Digital Camera Basics-Resolution - Exposure - Focus - and Storage

By B Lee

Resolution

The amount of detail that a camera can capture is called the resolution, and it is measured in pixels. The more pixels a camera has, the more detail it can capture and the larger pictures can be without becoming blurry or "grainy." High-end consumer cameras can capture over 12 million pixels. Some professional cameras support over 16 million pixels (megapixels), or 20 million pixels for large-format cameras. For comparison, it has been estimated that the quality of 35mm film is about 20 million pixels.

Exposure and Focus

Just as with film, a digital camera has to control the amount of light that reaches the sensor. The two components it uses to do this, the aperture and shutter speed, are also present on conventional cameras.

Aperture: The size of the opening in the camera. The aperture is automatic in most digital cameras, but some allow manual adjustment to give professionals and hobbyists more control over the final image.

Shutter speed: The amount of time that light can pass through the aperture. Unlike film, the light sensor in a digital camera can be reset electronically, so digital cameras have a digital shutter rather than a mechanical shutter.
These two aspects work together to capture the amount of light needed to make a good image. In photographic terms, they set the exposure of the sensor.

In addition to controlling the amount of light, the camera has to adjust the lenses to control how the light is focused on the sensor. In general, the lenses on digital cameras are very similar to conventional camera lenses -- some digital cameras can even use conventional lenses. Most use automatic focusing techniques.

The focal length, however, is one important difference between the lens of a digital camera and the lens of a 35mm camera. The focal length is the distance between the lens and the surface of the sensor. Sensors from different manufacturers vary widely in size, but in general they're smaller than a piece of 35mm film. In order to project the image onto a smaller sensor, the focal length is shortened by the same proportion.

Focal length also determines the magnification, or zoom, when you look through the camera. In 35mm cameras, a 50mm lens gives a natural view of the subject. Increasing the focal length increases the magnification, and objects appear to get closer. The reverse happens when decreasing the focal length. A zoom lens is any lens that has an adjustable focal length, and digital cameras can have optical or digital zoom -- some have both. Some cameras also have macro focusing capability, meaning that the camera can take pictures from very close to the subject.

Digital cameras have one of four types of lenses:

1) Fixed-focus, fixed-zoom lenses - These are the kinds of lenses on disposable and inexpensive film cameras -- inexpensive and great for snapshots, but fairly limited.

2) Optical-zoom lenses with automatic focus - Similar to the lens on a video camcorder, these have "wide" and "telephoto" options and automatic focus. The camera may or may not support manual focus. These actually change the focal length of the lens rather than just magnifying the information that hits the sensor.

3) Digital-zoom lenses - With digital zoom, the camera takes pixels from the center of the image sensor and interpolates (alters) them to make a full-sized image. Depending on the resolution of the image and the sensor, this approach may create a grainy or fuzzy image. You can manually do the same thing with image processing software -- simply snap a picture, cut out the center and magnify it.

4) Replaceable lens systems - These are similar to the replaceable lenses on a 35mm camera. Some digital cameras can use 35mm camera lenses.

Storage of Images

Most digital cameras have an LCD screen so you can view your picture right away. This is one of the great advantages of a digital camera -- you get immediate feedback on what you capture. Of course, viewing the image on your camera would lose its charm if that's all you could do. You want to be able to load the picture into your computer or send it directly to a printer. There are several ways to do this.

Although most of today's cameras are capable of connecting through serial, parallel, SCSI, USB, or FireWire connections, they usually also use some sort of removable storage device. Digital cameras use a number of storage systems. These are like reusable, digital film, and they use a caddy or card reader to transfer the data to a computer. Many involve fixed or removable flash memory. Digital camera manufacturers often develop their own proprietary flash memory devices, including SmartMedia cards, CompactFlash cards and Memory Sticks. Other removable storage device include floppy disks, hard disks (external, or microdrives), and writeable CD's and DVD's.

Regardless of what type of storage they use, all digital cameras need lots of room for pictures. They usually store images in one of two formats -- TIFF, which is uncompressed, and JPEG, which is compressed. Most cameras use the JPEG file format for storing pictures, and they sometimes offer quality settings (such as medium or high).

To make the most of their storage space, almost all digital cameras use some sort of additional data compression to make the files smaller. One compression routine takes advantage of patterns that repeat. The image can be reconstructed exactly as it was recorded, reducing the file size no more than 50%, often much less. Another compression routine called irrelevancy eliminates some of the more meaningless data, taking advantage of the fact that digital cameras record more information than the human eye can easily detect.

Brian Lee is co-owner of http://www.WorldCameraVideo.com, offering a large selection of digital cameras, camcorders, webcams, security cameras, and more.

Digital Camera Information - What to Look For When Buying a Digital Camera

By Debra Proctor

There are many things to consider when purchasing a digital camera; camera compatibility with other digitals that you own, size, ease of use, manual options, battery types, shutter lag time. Having the correct digital camera information will help you make you purchasing decision. One thing to keep in mind is will it be compatible with your other cameras. If you keep your cameras compatible, you will be able to share memory cards and batteries among your cameras or with other family members. As you know, the cost of these accessories can add up. To make sure your new digital camera is compatible with your other digital cameras; try to stay within the same brand. Camera brand lines are often similar, so if everyone in your family stays with the same brand, you can often share your digital camera accessories.

Digital cameras are no longer a novelty. Now that the novelty has worn off, you have many more options for shooting, saving, and printing your photographs. You can have as much or as little control over your pictures and getting them printed as you choose.

You need to decide how you will most often be using your new digital camera. If you want a camera that you can keep with you at all times, point and shoot and still get great looking photos of family events, you will need to choose a compact or subcompact digital camera.

If you want to expand your photography skills, choose a advanced compact or a super-zoom digital camera. These cameras are more advanced than the compact and subcompact, they offer more options in manual settings, perform better in challenging lighting situations, and have lenses that have a greater range of zoom for those nature or sporting event photos.

When you are ready to get to take a giant step forward in your artistic photography skills, the SLR digital camera will be the camera for you. It is more of a professional camera, it is higher in quality, you can change lenses, and it has manual controls that you can override the "point and shoot" setting with allowing you to get creative with your photography.

Be sure to check the battery life and the type of batteries that your new digital camera will use. All digital cameras run off of either battery packs, which can be quite expensive, or AA batteries. This option is up to you. In the compact and subcompact digital cameras, the typical battery life averages out to be around 150 to 400 pictures. The advanced compact and super-zoom

cameras can take between 120 to 300 pictures and the SLRs average more than 250 pictures.

One of the most common complaints about digital cameras is the lag time from when you push the button to take the picture and when the picture actually snaps. If this lag time is great, you can completely miss the shot you wanted. Compact and subcompact digital cameras have a shutter lag time of 2 to 3 seconds. The advanced compact and super-zoom cameras average a shutter lag time of 1 to 3 seconds and the SLR has a shutter lag time that is barely noticeable being only a fraction of a second.

When making the decision to buy that new digital camera, remember to consider the compatibility of it with your other digital cameras, size, ease of use, manual options, battery types, and shutter lag time. By consciously considering the right digital camera information you will make the right purchase to fit your photography needs.

