21 Sep 08 The Switch From Film to Digital Camera: Making the Adjustment
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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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 Finding A Digital Camera Online
Author: David Faulkner
The great international market bazaar known as the Internet has rapidly made inroads on the territory of traditional brick and mortar retailers, and has in fact become the preferred shopping venue for millions of consumers. The Internet allows people to shop a their convenience from the comfort of their homes without spending money on gas and time fighting traffic.
Internet shopping also allows consumers to comparison shop online, reviewing the features of different items and finding the best prices. While there are, of course, things that should not be purchased online like perishable foods or live animals, it would be very hard to run a search for a non-perishable item an not find someone, somewhere ., who is selling it on their website.
Concerns About Shopping Online
Electronic items are especially in demand for online purchase, and many thousands of people have bought or considered buying a digital camera online. While the chances of getting scammed when purchasing a high-end item like a digital camera online do exist, they are probably greater than the chances of being cheated by a regular store or by purchasing a camera through the classifieds.
Internet retailers, like traditional ones, live and die with their customer base, and if they cannot get repeat business, will be doomed. Being conned when you purchase you digital camera online guarantees you will not be a return customer, and also guarantees bad publicity for the seller.
People buy digital cameras for different reasons; environmentally conscious consumers like them because there are no polluting chemicals involved in the production of digital photos. Others like them because they allow instant viewing of a photograph, and because there are digital camera software photos which can turn even the most amateur photographers into a budding Ansel Adams.
If you’re considering buying a digital camera online, you can feel good both about doing you small part to protect the environment, and about owning a technology which appears to be the future of amateur photography. While your digital camera online purchase may not get you the superlative quality photographs that professional photographers create with traditional cameras and darkrooms, it will get you started, and the digital camera technology is improving by leaps and bounds.
What To Look For In A Digital Camera
When shopping for your digital camera on line, research its storage capacity and pixilation; the greater its pixelation number, the better the sharpness and detailing of your photos will be. But the price you pay for a digital camera online will increase as its pixelation does.
The number of photos your digital camera can store is determined by its storage capacity; however, you can always purchase extra storage capacity by getting an additional flash card, just like you can buy extra memory for your personal computer. The very first digital cameras could hold up to thirty photos, making them competitive with 36-picture rolls of 35mm photographic film.
Today, however, even digital cameras priced in the medium range will store a hundred of more photographs. Once you’ve settled on ho much pixilation and storage capacity you need, and found the camera website offering it at the best price, you should be ready to buy your digital cameral online!
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21 Sep 08 The Advantages Of A Digital Camera
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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21 Sep 08 Helpful Guidelines For Choosing Your Next Digital Camera
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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21 Sep 08 How to Make Your Digital Camera Batteries Last Longer
Author: Mitz
A few years ago I started selling on Ebay, Which in turn, demanded the use of a Digital camera. I would take at least 50 photos a day, and sometimes up to 100. You would not believe how many batteries I went through until I realised how to save and preserve my precious digital cameras battery life. Take it from me, I never loose that great photo opportunity because my batteries have unexpectedly run out.
Get the right battery for your digital camera
I was lucky because my digital camera came with a lithium rechargeable battery and also took AA rechargeable batteries also. However, since I was a total amateur with digital cameras, I promptly ruined the lithium battery by not letting it run out properly before charging it again. Now I just use Ni-MH AA rechargeable batteries with at least a mAh rating of 2300. I have had rechargeable batteries that had a rating of 1600 and they were absolutely hopeless!!! You must have rechargeable batteries, wether it be a nickel cadmium, lithium ion or lithium polymer battery.
Turn off your flash on your digital camera
As I was taking pictures in broad daylight, there was no need to use my flash. Not only did it ruin the photo with a bright glow, but it consumed my battery power like a hungry animal. To find out how to turn the camera flash off I had to search the internet as I had lost my digital camera user manual.
Using the Lcd Screen was a big power user
I quickly learned that instead of browsing through the photos on the camera, I would wait until I had transferred them to the computer. The little harmless LCD screen on the back of most digital cameras is a total power hog.
Also if you do not need the LCD screen on, your batteries will last so much longer. Don’t forget that you can still look through the viewfinder to take a picture (like they used to in the good old days). Also see how to clean your LCD screen
Use your Power Saving Mode
Turn on your power saving mode for your digital camera. It almost works like a screensaver and can put your camera in sleep mode if left on by accident. It is usually a simple setting in the menu of your camera.
Avoid zooming in and out.
If you were just playing with your digital camera and started zooming in and out constantly, your batteries would be dead within 10 minutes, whereas they would usually last 2-3 hours. They may even be dead flat within 5 minutes, depending on what type of zoom you have.
Taking video clips with your digital camera
This is a big power user. The camera is made for digital stills and usually has the extra feature of being albe to take video clips. Not only does it take up room on your storage space, but it also uses your battery power
very quickly. If you do plan to take video clips with your digital camera you should be sure that you have more batteries on hand. I usually take videos with the leftover battery power I have left when I have finished taking all the photos I need.
In cold weather, keep your camera and batteries warm in your jacket until you are ready to use them. The cold drains batteries very quickly.
Carry spare batteries at all times
Why risk loosing that great photo opportunity because your batteries in your digital camera just happen to run out. Carry a spare set of digital camera batteries, it’s not rock science. For example, at one of my children’s sports day carnivals, another mother had to ask me to take photos of her child as well as mine, as her batteries in her camera just died unexpectedly. Because she was not prepared, she had to trust that I would catch that special moment for her child.
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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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21 Sep 08 Digital Camera Buying Guide
Author: Monty Alexander
Planning to buy a digital camera? Not sure how to get started?
Read on to discover how…..
