-quality Nikkor lenses: The unrivalled performance of AF, AF-S and DX Nikkor lenses greatly expands creative possibilities.
- Built-in auto pop-up flash features exclusive i-TTL flash control, fast 1/500 sec. flash sync shutter speed, and coverage for lenses as wide as 18mm.
- Supports Nikon’s Creative Lighting System when using a SB-800 and SB-600 Speedlight mounted on the ISO flash shoe for additional on camera flash output in large rooms, or for longer distance picture situations. Also allows off-camera multiple flash lighting with iTTL Technology with SB-800 and SB-600.
- Integrated Nikon Software Solutions:
Nikon Capture 4 (Ver. 4.3) (optional) is a comprehensive image editing and remote camera control package that fully supports NEF, (RAW), TIFF and JPEG data. Among other features, the package offers Image Dust Off sensor dust and particle shade removal control, D-Lighting for scene-specific automatic dodge and burn control.
PictureProject is Nikon’s versatile bundled software that simplifies and improves data transfer, as well as browsing and editing of image files. PictureProject features an intuitive user interface, and supports optional plug-ins that add functionality and creative options.
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Author: Christine Peppler
From all of the books, advertisements, and products in stores it would appear that no one continues to use a film camera. This isn’t true of course. Although a digital camera can offer much greater control during the editing process and perhaps even a cost savings over the long run, a traditional film camera still has advantages for some consumers. One of those being that if their film camera is a good one and meets their needs, there is no reason to change.
However, for those who do decide to switch to a digital camera there will be significant differences to which they must adjust. Certainly the technology behind a digital camera makes them different; how images are captured and stored, the optics themselves, pixels, resolution, and so forth. But there are a handful of basic changes to which even those who photograph on a very limited and casual basis will need to adapt.
Response Time
With a more affordable, point-and-shoot type digital camera there can be a significant delay between pressing the button and the camera actually taking the picture. These cameras are somewhat like a small computer. During the lag time it is focusing but this can cause some great shots to be missed.
Of course, spending the time to shop for a camera with less lag time is one solution; and certainly many of the more expense models don’t suffer this issue. However, there is a simple adjustment which can produce a significant reduction in the lag time. The photographer can set up the shot, aim the camera at the subject, and press the button down half way and hold it. At this point, the digital camera will begin the process of focusing. Then, a couple of seconds or more later, when the photographer and subject are ready, the button is depressed entirely and the picture is taken almost immediately. Obviously, this requires the photographer to anticipate and prepare before taking a shot.
Battery Life
Because much of what a digital camera does consumes energy from the battery, they are known to drain batteries very quickly. One of the particularly power greedy functions unique to a digital camera is that of powering an LCD screen. Again there are a number of things users can do to assure they don’t run out of power and to reduce the rate at which the camera uses the energy.
To avoid a trickling discharge, batteries should be removed from the camera when the device won’t be used for more that a week or two and, likewise, a digital camera should be powered off if the user doesn’t anticipate taking a shot for another 30 minutes or so. Using the “sleep mode” is good also, to assure that even if the user forgets, the camera gets powered off.
Using the viewfinder instead of the LCD screen to frame shots is wise when you wish to save power. Users can also avoid using flash whenever their subject is more than 12 feet or so away, since the flash will be ineffective anyway and drain power needlessly. Those traveling with a digital camera also need to be sure to carry a backup battery to avoid problems.
A final recommendation is to use other power sources when possible. Use AC power when performing various functions such as downloading or use a card reader to download from the memory cards and remove the camera from the process entirely. Pictures can be edited on the computer rather than on the camera to save additional power.
The Viewing System
A digital camera often has an optical viewfinder which is separate from the lens through which the camera takes the picture. Thus, when a subject is somewhat near, what a photographer sees, and what the camera sees are two different things. Using the LCD to frame a shot is also difficult because in order to see the screen, the camera is held away from the body, making it difficult to hold the camera steady for a good shot. The fix for this is to use the “correction marks” visible through the viewfinder which approximate the border of the image that the camera is seeing versus using the LCD screen. This also allows the user to keep the camera closer to the body in a steady fashion.
Another option is to buy a camera with an electronic viewfinder which takes the image captured by the lens, and electronically transfers it to a display screen allowing the user to accurately frame the picture. Use of an electronic viewfinder however will increase power consumption.
The third option is to buy a digital camera with a TTL mechanism. With TTL, the photographer views a scene through the same lens that records the image and is thus able to frame a scene accurately. This option however is generally available only on more expensive camera models.
Despite these differences, digital cameras do offer some tremendous advantages; from being able to view photos instantly, edit them, print them at home, share them easily on the internet, and so forth which make them worth the small effort to adjust to their unique characteristics.
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Author: Sinta Makah
It helps when learning to use your new digital camera to also know what some of the more common terms mean. Below you will find many of these common terms defined..
