What Is A Compact Digital Camera?

A digital camera is an electronic device that is used to capture photographs in electronic form rather than using traditional film.

The digital camera has moved the game on from just being a one use device. Digital cameras, like so many other modern devices, are multifunctional.

As well as taking still pictures digital cameras can now record sound and video in addition to taking photographs although professional digital cameras are still dedicated photographic devices.

Ordinary Compact Cameras

Compact cameras used to be simple point and shoot devices that you literally pointed at the subject and pressed the shutter button. Nothing complicated, idiot proof photography.

Nowadays the compact digital camera comes in several flavours. It is a bit like mobile phones, there are so many options to choose from that it is quicker to filter out the features you don't want, to get to the digital cameras offering the features you do.

Ultimately you can be guided by price a straightforward point and shoot digital camera can be bought for easily under £100.

Compact Cameras Plus

If your needs are more demanding then you have a very wide choice indeed. You only need to look at the ranges offered by Canon, Nikon, Fuji and Panasonic to see what has been made possible with modern electronics.

Here are some of the features a digital camera can now provide:

    * 10 megapixel resolution for ultra-sharp images
    * built-in 12x zoom lenses for long distance work
    * eliminating camera shake that blurs your picture
    * large 3 inch LCD screens for you to view your digital photos
    * special models to capture pictures in very low light conditions
    * Wi-fi connectivity to transmit your pictures
    * video capture


A 'prosumer' or high end digital camera

Prosumer cameras or extended zoom cameras are usually high-end cameras that closely resemble SLR or professional cameras.

They contain some of the same features though the accent is more on the customer and are therefore known as prosumer cameras where 'pro' is derived from the word professional and 'sumer' from consumer.

Such a camera has a large optical zoom lens and is often marketed as SLR cameras though that is more out of confusion than anything else. The lens is not actually interchangeable as is usually the case with an SLR digital camera.

Digital Camera Image Storage and Viewing

A digital camera captures photographs in digital format and usually uses a flash memory card for storing and transferring still photographs that may also include a video function.

A digital camera usually has a rear LCD to view images which makes it a cinch to delete any unsuccessful pictures to save storage space on the memory card.

The quality of the image a digital camera creates is measured in megapixels. Generally the higher the figure, the better the quality of the image. Most compact cameras start at 6 megapixels resolution now which is fine for printing images up to A4 size.

Trevor Sadowski has been a very keen amateur photographer for 30 years now.

Visit his site for further guidance on which digital camera [http://www.hotcameras.co.uk] to choose.

By Trevor Sadowski

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.

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