A Simplified Guide To Quickly And Easily Understanding Your Digital Camera

A digital camera can appear complicated, but there are certain basic points that can be quickly learned and will help you become a better photographer. It is worth it to spend some time thinking about your camera's pixel count, white balance, sensor, sensitivity, optical zoom, digital zoom, etc. These features will improve your pictures and increase the enjoyment you get from your digital camera.

A digital camera's basic unit of measurement is its number of pixels. The clarity and resolution of your pictures improve with the number of pixels per square inch your camera has. Each pixel contains within it three color channels (red, green and blue) and carries a numerical value of between 0 and 255.

Digital camera manufacturers use the pixel count as one way to describe their product. The pixel count of low-end digital cameras are usually around 1 million, a number that seems large, but is strictly for beginners! Better digital cameras and those used by professionals range in the 14 million to 22 million pixels-per-image.

Pixel number also determines the quality of your pictures at a given size. For example, a 3MP camera can give you beautiful 4"x6" prints, but would not give you the same quality at 5"x7" or larger. A 4 or 5 MP digital camera is necessary for excellent quality bigger prints.

You should also be familiar with your digital camera's digital sensor. The sensor element in most digital cameras is small, about the size of a fingernail, which is much smaller than a 35mm camera's negative. Again, high-end cameras have the larger sensors, which produce better quality large prints.

Another helpful feature of your digital camera is the white balance. This is adjusted to suit the light source and keeps your colors true, ensuring that whites are pure and not yellow or blue looking. Generally, your digital camera adjusts automatically, but for a really beautiful shot, you can manually adjust to get results exactly as you want them.

A digital camera's sensitivity setting is similar to ISO ratings on film. Generally, the sensitivity settings of digital cameras compare to ISO100 and ISO 200. Some have a setting for ISO 400. A few digital cameras with large sensors (and large price tags) have a setting for ISO 3200 or ISO 6400.

Another very important feature to be familiar with is optical versus digital zoom. Both are important, but for different reasons. Digital zoom physically crops the image to a smaller size; this cropped image expands to fill the frame. This cool feature allows you to cut out ugly background or focus on a particular object in the frame that might not be centered. Depending on the amount you "zoomed" out, there may a significant loss of quality in your pictures. The optical zoom lens actually changes the magnification and focal length, drawing subjects in and out depending on your desire.

Picture image storage can also be an issue and it's important to familiarize yourself with the manner in which data is stored. Each pixel generates three bytes of data. A photographer using a modest 3MP will need an amazing nine million bites to store each picture! Compressing an image using a format called JPEG significantly reduces the file size, which causes a corresponding loss of quality. For some purposes, this loss is not important, but as a rule, it is not preferable. Digital camera manufacturers have come up with different storage format designed to minimize this data loss. The format is not uniform; for example, Nikon calls its process NEF, while Canon calls its format RAW.

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By Tim Gorman

How To Choose a Compact Digital Camera

Compact digital cameras are such a craze today that almost every household has one. The popularity of digitals has in fact overshadowed to near extinction the use of cameras with films. But what is it about digital cameras that make even the professional users go gaga over it?

Digital cameras may cost more than the ordinary camera but it is cost effective in the long term. Unlike ordinary cameras, digitals operate without expensive films. The photos can be stored in the user's computer, or he can save it on a disc, flash drive or have it printed to photo paper. It is said to be a good investment not only because it does capture memories, but also it allows the user to save on film expenses.

The mad rush for compact digital cameras has begun and even those who could not afford to buy one are saving for that precious digital camera. To make it a good investment, buyers of compact digital cameras should make sure they know what they are buying and that they are buying the camera that best fits their requirements.

Neophyte digital users believe that the higher the pixel of the camera, the better for them. The truth is, a digital camera's pixel is only as good as the user's requirements. It means choosing the amount of pixels depends on your needs and not just for the sake of buying a camera with high pixels.

Before considering the type of digital you need, it is practical to take note of your budget or allowance allotted for buying the camera. Digital makers come up with new models every six months that cameras that are highly priced before now can be more affordable for you later on.

Choosing a compact camera brand really depends on the preference of the user. There are brands that are highly priced because they are popular and the manufacturers have spent millions for advertisements. Good reviews will also depend on the preferences of the camera reviewers so better stick to the basic requirements of a good camera. Sometimes, buyers opt for well-known brands that have been in the camera business for a long time to make sure they are buying quality digital cameras.

Prospective buyers of digitals should be patient in reading the guide or manual because unlike the ordinary camera, digital cameras are a bit more complicated to use the first time. It gets easier though once you get the hang of it.

When choosing which camera, take note of the optical zoom and not the digital zoom because the former does the real zooming. As to the matter of mega pixels, the higher the pixels, the more expensive it gets. However, if you just need to print your photos in small sizes, you do not need the higher mega pixels. When using digital cameras with the intention of printing your photos, it is ideal to choose the highest resolution but this will also mean each shot will require more memory storage. You also have to know that digitals come with software that will allow users to adjust the sizes of the photos. However, it is always best to change a higher resolution shot to lower resolution than the reverse because it has a tendency to become pixelized and the image will become blurred.

Whatever model of digital camera you choose, make sure it is appropriate for your requirements. If you are an amateur, start with a camera that has the basic requirements and a lower mega pixel so it will be affordable for you and won't be afraid to take a bad picture because all you have to do is delete it and take another photo.

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By Michael Contaro

Mini Digital Camera

If you are constantly on the move and love to travel, then your best travel companion can be a mini digital camera. With its unique and easy to use features and its small and unique size, a mini digital camera is the most sought after thing in the present world for travelers and photographers. You don't have to be a professional photographer to make use of this ultra compact camera. On the contrary, the enhanced resolution of the small sized camera can make you an extraordinary photographer by improving the quality of even the ordinary photographed items. While searching for a mini digital camera, there are a few features that you must make sure is present in the one you are purchasing.

Basic Features of Mini Digital Camera

Give due attention to the megapixel rating. This rating helps you to determine the amount of information that is stored with each and every photograph that you take. Megapixel rating is dependent on the resolution of the photograph that you take. Mini digital cameras may have a higher megapixel that can store more information. It also produces superior quality enlargements. Usually a minimum of 3 megapixels will suit your camera since most of the pictures taken are within 4X6.

Battery usage is another consideration to be made before purchasing a mini digital camera. Usually the bad cameras offer around 50 shots with a set of batteries. But make sure that your enhanced mini digital camera provides you with around 400-500 shots per set of battery. Also it is beneficial to use AA batteries since they are rechargeable and can be used for a longer duration of time. The AA batteries for a mini digital camera are economic in the long run.

It is best to select a mini digital camera that is fast. Time is taken by a digital camera to process an image after the pressing of the shutter. This time gap in between varies from camera to camera. There are some cameras that have a time gap of around 5 seconds where you have to wait for that long to take the second snap. Time can even be consumed by what is known as the shutter lag which is the time required for the autofocus mechanism to terminate and then trip the shutter to commence. Thus, while selecting your mini digital camera, make sure that it is really fast.

Another feature that you will have to keep in mind while buying a mini digital camera is the flexible optical zoom rate. Usually it is the zoom rate of 5X - 10X that provides you with better zoom in and also provides you with the necessary close-up shots.

There are a number of things that you can do with the help of your mini digital camera, all of which the film cameras will not allow you to do. In order to get the scanned images from the film cameras, you need to wait for the film to be processed and have to pay extra amount for this procedure. But with a digital camera, apart from being able to view it on the LCD screen immediately, all you need to do to scan the photographs is to store them on a reusable media chip. You can easily upload the photographs in your PC and edit them according to your own liking. You can print them anytime you want to with the help of a printer and store them easily in CDs and hard drive.