Confused about which digital camera to buy? digital camera For more digital camera information, go to http://www.toprateddigitalcameras.info

What Can You Do With Your Old Digital Camera

By Ziv Haparnas

So you just got a new digital camera. Congratulations! What are you planning to do with your old digital camera? Many people just forget about it burying it in a drawer or somewhere around the house. There are better things to do with it, here are a few.

Digital cameras evolve all the time. New cameras have more megapixels, they have better lenses, electronics and software. It is very common to get a new digital camera every few years and sometimes even more often than that. Every time you buy a new digital camera you need to make a decision as to your old one.

You have many options for what to do with your old digital camera. Here are a few:

Put is aside: the simplest thing to do is just to put the digital camera somewhere in the house and forget about it. Many of us do just that. This is not the best solution though as your are wasting a perfectly good product.

Use it as backup: you can use your old digital camera as a backup for your new one. If your new digital camera breaks you can revert to the old one. Another option is to keep the old digital camera in a place where you would not normally store your camera. For example you can keep the old digital camera in the car. You can safely do that since you are less sensitive to the old camera getting damaged or stolen. By doing that you can take pictures when opportunity strikes and you do not have your new camera with you.

Give it as a gift: give your old digital camera to someone who can use it. For example give it to your kids or to other family members. Usually you would want to choose someone who can use it and for whom using your old digital camera will be a step forward relative to what they are using now.

Sell your old digital camera: One obvious option is to sell your old digital camera. Depending on how old it is and its condition you can get a nice sum of money for it. Getting any money is better than just throwing it away. You can sell it online on auction sites like eBay or you can use local classifieds.

Donate your old camera: you can donate your old digital camera to charity, to a local community center, to your kids' school and more. With some donations you will be able to get a tax receipt so you can also get some money back as tax deduction.

Continue using your old digital camera: This option is not obvious. Why would you keep using the old digital camera when you just paid for a brand new one? There are many reasons. For example in some scenarios your old digital camera might be more appropriate. If for example your old digital camera is a small pocket one while your new digital camera is a big digital SLR there are times when you would not like to carry the big SLR around but you would still want to capture experiences on digital film. In such cases using the old camera is a good solution.

The way of thinking is that you did not replace your old digital camera but got a new digital camera that complements It. This is not relevant of course if you bought the same type of camera but with better features. For example this does not make sense if you bought a brand new digital pocket camera that looks the same as your old one but has more megapixels.

The most important thing is not to forget about your old digital camera just to find it uselessly thrown in a closet somewhere after a few years. Digital cameras like other consumer electronics devices age fast. Their value drops significantly after a few years. Be conscious about your old camera. You can use it for a while as a secondary camera, you can later on decide to sell it or donate it or to do something else with it.

Ziv Haparnas is a technology veteran and writes about practical technology and science issues. This article can be reprinted and used as long as the resource box including the backlink is included. You can find more information about photo album printing and photography in general on http://www.printrates.com - a site dedicated to photo printing.

So Many Digital Cameras-Finding The One That's Right For You

By Jean Fleming

Today's digital cameras have come a long way from even a few years ago. They offer more features and power than ever before--at prices that make upgrading to a new model an attractive option. Here's everything you need to know before you buy.

How much do I have to pay?

First on most people's minds is cost. Digital sounds expensive, but it's not anymore. There are cameras with terrific features available for as little as $100--perfect starter cameras, or great for kids.

Of course, you can spend more than that--as much as several thousand for the most advanced digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras. However, unless you are a professional who needs interchangeable lenses and manual everything, you can get a great camera for between $150 and $400. It all depends on what you want to do with your camera and your photos.

What is a megapixel and how many do I need?

Digital photos are made up of pixels, which is computer-speak for "picture element." Get a thousand of these little squares together and you have a megapixel--MP for short. Every digital camera you consider will have a number of megapixels associated with it, but higher isn't necessarily better.

Megapixels affect the resolution of your digital photos--that is, the potential clarity of the photos. If you choose a camera with a high number, for instance, 10 MP, you'll get rich, detailed photos, perfect for making large prints. Or you could crop your picture and enlarge a section into its own photo without losing clarity.

That sounds good, right? The downside is that the larger the photo resolution, the more space it will take on a memory card, so you won't be able to take as many photos unless you carry extra storage.

TIP: If you don't need to make large prints, but do want to print standard sizes like 4" x 6" or 5" x 7", or e-mail or post your photos online, a camera with 5-6 megapixels will work well for you.

How much control will I have over camera settings?

The short answer is, as much or as little as you want--often on the same camera. Many digital cameras let you choose the level of control, from fully automatic, where the camera makes all decisions, to the completely manual, where you run the show.

In between those options are helpful pre-set shooting modes. These make it easy to take clear, well exposed pictures under a variety of settings--in bright sun, at night, during a sporting event, at the theater. Another fun feature is the ability to change pictures to black and white or sepia, adding versatility. Beyond that, some cameras help you prevent red-eye and other common problems.

TIP: Compare shooting modes and design features when you shop. Look for common ones, like Landscape, Portrait, and Action. Then see if there are others--Night or Snow mode, for example.

If you want more control of your digital camera's variables, you can have that too. In addition to the pre-sets, many cameras, especially in the middle and upper end of the price range, let you go manual, and set aperture, shutter speed and ISO yourself--or set one manually and have the camera choose the best settings for the other elements.

It's fun to play with these different options and see how your pictures change. And one great thing about digital photos is that, if your experiment isn't successful, you can delete the photo and take another.

What is the difference between optical and digital zoom?

Optical zoom is how far your camera's lens can physically extend from the camera body (its focal length). It lets you get closer to your subject without actually moving, and without your photo becoming blocky or pixelated.

Digital zoom stretches your camera's pixels to make a photo look bigger--similar to cropping a photo and enlarging it, but it happens right in the camera.

Digital cameras will often show you a combined optical and digital zoom. They get this by multiplying the two numbers together. For example, a camera with 3x optical zoom and 8x digital zoom will have a total zoom of 24x.

TIP: Pay most attention to the optical zoom, as it will result in clearer close up photos.

What about the camera size--is heavier better?

Digital cameras are built to endure plenty, so choose the style that suits your needs. A slim, small model is handy because it fits easily into a purse or pocket, making it a no-brainer to take along on family excursions or trips.

Slightly larger models offer some helpful features, too, like a bigger LCD screen for taking and viewing photos, and often more manual control.

Go a little bigger still, and your digital camera may also have a more powerful zoom lens, helpful for getting shots at the soccer match, or architectural details of the castle you saw on your trip to Italy.

What other equipment will I need?

Batteries: Some digital cameras use AA batteries that you replace more or less frequently depending on how many photos you take and the resolution of each picture. However, digital camera features like the LCD screen and auto-focus draw lots of power, meaning batteries get depleted quickly. Rechargeable batteries are an alternative option.

Rechargeable batteries use one of two different technologies: Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) or Lithium ion (Li-ion). NiMH batteries come in standard sizes and can be recharged multiple times before they need replacing. Many newer cameras are equipped with Li-ion battery packs. These have the advantage that they both hold more energy and be used and recharged more often than other batteries. Check your camera's manual to determine which type is compatible.

Memory cards: Your digital camera stores images on memory cards, and there are many options for these. It's a good idea to have several available--especially on vacation or at a special event like a wedding where you'll be taking lots of photos. Get a larger card--think 1 GB or more--to make sure you'll have lots of memory.

