Posts Tagged ‘Buying A Digital Camera’
What You Should Know Before Buying A Digital Camera
Digital cameras are a vast improvement over the regular cameras. Electronic sensors are used in digital cameras to store pictures on a memory card. These pictures can be uploaded to a computer by an USB cable. Some digital cameras can record sound and video also.
It is imperative to study the different types of digital cameras, their features and identify our objective before buying a digital camera.
Types of digital cameras:
Compact digital camera – These are `snapshot` cameras invariably small and compact in size. They lack sophisticated hardware. Images are stored in JPEG format. Compact digital cameras have a sharp focus and a built-in flash.
Bridge camera – These cameras form a `bridge` between the compact digital camera and the DSLR camera. They have small sensors but large zoom ranges. Bridge cameras have an LCD electronic screen which can take a live preview of the photo before clicking it. Bridge cameras employ either electronic viewfinders (EVF) or optical viewfinders (OVF). The quality of these viewfinders is undergoing sea improvement regarding their size, resolution, visibility, magnification and refresh rate.
Digital single-lens reflex camera – An automatic mirror system is used which displays the exact image. The absence of time lag in the image is a great advantage for taking photos where the subject is constantly on the move. There is an auto focus system and furthermore, the resolution is extremely good. The only disadvantage is the absence of a `live preview` in most DSLR cameras.
Digital rangefinder camera – This is a portable camera suitable for theatre photography, portrait photography, street photography and candid shots. A rangefinder is a range finding focusing accessory attached to a digital camera allowing a sharp focus. Wide-angle lenses are more often used in rangefinders. Filters which absorb much light or change the color of the image can be used in this camera.
Main features:
Resolution – About 2 – 3 mega pixel resolution is enough for a decent digital camera. Resolution is a measure of the number of pixels on the sensor that create the picture. It is an important factor for printing a larger image or cropping it. Usually, the higher the resolution, greater the cost.
Type of lens – A glass lens gives a better quality picture than a plastic one. Again, a zoom lens adds greater versatility.
Close-up mode – Many digital cameras have a special close-up mode which allows one to take close-ups of extremely small objects like jewelry and coins.
Manual mode – Modes of different types are there, which enhance the quality of photographs in a particular situation. Portrait, landscape and close-up are the special exposure modes. Shutter speed and lens opening can be maneuvered in the manual exposure mode. Burst mode allows a number of pictures to be taken in rapid succession. Different filters can be used to provide beautiful effects. Extra flash modes can also enhance the clarity of the picture.
ISO – This value normally varies between 100 and 400. A higher value indicates that more number of pictures can be taken in dim light.
Conclusion:
After going through the different types of digital cameras and their features, one should ask oneself about the objective of buying a digital camera. The type of photography, the experience level, weather conditions, the budget and portability are all factors which need to be taken into account before purchasing a digital camera.
A higher mega pixel rating means a higher price. If large prints are not the criteria, then mega pixel rating around 4 should suffice. Lastly, reading reviews of the different digital cameras available for sale might just be the best option before purchasing an actual one.
By: Roberto Sedycias
About the Author:
It is imperative to study the different types of digital cameras, their features and identify our objective before buying a digital camera.
Types of digital cameras:
Compact digital camera – These are `snapshot` cameras invariably small and compact in size. They lack sophisticated hardware. Images are stored in JPEG format. Compact digital cameras have a sharp focus and a built-in flash.
Bridge camera – These cameras form a `bridge` between the compact digital camera and the DSLR camera. They have small sensors but large zoom ranges. Bridge cameras have an LCD electronic screen which can take a live preview of the photo before clicking it. Bridge cameras employ either electronic viewfinders (EVF) or optical viewfinders (OVF). The quality of these viewfinders is undergoing sea improvement regarding their size, resolution, visibility, magnification and refresh rate.
Digital single-lens reflex camera – An automatic mirror system is used which displays the exact image. The absence of time lag in the image is a great advantage for taking photos where the subject is constantly on the move. There is an auto focus system and furthermore, the resolution is extremely good. The only disadvantage is the absence of a `live preview` in most DSLR cameras.
Digital rangefinder camera – This is a portable camera suitable for theatre photography, portrait photography, street photography and candid shots. A rangefinder is a range finding focusing accessory attached to a digital camera allowing a sharp focus. Wide-angle lenses are more often used in rangefinders. Filters which absorb much light or change the color of the image can be used in this camera.
Main features:
Resolution – About 2 – 3 mega pixel resolution is enough for a decent digital camera. Resolution is a measure of the number of pixels on the sensor that create the picture. It is an important factor for printing a larger image or cropping it. Usually, the higher the resolution, greater the cost.
Type of lens – A glass lens gives a better quality picture than a plastic one. Again, a zoom lens adds greater versatility.
