Author: Roberto Sedycias
We have entered the age of digital cameras. The advantages of the traditional film camera over the digital camera have disappeared, and the former are increasingly becoming a part of our normal lives.
A digital camera produces digital pictures - these are so easy to load on a computer and they can be emailed across the world to your friends or relatives in a matter of minutes. It is easy to check digital pictures and delete them if you wish. If you find that a picture you have taken is useless, you can delete it easily instead of wasting film, which you cannot reuse. A film can go bad over time; so keeping a digital camera handy for use whenever necessary is a fine option.
One can characterize digital cameras by the image size. Digital pictures are made up of color dots called pixels. The pixels are expressed by height and width, for example 320 x 480. These numbers are then multiplied, providing the total amount of pixels. Large number of pixels provides more detailed images, but this resource is available mostly on the more expensive cameras. Two megapixels, which means 2 million pixels, is at the low end, and may result in defects when the picture is enlarged. On the other hand, seven megapixels represent a robust picture and can handle enlargement well.
One other point to consider is zooming. The Optical zoom feature adjusts the light which enters the camera, and this makes the scene to appear closer. The digital zoom feature adjusts the picture after being digitized, to produce a closer appearance. Both can produce the desired result, but optical zoom is preferable.
Digital cameras also come with internal storage, but this is usually too small. So you have to look at the kind of add on storage that the camera allows. The additional storage usually comes in the shape of a thumbnail sized chip, and you can carry these around conveniently if needed.
The battery is another area you have to consider. Some digital cameras use standard sized batteries, while others use less common, proprietary sizes. Some batteries hold a charge better; some battery systems are rechargeable, while some cameras just hog power.
Then there is the preview screen - which is an LCD (liquid crystal display) screen, which shows you what the camera would see at any given point if you wish to take a picture. In this system, the screen is active whenever you are preparing to take a picture, but this will also consume the battery while you are doing it.
But you also have digital cameras that come with an optical viewfinder that does not consume power. This is helpful when you are waiting for the right moment to shoot, or when you require the preview screen to compose a picture at a difficult angle. You can also preview the saved picture on the screen and delete the ones you don`t want to keep, and thus clear storage space.
With the ever changing and advancements in the technology these cameras also keep getting better and better. The basic features are common for all types of digital cameras, only the add on features keep varying with the price and the manufacturers choices. Usually they allow you to take pictures automatically, i.e. you can take your own picture, adjust the picture that you have taken may also adjust the settings according to the color choice, brightness, etc. You may also create your own video album!!
Thus it is apparent that the digital camera rules over the traditional cameras. There can`t be any competition between the two because without doubt digital cameras dominate the scene. They have effectively changed the way the world takes pictures and possessing a digital camera is a dream for many budding photographers.
Tags: batteries, Battery, digital cam, Digital Camera, Digital cameras, digital zoom, film, film camera, image size, images, internal storage, liquid crystal display, megapix, megapixel, megapixels, optical viewfinder, optical zoom, photo, photograph, photographer, photographers, picture, pictures, pixel, storage, traditional camera, traditional cameras, traditional film camera, viewfinder, zoom
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.
Tags: batteries, Battery, battery life, camera flash, digital cam, Digital Camera, digital camera batteries, digital camera user, Digital cameras, flash, lcd screen, photo, photo opportunity, photos, picture, pictures, rechargeable batteries, rechargeable battery, storage, viewfinder, zoom
Author: Mohit Sharma
The digital cameras have the ability to display the images on the screen immediately after the image is recorded. The images to be captured can be seen on its screen instead of its viewfinder. This way you can get a clearer preview of the image you are intending to capture.
The digital camera outdoes the traditional film camera in its image storing capacity too. The digital camera has the ability to store thousands of images on a single memory device. In addition you can even erase or unload the captured images onto your computer and reuse the camera’s inbuilt memory. In some cases you can even put a new memory card and store more pictures. Digital cameras also allow you to edit images. When capturing videos, digital cameras have the ability to record sound too, thus making video capturing a fun experience.
There are varied categories of digital cameras:
Video cameras: They are the cameras that exclusively record moving images.