Automatic Mode — A setting that sets the focus, exposure and white-balance automatically.
Burst Mode or Continuous Capture Mode — a series of pictures taken one after another at quickly timed intervals with one press of the shutter button.
Compression — The process of compacting digital data, images and text by deleting selected information.
Digital Zoom — Cropping and magnifying the center part of an image.
JPEG — The predominant format used for image compression in digital cameras
Lag Time — The pause between the time the shutter button is pressed and when the camera actually captures the image
LCD — (Liquid-Crystal Display) is a small screen on a digital camera for viewing images.
Lens — A circular and transparent glass or plastic piece that has the function of collecting light and focusing it on the sensor to capture the image.
Megabyte — (MB) Measures 1024 Kilobytes, and refers to the amount of information in a file, or how much information can
be contained on a Memory Card, Hard Drive or Disk.
Pixels — Tiny units of color that make up digital pictures. Pixels also measure digital resolution. One million pixels
adds up to one mega-pixel.
RGB — Refers to Red, Green, Blue colors used on computers to create all other colors.
Resolution — Camera resolution describes the number of pixels used to create the image, which determines the amount of
detail a camera can capture. The more pixels a camera has, the more detail it can register and the larger the picture can be
printed.
Storage Card — The removable storage device which holds images taken with the camera, comparable to film, but much smaller. Also called a digital camera memory card…
Viewfinder — The optical “window” to look through to compose the scene.
White Balance — White balancing adjusts the camera to compensate for the type of light (daylight, fluorescent, incandescent, etc.,) or lighting conditions in the scene so it will look normal to the human eye.
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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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Author: Roberto Sedycias
The digital camera has totally changed the way we take photographs; it has made the greatest impact in the world of photography since the Polaroid Instamatic camera. It is a great accessory to the present day computer; photographs can be taken in an instant and loaded on to the computer, and emailed to a friend or a relative in the space of a few minutes. If you add a photo quality ink jet printer to your computer, you will not need to develop a roll of film ever again.
The digital camera started out from a single 1 mega pixel quality photo; now they come in over 10 mega pixels with huge print sizes, with amazing photo quality.
You may find it tough to decide which digital camera will fulfill your needs the best. You will have to undertake a bit of research, to help you to find the best camera, with the proper lenses, filters, external flash, tripods - everything you need so that you can start taking photographs, like a professional! Just spend a little time and figure out how you will be really using your digital camera, before you purchase one. Will it be for daily use, for special occasions like birthdays, family reunions? Will the price of the digital camera make a lot of difference?
The digital camera is also part of a new field of photography, in which you use a green or a blue background, and with special software like Corel Paint or PhotoShop, you can do wonders and create a new imaginative background. You can edit out the background and put in its place any of thousands of prepared indoors or outdoors backgrounds. There are multifunctional digital cameras that can take not only photographs but also video and sound. Digital cameras can be categorized as still cameras, video cameras and professional modular digital camera.
Since the market is so full of different models of digital cameras, you have to select a digital camera that will suit your needs. They come in different price ranges, so you will not have any difficulty selecting one that will fit into your budget. Before buying a digital camera, your first consideration has to be the resolution. A digital camera with a higher resolution than what you require can prove to be a waste of money, processing power and storage. A large number of pixels do not necessarily mean a superior image, so be cautious. A lower resolution digital camera is the best for posting images to the web, to view images on your computer, or to email files. You don`t always need a high capacity memory card, a small capacity memory card can also give high quality performance.
A digital camera can use its own battery and charger, or it can use double A size batteries. A digital camera may connect to a computer for data transmission. The most usual method of connectivity is USB, but Fire wire port or Blue Tooth are also used. Some digital cameras can connect to computer networks wirelessly.
One of the good things about a digital camera is that you do not have to spend anything on developing the film at a local store, nor do you have to drive to the store and back. A digital camera gives you an instant feeling of gratification when you view the pictures you have taken on the viewfinder or on your personal computer. You also have the full freedom of editing your photographs until you are fully satisfied with them!
You can select, save or delete photographs without any cost involved. The photos are stored hundreds of media cards, so you can take as many pictures as you wish before you run out of space.
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Author: Vince Nitti
Digital cameras are available in many shapes and sizes, represent various specifications, and offer an impressive array of features in many price ranges. This is why their popularity is soaring all over the world, with many people already using one for their own pictures. They have become an integral part of many geographic and corporate cultures.
Digital cameras have become more than simply replacements for 35-mm cameras, however. They can be used for taking videos as well as still photos by upgrading the camera’s memory card to increase storage capacity, allowing them to replace the old VHS recorder as well.
While enjoying significant popularity on their own, digital cameras have also become integrated within a large number of other hand-held tools, such as PDAs and cell phones. Technology now allows these devices to incorporate a digital camera within them, making the use of both devices much more functional and convenient.