Dock: If your camera has rechargeable batteries, consider buying a docking station. It gives you a safe, secure way to charge your camera, and an easy way to connect it to your computer when you want to upload photos.

Carrying case: In addition to protecting your camera, a carrying case also lets you keep extra batteries and memory cards in one convenient place.

Now you're ready to make the buy, and start using your digital camera to help capture and share cherished memories.

Don't Make a $300.00 Digital Camera Mistake!

By Michael Huddleston

If you are looking for the best buy in a Digital Camera then looking on the Internet is a good start. Throughout the various sites on the Web you’ll see many great deals on digital cameras. Unfortunately, mixed in with all those good deals are a few lemons and over priced headaches no body should be so unlucky to be stuck with.

Having the ability to know which of the many Digital Cameras advertised on the Internet are really great deals and which ones are the lemons will mean whether you win or lose on your next Digital Camera purchase. And knowing the difference between a lemon and a sweet camera can be difficult, unless you have the right information. Below are steps that will help you quickly tell if a digital camera is just a lemon in disguise.

How to Spot a Lemon

* Do you know the one function that should be available on any digital camera you buy? - Image stabilization - Once you use a digital camera with image stabilization you will NEVER use a camera that does not have it again. Really! It’s that neat. Think about it… a large number of the pictures you will take are going to be indoors or in other words, marginal lighting situations. Without stabilization you run a higher risk of blurry (ruined) photos.

* There’s a reason people don’t use the various capabilities of their digital camera. - Buried Menus - One of the main reasons the average digital camera owner does not change settings on their cameras is that they are too hard to figure out and it takes too many menu selections to get to them.

* Not enough power – Battery Life – these days there is no excuse for your digital camera’s battery pooping out on you in the middle of your son’s birthday party. Current digital cameras can deliver 300 to 400 images per battery charge, even if you are using the flash.

* Nobody likes a slow camera – Slow Operation – There’s lots of technical jargon like shutter lag and preliminary metering flash to explain why a camera may be slow but the bottom line is, you’re not going to enjoy a slow camera.

* Low light can really challenge a digital camera’s ability to focus - low-light focusing aid – Many compact digital cameras have auxiliary lights that help them focus in dim settings. Again, once you use it you’ll always want to use it.

How to Research Digital Cameras Before You Buy

* Do you know the first place to look when you’re shopping for a digital camera? – Aggregate Review Sites – Aggregate review sites include summaries from all main digital camera reviewers as they become available for each digital camera on the market, all listed in one place. This will save you a ton of time searching across the Internet for a particular digital camera review. Let someone else do the legwork. Note – Aggregate News Sites generally do not have nondisclosure agreements with the various digital camera manufacturers so you may find more colorful opinions on various digital camera models.

#1 Digital Camera Add-On

Regardless of which digital camera you purchase you will not be able to depend on the amount of storage memory the camera ships with – 1 Gigabyte Card - Considering how inexpensive memory cards are becoming it makes sense to pack your new digital camera with enough memory that you’ll never have to worry about running out. You’ll thank me later.

For up-to-the minute digital camera information and review summaries from all major Internet digital camera reviewers visit our site: http://www.digitalcameratracker.com http://www.digitalcameratracker.com Digital Camera Tracker offers a unique and consumer friendly method of researching your next digital camera purchase. Pay us a visit, you'll be really glad you did.

Digital Camera Help - FAQs

By Mel McGee

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions that I have answered from visitors to my Digital-Camera-Help.com website.

What is the difference between optical and digital zoom?

Optical zoom on a digital camera works the same way a regular 35mm camera's zoom works, the lens physically moves in and out using the optics (lens) to bring the subject closer without sacrificing quality. These moving lenses allows a range in optical magnification that runs anywhere from 2.0x to 10.0x. The higher the optical zoom on a camera, the farther away you can be to take a photograph and still get a clear, close image.

Digital zoom is a software simulation of optical zoom using no moving parts. Simply put, the camera crops the picture and enlarges it, filling in the extra pixels by guessing what the picture may look like in a process called interpolation. This results in a loss of quality, and is no different than cropping and enlarging an image with editing software. Instead of using the digital zoom on your digital camera you can use editing software on your computer and have more control over cropping and enlarging the picture.

Many new models of digital cameras are advertising having both optical and digital zoom capabilities. Most of these cameras have a feature that automatically uses digital zoom when you have exceeded the optical zoom limitations. You may choose to disable or shut this feature off so that you know exactly what kind of quality picture you are taking.

How much zoom does your digital camera need?

Optical zoom ranges between 2x and 10x but most average users find 3x to 6x optical zoom about what they need. Most experts will tell you to buy as much optical zoom as you can afford being careful not to overlook the other features.

What is megapixel?

Ok, first let's define pixel. Digital images like our computer screens and digital camera pictures are both made up of grids of dots. The word "pixel" is actually short for "picture element", which is computer geek talk for one of those millions of dots on your computer screen or digital image. Now, every one of those pixels holds one color and combined with the other millions of single colored dots, forms the picture.

Megapixel means a million pixels, so a 3 megapixel digital camera has 3 million pixels. To get the total pixel count, you multiply the horizontal pixels by the vertical pixels. For example, 2590 x 1920 = 5 Megapixels. The more mega pixels your digital camera has, the more information and detail you capture on each picture.

Say for example, you a take a picture, once with a 2 megapixel digital camera and once again with a 4 megapixel digital camera. The 2 megapixel digital camera will give you 2 million pieces of information (pixels) and the 4 megapixel digital camera gives you 4 million pieces of information (pixels). If you print both the pictures 4x6, you probably would not be able to tell the difference between the two. Now say you were to crop the pictures or enlarge those pictures to 8x10, you would see a big difference in the two photos. The picture taken by the 4 megapixel digital camera would be a clearer, truer image replication because the picture contains more information than the 2 megapixel digital camera.

How many megapixels does my digital camera need?

It mostly depends on what you plan on doing with the pictures and images. If you do not often crop your photos and only print 4x6/5x7 size photos, a 2-3 megapixel digital camera will do the trick. If you ever plan to make 8x10 or larger prints at least 4 megapixels would be suggested. Of course most would tell you to buy the highest megapixel digital camera you could afford, but the smart ones would also remind you there are a lot of other of other features besides megapixel you want to look at when making your digital camera purchase.

What is the difference between a Nickel-Metal Hydride battery and a nickel-cadmium battery?

A Nickel-Metal Hydride battery (or NiMH) is a rechargeable battery similar in design with a Nickel-Cadmium battery (or Ni-Cd) but instead of using cadmium, which is an environmental hazard, it uses a hydrogen absorbing alloy for anode. A Nickel-Metal Hydride battery can have 2 to 3 times the capacity of an equivalent size NiCd, the memory effect is not as significant and it is less detrimental to the environment compared to a Nickel-Cadmium battery.

Guide to Buying a Digital Camera

By Andrew Gates

The digital camera market today offers buyers a large number of choices, with products in widely differing price ranges, sizes and degree of operational complexity. From miniatures the size of a credit card, to fully functional professional SLR (Single Lens reflex) systems, you can buy a digital camera from manufacturers including traditional camera brands such as Canon, Olympus, Nikon, film companies such as Kodak and Fuji, and consumer electronic companies like Sony. Then there are other options that include the mobile phone manufacturers, and webcam suppliers.