The professional video cameras are the ones used for film production, etc. these have multiple image sensors thus enhancing the resolution of the end product. These do not have a inbuilt VCR or microphone.
The camcorder is another type of digital camera that has a microphone to record sound and an LCD screen to view the image that you are going to capture. This is mostly used by amateurs.
The web cameras are the type that is attached to the computers. Some of these web cameras have microphones, while some of them also include zoom abilities.
Compact digital cameras: They are small and portable; the smallest of them are called subcompacts. They are easy to use with not many special features or high picture quality. They have built in flash of not a very high power, but sufficient for close objects. It also permits live preview. They have a greater depth of field thus allowing objects from larger distances to come in sharp focus.
Bridge cameras: They are higher-end digital cameras that look a lot like Digital SLRs. Bridge cameras have the same advanced features as SLR and the live preview like the compact digital cameras.
Digital single lens reflex cameras: This is the digital camera that works like the single-lens reflex with a film.
Digital rangefinders: A rangefinder is an optical mechanism used to measure subject distance. They were once widely used on film cameras.
Professional modular digital camera systems: Mostly these cameras are used in studios for commercial production. Since they are bulky and difficult to carry they are rarely used in action or nature photography. They can be changed to digital or film cameras by simply replacing the back part of the entire device.
Line-scan camera systems: This type of camera is used in industrial areas in order to capture an image of a constant stream of moving material. This technology has the ability
These cameras are almost solely used in industrial settings to capture an image of a constant stream of moving material. Line-scan technology is capable of capturing data extremely fast, and at very high image resolutions.
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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.
Tags: 35mm, 35mm cameras, capabilities, digital cam, Digital Camera, Digital cameras, digital image, digital images, digital zoom, film, film camera, flash, image compression, image stabilization, images, interchangeable lenses, lcd screen, lense, lenses, memory, memory card, memory size, moving images, optical viewfinder, optical zoom, personal photos, photo, photograph, photographer, photos, picture, pictures, pixel, pixel resolution, printers, professional camera, professional cameras, quality image, quality images, resolution, sized cameras, traditional film camera, viewfinder, zoom
Author: Monty Alexander
Most of the digital cameras have auto-focusing which enables even a kid to take decent photography. The LCD viewer helps in getting the right composition of the image. The preview of the images clicked allows keeping the best one from the lot and deleting the rest thus saving on space for more clicks.
Digital cameras don’t come cheap. With the kind of features and utility levels of a digital camera a good one costs above ten thousand. Good brands included Canon digital camera, Nikon digital camera, Sony digital camera etc. A digital SLR (Single Lens Reflex) would start from thirty thousand and run into lakhs. Digital SLR’s are hi-end cameras with professional features and good image quality. When one spends so much on a good quality digital camera taking care of it is also very important. All parts of the camera should be taken care of and there are equipments available in the market for the same. These equipments are one time moderate investment in keeping your expensive camera in good condition.
Camera parts like the lens, viewfinder and the LCD screen are the most essential elements of a camera. These parts should be regularly cleaned and taken care of. There is a blower available in the market which helps to dust off the dirt on the lens. One should never touch the lens, the viewfinder or the LCD display with fingers. The blower helps in removing the dirt and a lens cleaning solution helps in removing the sticky particles on the lens or viewfinder. The cameras lens cover should be put on when not in use this is the best way to protect your cameras eyes. Once the lens and viewfinder are cleaned the camera assures clear pictures and good view of the image.
Digital camera batteries should be taken out when not in use. If you intend to store your camera for a long time the batteries should be removed and on the next usage they should be charged and then used. Batteries discharge over a period of time and using them without recharging or storing them may hamper your camera and its performance. Also the camera should be stored in a cool dry place. Keeping your expensive Canon digital camera inside your car in summers will hamper the camera and you will have to bear a heavy price for your carelessness. Camera accessories like the extendable memory card should also be taken care off. The card should not be taken out while transferring pictures and should be stored properly when not in use. This enables good performance of the card otherwise it could be corrupted and will turn useless. Thus taking mediocre care of your digital camera and spending a little amount on its care would help in maintaining and making your camera viable for years together.