The mini digital cameras come with a built in LCD screen. It helps you to frame the shot before you click and view the picture immediately after you have clicked. Most of them are supplied with built in autofocus. Make sure that the autofocus mechanism is fast. If you are opting for a zoom factor of 10X and above for your mini digital camera, make sure that it has image stabilization to dismiss the shaking effect that can be caused during taking the pictures. Mini Digital cameras beautifully frames the moments of joy with the least effort.

Mostafa Shabban provides information on digital cameras and the founder of Digital Camera Shop Guide [http://www.digital-camera-shop-guide.com]

By Mostafa Shabban

The Digital Camera Dilemma, Do I Have To Buy A New Digital Camera Every Six Months?

It seems that every month, if not every week, competing manufacturers are coming up with the newest digital cameras to tempt likely customers. And it's just not working for us.

After spending a large amount of time at the mall determining which is the pre-eminent digital camera for us, we at last possess sufficient funds to buy for that huge 7 mega pixel, 12x digital zoom, portable, sweet colored, up to 600MB expandable memory of wonderful hi-speed SD memory array and not to forget, extremely lightweight.

We march to the mall armed with our life savings and lots of dignity in ourselves, when we pass by a new exhibit, an eight mega pixel, up to 1G expandable memory, with built it mic and stereo envelop, video playback enabled, with 22 picturesque modes camera. And we sigh because the manufacturer of this astounding device claims that this is the amazing digital camera yet out in the store.

And so, as we desire to own the finest, 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". It confuses us. What makes a digital camera, the pre-eminent digital camera? Well, there are predetermined factors to contemplate when looking for the "best digital camera" for us.

One of the most significant features of a digital camera to make it into the finest digital camera class is its mega pixel effects. The higher the mega pixels the superior the real picture will come out. A mega pixel is tantamount to one million pixels. The resolution of your portrait is based upon the mega pixel property of your camera. This means that as you magnify the photograph, you would get more detail and less blurry colors.

The superior digital camera will often have a big LCD to help you structure your theme without having to squint into the viewfinder. This is also useful when reviewing your images, some cameras allow touch up and editing features with its LCD. A 1.5-inch display is norm, a 2-inch LCD display is satisfactory, but the pre-eminent LCD magnitude would be 2.5 inches or higher.

Most digital cameras possess both digital and optical zoom. A higher optical zoom is usually superior to a higher digital zoom. Digital cameras are customarily furnished with optical zoom of between 3x to 10x. The better the optical zoom, the higher it climbs up to the unsurpassed digital camera variety.

Always make certain that your memory card is the correct one for your digital camera. There are disparate types of memory cards comparable the xD, SD, Flash card and the likes. And these types of memory cards go with fixed types of digital cameras. Of course memory storage is also up there in choosing the finest digital cameras. Select the magnitude of memory that you demand, if you're a picture junkie, you may want more than 32MB. Memory cards can go up to 1G.

The key point to uncovering the finest digital camera is to discover one that will best fit you and your lifestyle. Don't just buy the current favorite or the one that claims they are the best digital camera out in the market. You wouldn't wish to buy a DSLR and use it with your residence activities or household outing and have to lug it around?!

Or you don't want to buy the current point and flash camera when you're serious about being a seasoned paparazzo. Of course, you can use this for starters, but if you're not a amateur lensman anymore, you wouldn't crave to get this type of camera. In reality, the best digital camera is the one that you will most likely appreciate and use. Not the kind that you'll just leave in its box after a few weeks of usage.

Steve McArthur writes about subjects he is interested in, including digital photography. Visit his photo blog at PhotoZoomy Photo Blog http://photozoomy.com

By Steve McArthur

The Benefits of Underwater Digital Cameras

By Jason Gluckman

Underwater digital cameras are fun and easy to use under the water and great above the water as well. Use your underwater digital camera in all kinds of weather, for many activities and in a variety of locations that could be either wet or wild.

Are underwater digital cameras better than the film underwater cameras? It's up to you to decide. The digital camera cannot run out of film. It has the ability to delete bad shots or change to a lower resolution if you need extra shots.

They have better (up to 4 times) depth of field. This is also great for wide-angle photography in low light conditions. Shooting with film at f4 would typically produce fuzzy backgrounds and edges. The same scene shot in digital will give you sharp photos

When using a strobe, most film cameras are limited to shutter speeds of 1/60th - 1/250th of a second. The new consumer digital cameras don't have mechanical shutters and will sync at speeds up to 1/800th of a second. Therefore, you can shoot in bright shallow water where high f-stops would make strobes ineffective. Higher shutter speed options allow you to keep your f-stop at a better setting. These high shutter speeds are also great for freezing light rays and fast action.

35mm zoom lenses don't do well underwater. They are bad at close-focus. The built-in lens in the new digital systems offer a large zoom range with minimum focus ability to 8 inches or less. So if you had a new digital camera and a high quality aspheric housing port, you could take a 100degree wide-angle shot and zoom into 1:3 macro shot without changing lenses. Who likes to change lenses all the time?

Underwater digital cameras are small and lightweight, and the quality is comparable to film if you go for the higher resolution shots. Scans and digital camera images require a small amount of sharpening in Adobe PhotoShop®. Just apply the ""unsharp mask"" filter for an instant improvement.

Underwater digital cameras are not perfect, however and like video, the cameras have a tough time with high contrast scenes. Also, it's fairly expensive to transfer your digital files to slides if you are interested in having your images presented in slide shows. However, most digital cameras allow you to plug directly into a television for image display. And there are digital projectors on the market that produce brilliant images and even professional presentations complete with audio tracks.

Unfortunately the underwater digital camera has not fixed the one worst digital camera problem: when you press the shutter release, the camera will not immediately take the picture. This shutter delay could be a problem--fish swim fast.

If you're just starting with underwater photography, it would probably be best to purchase a digital underwater camera instead of a film underwater camera. The instant feedback of digital imaging will take years off your learning curve. With the 5 megapixel cameras, print qualities are great.

Regardless of your photo experience, think about your goals with underwater imaging. Shooters looking for instant results, quick web posts and prints of 11 in. x 14 in. and smaller will be thrilled with digital. Digital is probably the best solution for all new shooters that are comfortable with computers. Instant feedback is always great.

If you are still not sure, however, try out the equipment before you buy it. Take a class with demo gear and instruction. Then buy something wonderful and go out and have a great time with your new digital underwater camera.

Digital Camera Reviews and Ratings De-Mystify the Choices

By W R Kirk

Shopping for a new digital camera can be quite frustrating with the hundreds of choices available. Digital camera reviews clarify this confusion by comparing camera features and options, then rating how each camera compares with similar models.

An effective comparison of best digital cameras requires two things: 1) the camera's specs and features, and 2) performance ratings. Spec sheets and ratings are plentiful, but to efficiently compare digital cameras it's important to set some guidelines.

Decide on how the camera will be used, the quality and size of final prints, and necessary features. Write these down and rank camera reviews and ratings against these standards. Whether looking for a professional or snapshot camera, scan the reviews and narrow your choices down to a few cameras before making final comparisons.

OK, Lets Cut to the Chase...

Re-visit the reviews for this short list and evaluate the digital camera ratings in more depth for the following criteria:

Design, Construction and Controls

Minor design differences can become significant in daily camera use. Carefully compare how each camera's review is rated for design elements. Size and weight, body configuration, plus location of buttons, knobs and other controls can make a camera a joy to use or a real pain in the neck.

Evaluate how well the camera is put together. Are access doors for battery, memory, etc. solid and stable? What does the reviewer say about the shutter release, zoom and other buttons and knobs? How many photos will a fully charged battery take? Is the LCD bright and clear in both low light and sunny conditions?