The advantages of digital photography are numerous. Topmost is the fact that there is no film processing: expensive both in cost and time. But there is also the advantage of smaller sized equipment, portable media and instant picture viewing. And if you don't like what you see, you simply delete it and shoot again: no wastage.

If you like to take pictures, being a digital photographer makes a lot of sense. But which camera is the best one for you? In a field of excess abundance, how do you narrow down what you need? How much to pay? How many megapixels? (What are they anyway?) Which brand? How much memory?

Digital CamerasEvery shopper is different.

At MyShopping.com.au we recognise this fact, and so we list practically all brands and models from hundreds of suppliers. These listings include the cold hard digital data facts about each camera and a range of comparative pricings offered by different suppliers. But just as every shopper is different, every photographer is different too. And just having the facts may not make you feel any more knowledgeable about which camera is right for you.

You could begin with the question: What sort of pictures will you take with your new digital camera? This is a valid starting point because from here you can begin to qualify your requirements in terms of technical capability and price. What sort of pictures will you take with your new digital camera?

Is it simply for happy snaps whenever you get together with friends and family at weekends and holidays? Or are you a serious bird watcher and you want to capture nature at its finest? Perhaps you want a camera for work to record your inventory, or recording information from a client. Maybe you're a PI on a mission. The point is, you need to begin by recognising that your reason for buying a digital camera may not be the same as that of your best friend who is recommending the model she bought.

Once you've figured out the sort of pictures you are going to take, you can then set about deciding on the type of camera that will meet your needs. If you need something highly portable that fits in your shirt pocket or your handbag and lets you take it anywhere you go, make size a big consideration. If you want to take seriously good photographs, and you want to pursue an artistic endeavour, make image flexibility your main concern.

It might also be worthwhile considering your own position in the digital photography experience. Are you a novice about to buy your first camera, do you have some intermediate experience, or are you an advanced user?

Someone new to the market will likely not want to spend a lot of money, nor have a lot of mind-boggling features that leave you confused. There are cameras ideal for beginning users that have basic 'point and shoot' features including optical and digital zoom lens, flexible storage media and built in flash. There is a huge range of cameras available with simple features at low cost.

If you consider yourself an intermediate user with some operational knowledge of digital camera technology, you may want to consider more advanced features that give you more control over the pictures you take. These features usually come in a range of automatic settings and manual settings for capturing the image and different storage options in terms of resolution and picture type (raw data, jpeg, tiff). Naturally there is some cost attached to additional features when compared to more basic cameras.

For advanced users, there are a lot of professional options you can consider; such as SLR view finding and lens interchange ability. Cameras in this range provide much greater control over the image, both before and once it is captured. These options include shutter speed and aperture adjustment, and many cameras offer the ability to manipulate images 'in camera', such as cropping, and brightness and contrast adjustments.

After the picture is taken

A further main consideration is what are you going to do with your images once you have them? The great beauty of digital photography is the simple fact that you can store them on digital media such as CDs and media cards, and view them on computer screens and in many cases, your television. You need print only when and those you want to see, or show to others. Digital photography also gives fantastic opportunities to manipulate your images using popular image manipulation programs, resizing them, altering brightness and contrast characteristics, and correcting problems such as red eye, or removing skin blemishes.

Most digital cameras are computer ready, able to plug directly into your PC or Mac using USB connectors. They usually include proprietary software allowing you to easily and instantly manage your image files in photo albums or slide shows. Many digital cameras also include a video capture facility enabling you to take short motion pictures.

What you want to do with your images after you have them can have an impact on your choice of camera. If you want to make enlarged prints for example, you will want a high megapixel capacity (also talked about as 'resolution'). If you want images for website use, you will want to get the best quality images that can be reduced in resolution without severe degradation.

Beauty is in the "I"

Great pictures usually come from great conditions. You capture a great moment, the light is just right, the subject is at the perfect distance, the image is perfectly framed. But not every digital camera offers the flexibility to make the best of existing light conditions, or position. Most digital cameras (certainly at the budget end) come with a built in automatic flash, which is terrific for happy snaps in darkened environments. And the automatic flash automatically does not 'go off' in bright sunny conditions. But in those times when you want to use the existing light, you need a camera that gives you manual control over the operation or not, of the flash.

Moreover, most digital cameras in the lower and medium price ranges are highly automated. If you are moving from a traditional SLR film camera where you have maximum control over shutter speed, aperture and ISO speeds, it may be frustrating to not have easy access to the same range of tools to take advantage of existing light conditions.

In the more advanced (and therefore more expensive) range of digital cameras, most lens and aperture functions are available in exactly the same way as other SLR systems. What differs is how the colours and light of the image is translated through pixel capture compared to the chemical processing systems.

You may want a wide range of focus options. Most digital cameras have two different types of image magnification, lens magnification (zoom) that may be equivalent of a 35mm to 150 mm lens, and a digital magnification that may be to ten-fold (expressed as x10). This provides you with zoom lens capability, which may be limited in its depth of field control and is subject to soft focus and movement if the conditions aren't just right, and a digital magnification of the pixel image. If being able to capture magnified distant images is important to you, you need more megapixels, and a lens system that gives you some control over its focus and aperture management.

A final word on accessory

Digital cameras are electronic equipment. That means they run on batteries, and if you use your camera a lot, you will find that you will be frequently replacing batteries. Some cameras have rechargeable batteries; others simply use dry cells (AA), which you can of course load with rechargeable ones. It pays to have spare batteries so that you always have a charged power source. Some cameras have docking stations to help manage the connection with computers. Many digital SLR cameras have interchangeable lens systems, some of which may be compatible with traditional film SLRs.

You can also print your own pictures at home with special printers that handle standard photograph paper, and connect directly to your camera. Although it may be less expensive to simply take your camera's card, or a CD to your local camera store, and now many supermarkets and department stores, and use the automatic printing machines to print the images you want.

There is a lot you can do with a digital camera, and you can pay les than $200, or more than $10,000. It all depends on how you see yourself as a photographer, what you're shooting, and what you want to do with your pictures. At Myshopping.com.au you can very quickly compare specifications and prices.

Andrew Gates is a writer for comparison online shopping site MyShopping.com.au. MyShopping.com.au helps you compare digital cameras and buy online from top-rated online stores. You can also read digital cameras reviews and specifications.

The Magic Behind Digital Camera

By 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:

Video cameras

* 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 2x2 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.

Storage

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.

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Buying a Digital Camera? Understand the Basics and Find the Best Equipment For Your Needs

By Dave Saunders

It seems like everyone has a digital camera these days and digital cameras have revived the art of photography as a hobby. As digital camera manufacturers improve equipment in quality and price, more people are embracing the benefits of digital photography and putting their film cameras on the shelf. If you're looking to make the move to a digital understanding the basics of a digital camera can help guide you through understanding how the differences and similarities with film cameras can provide you with a digital camera that fits your needs.

My first digital camera has a 640 by 480 pixel resolution and saved images to floppy disks. It was a little clunky, but it worked well and I was happy with the results. Today, the quality of that camera would barely qualify as a web cam for some people. The technology curve continues to move along for digital cameras but today most digital cameras should be able to provide you with a simple "point and click" experience and provide enough resolution to print 4 by 6 inch prints that you'll be happy to archive in a scrapbook.