Close-up mode – Many digital cameras have a special close-up mode which allows one to take close-ups of extremely small objects like jewelry and coins.
Manual mode – Modes of different types are there, which enhance the quality of photographs in a particular situation. Portrait, landscape and close-up are the special exposure modes. Shutter speed and lens opening can be maneuvered in the manual exposure mode. Burst mode allows a number of pictures to be taken in rapid succession. Different filters can be used to provide beautiful effects. Extra flash modes can also enhance the clarity of the picture.
ISO – This value normally varies between 100 and 400. A higher value indicates that more number of pictures can be taken in dim light.
Conclusion:
After going through the different types of digital cameras and their features, one should ask oneself about the objective of buying a digital camera. The type of photography, the experience level, weather conditions, the budget and portability are all factors which need to be taken into account before purchasing a digital camera.
A higher mega pixel rating means a higher price. If large prints are not the criteria, then mega pixel rating around 4 should suffice. Lastly, reading reviews of the different digital cameras available for sale might just be the best option before purchasing an actual one.
By: Roberto Sedycias
About the Author:
You can have access to portuguese articles about digital cameras from page Digital_Camera Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for www.polomercantil.com.br
Posted in Digital Cameras | 
Tags: Buying A Digital Camera, Compact Digital Camera, Electronic Sensors, Lens Reflex | 
No Comments »
Buying a Digital Camera
Family and friends can be pretty far flung these days, so how do you keep in touch? Snail mail and phoning are good options, but it’s fun to be able to share pictures. With the advent of digital cameras, it’s easy to post pictures on a blog or website, or send pictures via email.
Of course, film cameras will work, as you can scan and convert pictures to digital files, but the easiest way to send pictures quickly and cheaply is to use a digital camera.
How To Find What’s Best For YOU When Buying A Digital Camera
There are all kinds of digital cameras available these days, so the trick is to find the one that suits your needs and budget. If you are buying your first digital camera, the lingo and technology are a bit different than for film cameras, so before shopping take time to learn a little and figure out what you’d like to buy.
First, what kind of photographer are you? Do you like total control over the picture taking process, or would you rather just aim the camera and push the shutter button? Then it’s also helpful to decide what you want to do with your pictures. Do you just want to put them online or send them via email, or do you want to be able to print them, and if so, how large do you want your prints?
If photography isn’t your passion, and you just want to have pictures to share, buying a simple point-and-shoot digital camera is probably best. It has automatic settings, so all you have to do is aim the camera, press the shutter and viola! Instant picture!
However, if you prefer more control over the picture taking process, try buying a mid-range digital camera. There is a wide range in both price and features. For the more serious hobby photographer, there are “prosumer” cameras midway between point-and-shoot cameras and digital SLR cameras. They offer better lens quality and usually more features than a point-and-shoot, though those little cameras can come pretty loaded these days!
Digital SLR cameras are top of the line and more expensive. These work more like traditional cameras, having a body with detachable lens. This gives you more options with being able to change lens, but it’s also much more expensive. Just one lens can cost as much as a point-and-shoot digital camera! There’s also usually a steeper learning curve to figure out how to use all the options on a digital SLR camera.
However, if you’re buying your first digital camera, intermediate, “prosumer” and digital SLR cameras probably aren’t the best choice. All the settings and features can be a little overwhelming for the beginner, and your expensive camera may end up collecting dust somewhere. Try a low to midrange camera first and get a feel for digital cameras and what features are most important to you. Then when you’re ready to move up and buy a better digital camera, you’ll have a better idea of what to look for before you lay out your hard earned cash!
What To Look For When You’re Ready To Buy A Digital Camera
You can buy digital cameras in all sorts of places these days, from fancy department stores to discount stores, photography/camera shops and many stores online. While you can sometimes find great deals on-line, if this is your first digital camera, go to shops and look at different cameras if at all possible. It helps to pick it up and get the feel of the camera in your hand to see if it’s comfortable and the controls are easy to use, and you can check out what features it has and how they work.
But what exactly are you looking for?
A pixel makes your picture….
One of the first things to check out when buying a digital camera is the MEGAPIXELS. A pixel is a single dot in a graphics image. A megapixel is equivalent to one million pixels. A 1-megapixel camera would produce an image roughly 1200 pixels wide by 900 pixels high, a 3 megapixel would be 2048 x 1536 megapixels, and so on. Higher megapixels mean better resolution, but aren’t the whole picture. The main thing to keep in mind is the more megapixels, the bigger image you can print.
Approximate Megapixels vs. Print Size
2 Megapixels prints well up to 4×6 inches
3 Megapixels prints well up to 5×7 inches
4 Megapixels prints well up to 6×8 inches
6 Megapixels prints well up to 7×10 inches
8 Megapixels prints well up to 10×14 inches
12 Megapixels prints well up to 16×24 inches
For email, websites and printing snapshots, a 3 to 5-megapixel camera is a good choice. If you want to make high quality 8×10 prints or larger, you need more megapixels. Higher megapixels also allow you to crop down to a smaller portion of the picture while still retaining sharpness in prints.