The reviewer's evaluation of the camera's controls is critical. Can manual adjustments be made for different lighting conditions? How about auto-focus zones and exposure modes? Are controls simple and intuitive, or complicated menus?

Sensors, Pixels and Processors

These are the heart of a digital camera and determine photo quality, so closely compare how the reviewer rates them.

Generally larger sensors have more powerful and efficient photodiodes, and will produce higher quality photo images. Both CCD and CMOS sensor technology is advancing rapidly, but with each new development there are usually draw-backs, so compare carefully.

Digital camera marketing would have us believe it's all about more megapixels. But it's more complicated than that. Evaluate how each camera's review rates pixel quality, not just quantity. Some cameras will actually take better pictures with fewer pixels.

What the camera's processor does with the data collected from the sensor's diodes is equally important. It must properly interpret color balance and interpolate pixels for sharp natural looking pictures. It must be able to do it quickly or you'll have to wait too long between shots.

Lens Optics

In many ways lenses for digital cameras are simpler and less expensive than for conventional 35mm cameras. Even so, sensors and processors can't produce a better photo than what's visible through the lens. Compare the ratings because cheap lenses can distort images and colors.

In conclusion, decide on camera basics and budget range, scan enough reviews to pick a handful of finalists, then scrutinize the reviews and ratings on those cameras to find the perfect choice.

A list of top rated digital cameras can be found at our Digital Cameras Ratings 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.

Types of Digital Cameras

By Amber Lowery

If you are in the market to purchase a digital camera, you have surely seen several different types of cameras. It isnt exactly clear what the differences between the types are, and it can be confusing trying to choose the digital camera thats right for you. In this article, we wil discuss the different types of cameras so that you can better understand what to look for in purchasing a digital camera.

Point and Shoot Digital Cameras

Most consumer cameras on the market today fall into the category of Point and Shoot digital cameras. These cameras usually provide resolutions of between 2 and 4 megapixels (million pixels). These cameras are the digital version of your typical 35mm consumer camera.

A point and shoot digital camera is designed to do just that - take snapshots. They provide limited flexability with options, although many newer models have some limited options for special effects. The image quality from a point and shoot digital camera is generally good enough for common uses, such as auction photos, and even 4 X 6 prints.

If you just want a standard, entry level digital camera for family snapshots and auction photos, then a point and shoot digital camera is a budget conscious choice.

Semi Professional Digital Cameras

A semi professional digital camera is a more advanced version of a point and shoot digital camera. Typicaly, these cameras provide resolutions between 5 and 6 megapixels (million pixels). They also often offer the user additional settings and greater control over the camera. The image quality of these cameras is good enough to produce clear prints up to about 8 x 10.

A semi professional digital camera may be the best option for you if you seek greater creative control than you can get with a point and shoot model. The increased flexability does come with a price. Most semi professional models are priced much higher than point and shoot models.

Digital SLR Cameras

If you are a serious or professional photographer, no less than a Digital SLR model will do. SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex. Digital SLR cameras are very similar in operation to their 35 mm SLR countereparts. Also, many camera companies (such as Cannon and Nikon) have built their digital SLR models to be compatible with 35 mm SLR lenses. This is a great benefit to professional photographers who can select a model that is compatible with their existing lenses.

Digital SLR cameras provide an amazing ammount of creative control over the camera and the resuting images. Also, these cameras provide resolutions over 6 Megapixels and can produce prints of poster size without noticable pixelazation.

A Digital SLR camera (without lenses) is a pricey investment indeed. Currently, you can expect to spend $1500 or more on the camera alone. Accessories and lenses cost extra.

For more articles, information, and product reviews on Digital Cameras and Digital Photography, visit: Digital Cameras and Digital Camera Guides [http://www.digital-camera-guides.info]

Digital Camera Memory - An Introduction

By Jakob Jelling

The digital camera is essentially a computer-based device, whose core is controlled by the computer. And as a result the photographs are stored in a location called memory. Now, this concept is or paramount importance in discussing digital camera. Strictly speaking, digital camera memory is where digital pictures are stored inside the camera. The digital camera memory is an essential and often a very neglected and overlooked section of equipments for digital photography and camera. There are many types of memory available for digital cameras, and it is a good practice to mull over what type of memory a camera uses before buying a digital camera. This discussing is aimed in revealing some of this relevant information!

Knowledge of the digital camera memory is very essential for using such a camera and capturing photographs. The most common form of such memory is a memory card. These are reusable, have a limited capacity and can always be installed when required in excess. A person needs to be well informed about enough memory available for taking photographs. And accordingly make arrangements. Generally, digital cameras come available with low capacity memory cards, and it is a wise purchase to acquire higher capacity memory cards in order to budget for an additional card for later use.

With the increment of a camera mega pixel counts, it becomes essential to use higher capacity memory cards. Some of the small sized cards are for example the 64 megabyte cards and larger ones are like 1-gigabyte cards or combinations of megabyte cards.

Digital camera memory is available in many shapes and facade depending on the type of digital camera that is being used and even and the number of pictures that are required to be stored in the digital camera memory. These different types of memory are solely dependant upon the requirements of the digital camera, like for example a camera using compact flash type 1, requires the use of compact flash type 1 digital camera memory. Other examples of types of digital camera memory are Compact Flash Digital Camera Memory. It is suitable for rugged and rough handling and is also resilient for incessant usage. This is also small in size to assist better handling and flexibility. What more, it is cheap and anyone can afford it!

Generally, the sizes of a digital camera memory are as follows, 64 MB, 128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB, and 1 GIG. Again, the digital camera memory depends upon the file format used to store photographs upon and the compression used by the manufacturer when storing digital images into memory.

Coming to the concluding portion, it is recommended to get hold of one 256 megabyte or two 128 megabyte cards for a 3-5 mega pixel compact digital camera. For higher resolution photographs, 512 megabyte and 1 gigabyte cards are also available. These are some of the guidelines for revealing the true facts about the different digital camera memories and their secrets. Summing up in a few words, with such a powerful tool as the digital camera, a proper selection of memory can help a person achieve the glorious tasks of freezing a precious moment from life for eternity!

About The Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.

Choosing The Right Digital Camera

By Gordon Brenzil

Let's get something straight right out of the box. If you're looking to buy a new digital camera, you don't really have to be an expert in pixels and mega pixels and all that kind of stuff. If you expect to find that kind of deep technical discussion here, you're in the wrong place.

Actually, there's a whole lot of stuff you don't really need to know before tackling the daunting task of choosing the right digital camera for you.

First of all, forget all the high-tech jargon. It's mostly a lot of sales hype anyway. Choosing a good unit is pretty simple really...pretty much all you have to remember is that the higher the mega pixel rating on the front of the camera, the bigger picture you can make without it breaking up into little chunks (called pixels) and most likely the more cash it's likely going to pry out of your pocket. Each model has an array of techno-widgets that go by different names but they all have the same basic focus, to help you take a better picture.

I have a quick (and admittedly simplistic) overview of the pixel story. The shot on the left on my web page

http://www.great-nature-photography.com/digital-cameras.html

is one I took with a high pixel rating and the one on the right was with a much lower rating. They've been enlarged way beyond what you would normally do, but I do have a point to make here.
If you look carefully you can see there's a terrific difference in the way they look or, in the 'resolution'. The image on the right has already broken up into small pieces (pixels) (I hope) you can readily see. The picture on the left was magnified several times more than the one on the right which should give you an idea of how big you can enlarge it and still retain a fairly decent result. By the way, these shots are of a very, very small piece of a picture I took of snapdragons in our front yard.

A camera with a 5.0 mega pixel rating or higher can produce a decent 16X20 print but one with a 2.0 mega pixel rating or lower should be restricted to a maximum of 4X6 prints. For the most part, you won't be happy with pictures any larger than 4X6 from the lower rated camera.