Many brands of digital cameras are available today with a wide range of features. All the big camera names of the past, Kodak, Nikon, Canon, etc., offer everything from 35-mm to digital products. Even companies better known for the computer products, such as Panasonic, Sony, and HP, are now offering digital cameras in their product lines.
Digital Camera Considerations
Digital cameras differ from conventional cameras by having a small LCD screen, sometimes including a viewfinder. This screen is similar to a TV screen, allowing the user to better see the picture before snapping it. Some have screens large enough to include much more of the subject and background than has ever been possible before.
Instead of film, these devices have slots to hold a memory card or “stick.” The amount of memory available within any device can be measured along a range of megabytes to gigabytes, depending on how much you’re willing to spend. Getting a camera with more memory means spending more money, but the extra storage capacity can be worth it.
Another feature to consider before purchasing is the type of battery used. While some units feature disposable batteries, the more expensive cameras use rechargeable batteries for longer energy life. Disposable batteries typically wear out quickly, while a charger is generally bundled with those cameras using rechargeable batteries.
Another consideration when considering which model to purchase is how the pictures are downloaded. Most digital cameras have a USB port to allow easy connectivity to a computer, but some require removal of the memory card and using a reader to download pictures into a computer.
Digital Camera Features
Those considering purchasing their first digital camera should at least know the basic features of an individual camera before spending a lot of money. While snapping a picture is basically the same in all cameras, there are many other features that will influence your decision. The number of megapixels used when taking a picture should be among the top concerns. Megapixels represent the number of pixels, or dots, that make up the picture. The more pixels used in a photo, the greater the clarity will be. Cameras that utilize a greater number of pixels are capable of producing better resolution over a larger image, but these pictures require much more memory space for storage.
Another important feature to consider in a digital camera is the zoom feature. The terms to be familiar with are optical zoom, which utilizes a moving lens and brings the image forward to make it appear closer, and digital zoom, which is used to crop and stretch the image. Most digital cameras have two-zoom capability.
The last feature this article will discuss is the durability of the camera’s case. Many buyers don’t consider this as important, but camera cases made mostly of plastic are relatively fragile. Some camera cases are made from a combination of metal alloy and plastic that is more durable and can sustain more jarring without allowing internal damage, although neither option can guarantee your camera’s safety. It’s better to spend a little more for a case that will better protect your investment.
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Author: Roberto Sedycias
If you are one of those who love taking pictures, then digital camera is probably one invention you simply cannot afford to miss! Smart and trustworthy, this one is probably the most imaginative development in the world of photography till date!
Digital cameras are electronic devices that capture as well as store images digitally, instead of on photographic films. A digital camera, however, needs a memory or a storage media to save these pictures. Some of the most popularly used storage devices include Floppy Disks, CD Singles, DVDs, Memory Cards (such as Microdrives or CompactFlash Cards, Memory Sticks, MiniSD Cards, MicroSD cards, etc), FP Memory and many others. Though storage devices such as Floppy Disks need computers, using autonomous devices, like the PictBridge Printer can ensure that you can print your pictures directly using a printer.
One of the greatest advantages of using a digital camera is that they, unlike the conventional cameras, can record, store, retrieve, remove, edit and manage your pictures as you may wish to. In fact digital cameras may also allow one to shoot and save videos of a considerable length. The sound and the picture quality ranges form one camera to another to a great extent, though in most cases a digital camera can surely allow you to shoot at least a reasonably good video.
Another great benefit of using a digital camera is that these devices are (in most of the cases) very portable, and can be easily carried around form place to place. Though one cannot say that these are not delicate, and need not be handled with care, one can sure stay assured of the fact that these days digital cameras are not very difficult to be taken care of either. If you can keep it safely in a cover, and handle it with reasonable care, and your camera is sure to serve you well. However, since in most cases digital cameras come with a long guarantee period, this is one thing you simply need not worry about!
Just like all other electronic devices, digital cameras also come with a wide rage of features that keep on adding and developing with the growth in technology. Though much depends on the price of the camera and the companies manufacturing it, there are certain features that have been found to be popular among almost all of them. These days it is not rare to find digital cameras allowing zoom, image adjusting, and automatic functioning (as based on the time set by you), when you go clicking pictures. Settings as to the picture color code, brightness, sharpness, etc can also be changed. Generally digital cameras also allow you to make your own picture or video albums, so that you can systematically save them all.
A digital camera works on battery, the life and the stand by time of which varies greatly, depending on the camera you are using and of course on the battery itself. Generally these are chargeable, so you know you can charge your battery anytime you need to. However, the best part of it is that, (depending on your video camera) the battery can work non-stop for a relatively fair amount of time. This means you can click away your pictures happily, without having to bother about the battery betraying you mid way!