What do you need the camera for?
If you buy a simple one that can be used at home, you will not get interesting capabilities that you need for taking really good photographic pictures. On the other hand, it would be a waste of your money if you have the latest digital camera only to be used for personal photos at home.
Based on the purpose one can choose from the following main three types.
· Point and shoot: - reasonably compact, with features and size like 35mm cameras.
· Lifestyle: - with moderate features, it’s sleek and compact, so you can carry it around with ease.
· Professional: - with interchangeable lenses, flashes and other accessories, this camera is robust and feature laden, just the right choice for a professional or serious photographer.
These are the important features to look for?
Digital images are made up of dots called pixels. The higher the number of pixels in your image, the better will be the quality of the image. This will therefore enable you to enlarge your image to higher pixel dimensions without creating a pixilated (broken) image.
Compression
Compression shrinks a photo’s file size, thus accommodating more images in the memory card. However compression causes a small amount of data loss. If you need the absolute best-quality images, you have to consider buying a camera that takes uncompressed photos but will accommodate less number of images.
A camera’s memory size will decide the number of images that can be stored. Memory of 128MB will be good enough if you want to use the camera mostly at a social do or a party. If you are on a vacation or when you cannot download images for days at a stretch, a memory of 512MB to 1GB will be most favorable.
Most digital cameras come with at least an optical viewfinder but many digital cameras also come with an LCD screen built into the back. For a digital camera, they vary from 1.5-2.5 inches.
Lens
It is the length of a camera’s lens that determines how much of a scene will fit in a picture. A “Normal” lens is about 50mm, most closely approximate to what your eye sees.
Optical zoom
This enables the photographer to zoom in on an object without any problem in picture quality. Depending on the magnification number, you can zoom in more.
Digital zoom
This feature enables the photographer to zoom in on the centre of the picture by removing the edges of the image.
Focus an exposure
In most cameras, the correct exposure for the lighting conditions is automatically determined. A camera rated ISO 100, has approximately the same light sensitivity as that of a traditional film camera loaded with ISO 100 film. A higher ISO rating means that the camera is more sensitive to light and is potential enough to take pictures in darker settings.
Audio and Movie capture
This feature allows you to record sounds and moving images at the same time, in exactly the same way that a camcorder functions. Some digital cameras provide the facility to record a few seconds of audio with each shot, thus letting you add a personal sound bite to your photos.
Movie mode
This is a feature that lets you take short film clips with your camera. The total record length is typically limited to 10 to 90 seconds.
Most digital cameras come with an in-built flash. Some cameras however include additional features, such as red-eye reduction or night portrait mode.
Image erase
Most cameras also let you select pictures to erase. This handy feature gives you the chance to edit out the photos you don’t want in order to create space in the memory.
Self-timer
A self-timer allows your digital camera for a delayed exposure, usually giving you about 10 seconds before the picture is taken.
Computer connections
Most high-end cameras have software and connections for both Mac and PC computers. However it is necessary to make sure the digital camera you want is compatible with your platform before you buy it.
This feature enables the photographer to capture still images of something moving very fast.
Printing
Nowadays you can buy special printers, depending on the compatibility of your camera, to print off your pictures without connecting it to a PC. This applies both for digital and SLR Professional cameras.
How important is size and portability to you?
Size is another very important factor to consider. If you are to use the camera for non professional purposes the size has to be small as you cannot afford to carry huge sized cameras when you are enjoying a trip.
What is your budget?
Based on the budget the features will vary and the overall offering of a camera. Today’s digital cameras run anywhere from Rs 800 to Rs 30,000, depending on resolution and features. While the initial expense of a digital camera is still high you may find that the added convenience and savings in film and processing costs are worth it.
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20 Sep 08 Easy to Use Nikon Digital Camera
Camera is an option of capturing the beautiful moments of life. Many years ago, capturing the beautiful moment was not easy. Users or photographers had to set the camera and after a boring process it was possible to capture the pictures. Now everything has changed. Continue improvements of camera have changed methods of capturing. Photography used for professional or entertainment is easy now. Digital camera has changed the methods of capturing photos and videos.
There are many camera manufacturers available in the photography market, but Nikon digital camera has occupied a special place in the photography market as well as in the heart of users. All digital cameras are good for something, but users want clear and detailed image captured by the camera. Users also want camera that should be easy to use and have a few functions like simple camera. For that Nikon digital cameras are suitable for you. Suddenly occurred actions can be easily captured with its help.
People are sure of buying Nikon digital camera because they know that they are paying for quality, durability, functionality and reputation. The advantage of these digital cameras is that it gives the opportunity to amateur photographer to have the quality professional shot. Nikon produced less expensive units of their professional cameras. Nikon houses a top camera manufacturer reputation in the photography world.
Nikon D2X is packed with all possible features, which most amateurs will hardly use in a lifetime as this camera is very expensive. Nikon D80 shares many features such as improved auto-focus, interchangeable lenses, 10.2 mega-pixels, wider flash range and longer battery life. Digital cameras are loaded with hi-speed USB card reader, memory card, lenses and LCD screens.
Now Nikon FX format D700 DSLR is the camera that will definitely fit for your needs. This newly launched digital camera equipped with 12.1 mega-pixel FX-format sensors. It can work with an area of up to 36.0 x 23.9mm. It is capable of taking 5 frames per second that gives you an option of shooting anything successfully. Nikon P4 houses 8 mega-pixels with 2.5 inch viewing screen with auto mode. Nikon S50C offers 7.2mega-pixels and houses a wireless interface. This camera is impressive with 3 inch viewing screen, three times optical and four times digital zoom.
There are a lot of Nikon digital cameras available and they are their own reputation in various areas. You are to select one according to your requirements.
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