Okay, Let's Pick A Camera...

Well, I have my favorites and my not-so favorites.

When I looked at all the digital cameras available, I was more than a little astounded at the vast selection of available equipment. It seems that every company that's ever heard the word "computer" has jumped on the bandwagon. It seems they lay their hands on some lenses, wrap a computerized box around them, added a few techno-widgets and bingo, instant digital camera! What can you say...it's money in the bank!

Where did I start looking? Well, I went back to my tried and true method of buying a film camera that I talk about later. It's always worked for me and didn't let me down this time either.

My personal digital camera finally wound up to be an Olympus C-5050. By the way, in my opinion Olympus didn't do themselves or their customers any favors by dumping the f1.8 lens on the C-5060.

I chose this camera for the fast f1.8 lens and ease of use. I'm lazy at best and wanted a unit that's going to do most of the work for me while leaving me with the option of doing what I want to do when I want to do it.

This unit has all the automatic features I'll ever need but I also have the ability to set up the camera completely manually. I can still do minimum depth-of-field work among other things. I never want to completely lose control to a mindless computer although they do have their uses at times.

The first thing I did after I opened the box was print off the user manual - all 265 pages of it! I figured I had done my duty by it and promptly ignored it.

After very quickly killing my first two sets of "high-capacity" alkaline batteries, I sprung for a couple sets of Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) rechargeables. Not only did they last longer but it was a heck of a lot cheaper than replacing the alkalines every darn time I picked up the camera.

It boils me to have to admit this but I actually had to go back to the user manual. I wasn't getting the results I wanted and there was also some 'stuff' on the camera I had no clue about using. The moral of this story is that you're gonna have to at least have a nodding acquaintance with your user manual. Sorry, but that's just the way it is.

Back to choosing a camera...

Throughout the years I've learned that if a camera 'fit' my hand it worked well for me. It may sound a little strange at first but just think about it. If you're handling something that feels awkward, your results are going to look like it. I had a Mamiya RB-67 for a lot of years. It was a big, ungainly unit but it was a good 'fit' for me and produced a great image. I also used a Hasselblad for quite a while but I much preferred the Mamiya and it gave me better results than the Hasselblad. (Don't tell Hasselblad lovers I said this, they'll kill me!)

So, rule of thumb...if it fits your hand nicely, if the main controls are handy to your fingers, if it has the mega pixel number you want and falls within your budget, you can be pretty confident this will do the job you want it to do. Oh yes, if it's a brand you've never heard of before, be very, very wary. It may work well and it may not. If it doesn't, there may not be any tech backup for you to be able to access.

The major camera companies spend lots of money developing new photo technologies. Although the latest techno-widgets go by different names, they all have the same goal, to make your pictures look as good as possible.

Pretty well every company in the world that has even come close to producing a good digital camera has gotten into the "SLR Wars".

Single lens reflex cameras dominated the photo market for years until digital technology hit the market. Because of design and price limitations, SLR technology has not been widely available in the non-professional digital cameras until the last year or so.

The furious pace of technological developments has completely overtaken the market and even professional photographers are being boggled trying to keep up.

Remember the old Nikon F2? It was the major link in the Nikon chain of professional cameras for over 10 years! This was pretty much the norm until the computer hit the photographic industry big time.

Changes used to come slowly and deliberately and it wasn't hard to keep up with the latest and greatest when major new developments came along only two or three times in a decade.
The battle now is to produce digital cameras that operate faster, can be sold cheaper and will produce a better picture. Severe competition even exists within the same corporate structure where teams of developers do their utmost to 'outgun' other camera designers who work in the same building as they do!

Nikon has a distinct advantage over many of the other manufacturers in that owners of some of the older series of Nikon lenses can use them with the new digital bodies, a tremendous dollar saving to the photographer.

Most of this rapid development is focused on the professional photographer. But, with technology changing as rapidly as it is, a camera technology that sells for several thousands of dollars today will undoubtedly become available to people like you and me in the next couple of years for a whole lot less money.

One of the hardest jobs a new camera buyer will have is determine which of the new techno-widgets does the best job and is the best value.

One thing to keep in mind about camera features...they all have the same job and that's to help you take a better photo.

Picture this if you will. If you lined up 10 cameras from different manufacturers, each with similar basic features, took the same picture with each, I think even the camera manufacturers would have a tough time picking out which of the resulting photos came from their units.

Getting feedback from all kinds of users is one very excellent use of newsgroups. Serious photographers, amateur and professional both, love to talk about their latest 'toys'. This is a good way to spend time and a good place to ask questions and (sometimes) get intelligent answers.

Don't wait until you've made the investment to start doing your homework.

Another rule of thumb, if you're happy with a particular brand name already, my suggestion is to stick with it. You'll probably be more satisfied in the long run.

Now, having said all that, there are currently five search engine 'favorite' companies among the people looking for information on the Internet, Sony, Canon, Olympus, Kodak and Nikon in this order of popularity. Of this group, Sony is the only one with no prior experience in camera building before digital.

Understanding how to set your camera's resolution is absolutely vital. There's no shortcut and there's no way around it. This is the core of taking a good, reproducible photograph. If, for instance, your camera is set for 240X360, you can forget making any kind of decent print above a 'thumbnail' size.

The low-end cameras are not a bargain if you're looking for good photo reproduction. Labs are constantly arguing with customers who submit low resolution digital images from a cheap camera for printing and then aren't happy with the results. They simply don't understand why the pictures from their brand new digital camera are so lousy. Lenses and the type of digital image recording technology are also critical factors.

I won't get into the technical details of why but I will suggest you consider spending in the $250 to $400 range if you want something that will satisfy you.

Let's spend a few minutes on lenses. Pretty well all of the digital cameras these days have a form of zoom lens. Most of the higher-end cameras have the capability for the user to add either an external telephoto or wide-angle lens. Depending on the type of photography you want to do will determine whether or not this is of value to you.

One thing to watch out for. The higher end cameras have very good glass lenses. It's part of what you're paying for. The lower-end units have progressively less expensive lenses and consequently, a lower image definition.

There are both optical and digital zoom capabilities on digital cameras. The term "optical zoom" simply means you're using the glass lenses to do the magnification. "Digital zoom" on the other hand simply increases the size of the pixels to make the image larger. For reasons of image clarity, the optical zoom is a far better way to go.

One last note - if you run across the "best deal in town" on a very low-priced name brand camera, check to make sure it isn't badly out-dated. Buying well-priced clearance stock is okay if it isn't too old. In this computer age, pretty well anything over a year old is considered 'old technology'. As new technologies are developed the price keeps going down so you could actually be money ahead by investing in the 'latest and greatest'.

Always keep in mind the old adage that 'you usually get what you pay for.

If you go to a 'box' store looking for the best price, don't expect service. The folks there simply don't know what they're selling. Their job is to move as much merchandise as they can as quickly as possible. It's not to give you advice.

Go to the Internet to get the latest data directly from the manufacturers. It changes very, very quickly. When you do this, try to climb through all the sales hype to get to the 'meat' of what the cameras are all about. Newsgroups can also a very excellent source of advice for 'newbies'.

Most people will be very happy to give you their personal opinion of what you should buy. Just remember, they won't usually tell you what the downside to their purchase is. They don't want to look less than 'expert' in your eyes. Do your own homework. This is an investment you probably won't repeat for several years.

A specialty camera store on the other hand gives the buyer both service and product and usually very well. Keep in mind that the specialty store personnel are quite often very highly trained and will probably be well prepared to help you find the best equipment for you and will also give you a 'leg-up' in getting started using it.