Tags: batteries, Canon, canon digital, canon digital camera, digital cam, Digital Camera, digital camera batteries, digital camera nikon, digital camera sony, Digital cameras, digital slr, image quality, images, lcd display, lcd screen, lcd viewer, lens cover, lens reflex, memory, memory card, nikon, nikon digital, nikon digital camera, photo, photograph, photography, picture, pictures, Sony, sony digital camera, viewfinder
Author: Harry Rockwell
A digital camera, as opposed to a film or videotape camera, uses an electronic sensor to transform images (or video) into electronic data. Modern digital cameras are typically multifunctional and the same device can take photographs, video, and/or sound.
In 2005, digital cameras are starting to push traditional film cameras out of many markets. Shrinking device sizes have recently allowed miniaturized digital cameras to be included in multifunctional devices, such as cell phones and PDAs.
Classification
Digital cameras can be classified into several groups:
* Professional video cameras such as those used in television and movie production. These typically have multiple images sensors (one per color) to enhance resolution and color gamut. Professional video cameras usually do not have a built-in VCR or microphone.
* Camcorders used by amateurs. These are a combination of camera and VCR to create an all-in-one production unit. They generally include a microphone to record sound, and feature a small LCD to watch the video during filming and playback.
Still cameras
Digital still cameras are generally characterized by the use of flash memory and USB or Fire Wire for storage and transfer.
Most have a rear LCD for reviewing photographs. They are rated in mega pixels; that is, the product of their maximum resolution dimensions. The actual transfers to a host computer are commonly carried out using the USB mass storage device class (so that the camera appear as a drive) or using the Picture Transfer Protocol and its derivatives.
All use a CCD (for Charged Coupled Device) which is a chip comprised of a grid of phototransistors to sense the light intensities across the plane of focus of the camera lens.
There has recently been some application of a second kind of chip, called a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) sensor, and this chip is often differentiated from a CCD proper in that it uses less power and a different kind of light sensing material, however the differences are highly technical and many manufacturers still consider the CMOS chip a charged coupled device. For our purposes, a chip sensor is a CCD.
* Standard Digital Cameras: This encompasses most digital cameras. They are characterized by great ease in operation and easy focusing; this design allows for limited motion picture capability. They have an extended depth of field.
This allows objects at multiple depths to be in focus simultaneously, which accounts for much of their ease of focusing. It is also part of the reason professional photographers find their images flat or artificial-looking. They excel in landscape photography and casual use.
* Digital SLRs typically have a sensor nine times larger than that of a standard digital camera, and are targeted at professional photographers and enthusiasts. They resemble ordinary professional cameras in most ways, with replaceable flash and lens components, which give the user maximum control over light, focus and depth of field.
They are also bulkier and more expensive than their casual-use oriented counterparts. They are superb for portraiture and artistic photography because they can be customized for various applications with a comprehensive range of exchangeable lenses.
Professional modular digital camera systems
High-end digital camera backs used by professionals are usually separate devices from the camera bodies which they are used with. (This is because most of the large- and medium-format camera systems in professional use at the time that digital capture overtook film as the professional’s medium of choice were modular in nature, i.e. the camera body had multiple lenses, viewfinders, winders and backs available for use with it to fit different needs.)
Since the first backs were introduced there have been three main methods of “capturing” the image, each based on the hardware configuration of the particular back.
The first method is often called “Single Shot,” in reference to the number of times the camera’s sensor is exposed to the light passing through the camera lens.
Single Shot capture systems use either one CCD with a Bayer filter stamped onto it or three separate CCDs (one each for the primary additive colors Red, Green and Blue) which are exposed to the same image via a beam splitter.
The second method is referred to as “Multi-Shot” because the sensor is exposed to the image in a sequence of three or more openings of the lens aperture. There are several methods of application of the multi-shot technique.
The most common originally was to use a single CCD with three filters (once again red, green and blue) passed in front of the sensor in sequence to obtain the additive color information.
Another multiple shot method utilized a single CCD with a Bayer filter but actually moved the physical location of the sensor chip on the focus plane of the lens to “stitch” together a higher resolution image than the CCD would allow otherwise. A third version combined the two methods without stamping a Bayer filter onto the chip.
