21 Sep 08 Terminology - Digital Cameras
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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21 Sep 08 Enjoy the Photography With Digital Cameras
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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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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18 Sep 08 6 Important Features to Consider While Selecting the Best Digital Camera
Author: Neelima Reddy
There are various types of digital cameras made by different manufacturers with different features. Among all, selecting the right digital camera which is suitable for you is not a typical task if you follow these techniques.
1. Resolution
2. Optical zoom
3. Digital zoom
4. memory
5. Usability
6. Investigate
These techniques are explained as follows:
Resolution
Each and every digital camera has certain resolution factor. Most advanced cameras will have high resolution where as the normal digital cameras will have low resolution.
Basically the picture resolution will be dependent on pixel rating. The resolution of the camera will vary for different cameras with different pixel count.
The cameras which have high resolution power produce larger images and the rate of these cameras will also be high. Normal and average photographer need not require these cameras with high resolution.
Most probably these high resolution cameras are preferred by professional or expert photographers. They also don’t use these cameras all the times (except for taking special pictures).
Optical zoom
Optical zoom is necessary to view the object in large size. Almost all digital cameras will have this optical zoom facility. Before buying the camera, you must check the optical zoom present in it and you must not afford it if it has the optical zoom less than 2.
Digital zoom
Digital zoom is used to increase the size of the picture. Most of the digital cameras offer this digital zoom facility. Check out the clarity levels of the picture clearly when you increase the size of it because some of the pictures will loose their clarity if you apply digital zoom to them.
Memory
Before getting the new digital camera know how much memory is present in it. Most of the digital cameras will have less memory to store more number of snaps in it. So, better along with your digital camera get the extra memory card which has enough space to store more snaps in it.
Usability
You have to select the camera depending on your usability. If you have high usage of it, go for advanced cameras which provide more techniques and high resolution or else if you have less usage of it better get the digital cameras which don’t have high resolution and more advanced techniques. So, depending upon the usage you have to select the right camera suitable for you.
Investigate
After getting your new digital camera, investigate it on various aspects by knowing what are the different modes and new techniques present in it. Try to learn all the techniques regarding how to handle it properly without causing any damage to it before using your new digital camera for the first time.
Do you like to know the reason behind this? Some cameras will be damaged easily if you don’t handle them in the right way. So, to avoid this situation try to know how to handle it in the right way.
Other than these things, you should also get all the necessary accessories required for your camera when you get the new digital camera. These accessories will be helpful to you in more number of ways and they also prevent the damage of your digital camera.
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18 Sep 08 Buying a Digital Camera? Read This Buying Guide!
Author: Bob Shanty
Many digital cameras with upgraded technology are being introduced every day. This makes it more difficult to select a camera, as you are left with a wide range of models to choose from. However, most buyers have specific features and needs in mind. Rather than going for the latest model, buy digital cameras that best suit your requirements.
What should I look for when buying a digital camera?
The cheap camera lenses, resolution, display size, performance and battery life should all play a significant role in your buying decision. Here are some features to keep in mind while picking the right camera for yourself.
Resolution is typically defined as the number of pixels that make up a picture. A digital cameras resolution is closely related to image quality. You need a high resolution camera to shoot and print highly detailed photographs. If you want to enlarge and crop any of your photos without loss of clarity, go for cameras that offer a higher resolution. If you do not intend on printing your photographs and would rather email them to friends, a lower resolution camera would be a better choice. They are more affordable and still produce fairly good images.
Memory and Connectivity:
Generally, digital cameras have a removable storage option, such as a memory card slot. Digital cameras support a wide range of formats like flash memory, memory sticks, SecureDigital cards, SmartMedia cards and xD Picture cards. Many TVs, laptops, digital photo frames and some gaming consoles have memory card readers, so you can easily view photos that are stored on memory cards. If you want to save money, store photos on the cameras internal memory rather than on a memory card and transfer them to a PC or Mac using a USB cable. Digital memory is a huge time and money saver!
Rechargeable batteries are highly recommended because they can be charged and reused again. Recent cameras are compatible with NiCad, NiMH and lithium-ion batteries. Though NiCad and NiMH are inexpensive, lithium-ion is worth the extra money. They are long-lasting batteries with low self-discharge rates. You should opt for cameras that are compatible with lithium-ion batteries. A few cameras come with an AC power adapter that can be used to charge the digital camera battery as well.
Zoom:
Digital cameras come with two types of zoom lenses, optical and digital. Both of these zoom lenses allow you to take close-ups of a distant subject, although they accomplish this task through different means. The optical zoom magnifies the image before the shot is taken, whereas the digital zoom artificially magnifies the image by enlarging the pixel area but this leads to a loss of resolution. You should pay more attention to the optical zoom rather than the digital zoom when comparing models.
Modes:
Most cameras available today have preset modes for shooting images under different conditions. Factors such as exposure, aperture, focussing, light metering, white balance and sensitivity can all be adjusted. Many digital cameras also include video capture modes, enabling you to take short videos at different frame rate speeds.
ViewFinders and LCD Displays:
The optical viewfinder is the window you look through when taking a picutre. Although there are digital cameras with viewfinders, several of the latest models have only an LCD display. The LCD screen lets you view an image as you take it and also plays back pictures and videos saved on your camera. Anti-glare screens are best for buyers who plan on shooting a lot of photos outdoors. If you need a durable camera for rough use, opt for a scratch resistant screen.
Technology:
Digital cameras also come with innovative technologies that make photography fun and easy. Do u want to avoid overexposed or darkened faces, recognise multiple faces or optimize the color and tonal qualities of your photos? Not a problem. Todays cameras are well equipped with automatic red-eye and camera shake detection and correction as well as multiple face recognition. Not no meantion tons of
What are the different types of cameras and camera accessories online or available through conventional stores?
Point-and-Shoot Models:
Point-and-shoot cameras are a dime a dozen. These entry level models provide low resolution with little magnification. If you do not want to spend time on focusing and figuring out the settings and controls, a point-and-shoot camera is just the ticket. You will find plenty of these models that are low in cost and easy to use.
Intermediate Models:
These models are especially designed for beginners. Equipped with a range of automatic settings, these consumer-level digital cameras produce flawless pictures. They usually have a resolution of 3.2 to 5 megapixels and a 3:1 to 4:1 zoom lens.
Advanced Consumer Models:
If you have taken a class or photography is one of your hobbies, then you will probably want some additional features. Choose from the many advanced consumer models with higher resolutions, quality lenses and morer zoom. These models let you add features based on your needs and give you the freedom to personalize the settings.
Prosumer Models:
When you buy digital cameras, if consumer models are too basic for you and professional models are too complex, you will love a prosumer model. These sophisticated cameras have the best of both worlds. They have a vast number of options to work with, like switching between automatic and manual focus, selecting the shutter speed and adjusting the aperture settings. You will also have the opportunity to express your creative side by manipulating images. You can adjust the brightness and contrast levels for truly unique snaps. You can expect a minimum of 5 to 6 megapixels in this category. These digital cameras can take 2 to 3 pictures per second, but tend to be more fragile than other models.
Professional Models:
You will need a top of the line model that sports the latest features to meet your high demands, if you are a professional photographer. Professional models are capable of producing high resolution images with magnificent colors and clarity. They have interchangeable lenses and a resolution of up to 14 megapixels. These models are the fastest on the market, allowing you to take 5 pictures per second. Professional digital cameras have a whopping storage option of at least a 1 GB mini hard disk drive, on an average.
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