We need to spend a couple of moments on storage media. Whatever size media card you stick in your camera will determine the number of pictures you can take and store. It's like a roll of film, the bigger the roll the more pictures you can take.
Digital images are no different. The greater the number of available megabytes (Mb), the higher the number of pictures you can take.

A word of caution - never, never, never leave your media card in a photo lab. The incidence of loss is high and most labs won't replace lost cards. Quite frankly, I don't blame them. Far, far too many false claims have been made and labs now refuse to take any responsibility for your memory cards.

That's it for now. Keep your film dry your lenses clean!

Gordon

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Gordon has been involved in the photo industry in one way or another for over 30 years. Long after he stopped using his mother's pie plates as developing trays in the family bathroom, among other things, he owned his own photo lab and professional studio for a number of years. See more at: http://www.great-nature-photography.com

Canon Digital Camera

By Kirk Elliott

Cool, sleek and sexy, Canon Digital Cameras are an instant fashion statement. But more importantly, Canon, along with its top rival Nikon, make the best cameras in the world in the point & shoot and digital SLR categories.

Now while other camera manufacturers make great cameras too, none of them can rival the tremendous amount of resources that both Canon & Nikon put into research & development. Much of this research & development is geared towards their top of the line Professional Digital SLRs, but the benefit to the average consumer is that a lot of this technology makes its way into many of Canon & Nikon's more modestly priced digital cameras. And this is of great benefit to the non-professional camera buyer.

Here are Canon's top 5 digital cameras based on popularity, with a short description of each one...

Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF 18-55 mm f3.5-5.6 IS Lens

This is one of Canon's best selling cameras and it's easy to understand why, as it is a digital SLR that delivers stunning photography with point-and-shoot ease. The EOS Rebel XSi delivers staggering technological innovation at an amazing price. This camera features Canon's EOS Integrated Cleaning System, Live View, a powerful DIGIC III Image Processor and so much more. Simply put...You can't go wrong buying this fantastic Canon Digital Camera.

Canon EOS Rebel T1i (500D) 15.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 Inch LCD Screen & EF-S 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens

This camera features full HD video capture as well as a Live View Mode for stills. The camera also boasts a 3.0 inch Clear View LCD screen and a maximum ISO of 12800.

The EOS Rebel T1i also features 14 bit A/D (analog to digital) conversion rather than the older 12 bit A/D conversion that is common in older cameras.

To help you appreciate the difference...in 12 bit A/D conversion there are 4096 discrete levels of color vs 16384 discrete levels with 14 bit conversion, resulting in much smoother color gradations with cameras such as this EOS 500D

Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Digital SLR Camera with 3 Inch LCD Screen & EF-S 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens

Similar to the Rebel T1i, this Digital Rebel features an 18 MP sensor for amazing tonal range and exceptional image capture akin to what you'll find in Canon's much more expensive Professional Series Digital SLRs.

With an improved EOS Movie Mode and Digic 4 Image processing, this is one spectacular camera set at a truly amazing price.

Canon Rebel XS 10.1 MP Digital SLR Camera

This is a great entry level Canon Digital camera for the budget conscious camera buyer. It features a Digic III Image Processor and is one of Canon's most compact and lightest digital SLRs.

Canon EOS 7D 18 MP Digital SLR Camera w/3-Inch LCD Screen

Here's an excellent prosumer Canon Digital Camera that will make both the advanced amateur as well as many a professional photographer very happy.

With an 18 MP CMOS Sensor and Digic 4 Image processing, not only is this camera super fast, but it also allows you amazing detail even with very large enlargements.

This Canon Digital SLR also features Full 1920 x 1080 HD Video Capture, will shoot at 8 frames per second and has an ISO rating up to 12800.

All told, this is one sweet digital Canon camera.

Okay, so there you have it. Some of Canon's best digital cameras as of this writing.

Here's wishing you great success in buying your Canon Digital Camera, and even greater success and pleasure with the Amazing images you will create!

Click The Link Below To Get The ULTIMATE FREE e-Report ~ How To Choose The Best Digital Camera ~ By Ace Professional Photographer - Kirk Elliott

By the time you complete this 10 page FREE e-Report you will be better informed than more than 97% of the people out there who plan to buy a digital camera this year! http://bestdigitalcamera-hq.com/BestDigitalCamera/canon-digital-cameras/

Tips Before You Buy a Digital Camera

By Manoj Tiwari

Over the past few years digital cameras has been among the hottest consumer electronic items on the Chinese electronic market. Whether it is digital still cameras, digital camcorders, or PC cameras, many consumers in different parts of the China has taken advantage of increasing quality of camera to make digital imaging a marketplace phenomenon. Today it is one of the most preferred electronic items available in the Chinese market. In recent years digital cameras has accounted the majority of all electronic product market in China. In fact, as per the recent survey and analysis of the high-tech product market research conducted by independent bodies reveals that digital still cameras were the most-owned type of camera. Adding to this, it is even projected that in next few years the ratio of buyers purchasing digital camera will increase. These few indication ensures that the product's future definitely looks to be promising in China.

Today if we look at the current scenario of the Chinese electronic product there are many digital camera brands available at cheap price. The cheap cameras for both snapshots and professional photographic applications have become more and more popular now. As a result, today many people are searching for right kind of digital camera. Indeed, it won't be wrong to state that the Chinese electronic market has been flooded with digital cameras, which in turn made the task of selecting a right camera a difficult process. It has become very confusing, so here are few important tips that may help you or any other individual who are seriously looking to purchase digital camera.

Always Read Online Reviews- Doing research before buying an electronic product like digital camera can always beneficial As you are looking to purchase a camera through online stores, you must not rely upon the advice of the helpful sales person who may or may not know anything about the camera. You must read some reviews in digital camera magazines or online that may help you narrow down the field. Today there are many great websites that give expert and user reviews on virtually every camera on the market. You must use such wonderful and free online resources.

Be Sure About Extras- Keep in mind as you look at cameras and the price quoted in any website may not be the final outlay that you need. So you must ensure about the variety of other extras that you might want to fork out for like - Camera Case, Spare Batteries, Re-charger, Filters or Reflectors. These days many online retailers bundle such extras with cameras or may try to give at least discount when buying more than one item at once. Always keep in mind, though that what they offer in bundles might not meet you needs.

Compatibility with Computer- It is very obvious that digital camera you purchased, probably you may like to use it with your home computer to email, store and print the digital photos. As a result, once again you must have to get acquainted yourself with the camera's compatibility and memory information to ensure the camera and your computer are a good match. This information you can easily find on the boxes for the camera and its related software, or you may also ask the salesperson through online voice chatting or email.

Learn to Negotiate- After you have done all the research and selected the right digital camera for you, it is the right time to find the best price. Therefore, you must learn to negotiate. With good research and price knowledge, you are always in a position with any online store to negotiate on price factor. Though big online stores are more difficult and at times don't give you the ability to negotiate but smaller ones may often allow if you email them.

Optical Zoom- Always go for optical zoom. Just like on a traditional film camera, the feature like optical zoom can allow you to have picture. It doesn't matter, whether you are going through an online buying process or any other traditional process, you cannot ignore the feature like optical zoom in any digital camera. So, try to ensure that the zoom lens on a digital camera allow you to have a better close-up view of any object. When selecting a digital camera, choose one with optical zoom rather than just digital zoom.

Mega Pixels- This could be yet another technical aspect you cannot ignore. Though you are purchasing a product through an online process, but you need to make sure how many mega pixels you need in your camera. One major difference that you find among various models is the number of mega pixels a camera has. However, it is important to understand that higher the number of mega pixels, the better the quality of the photo image. Just in case, if you plan to share images by email and make prints up to size 5x7", 2 mega pixels is sufficient. In addition to this, if you are looking to print professional-quality images in all sizes then you will require a 4 or 5 mega pixel camera.