The third method is called “Scan” because the sensor moves across the focus plane much like the sensor of a desktop scanner.
These CCDs are usually referred to as “sticks” rather than “chips” because they utilize only a single row of pixels (more properly “photosites”) which are again “stamped” with the Bayer filter.
The choice of method for a given capture is of course determined largely by the subject matter. It is usually inappropriate to attempt to capture a subject which moves (like people or objects in motion) with anything but a single shot system.
However, the higher color fidelity and larger file sizes and resolutions available with multi-shot and scan-backs make them attractive for commercial photographers working with stationary subjects and large-format photographs.
Webcams
* Webcams are digital cameras attached to computers, used for video conferencing or other purposes. Webcams can capture full-motion video as well, and some models include microphones or zoom ability.
These devices range in price from very inexpensive to expensive higher-end models; many complex webcams have a servo-controlled base capable of tracking facial motion with the help of software.
Interpolation
Image color or resolution interpolation is used unless the camera uses a beam splitter single-shot approach, three-filter multi-shot approach, or Foveon X3 sensor.
The software specific to the camera interprets the information from the sensor to obtain a full color image. This is because in digital images, each pixel must have three values for luminous intensity, one each for the red, green, and blue channels. A normal sensor element cannot simultaneously record these three values.
The Bayer filter pattern is typically used. A Bayer filter pattern is a 2×2 pattern of light filters, with green ones at opposite corners and red and blue elsewhere.
The high proportion of green takes advantage of properties of the human visual system, which is determines brightness mostly from green and is far more sensitive to brightness than to hue or saturation.
Sometimes a 4-color filter pattern is used, often involving 2 different hues of green. This provides a wider color gamut, but requires a slightly more complicated interpolation process.
The luminous intensity color values not captured for each pixel can be interpolated (or guessed at) from the values of adjacent pixels which represent the color being calculated.
In some cases, extra resolution is interpolated into the image by shifting photosites off of a standard grid pattern so that photosites are adjacent to each other at 45 degree angles, and all three values are interpolated for “virtual” photosites which fall into the spaces at 90 degree angles from the actual photosites.
Connectivity
Many digital cameras can connect directly to a computer to transfer data. USB is the most widely used method, though some have a Fire wire port.
Integration
Some devices, like mobile phones integrates digital cameras. Mobile phone cameras are much more sold than standalone digital ones.
Digital cameras need memory to store data. The higher one goes in pixel size, the more memory will be needed. Cameras use a removable memory card to store data, but the cheapest and smallest cameras may simply use fixed internal memory instead. Some cameras come with inbuilt memory as well.
Autonomous devices
An autonomous device, such as a PictBridge printer, operates without need of a computer. The camera connects to the printer, which then downloads and prints its images. Some DVD recorders and television sets can read memory cards too.
Tags: artistic photography, camera bodies, camera body, camera lens, cameras digital, CCD, cell phone, CMOS, digital cam, Digital Camera, Digital cameras, digital image, digital images, digital slr, digital slrs, digital still camera, digital still cameras, electronic sensor, film, film camera, film cameras, flash, flash memory, images, internal memory, lense, lenses, maximum resolution, mega pixel, mega pixels, memory, memory card, memory cards, microphone, microphones, photo, photograph, photographer, photographers, photographs, photography, photos, pictbridge printer, picture, pixel, professional camera, professional cameras, professional photographer, professional photographers, professional video cameras, resolution, resolutions, saturation, sensor chip, sensor element, still camera, storage, traditional film camera, traditional film cameras, usb mass storage, usb mass storage device, video cameras, video conferencing, viewfinder, zoom
Author: Nicholas Tan
It seems that every month, if not every week, different manufacturers are coming up with the latest digital cameras to entice potential clients. And it’s just not working for us!