The resolution of most digital cameras is measured today in "mega pixels." This is a measure of the number of dots which are available to digitally describe the image as a computer file. A digital camera with a 3.1 mega pixel resolution is usually enough to produce pictures that look like a film print on a 4 by 6 print. Moving up to a digital camera with a 5.1 mega pixel resolution will provide a sharper image at the same print size. Can everyone tell the difference? No they can't. When shopping for a camera, don't be mesmerized by claims that you must have the very highest resolution to be happy with your digital pictures. Look at samples and select the camera that meets your price range and quality desires.

Generally, digital cameras with a resolution lower than 1 mega pixel are good for images you plan on emailing to people, or posting on the web, but the resolution is not high enough for quality prints. If you plan on making film-style prints of your pictures, you should make your minimum 3.1 mega pixels.

The next issue with digital cameras is how it gets the electricity it needs to function. Many cameras today use rechargeable batteries but some still use AA size batteries. If you plan on taking lots of pictures, a camera that uses disposable batteries can become a very expensive camera, but if the camera has a rechargeable battery with a short life between charges, you might find yourself without power when a great photo opportunity presents itself or you may be stuck buying an extra, and often expensive, rechargeable battery which is custom designed to only fit that specific camera. When you have made you short list of digital cameras meeting your quality requirements, be sure to compare battery life statistics from the manufacturer.

As with film cameras, most digital cameras have automatic settings that adjust to provide a "point and shoot" experience. Some cameras also have manual settings which mimic advanced film camera settings such as aperture and exposure. Digital cameras often have additional features which allow for special effects and even picture taking in very low light settings. These features may or may not be important to you in a digital camera. How often did you load black and white film in your film camera? Chances are these nice-to-have features are not a high priority for most digital camera owners.

Most of the digital cameras feature an LCD view screen. This lets you shoot the image perfectly and then to check it. and is probably one of the most appreciated features of a digital camera over a film camera. The LCD does use up electricity though and by turning your camera off when you are not shooting pictures will preserve battery life.

Most digital cameras use a removable memory card on which pictures are stored. If you have a computer with a built-in reader of a memory card, checking to see if the digital camera uses a compatible type of memory card can make it much easier for you to transfer images to your PC and reduce the expensive of a separate memory card reader. If your digital camera comes with a data transfer cable, keep in mind that the memory card readers are usually much faster and provide greater flexibility. It's best to keep the data transfer cable in the box.

Overall, most digital camera manufacturers have done an excellent job in making the transition from film cameras to digital cameras a painless one. By knowing some small details about the minor differences, you should have no problem finding a digital camera that you will enjoy and use frequently.

Dave Saunders is a certified nutritional educator and lifelong technologist. He lives in the Washington, DC area with his wife, Irene and writes about his many passions. While pursuing his own enjoyments in broadly experiencing life, Dave Saunders specializes in creating bridges between technical matters and practical application through his writings and lectures to help others create context and see new discoveries and technologies in more a practical light. You can find out more about digital cameras and digital photography [http://www.aboutdigitalcameras.com/digital-cameras] at [http://www.aboutdigitalcameras.com]

Canadas Digital Cameras, Digital Camcorders and Cheap Memory Cards Canada

By Martin Wirtschafter

Digital SLR Camera or Digital single-lens reflex (SLR) camera is an ideal camera for professionals and amateur photographers. They usually having interchangeable lenses and are known for capturing superior quality images. They come with many advanced features like megapixels, zoom, memory cards, batteries, comfort and more. One of the great appeals of digital is the ability to shoot in "raw" format.

We carry the following digital camera and camcorders brands. Check out:
o Fujifilm Digital SLR Camera
o Konica Minolta Digital SLR Camera
o Olympus Digital SLR Camera
o Pentax Digital SLR Camera
o Samsung Digital SLR Camera
o Casio Digital SLR Camera

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Digital SLR Camera Features

Before you buy a digital camera, you should equip yourself with its complete feature, brand and price information. Find out the best brands and compare the features. Here we have for you some useful information that will help you enhance your knowledge about digital SLR cameras.

Lens Interchangeability

Digital slr camera has a unique and powerful feature of lens interchangeability. This feature enhances the digital slr camera ability to shoot on a wide range. For example, using Digital slr camera with different lenses one can take wide-angle, telephoto, or close-up shots.
We here provide excellent digital slr cameras such as canon digital slr camera Canada . Canada digital camera provides the facility of using a wide range of lenses. The shorter the focal length (mm), the wider the view will be. And, the longer the focal length, the more telescopic the picture will be. Depending upon your need, you should choose the right one from our numerous collection of Digital SLR cameras providing excellent features.

Autofocus

Digital slr camera has another feature called Autofocus that allows you to focus manually. It enables Canada digital camera to automatically focus. But if one wants to change the focus point you have to simply select the AF points which are in the middle and set them accordingly. To view the subject's details like its display, colors, expressions, etc. you can view them by using viewfinder. The image output makes a Digital SLR camera better and a serious camera as compared to point-and-shoot camera.

Exposure Compensation

Another feature of Digital slr camera is exposure compensation. This is used to make the appearance of white objects white. This is done in case of overexposure or underexposure. By default this exposure value is adjusted automatically. This automatic setting of exposure value is known as Auto Exposure.

Lens & Sensors

Various types of digital slr camera are made by different combinations of small lens and large lens and small sensor and large sensors. The benefit of large sensors is that they provide superior quality image even in dim light.

Reflex Mirror

Digital SLR cameras have a reflex mirror that swings up when you press the shutter button. It allows light from the lens to pass through to the sensor. The picture is then recorded. Since a single lens and a reflex mirror are used, this type of camera is called "single-lens reflex" (SLR). Noise is almost always more prominent in the shadow parts of an image, and this is the first place to go looking when evaluating an image.

Features

Digital SLR cameras are more expensive than point-and-shoot cameras. To know the reason for this, review the advantages of digital SLR camera:

o Easier and faster to shoot
o Flexible, allows lens interchangeability as a feature
o Autofocus feature enables automatic focusing
o Excellent image quality even in situations with low light availability
o Frame images more quickly
o Maximum control
o Superior quality

We give our customers the Lowest Price Guarantee on all our products that include digicams, camcorders, memory cards, batteries and chargers, photo printers and scanners, accessories and more.

Also refer articles on:

o Pentax Digital SLR
o Nikon Digital SLR
o Minolta Digital SLR Camera
o Fuji Digital SLR Camera
o Advantages Of Digital SLR Cameras

Cut Through the Hype and Make the Right Digital Camera Comparisons

By W R Kirk

There are soooo many choices. With all the styles and features, and prices are all over the map, digital camera comparisons can be mind-boggling. Pixels, memory, optical and digital zoom, camera size and cost are all factors to compare. So how do we sift through all the hype and find the best digital camera?

First step: Identify your primary prerequisites. A camera is normally something we will own and use for several years. To find the best camera for your needs, certain basic decisions need to be made before you start comparing features. These include:

* Suitability - do you want a camera for candid snapshots or serious photography?
* Quality - compare quality of both the camera and the photos it takes.
* Size - models to compare include miniature, compact and full-sized cameras.
* Price - compare cameras in a price range set by your needs and budget.

Second step: Compare specific features...

Compare Pixel Quantity and Quality

In general, more is better. Each pixel is a tiny square of light and color. Digital photos can be compared to mosaics - more pixels mean smaller squares and sharper pictures. But comparing pixel quality is just as important.