No doubt, shopping for a new digital camera can be a lot of fun for any photography enthusiast like you. However, putting the fun part aside, your prime aim must be to purchase the digital camera that fits within one price range and at the same time contains all the vital functions you generally require to take the best of pictures. This does not signify that you need to compromise to the large extent and purchases cheap digital cameras that have least functions.

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Digital Cameras Versus Film Cameras - Do You Know the Difference?

By Kenneth Jahzeal Agwu

Since its invention over a hundred years ago, photography has totally transformed how we perceive our world. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the camera is one of the most important inventions in all human history. Photography has made it possible for humans to "see" objects that are actually thousands of kilometers away.

At their most basic level, Cameras, both the Single Lens Reflex Camera and Digital Camera simply involve using a curved piece of glass or plastic (lens) to conduct a beam of light bouncing off an object, and to redirect this light in such a way that a real image is formed-an image that looks exactly like the object in front of the lens. The only difference between manual or conventional film cameras and digital cameras lies in how these basic processes are accomplished.

In film cameras, after the lens has formed an image of the object, the image is then focused on and recorded by a chemically-coated piece of plastic, the film. Then the film is chemically processed, after which the image is printed onto a photographic paper, and then we have pictures that can then be stored in our photo album or distributed to friends as desired. But digital cameras take a shorter route to achieve the same result stated above.

How Digital Cameras Work

Digital cameras are a part of a larger breakthrough that we've witnessed in consumer electronics over the past twenty years-the wholesale conversion of analog information into digital information. When we really get down to it, CDs, HDTV, DVDs, MP3s, DVR, etc are all built around the principle of converting fluctuating waves into bits of ones and zeros. Conventional cameras depend fully on chemical and mechanical processes-you can actually operate them without electricity! But the digital camera presents a paradigm shift here: it has a built-in computer that records images electronically, and must thus be powered by electricity.

Just like manual cameras, digital cameras also use the lens-actually series of lenses-to focus the light from an object to form an image. But unlike the manual camera, the image formed by the lens in a digital camera is not focused onto a piece of film to be recorded. Instead, the image is focused onto a semiconductor device that is capable of recording light electronically. A computer is then used to break down this electronically-recorded information into digital bits of data. Let's now take a closer look into the inner workings of a digital camera.

The Technology

Included in a digital camera's built-in computer is a sensor that converts light into electrons, or electrical charges. Depending on the camera's manufacturer, this image sensor may be either a Charge Coupled Device, (CCD), or Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS). To be honest, notable differences exist between these two types of sensors (i.e. CCD and CMOS). But they perform the same basic function in a digital camera-converting light into electricity. Hence, for the purpose of understanding how a digital camera works, we're going to think of them as identical devices.

And somewhat like the film cameras, a digital camera also has to control the amount of light that reaches the sensor. Yes, it also makes use of the Aperture and Shutter Speed. But these are mostly automatic and can be reset electronically. Now, a digital image is just a long string of 0s and 1s. It is the sensor that reads and interprets the values of these digits as contained in the cells of each recorded image.

Next, another device known as Analog -to-Digital Converter (ADC) turns each recorded pattern of light (pixel values) into digital value by measuring the amount of charge at each cell, and converting that measurement to binary form. Remember we stated earlier that every digital camera has an in-built computer? Now, a processor therein interpolates the data from the different pixels to form natural color. For the majority of digital cameras equipped with LCDs, it is possible at this stage to see the image that has just been photographed before deciding to print it.

At this stage the information is stored in some form of memory within the camera-all digital cameras are equipped with a number of storage systems, most of it removable storage devices. We can consider these as forms of reusable, digital films. And because pictures take up lots of storage space, most digital cameras use some sort of data compression to make the files smaller. A card reader can then be used to transfer the information stored therein (i.e. photographic images) to a computer for further usage.

The processes described above sure sound complicated, right? Don't worry. In practice, it all happens so effortlessly that we barely take note of anything while using a digital camera-which is what makes it fun to use: the ease and the speed. Imagine that you want to e-mail a picture to a friend. With conventional cameras, you'll first have to capture the image, process the film, print the picture, and then use a scanner to capture the picture again and record it as pixel values for onward e-mailing to your loved one. But with a digital camera, the picture is automatically broken down and recorded as pixels ready for e-mailing. That's the fun. Plus, you also get to view the image, live, before setting to print!

Thus, despite the comparatively better quality of film pictures, digital cameras will continue to get more and more popular. Also, as digital imaging technology continues to improve in leaps and bounds, it'd be interesting to see what becomes of the conventional film camera.

Digital SLR Camera Vs a Compact Digital Camera

By Fredrick Joy

Thinking of buying a camera for you? Great! What is the first thing you would look into the camera when the shop keeper demonstrates wide range of those? Of course, the first thing you would look in a camera is your budget when you compare your choice with other cameras. If your budget is not so high, then you would go for a compact digital camera. But if the price is not a concern, then better you should go for a Digital SLR camera. Let me explain the difference between these two types of cameras.

In spite of the price slashing of digital SLR cameras, they are still costlier than compact digital cameras. However, you can get fast performance and great picture results in digital SLR Cameras, which make them worth to pay its price. As soon as you press the button, it powers-up instantly taking no lagging time and allows you to take the shot. In case of compact digital cameras, you may find the power-up time delayed for few seconds.

As far as size and weight is concerned, the digital SLR cameras come in double than the size of compact digital cameras. Additionally you would need to carry lenses separately. Digital compact cameras come in pocket size, which can fit into your pocket and the lenses comes in the body itself.

Although video capturing is a common feature of both the cameras, the digital SLR cameras are still one step ahead. In the former case, you can watch the captured movies and still photos on the television while setting the DSLR camera on HD video mode.

In digital SLR camera, you have to zoom manually as the zoom lenses are detachable from the camera. However, you can zoom the lens in and out as fast or as slow you want just by twisting a ring and change the view. And, the compact digital camera comes with electronic zooming system. The lens can zoom in and out just by pressing a button. As far as zoom range is concerned, in DSLR, you need to buy either one zoom lens with 10 zoom power or buy two different zoom lens to cover wide angle and telephoto shots respectively. Whereas in compact digital camera you get two in one facility because of mega zoom lens. That is, you can take both type of shots with same lens with 10x or 12x zooming power.

Looking to the battery life of digital SLR camera, you will find its battery long lasting owing to the limited use of LCD screen which is used just to view the images. Once the battery is charged, you can take around two thousand shots. In case of compact digital camera, the battery life is very short as its one time battery charging can allow you to take about five hundred shots.

DSLR could be the best choice if:

* You are a professional photographer or even if you are not but you want to give your pictures a professional look.
* You want to get rid of the hassle of slowness of your current compact camera.
* You want the facility of changing the lens of the camera according to the views and shots.
* You often want to shoot the pictures at night or in dim light.

In my opinion, digital SLR camera is the ideal camera as it gives a sharp, clear and actual colour pictures you shoot. It gives the best result compared to all other aim and shoot cameras including compact digital cameras.

Comparing Digital Cameras and Digital Camera Reviews

By Danny Feildman

The most exciting thing that you face when you go buying the digital camera is that there are so many choices. With so many different features, styles and prices of digital cameras available in the market, the comparisons can actually be mind-boggling.

If you are going to buy a digital camera for yourself, to compare different digital cameras is a must for you. It will make your buying simple as well as less time consuming. If you want to know a few basic guidelines for drawing fair comparisons between a plethora of options available in the market, read the article. It will definitely help you make the best deal for you.

There are many factors that make a particular camera better or worse for you. The pixels, optical, memory, camera size, digital zoom and cost of various digital cameras should be compared well before picking any camera. The important task is to put through a sieve all the hype and get the best digital camera suiting your needs.

