Digital Camera Guide
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Digital cameras have virtually revitalized photography. Digital images can be easily uploaded to your computer, manipulated using a variety of photo software and then be used over and over again. This year over 4 million people are expected to make the switch from film-type to digital-type cameras and camcorders. Advantages Since a digital type camera records images on reusable memory cards instead of film, there are no developing costs, so you can take as many pictures as you want and only print the ones you like. Most digital image cameras feature an LCD view-screen that lets you perfectly compose your photo and then check to make sure it came out the way you prefer. Then, after downloading your pictures to your computer they are stored as standard digital files allowing you to use your computer as a darkroom, letting you crop, enlarge and re-touch your photos to perfection. You can then email your pictures to friends or post them on a photo-sharing Web site. If you want prints, you can use an online photo finisher or create them at home on a photo printer. Identifying Your Needs When shopping for a digital type camera, start by considering the following:
Resolution Maximum resolution is one of the most important ratings of a digital camera. Digital images are made up of dots called pixels. The resolution of camera refers to the sharpness of its pictures and is measured by how many pixels make up a photo, usually measured in the horizontal by vertical resolution. (i.e. 1280 x 960 Pixels = film resolution of 4" x 6" print). The higher the resolution, the sharper the picture. At the same time it will also mean the more memory that will be required to store an image, both in the camera and on your computer. Memory Size A camera's memory size will determine how many images you can store. If you anticipate downloading your images often, buying a camera with a large amount of memory isn't as important. However, if you plan to take multiple pictures before downloading them to your computer you may want to buy a camera with a lot of included or expandable memory or plan to buy an extra memory card. Memory Cards Some cameras have a non-removable memory chip embedded within the camera for storing images. However, most consumer cameras use an external memory card or even a floppy disk than can be removed when full. Most digital-cameras ship with enough memory to take from 12 to 36 shots at full resolution--about the same as one roll of film for a traditional camera. To increase this capacity or number of photos, you can buy additional external memory cards. Compression This is the process that shrinks a photo or image file size. Most cameras take photos as compressed JPEG files, which allows you to store more images on a memory card. Compression, or compressing images also makes it faster to save, download, email and when compressed photos are used on a Web site it decreases the amount of time it takes for a browser to load a Web page for viewing. For printing out photos for albums, emailing or posting images on a Web site, compressed images are adequate. However, compression does cause a small amount of data loss, so if you need the absolute best-quality images, consider buying a camera that takes uncompressed photos. You will only be able to store a few images on a memory card, but you'll get the sharpest, clearest, most-detailed pictures possible. Power Source Digital cameras use significantly more power than traditional film cameras. A typical film camera will usually shoot 15 or so rolls of film before the batteries need to be changed, However, a digital camera may run out of batteries before it's memory is filled, especially if you use the LCD all the time. To avoid this problem consider buying an extra pack of re-chargeable batteries to have on hand, select a camera that comes with an A/C adapter, and/or buy a battery recharger. LCD View-finders Most cameras come with at least an optical view-finder like the ones on a regular film camera but many also come with an LCD screen built into the back, which you can use as a view finder as well. With the LCD screen you can see what your picture will look like before you take it. It also allows you to look at the photos you've already taken. As mentioned above, using the LCD screen requires a lot of power, so if you use it often, have extra batteries on hand. Focus and Exposure Fixed-focus cameras have a non moving lens that is preset to focus at a certain range. Higher-end cameras usually have auto focus instead, which automatically focuses the camera at your subject's distance. Lighting Most cameras automatically determine the correct exposure for the lighting conditions, however there are cameras available that offer manual exposure compensation. This allows you to set the exposure a few stops brighter or darker. Aperture Rating Digital camera's work just like traditional cameras when it comes to aperture: the maximum aperture rating of a camera lets you know how much light it can let in. Aperture ratings represent ratios; the lower the aperture rating, the more light sensitive the camera is and the better it can take photos in low light. Red-Eye Reduction Some cameras include additional features, such as red-eye reduction or night portrait mode. Red-eye reduction is ideal for photographing people or animals. It works by firing a series of short flashes before the final flash and exposure, making your subjects' pupils contract and preventing them from having glowing red eyes in the final photo. Rapid-Fire Shots If you plan on taking pictures of subjects in motion, such as during a sporting event you may want to buy a camera that offers "Rapid-Fire Shots." This feature allows you to take multiple pictures with one touch of the exposure button. You should also find out what the time lapse is between shots. Special Features
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