Tiny photodiodes in an image sensor is the technology that creates the pixels. The sensor functions as the camera's eye and some digital camera sensors measure only a few millimeters. Other cameras with larger sensors usually have better quality diodes, resulting in sharper, clearer pictures.

Don't Skimp on Memory

A single digital photograph can require several megabytes, though file type, compression rate and subject matter all affect file size. Most digital cameras don't have nearly enough built-in memory, so when doing a digital camera comparison plan on buying more. A general rule of thumb is to have at least 256-512MB of memory - more if taking high resolution or a lot of photographs.

Check memory compatibility when you compare digital cameras. Compact flash is the most universal and cost effective. MultiMedia cards are smaller and also work with other devices. Secure Digital are MultiMedia cards with an added write-protect switch. xD Picture cards are small and adaptable to most compact flash applications. Others such as Memory Sticks, SmartMedia and MicroDrives have limited applications, but may be best for the camera you want.

CCD Compared to CMOS

Charged Coupled Devices (CCD) and Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductors (CMOS) are digital camera image sensors. They can be compared to the shutter and film in a traditional camera.

Developed in the mid 1970's, the CCD is the heart of most digital cameras. With millions of light collecting cells, its image perception can be compared to the human eye. The CCD sensor's quality makes it the preferred choice for high-end digital cameras.

CMOS sensors were developed in 1998 with technology comparable to processor chips. Advantages are lower cost, less power required and multi-tasking ability. Disadvantages include signal noise and resolution issues. As the technology improves, CMOS sensors will make digital cameras more affordable and be the best choice for entry level cameras.

Beware the Zoom-Zoom

In your comparison of best digital cameras, be aware of the zoom issue. Digital zoom isn't much more than a marketing gimmick. It crops the image on the sensor, reducing total pixels and degrading resolution. Optical zoom magnifies the image before the sensor reads it, retaining full resolution.

Other important features...

* Shutter lag - how quickly can you take another picture? Should be a second or less.
* Start up time - when turned on, the camera should be ready within a couple of seconds.
* Manual override - allows you to adjust exposure and focus settings.
* Auto-focus - should be nearly instantaneous in most lighting conditions.

Digital camera ratings often discuss other features, but getting these right will enhance the enjoyment of your digital camera experience for years to come. Find more detailed comparisons at our Digital Camera Technology page.

Digital cameras information from A to Z: camera types & features, how they work, accessories, photo printers, comparisons and more - plus digital photo processing tips and info at A-Z Digital Cameras.com, Your Complete A-Z Resource for Digital Cameras, Accessories and Information.

Is Digital Camera Technology Making Film Obsolete?

By W R Kirk

Perhaps not yet, but the handwriting might be on the wall...

How is a digital camera different from a film camera? What are pixels and why are they important? What's the difference between optical and digital zoom? What advantages do digital cameras have compared to film cameras? Let's address these and other questions as we discuss digital camera technology.

First a short history and overview of digital imaging...

The technology began with television in the early 1950's when researchers discovered how to convert video images to electrical signals for storage on magnetic tape. In the 1970's electronic still photo cameras were developed. These employed the first generations of solid-state image sensors. By the late 1980's megapixel sensors were introduced - the technology that paved the way to today's modern digital cameras.

Fundamentally, film and digital cameras do the same thing. Both utilize camera lenses to focus photographic images on a light sensitive medium where they are stored for later retrieval. But the way each camera does this is radically different.

Instead of capturing the image on film that must be developed and printed, digital cameras measure light and color characteristics using photodiodes built into a sensor - either a Charged Coupled Device (CCD) or Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS). An Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) then converts the signal to binary, or digital, code. This code is sent to a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) which adjusts photographic elements such as contrast and color, and compresses the file for storage in the camera's memory, compact flash card, or other memory device.

Digital cameras have huge advantages when it comes to viewing and printing photos. It's nearly instantaneous! We can immediately look at the picture on the camera's LED screen, and if we don't like it, delete it and shoot again. Or we download and view it on our computer's monitor. And the pictures can be cropped or enhanced in minutes on the computer with photo software and printed with a photo printer. Plus many digital cameras have optional printer docks that don't require a computer at all.

What's a Pixel?

The human eye perceives a nearly infinite blending of light and color which high-quality film can approximate in a photograph. A digital image however, is a binary code file that records these variations as elements called pixels - short for picture elements.

Pixels are tiny squares of light and color, that when assembled create a mosaic. And like a mosaic, if the squares are small enough we see a smooth, photographic image. However, if the pixels are too big the transitions appear jagged or out of focus.

More pixels equal higher resolution and photos with clearer sharper detail, much like when you look at a mosaic with very small elements. For example, a 3 Megapixel digital camera can produce pretty good snapshots and even enlargements to about 8" X 10". But the more you enlarge, crop or otherwise manipulate the image, the larger the pixels become, degrading the photo's quality.

Size Really Does Matter

The number of pixels the sensor produces is important, but so is the quality. The CCD sensors of many small digital cameras are about the size of a small fingernail, while some larger models will feature sensors up to about 1" across. There are conflicting opinions about sensor type and size, and the technology is advancing. But in general it can be argued that the photodiodes in a tiny CCD probably won't be as powerful or effective as an equal number in a larger sensor.

So unless your most important considerations are the smallest and/or cheapest camera, you're likely to be happier with the picture quality from a slightly larger model, assuming both have the same number of pixels.

All Zooms Are Not Equal

The specs say the camera has 3X optical and 4X digital for a 12X total zoom. Sounds good, right? The answer is yes and no. Optical zoom works like a telescope, while digital zoom crops the picture. Using these zoom specs with our 3 megapixel camera example, here's what happens.

Optical zoom brings the image 3X closer and uses all 3 million pixels. But digital zoom crops up to 75% of what the lens sees and the sensor is exposed to, so the photo now has about 750,000 pixels. Depending on lighting and other conditions, using full digital zoom may not even get you a good 4" X 6" print.

The Future of Digital Photography

The last few years have seen tremendous advancement in digital imaging technology. Some high-end digital cameras can now generate more than 12 million pixels and produce photos that rival medium-format film cameras. As with all electronic technology, it's reasonable to expect even better cameras will come to the market over the next several years.

Photography "purists" will probably resist abandoning their film cameras as long as possible. But when comparing convenience, flexibility and quality, it seems inevitable that the majority of photographers will opt for digital over film photography - and probably sooner rather than later.

For more information on comparing features and finding the best digital camera to fit your photography style and budget, see Digital Camera Comparisons.

Digital cameras information from A to Z: camera types & features, how they work, accessories, photo printers, comparisons and more - plus digital photo processing tips and info at A-Z Digital Cameras.com, Your Complete A-Z Resource for Digital Cameras, Accessories and Information.

Digital SLR Camera versus a Compact Digital Camera

By Virginia Wong

Digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras are excellent cameras that produce clearer, sharper and more colourful images than most point and shoot digital cameras available. With prices falling rapidly, they are now more affordable then ever. With the price gap between an entry model digital SLR camera and the most expensive compact digital camera narrowing; the question is... do I spend the extra money and get a Digital SLR camera? or save a few hundred dollars and purchase the best digital compact camera.