These days almost all well known and even not so well known electronic device related company can be seen producing digital cameras. Needless to say, as more and more companies enter the market producing more and more sophisticated digital cameras, the more the prices can be seen falling with each passing day. Now in such circumstances, how can anyone resist having a digital camera of their own?!
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Author: Roberto Sedycias
Technology has revolutionized the concept of capturing live images. The earlier concept of producing permanent photograph was based on pure chemistry. In 1830, Louis Daguerre, devised the first practical way of producing permanent photographs. Today we are talking about the computerized photo imagery in the filmless picture taken by a device that is smart in electronic intelligence and in appearance - digital camera.
A digital camera takes video, still photographs, or both digitally. It records images on a light sensitive sensor. Instead of using a film, an arrangement of charged-coupled devices-light sensitive semiconductors, which stores electrical charges,-does the job. These digital sensors-composed of pixels -transform the light from the scene snapped into an analog signal which is then converted into a digital version. One electronic filtering system regulates color and other picture components. Another system reduces the picture. The image is finally sent to a temporary storage area and ultimately onto a memory card. Many compact digital cameras can record sound, video and still photographs.
The images are transferred to a computer where they can be modified, printed, attached to email, inserted in web pages, etc. The most significant advantages of a digital camera are its memory capacity and ability to screen the images taken on a tiny video monitor.
The technology of the digital camera relates to the same technology of Video Tape Recorder. The first VTR in 1951 captured images from the television by converting the information into electrical impulses (digital) and subsequently saving them onto magnetic tape. It was in 1960s when NASA had made a major breakthrough by converting analog to digital signals by means of the space probe for mapping the surface of the moon. Also digital imaging had its other uses in spy satellites.
Kodak scientists invented the first mega pixel sensor capable of recording 1.4 million pixels. In 1991, Kodak released the first digital camera system- a Nikon F-3 camera equipped with 1.3 megapixels aimed at journalists. The first digital camera for the consumers which worked with a home PC via a serial cable were the Apple Quick Take 100 camera(1994), the Kodak DC40 camera(1995), the Casio QV-11 with LCD monitor(late 1995) and Sony`s Cyber-Shot Digital Still Camera(1996).
The main features of a digital camera can be summarized as follows:
Resolution: Resolution means sharpness of a picture. The higher the number of pixels, the higher is the resolution.
Memory: The pictures are stored like a data file in a digital camera. The size of the memory determines the number of picture which can be taken, stored and downloaded in the computer.
Flash Type: Most digital cameras have a built in flash of a range around 10 -16 feet which is required to provide extra light needed to take photographs in insufficient light.
Optical Zoom: Normally two types of zoom lenses are used viz., digital and optical. The optical zoom lenses serve more purpose like adding detail and sharpness.
Compression: This process helps to reduce the file size.
Lens: The length of a lens determines how much of a scene will fit into a picture.
LCD Screen: A very interesting feature of a digital camera is the LCD screen which permits one to see what the photo will look like before and after taking photographs, leaving room to decide whether to erase or save the photo.
In the market there are several brands of digital camera which are selling successfully and the continuous improvement in Technology is leading way to introduction of more and more exciting features in the digital camera.
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Author: Elaina
Digital photography is getting huge popularity among the all-level photographers. In fact, the age of film cameras is gone and now the cameras that can produce digital quality images are in vogue. Such cameras have brought a new revolution in the field of professional photography.
Digital cameras are attracting the photography lovers these days. These have many advantages which make such cameras useful for taking pictures and creating videos. These benefits can be stated as the following.
* The facility of instant review is given with such cameras that enable users to correct their mistakes and take another picture.
* One does not have to spend money on film as these cameras give him or her opportunity to take many shots of the same object or scene.
* The digital cameras allow users to capture hundreds of pictures and save them on to the computer.
* The pictures taken by these devices can be easily copied from one medium to other optical storage medium.
* One can also upload the images on different online portals so that they could see them anytime and anywhere.
* These gadgets are also smaller in size and lighter in weight than the film cameras.
* Such devices enable users to change the camera settings so that different styles of pictures can be tried out. *
Users can find many brands of digital quality cameras. Some of them are Olympus digital cameras, Panasonic digital cameras and Canon cameras. The popular Olympus devices are equipped with 10.0 mega pixel camera and many other advanced features. Similarly, Panasonic gadgets too are loaded with high resolution camera, 24X zooming facility and external memory card space.
The discounted digital cameras can be found on the online shopping portals. These portals offer discount digital cameras to the customers so that they could gain the maximum benefits. Various incentives, schemes and deals are also offered on these websites. One can participate in the online contests in order to win the free gifts and sometimes also avail the products free of cost.
Digital Cameras are used extensively by persons of all ages. The manufacturing companies are focusing on research and development works so that they could bring more innovative features in their products. Therefore, one can look for more advanced cameras in the future.
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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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