After spending sizeable amount of time at the mall figuring out which is the best digital camera for us, we finally have enough money to buy for that eye-popping, 7 mega pixel, 10x digital zoom, potable, candy colored, up to 512MB expandable memory of super hi-speed SD memory card and not to mention very portable, (that will be the envy of almost everyone we know). We march to the mall armed with our life savings and lotsa pride in ourselves, when we pass by a new display - an eight mega pixel, up to 1G expandable memory, with built it mic and stereo surround, video playback capable, with 22 scenic modes kind-of-camera. And we sigh because the producer of this amazing gadget claims that this is the best digital camera yet out in the market. And so as we always want to have the best, armed with our life savings and a few credit cards, we buy the “best digital camera.” But then again, that doesn’t last too long, after two months or so, there’s another “best digital camera.”
And so it confuses us. What makes a digital camera, the best digital camera?
Well, there are certain factors to consider when looking for the “best digital camera” for us.
MEGAPIXELS. One of the most important features of digital camera to make it into the best digital camera category is its mega pixel property. The higher the mega pixels the better the actual photograph will come out. A mega pixel is equivalent to one million pixels. The resolution of your image is based upon the mega pixel property of your camera. This means that as you enlarge the picture, you would get more detail and less blurry colors.
LCD SIZE. The best digital camera will always have a large LCD to help you frame your subject without having to squint to the viewfinder. This is also helpful when reviewing your images, some cameras enable touch up and editing features with its LCD. A 1.5-inch display is average, a 2-inch LCD display is good, but the best LCD size would be 2.5 inches or higher.
ZOOM. Most digital cameras have both digital and optical zoom. A higher optical zoom is always better than a higher digital zoom. Digital cameras are usually furnished with optical of between 3x to 10x. The better the optical zoom, the higher it climbs up to the best digital camera category.
MEMORY CARD. Always make sure that your memory card is the right one for your digital camera. There are different types of memory card like the xD, SD, Flash card and the likes. And these types of memory cards go with certain types of digital cameras. of course memory storage is also up there in choosing the best digital cameras. Choose the size of memory that you need, if you’re a photo junkie, you might need more than 32MB. Memory cards can go up to 1G.
The key point to find the best digital camera is to find one that will best fit you and your lifestyle. Don’t just buy the latest or the one that claims they are the best digital cameras out in the market. You wouldn’t want to buy a DSLR and use it with your home activities or family outing and have to lug it around?! Or you don’t want to buy the latest point and shoot camera when you’re serious about being a professional photographer. (Of course, you can use this for starters, but if you’re not a novice photographer anymore, you wouldn’t want to get this kind of camera.)
Actually, the best digital camera is the one that you will enjoy and use. Not the type that you’ll just leave rotting in its box or after a few weeks of usage or so, up there in the attic.
Tags: best digital camera, best digital cameras, digital cam, Digital Camera, Digital cameras, digital zoom, dSLR, expandable memory, flash, gadget, images, lcd display, mega pixel, mega pixels, megapix, megapixel, megapixels, memory, memory card, memory cards, memory storage, optical zoom, photo, photograph, photographer, picture, pixel, point and shoot camera, professional photographer, resolution, sd memory card, storage, viewfinder, which is the best digital camera, zoom
Author: Shirley Margriet
It seems that every month, if not every week, different manufacturers are coming up with the latest digital cameras to entice potential clients. And it’s just not working for us!
After spending sizeable amount of time at the mall figuring out which is the best digital camera for us, we finally have enough money to buy for that eye-popping, 7 mega pixel, 10x digital zoom, potable, candy colored, up to 512MB expandable memory of super hi-speed SD memory card and not to mention very portable, (that will be the envy of almost everyone we know). We march to the mall armed with our life savings and lotsa pride in ourselves, when we pass by a new display - an eight mega pixel, up to 1G expandable memory, with built it mic and stereo surround, video playback capable, with 22 scenic modes kind-of-camera. And we sigh because the producer of this amazing gadget claims that this is the best digital camera yet out in the market. And so as we always want to have the best, armed with our life savings and a few credit cards, we buy the “best digital camera.” But then again, that doesn’t last too long, after two months or so, there’s another “best digital camera.”
And so it confuses us. What makes a digital camera, the best digital camera?
Well, there are certain factors to consider when looking for the “best digital camera” for us.