Well, it really depends on your budget; however if you do spend the extra money, here's what you get:

In addition to the price falls in the Digital SLR models, the performance on these cameras has increased year on year with the latest Digital SLR cameras being quicker and faster than ever before. They have improved to such an extent that power up or start-up time is near instantaneous with virtually no lag time. "Lag time is the time between you pressing the shutter release button and the camera actually taking the shot". This delay can vary quite a bit between different camera models and it is one of the biggest drawbacks compared to a compact digital camera. The latest digital SLR cameras have virtually no lag times and react in the same way as conventional film cameras, even in burst mode. Compact digital cameras are catching up; however the difference is still significant. A lag time of ~0.5 seconds can result in you missing the heartbeat of the moment and hence that potential great picture.

Digital SLR camera also has a larger sensor versus a smaller sensor in a compact digital camera. This equates to higher sensitivity and less noise and results in the camera taking clearer pictures in low light. (They also have better autofocus speed in low light as well). A measure of sensitivity in a digital camera is ISO and a typical ISO range for a Digital SLR camera varies from ISO 100 - 1600 with the latter being more sensitive. The ISO range for a compact digital camera varies from ISO 50 - 400. In summary, the higher the ISO rating, the greater the sensitivity and the better the photo can be taken in low light.

The Digital SLR cameras have a much longer battery life due to the limited use of the LCD screen. Please note, that as the LCD screen is only used for viewing the image, the battery life of a digital SLR can allow up to 2000 shots per charge in some cameras compared to 500 for a good point and shoot digital camera.

Digital SLR cameras also allow you to interchange lens such as adding a zoom or macro lens when required.

On the negative side of a Digital SLR camera; They are usually larger and heavier than compact digital cameras, the image cannot be previewed on the LCD screen prior taking the picture. If you really require the image to be viewed on the LCD prior to taking the picture, there are third party manufacturers that produce LCD screens that attaches to the viewfinder and allow the scene to be view just like a compact digital camera. The other drawback is the inability to take videos and finally, lenses are expensive with the majority costing more than the camera itself.

Although compact digital cameras cannot compete on features with a Digital SLR camera, they are great value, have the ability to take videos and are portable. If you have decided to purchase a Digital SLR camera I recommend you visit http://www.infodigitalcamera.com to find additional information on Digital SLR camera. If you are still undecided, purchase both. Virginia Wong is an IT consultant and has a passion for digital photography. Her research into digital camera resulted in the development of http://www.infodigitalcamera.com

Digital Camera Basics

By Joel Taylor

Digital Camera Basics... The Vocabulary

Shopping for a digital camera can be a difficult task considering the sheer number of choices out there. The number of manufacturers, models, and price ranges that need to be sorted out make the process difficult enough, but throw in all the buzz-words that need to be understood, and even a short list of cameras can become difficult to analyze.

This Tech Tip will take a look at a few key words that may come up when researching a digital camera, and will hopefully reduce the headaches associated with the process.

Pixels

Digital images are composed of thousands or millions of tiny squares called picture elements, or pixels for short. Each square has its own color assigned to it, and the compilation of all of these little colored squares allows for images to appear smooth when viewed at original size. If an image is magnified several times, the appearance of the pixels can become more obvious, and at high magnifications each colored pixel can be distinguished individually.

Megapixels

Basically, the term megapixel means one million pixels, and it is used to describe the maximum number of pixels found in an image produced by a digital camera. It is generally the criteria used to classify cameras, and checking the Geeks.com selection (http://www.geeks.com/products.asp?cat=CAM) shows that their cameras are all sorted into ranges of megapixels (MP).

Many people assume that because cameras are marketed so heavily by their megapixel specification, that this is the single most important criteria when choosing a camera. More megapixels do not necessarily equal better images, they mean larger images (both in physical size and in file size).

The megapixel count is achieved by multiplying the number of pixels in one horizontal line by the number of pixels in one vertical line. So, if a camera can produce images at a maximum resolution of 1600 by 1200 pixels, it is a 1.92 megapixel (1,920,000 pixel) camera.

It is not fair to assume that the images from the 5.0 MP Kodax CX7525 are automatically better than those from the 4.0 MP Kodak CX7430 strictly based on their megapixel count. All it means is that the maximum image size of the CX7525 is 2560 x 1920 and the maximum image size of the LS743 is 2408 x 1758. Many other features in the cameras can impact the quality of the images they produce, and may be far more important for the typical user to consider than the maximum overall size of each image.

Larger image size may do nothing for a user who only wants to view images on his computer screen, or for use on the web, but the higher megapixel images are important for those looking to make prints of their images. Generally, higher pixel counts in an image translate to the ability to create larger prints.

Sensors - CMOS and CCD

Digital cameras use a small sensor to capture the image before transferring it to flash memory for storage. Equivalent to a negative in a film camera, these sensors come in a variety of sizes, with most being between 20 and 40 millimeters squared. There are two types of sensors that may be found in cameras: CCD (Charged Couple Device) and CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor). CMOS sensors are usually found in cheaper cameras and offer lower image quality than a CCD sensor that would probably be found in a more expensive camera.

There is an exception to the rule that CCD is better than CMOS, and that is with the Digital SLR-type (Single Lens Reflex) cameras. They use a much larger sensor (greater than 300 millimeters squared) and can provide excellent image quality, but the quality does come with a much higher price tag.

Zoom - Optical and Digital

Most digital cameras offer some sort of zoom, but it is important to identify which type is being provided. Optical zoom functions just as on a film camera, where the lens physically moves to produce the magnification. Digital zoom uses circuitry to enlarge a portion of the standard sized image and crops the content outside of the zoomed area. The quality of images produced using digital zoom suffer due to the nature of the process, and optical zoom is a far more desirable feature.

The price of a camera with optical zoom may be a good deal more than one with digital zoom, but the quality of the images cannot be compared. The Kodak CX7330 and the Kodak CX7300 are comparable cameras in many regards, but the CX7300 features only digital zoom, while the CX7330 features both optical and digital zoom for about $30 more.

Memory - Digital Film

The two important things to consider when choosing flash memory for a digital camera is that the right format is chosen, and that a quality module is chosen that can record quickly and be ready for the next picture as soon as possible. A photographer looking to snap a rapid series of high resolution images on their Kodak DX7440 has many options in SD (secure digital) memory to choose from but, they would be far better off with something like the SanDisk Ultra II SD card capable of a sustained write speed of 9 MB/s, than with a generic SD card capable of a burst speed rated at only 2.5MB/s.

Aliasing

Even if you think you know the basic definition of this term, it may seem confusing in the context of digital cameras. Aliasing refers to the appearance of jagged edges generally seen on diagonal or curved surfaces in images. This effect is caused by the fact that all pixels are square, and that even non-square shapes in an image need to be created with square components.

The solution to aliasing is not surprisingly called "anti-aliasing." Through software, the edges generally affected by aliasing are blended and the jagged appearance can be made much smoother. Video game enthusiasts may be familiar with anti-aliasing and the impact the varying levels of it can have on the overall performance of game play. Although the technology is similar, the personal importance of having the best digital images possible makes applying anti-aliasing just about a no-brainer.

Aspect Ratio

Aspect ratio describes the shape of a digital image, or any image for that matter, where the first number represents the width of the image and the second number represents the height. People may be familiar with the term as applied to televisions (as 16:9 wide screen televisions are now all the rage to replace traditional 4:3 units), and the concept is the same here.