But before you start comparing the features of different cameras, it is important for you to make certain basic decisions. They are related to identifying your basic needs and prerequisites for the camera. Decide on why you need a digital camera. The purpose should be well-defined. Ask yourself, is it for taking candid snapshots or for serious photography. If you are buying the camera for clicking pictures for an exhibition or a photo website, the criterion of purchase will definitely change. There are different sizes of models that include compact, miniature and big size cameras. Be clear about the size you need to buy.

Then you may start comparing the specific features of the digital camera. You can compare the quantity and quality of the pixel. The more the pixels in the camera, the clearer and quality pictures it would produce. The pixels are nothing but tiny squares of color and light. Thus to get the best camera, you should have the best pixel quality. The sensor of the camera can be called as its eye. Generally, the digital cameras with larger sensors have better quality diodes, which result in sharp and clear pictures.

You should also compare the digital camera on the grounds of its memory. All the digital photographs require the storage capacity of several megabytes. You should compare the capacity of built-in memory of the digital camera. You should certainly go for the one with more battery capacity. A general guidance principle is to have a battery with at least 256 to 512MB of memory. It is important to check the memory compatibility while comparing the digital cameras.

You can also compare the SLR digital camera with compact digital camera. There are many features that you may find in a compact digital camera but not in the SLR digital camera. It can also be vice versa.

The SLR cameras are big cameras, efficient in producing clear, sharp and quite colourful images. While the compact cameras are very small in size and can be slipped in to your jeans pocket quite comfortably. They may not compete well with the SLR digital cameras when you compare their features. But, their size is the feature, which is the major attraction for purchase to many users. When you would compare the working and results of both of these cameras, you can decide as to which one suits the best to your needs.

There are more features that should be compared before buying a digital camera. Optical zoom is much better than digital zoom. Compare the speed of the shutter, time taken to start up, the level of manual override and how instant is the auto focus of the camera.

Keep these things in your mind before the purchase. I am quite sure that you will make the best-for-you pick, prior comparing various digital options. Happy Shopping, for happy digital Clicking!

My Digital Cameras Keep Becoming Obsolete

By Andrew Malek

As a digital camera owner, this scenario likely applies to you. After visiting a digital camera store, talking to friends, reading reviews, or possibly shopping online, at one time you bought what you thought was the perfect digital camera for your needs.

After purchasing this digital camera and using it for a few weeks, you later visited the same store, browsed the same websites, or scanned through the latest issues of those same magazines, and guess what? A newer, 'better', faster, and cheaper digital camera is now available, making your current camera seem 'uncool', agonizingly slow, and obsolete. I can definitely say the above scenario has happened to me - way too often. I've purchased five digital cameras in the last few years and have friends who have been through many more. Instead of continually burning holes in your wallet, how can you purchase a digital camera that will continue to stay cutting-edge for years to come?

Welcome to the sad truth - obsolescence is inevitable with digital cameras, just as it is with cell phones, computers, television sets, or other electronics. No matter how much time you take researching digital cameras, no matter how much money you spend, sooner or later a new model will be released, making you rue the day you purchased your 'old' camera. You may be thinking, "I'm ready to purchase a new digital camera. Should I spend the money now and buy a camera, or wait a few months until something better comes along? The one I am interested in buying might become obsolete soon."

My advice: unless you are still very happy with your current digital camera and absolutely know a specific new digital camera model will soon be available, go ahead and purchase the best camera you can find. When I mean "best", I don't mean the most expensive, or even the digital camera with the most "bells and whistles". I mean the camera with the best combination of features and value for your budget. Life is short - really short. You could wait, watching the releases of camera after camera, and think, "I'm smart. I'm going to wait until a better digital camera exists." While you may technically save money in the long run, there are larger costs you're enduring - the opportunity and enjoyment costs of not having the right equipment for your needs during the time waited.

If you always wait for the newest crop of digital cameras to be released, you could very well wait forever. Digital cameras continue to advance in technology with no end in sight.

* Megapixels: I remember when one megapixel cameras were all the rage. Now twelve+ megapixels is not uncommon, and if you read this article years from now, who knows what will be the norm.

* Focal length: My first camera had no zoom at all. My old prosumer camera has 7x optical zoom, I have a digital SLR with a 28mm - 300mm zoom lens, and other cameras and lenses on the market have even greater focal distances.

* Speed: Expect continual increases in shutter speeds, plus decreasing startup and memory writing times. And if you own a digital SLR, newer and faster lenses will be released to market.

* Image Quality: New lenses and image sensors will continue to produce clearer, more exact replicas of your subjects in digital form.

* Battery length: Think your digital camera can't last but a few dozen or hundred photos before switching batteries? Even that will change.

You could constantly worry about obsolescence, or you have a couple of other options:

* Plunk down more money and purchase a digital SLR camera instead of a prosumer or compact camera. Unless you are familiar with dSLRs, you may have to spend some time familiarizing yourself with controls and techniques, but these cameras have several advantages. Digital SLRs may have quicker start-up and media write times. Since dSLR lenses can be changed, you can acquire different zoom distances and quicker exposures without buying a new camera body. And if later you do purchase a new camera body, if you purchase the same brand of camera you may be able to reuse your current lenses.

* Are you sure you have read your manual and taken full advantage of your current digital camera? Have you learned about adjusting shutter speeds and ISO sensitivity to take faster exposures, white balance settings to make photos seem truer to life, and bracketing so you can better experiment with all of these features?

* As New Yorkers are prone to say, "Fugitaboutit"! Great photography requires more than just great equipment, and great pictures can be made without top-of-the-line electronics. Remember that even with a first-class digital camera, if your composition is boring and your lighting dull, the results will prove likewise.

An ancient proverb states that "the only thing constant is change". Such is true with the development of digital cameras. Don't let life pass you buy while waiting for the perfect digital camera that will never become obsolete. That day may not occur, at least in our lifetimes. If you're in the market for a digital camera, buy the best one available for you, enjoy shooting photos, and don't always be concerned about newly available 'better' digital cameras. Eventually you may upgrade (again), but for the time being, just relax, enjoy your hobby, and get everything you can out of your camera.

Andrew Malek is the owner of the MalekTips computer and technology help site at http://www.malektips.com . Whether you're ready to buy a new digital camera and need buying advice, or need hints on taking advantage of the camera you already own, visit http://malektips.com/camera for hundreds of free digital photography tips.

Digital Cameras Christmas Gifts Guide - Know the Top 10 Xmas Presents Now - Canon Powershot?

By Faviano Torres

One of the most wished for items or gifts this Christmas are digital cameras. And why not, when the digital cameras today are sleek, stylish gadgets that will allow someone to capture moments in time and keep them forever? If you're thinking of getting someone this special gift, then you better do some research first. Below is a list of the Top 10 Digital cameras - Christmas gifts for 2008. Hopefully it will help you crop your choices when buying a digital camera as a gift. Good luck!

1. Canon PowerShot A590IS 8MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom - this beauty right here can capture images with such detail that they can be used in making 16x22 inch prints. The 8MP CCD is one of the best in the market. Add to that a 4x optical zoom with Image Stability, Face Detection Mode, and an Easy Mode for beginners, and you've got a great digital camera for a perfect Christmas gift.

2. Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue) - another 8MP digital camera from Canon, this one comes in a stylish blue color. The same features are present, with the additional Motion Detection technology to reduce blur. Another great addition from Canon.

3. Canon PowerShot SD790IS 10MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom - the beauty of this digital camera comes with the fact that it is perfectly designed. But beauty is not all that it has. Its astounding 10MP CCD can capture images for poster prints, and it has Face Detection, Motion Detection, and Image Stabilizer technologies to boot.

4. Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver) - the fourth placer in the list of the Top 10 Digital cameras - christmas gifts for 2008 is another Canon digital camera. It's the same SD1100IS digital camera but it comes in a silver color which would appeal to your friend who likes the sleek, silver design. All the features are unchanged, of course.

5. Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black) - this digital SLR camera is perfect for those friends of yours who are serious about their photography, but at the same time, wants the ease of use of a digital camera. Equipped with a 12.2 CMOS sensor, a huge 3.0 Inch LCD display, and powerful lenses, this digital SLR camera is the perfect choice.

6. Kodak EasyShare C713 7MP Digital Camera (Pink) -Kodak's offering is at number 6 in this list of the Top 10 Digital cameras - christmas gifts for 2008 . This digital camera is definitely an eye-catcher with its pink design. However, it's not just all looks for this one. It also comes with a 7MP resolution and a 3x optical zoom. It can also take VGA videos with audio. It's a fun, stylish camera for your fun and stylish friend!

7. Canon Powershot SX10IS 10MP Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom - the 10.0 MP resolution alone is great. Add to that a 20x Optical Zoom with Image Stabilizer and a movie mode, and you've got a great multi-purpose camera for your loved one.

8. Canon PowerShot SD880IS 10MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver) - Canon proves itself as the leader in the digital camera range once again. This time, it's this 10 MP beauty with Image Stabilization and Face Detection that has garnered a spot in our list. It's a great point and shoot camera with a lot of special features that would make your friend fall in love with it.

9. Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Pink) - this pink version of the SD1100IS digital camera is great for the sophisticated ladies. It's classy, it's elegant, and most of all, it doesn't lack in any of the features that all the other Canon SD1100IS digital cameras have. In one word, it's perfection.

10. Canon PowerShot SD770IS 10MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver) - the last in our list of the Top 10 Digital cameras - christmas gifts for 2008 is another Canon camera. You could never go wrong with this one. It has everything that the higher versions have (SD1100IS and SD880IS, for example) except that it doesn't have the Wide Angle option. Still, it's a great camera for your friend or family who's just starting to love photography!

Go ahead and use our list for the easiest and convenient holiday shopping.

Check out our Digital Cameras Christmas gifts page by Clicking Here Now!

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Digital Cameras - Snap the Memorable Moments

By Alden Jerry

Restoring the rare moment of one's life is the most beautiful and expensive possession. The memories of childhood, the convocation ceremony in the college and the lonely walk at old age are the special moments for everyone. All these moments can be captured with a simple click of soft button and can be stored for life-long memory.

A digital camera captures video or still photographs digitally by recording images on a light-sensitive sensor. There are also many digital camera which can record sound and movingof digital camera. With the captured images manipulation can be done through digital videos as well as still photographs. Restoring the photographs is one of the prime functions cameras, it has all the features for making changes to photographs.

Digital cameras are becoming smaller day by day and the features are also increasing in it. The choice of digital camera depends with the requirement of the user. There are various category of digital cameras like the compact digital cameras, ultra compacts, bridge cameras, digital single lens reflex cameras, line-scan camera, compact digital SLRs and digital SLRs.

This days digital cameras are used in many devices from mobile phones to personal digital assistants and vehicles. The Hubble space telescope and other astronomical devices are having specialised digital cameras. There are high-tech digital cameras available in the market with which one can take underwater photographs. The underwater digital cameras are very useful in capturing sealife, scuba diving and something artistic under the sea.

Taking some underwater pictures is everyone's dream and while exploring the deep sea, one can take photographs and can save magical memories that can be relived until the next undersea adventure. These photographs about looking into the eyes of rarely seen creatures can be permanent recorded from the underwater digital cameras. There are various underwater digital cameras namely sea and sea DX-1G compact digital 10.0 MP camera, Intova IC-700 7.0 MP digital camera with underwater housing, Sealife SL 320 Reef master mini underwater digital camera, VuPoint DC-WPC-ST531TBLK-VP underwater digital camera and many more.

The most important accessory of a digital camera is the memory card. It is used to store the pictures taken on digital cameras. The memory card in the digital camera can be equated with hard disks in computers. The memory card varies in capacity and the additional memory cards are generally either 128 MB or 265 MB. Memory Stick, Compact Flash and Smart Media, etc. are all different type of memory cards. The use memory card is dependent on the users camera type, the memory card can be re-used, once saving the required photographs on the computer, or copying them on a CDs etc. The most commonly used card in digital cameras is the 16 MB cards, and most of the digital cameras make use of removable storage memory for the purpose of recording images.

There are also cheap digital cameras available in the market; these camera are very handy and useful for all purpose. The cheap digital cameras is equipped with all the high-technology features and are very result oriented. The presence of this type of camera can be felt in the market, where it has a good share in the revenue. Many renowned companies are coming up with cheap digital cameras to cater the demand of the customers and to capture the market. This cheap digital cameras are second to none in terms of quality and durability as compare to any digital camera available in the market.

The demand for digital cameras are increasing with each passing day with some brilliant and high-tech digital camera in the market. The manufacturers are catering to the demand with all new features added everyday in the cameras.

Entry-Level Digital Cameras For Every Budget

By Jonathan Popoola

It is definitely the norm these days to have a digital camera on stand-by in your bag wherever you go. This especially hold true for those who are obsessed with taking pictures and documenting every single thing about their lives. However, having a digital camera around is not really a bad thing. You never know when you will have those chance meet ups with your long lost friends or if a photo opportunity with Johnny Depp will come up.

So if you find compact cameras to be too much of a hassle while SLR Digital cameras to be way over your budget, there are definitely a lot of entry-level digital cameras that you can choose from. Before heading out to the nearest mall or camera shop in your area, you might want to check out what are the latest models of digital cameras within your budget. Most entry-level digital cameras these days only cost around $100 retail and that is just a bit higher from the artsy compact cameras that have also been in vogue these past few years.

This should serve as a warning for you to not easily dismiss those plain looking digital cameras, in spite of their appearance, such entry-level digital cameras are usually very affordable and are already packed with decent features like 8-megapixel photo quality, 3x optical zoom, and 2.5 LCD screen. Definitely not bad for just $100! Heck, even designer jeans would cost more than most entry-level digital cameras these days, and those only last for a few seasons.

Known for its instant pictures, the Polaroid film and camera company have also started developing a brand of digital cameras of their own. While its first batch of cameras turned out to be not too appealing for most consumers, Polaroid has recently come up with entry-level digital cameras with a touch of youthful designs in order to please the design aesthetics of the younger generation.

Camera companies nowadays are also now more focused with the designs of their products aside from its features and quality. The companies do take note that a lot of the consumers nowadays are not just looking for high-tech features and affordability, the young ones, most especially, would want to have a personal digital camera that looks cute and trendy. So do not be surprised if you see candy colored digital cameras that are definitely way cuter than those bulky SLR Digital Cameras. Do not mistake these cameras as playthings or cheap toy compact cameras because these are definitely the real thing.

So when you go out shopping for a good-quality digital camera take these tips into mind:

o $80 can already get you a trendy mini digital camera however, these usually have poor flash functions and the quality of the photos that can be produced is similar to those from camera phones. If you just want to take pictures with your friends - preferably outdoors and with lots of natural light, then this type of digital cameras could be worth checking out.

o $150 to $200 can already get you a high-quality digital camera although still on the entry-level side. Do not take this as a turn off though as the recent wave of entry-level digital cameras are now packed with better pictures like photo quality not lower than 8 megapixels, rechargeable batteries, and video capturing capabilities.

So if you are thinking which kind of camera you should buy for yourself? Here is a straight-forward answer: buy digital cameras.