MEGAPIXELS. One of the most important features of digital camera to make it into the best digital camera category is its mega pixel property. The higher the mega pixels the better the actual photograph will come out. A mega pixel is equivalent to one million pixels. The resolution of your image is based upon the mega pixel property of your camera. This means that as you enlarge the picture, you would get more detail and less blurry colors.
LCD SIZE. The best digital camera will always have a large LCD to help you frame your subject without having to squint to the viewfinder. This is also helpful when reviewing your images, some cameras enable touch up and editing features with its LCD. A 1.5-inch display is average, a 2-inch LCD display is good, but the best LCD size would be 2.5 inches or higher.
ZOOM. Most digital cameras have both digital and optical zoom. A higher optical zoom is always better than a higher digital zoom. Digital cameras are usually furnished with optical of between 3x to 10x. The better the optical zoom, the higher it climbs up to the best digital camera category.
MEMORY CARD. Always make sure that your memory card is the right one for your digital camera. There are different types of memory card like the xD, SD, Flash card and the likes. And these types of memory cards go with certain types of digital cameras. of course memory storage is also up there in choosing the best digital cameras. Choose the size of memory that you need, if you’re a photo junkie, you might need more than 32MB. Memory cards can go up to 1G.
The key point to find the best digital camera is to find one that will best fit you and your lifestyle. Don’t just buy the latest or the one that claims they are the best digital cameras out in the market. You wouldn’t want to buy a DSLR and use it with your home activities or family outing and have to lug it around?! Or you don’t want to buy the latest point and shoot camera when you’re serious about being a professional photographer. (Of course, you can use this for starters, but if you’re not a novice photographer anymore, you wouldn’t want to get this kind of camera.)
Actually, the best digital camera is the one that you will enjoy and use. Not the type that you’ll just leave rotting in its box or after a few weeks of usage or so, up there in the attic.
Tags: best digital camera, best digital cameras, digital cam, Digital Camera, Digital cameras, digital zoom, dSLR, expandable memory, flash, gadget, images, lcd display, mega pixel, mega pixels, megapix, megapixel, megapixels, memory, memory card, memory cards, memory storage, optical zoom, photo, photograph, photographer, picture, pixel, point and shoot camera, professional photographer, resolution, sd memory card, storage, viewfinder, which is the best digital camera, zoom
Author: Ted Burns
Digital cameras come in various sizes, shapes, and specifications and offer a variety of impressive features.
Digital cameras are quickly gaining popularity around the globe. Many people already own one and routinely use it for their own pictures. Their use have become part of the culture among many communities and industries.
Digital cameras also have become part of a broad package of combined features with other hand-held tools, such as PDA devices and cellular phones. This makes the use of both devices much more convenient, having them combined in one, rather than two or more, functional instruments.
Digital cameras, moreover, not only can be used for still photos as with conventional cameras, but also for taking videos. An owner needs only to upgrade the camera’s memory card to increase storage capacity.
The marketplace offers a number of digital camera brands that provide a wide range of features. Olympus, Canon, Nikon, Kodak, and HP are some of the better-known brands of cameras offering the conventional 35mm to digital. Other key camera manufacturers include Sony, Panasonic, and Casio.
Digital Camera Considerations
Differing from conventional cameras, digital cameras have a small LCD screen, and sometimes an LCD screen plus viewfinder. The LCD screen is similar to TV screens that allow the photographer to see the picture, even before snapping it. Some have large screens that enable the photographer to see more of the subject and background.
Digital cameras also come with memory slots that hold a memory card or “stick.” The amount of memory available in them ranges from megabytes to gigabytes. Of course, the more memory, the greater the cost. However the extra storage capacity may be well worth the additional expense.
Another purchasing concern is the battery. Some digital cameras use disposable batteries. However, they wear out quickly, so most people recommend rechargeable batteries for longer energy life. Typically a rechargeable battery and a charger come in bundle with the camera unit.
Finally, consider the way the pictures are downloaded. Though many digital cameras come with a USB port which easily connects to a computer, there are others that necessitate removing the memory card and positioning it with a reader to download pictures.