Standard film cameras generally use an aspect ratio of 3:2, but most digital cameras have adopted a 4:3 aspect ratio so that images better fit on a standard computer monitor. Monitors with typical resolutions of 800x600, 1024x768, or 1280x960, for example, all have an aspect ratio of 4:3, so it only makes sense to produce images that will fit well on these screens. Although images can be manipulated to print on any size paper, special photo-quality paper is available to allow for high-quality prints to be made at the correct aspect ratio.

Connectivity

The pictures taken by a digital camera have to be extracted by some means in order to get them onto a computer, or perhaps directly onto a printer. In general, cameras provide a cable to connect to a computer either via serial, USB, USB 2.0, or Firewire.

Serial ports are just about extinct at this point due to their slow connection speeds and lack of plug-and-play support, but some older or lower-end models may still offer serial connectivity.

USB may be the most common form of connectivity, and if speed is important to you, look specifically for USB 2.0 support, as it is up to 40 times faster.

Some specialized cameras may take advantage of the high speed Firewire protocol for connecting to a computer. Just about all modern computers come with at least a pair of USB ports, but not all computers include Firewire. Firewire capabilities can be added to any computer with an available PCI slot by using an expansion card such as this one.

Some cameras don't require any cables at all, as they can transmit the images to a PC wirelessly. The Concord EyeQ is such a camera that utilizes Bluetooth technology in lieu of wires.

Even with all the modes of transmitting images listed so far, one other method may serve as a universal replacement for all of them. Many people find flash memory card readers to be a quick and convenient alternative to using the camera's native means of connecting. You simply remove the memory from the slot on the camera and pop it into the appropriate slot on the reader, and then the computer system can access the card like a local disk drive.

Final Words

Every high-tech field has its own set of specific buzz words, and digital photography is no different. Although by no means an exhaustive resource of digital photography terminology, this Tech Tip provides insight to a few key terms worth knowing in order to make shopping for a digital camera just a bit easier.

Digital Cameras

By Anita McPherson

Nowadays, you can encounter many varieties of cameras on sale. Thus, you need to pick is the appropriate one as the price range and also requirement. There are special prices of cameras inside market place to help you select the very best one as far as your own spending budget is concerned.

Digital camera can be an electronic machine that may convert photographs in to electronic information, before cameras were useful for taking photographs just. Nowadays multifunctional video cameras can take photographs along with appear and video downloads.

Usually, cameras tend to be categorized under three fundamental classes consists of expert modular digital camera system, video cameras, and still cameras. The newest platforms for cameras tend to be expert modular electronic digital camera systems. These categories have certainly raised the good quality level for all of these tools on sale.

Generally a digital camera consists of a storage to save almost any info in electronic format. Some cheap digital cameras or digital camera phones can employ onboard reminiscence to shop the necessary info. Inside the market today you may find out electronic cameras for sale that are associated with removable memory card. These types of removable memory handmade cards are basically meant to store the data in the short term.

Secure digital credit cards, reminiscence stick playing cards and XD cards are prime resource for a most recent digital digital camera to save lots of the reminiscence. You'll be able to find quite a few varieties of cameras on sale correct now. But you can pick the suitable one as per your own requirement and spending budget. Your 1st choice just before purchasing a photographic camera should be to make about is actually its resolution.

This is always to make certain you aren't going to drop the way to your account of a photographic camera after buying a high resolution a single. This can price tag you much more together with processing power, funds, and storage. The hue number of pixels don't mean to offer you a greater image.

So, this is the duty to be careful while purchasing a solitary. You may go for a lower resolution digicam, if your perform is always to publish pictures to the web, email files or perhaps view photos on your computer. Maintain in mind that whether it's an increased capacity memory card or even a little one particular, both are presently there inside industry to provide you with the greatest result on use. But it's depends on your funds and needs

Nowadays, you can come across many varieties of electronic cameras on sale. Therefore, you need to choose is the appropriate one as your own price range as well as requirement. There are special prices of digital cameras inside market place to help you select the very best a single as far as your spending budget is concerned.

Digital cameras can be an electronic machine which will convert photographs in to electronic information, just before cameras were employed for taking photographs only. Nowadays multifunctional digital cameras can take pictures along with sound and video tracks.

Usually, cameras tend to be categorized under 3 fundamental classes includes expert modular digital camera system, video cameras, but still cameras. The newest types for cameras are expert modular electronic camera systems. These types of categories have certainly raised the high quality level for all of these tools on sale.

Generally a digital digital camera consists of a storage to save almost any info in e-mail. Some cheap digital cameras or photographic camera phones can employ onboard reminiscence to shop the necessary info. Inside the market today you may find out electronic cameras available for sale that are associated with removable memory card. These removable memory credit cards are basically meant to store the data briefly.

Secure digital handmade cards, reminiscence stick playing cards and XD cards are prime useful resource for a newest digital digital camera to save lots of the reminiscence. You are able to find quite a few varieties of cameras on sale appropriate now. But you'll be able to pick the appropriate one as per your requirement and budget. Your 1st decision just before investing in a photographic camera ought to be to make about is its resolution.

This kind of is always to ensure that you aren't going to loose the way for you personally of a photographic camera after shopping for a high resolution just one. This can price you much more along with processing power, money, and storage. Any hue number of pixels don't mean in order to offer you a much better image.

So, this is the duty to be cautious while purchasing a individual. You may go for a lower resolution digicam, if your perform is always to publish pictures to the internet, email files or view photos on your computer. Maintain in mind that whether it's a higher capacity memory card or even a little one specific, both are presently there inside industry to offer the greatest end result on use. But it is depends on the funds and needs

These days, you can run into many varieties of electronic cameras on sale. Therefore, you need to select is the appropriate one as your own price range and requirement. There are distinctive prices of video cameras inside market place to help you select the very best one as far as the spending budget is worried.

Digital camera can be an electronic machine which will convert photographs in to electronic information, just before cameras were employed for taking photographs just. Nowadays multifunctional cameras can take pictures along with seem and video tracks.

Usually, cameras are usually categorized under three fundamental classes includes expert modular digital camera system, video cameras, but still cameras. The newest types for cameras are expert modular electronic camera systems. These categories have certainly raised the good quality level for all of these tools on sale.

Generally a digital camera consists of a storage to save any type of info in e-mail. Some cheap digital cameras or photographic camera phones can employ onboard reminiscence to look the necessary info. Inside the marketplace today you may discover electronic cameras available for sale that are of removable memory card. These kinds of removable memory playing cards are basically designed to store the data briefly.

Secure digital handmade cards, reminiscence stick credit cards and XD cards are prime source for a most recent digital digital camera to save lots of the reminiscence. It is possible to find quite a few kinds of cameras on sale correct now. But you can actually pick the suitable one as per the requirement and budget. Your 1st choice just before buying a photographic camera should be to make about will be its resolution.

This particular is always to make sure that you aren't going to free the way for you personally of a photo taking camera after buying a high resolution just one. This can price you much more together with processing power, resources, and storage. A hue number of pixels don't mean in order to offer you a far better image.

So, this is your duty to be careful while purchasing a single. You may go to get a lower resolution digital camera, if your work is always to publish pictures to the net, email files or even view photos on your computer. Maintain in mind that whether it's a higher capacity memory card or even a little one particular, both are presently there inside industry to offer the greatest end result on use. However it is depends on your own funds and needs

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