Digital Camera Features
Camera buyers should know at least the basic features of their camera of choice before making an expensive purchase. Though the snapping of pictures is fundamentally the same from camera-to-camera, there are features that make one brand more appealing than others.
For example, the number of mega pixels used when taking pictures - meaning millions of pixels that help with the clarity of the pictures - should be one of the primary considerations to most buyers. Pixels are the individual “dots” that make up the content of pictures.
As such, cameras offering a greater number of pixels can produce larger images with better resolutions than those with less. Be aware, though, that cameras using a more pixels consume more camera memory when storing the images.
The camera’s zoom function is also critical. Most digital cameras are enhanced with a two-zoom capability; the optical and digital. Optical zoom uses a moving lens and makes the subject in the picture appear closer, while digital zoom crops or stretches the image.
Finally, don’t neglect the importance of the camera case’s durability. Some digital cameras are made predominantly of plastic materials - and are consequently more fragile - while others are comprised of a combination of plastic and metal alloy.
Either type has limitations in the amount of jarring that can be sustained without internal damage. Spend a little extra money to purchase a case that will protect your camera investment.
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Author: Russ Snapper
A Mini digital camera can be a best travel companion if you love to travel and are constantly on the move. The mini digital camera is most preferred now for travelers and photographers because of its small and unique size and easy to use features. To use this ultra compact camera, you don’t need to be a professional photographer. But you can be a good photographer with the enhanced resolution offered by the small sized camera that improves the quality of ordinarily photographed items also.
The availability of the following features can be checked out before you buy a mini digital camera.
Megapixel rating: Giving attention to this rating helps you to estimate the volume of information stored with each photograph taken. Resolution of the photographs depends on the Megapixel rating. Mini digital cameras have higher Megapixel ratings for storing more information and for getting great quality enlargements. For most of the pictures that fall under 4 x 6, a minimum of 3 mega pixels will be good for your camera.
Batteries: Battery usage is to be determined before you buy a mini digital camera. With a set of batteries, most bad cameras produce around 50 shots. However ensure that your enhanced mini digital camera produces around 500 shots with a set of batteries. Rechargeable AA batteries can be used for a longer duration of time and is beneficial and economical in the long run.
Other Features:It is advisable to choose a mini digital camera that is fast. When the shutter is pressed, time is taken for processing an image and this time gap varies for different cameras. Some cameras have a time gap of 5 seconds and for taking a second snap, you have to wait for that time. Due to shutter lag also, time can be consumed. Shutter lag is the time taken for the auto focus feature to terminate and then trip the shutter to start. Therefore ensure that your mini digital camera is really fast. Also ensure that your mini digital camera is having an optical zoom rate of 5X to 10X for getting better zoom for having close-up shots.
The mini digital cameras have an Inbuilt LCD screen, which helps you to frame the shot before clicking. You can immediately view the picture after clicking. Most mini digital cameras have autofocus feature and you have to ensure that this feature is fast. For a mini digital camera having a zoom factor of 10X and above, ensure that it has image stabilization to remove the shaking effect caused while taking pictures. Mini Digital cameras beautifully capture your moments of joy with least effort.
As an example, we will now look at the features of a Key chain Mini Digital Camera, MiniDIG. Some key features are Flash; Auto Formats; JPEG; White balance; Auto Shutter; Auto Resolution; 640×480, 320×240; Pop-up viewfinder; EV compensation; Auto System compatibility and Windows 98/SE/2000/XP.
The key chain mini digital camera is tiny and small enough to fit onto a keychain and however has an internal memory of 16MB SDRAM and 300K CMOS sensor. This inexpensive, cute looking Digital Camera is a great little device to take along for spot photos for insurance claims or during vacation holidays and serves as an exciting addition to your keychain. This can also be a wonderful gift for children looking to have their first camera.
Tags: auto focus, batteries, Battery, battery usage, CMOS, compact camera, digital cam, Digital Camera, Digital cameras, flash, image stabilization, internal memory, lcd screen, mega pixel, mega pixels, megapix, megapixel, memory, optical zoom, photo, photograph, photographer, photographers, photographs, photos, picture, pictures, pixel, professional photographer, resolution, Russ Snapper, viewfinder, white balance, zoom