One other thing to keep in mind when considering megapixels and resolution, be sure you are getting optical resolution. This is the actual number of megapixels the camera records. Some cameras offer interpolated resolution to get bigger pictures from the same number of megapixels by using software algorithms to determine what color pixels to add, so the picture becomes bigger at the expense of clarity.
Opt for optical…
Digital cameras have two kinds of zoom, optical and digital. In this case, focus on the optical zoom. It’s the one that actually uses the lens’ optics to bring the subject closer. The higher the number, the further away you can “pull in” your subject. The digital zoom merely takes the original information and makes it bigger, and once again, clarity is sacrificed. Most serious photographers turn off digital zoom. Stick to optical!
For Your Viewing Pleasure…
Digital cameras commonly use an LCD screen instead of a viewfinder to focus on your subject, though some come equipped with both. Check the size of the screen when buying a digital camera to be sure you can comfortably see your subject. It’s also really handy to have a flip screen that allows you to hold your camera low or high, and still be able to see what’s on the screen.
Fun features…
Many digital cameras offer settings for such things as burst shooting mode, which is handy if you want to take pictures of moving subjects. The camera shoots a series of pictures without pause, then writes the files to memory. Other features allow for manually changing settings, special effects, short digital movie files, using an external flash, and much more. Look over several different cameras, decide what features you just have to have, and which are on the “nice to have but not vital” list. No one camera will do everything well.
Get the Picture…
You’ve got to get the pictures out of the camera to share them. Usually the files are downloaded to your computer through a USB port, so make sure your computer has one. Also, keep in mind when choosing a camera, the more megapixels, the bigger the files. You’ve got to store those files somewhere, so how much memory is available on your computer? Does it have a CD burner?
However, you can still buy a digital camera even if you don’t have a computer. Many photo labs, even in places like Walmart or Kmart, have machines with the capability of making prints and/or photo CD’s from memory cards, and will make a disk of the files, sort of like digital negatives. There’s also the option of buying a photo printer with a docking station for your camera. Just plug the camera into the docking station, and bypass the need for a computer to print.
Cash After Camera
When buying your digital camera, keep some cash in reserve, because there are two more important purchases you need to make.
1. Memory – The digital camera’s equivalent of film, the amount of memory determines how many pictures you can take. Different cameras use different types of memory, so the first step is to find out what your camera uses. The most popular types are: Secure Digital (SD), CompactFlash (CF), SmartMedia (SM), Memory Stick (MS), MultiMediaCard (MMC), and xD-Picture Card (xD).
Cameras are usually packaged with a small MB-sized card. A second card of 64 MB is good, but of course the more MB and the more cards, the more pictures you can take before having to download and erase the images. The different cards are NOT interchangeable, so be sure to buy the right kind for your camera!
2. Battery – There’s nothing more frustrating than being in the middle of snapping pictures and the battery dies. Get extras. It’s worth the expense to have a second battery charged and waiting should the one in your camera lose power. The rechargeable ones are more expensive, but the ability to use them over and over makes them worth the initial outlay of cash.
That’s The Total Package!
There you have the basics for choosing a digital camera. Decide what kind of pictures you are likely to take, what size prints you want to make, how much zoom, and are there any extras you can’t live without? Look for the camera that most closely matches your list in your price range, buy a bigger memory card and an extra battery set, and you’re good to go!
Have fun sharing those pictures with friends and family!
By: Pat Lyne
About the Author:
Of course, film cameras will work, as you can scan and convert pictures to digital files, but the easiest way to send pictures quickly and cheaply is to use a digital camera.
How To Find What’s Best For YOU When Buying A Digital Camera
There are all kinds of digital cameras available these days, so the trick is to find the one that suits your needs and budget. If you are buying your first digital camera, the lingo and technology are a bit different than for film cameras, so before shopping take time to learn a little and figure out what you’d like to buy.
First, what kind of photographer are you? Do you like total control over the picture taking process, or would you rather just aim the camera and push the shutter button? Then it’s also helpful to decide what you want to do with your pictures. Do you just want to put them online or send them via email, or do you want to be able to print them, and if so, how large do you want your prints?
If photography isn’t your passion, and you just want to have pictures to share, buying a simple point-and-shoot digital camera is probably best. It has automatic settings, so all you have to do is aim the camera, press the shutter and viola! Instant picture!
However, if you prefer more control over the picture taking process, try buying a mid-range digital camera. There is a wide range in both price and features. For the more serious hobby photographer, there are “prosumer” cameras midway between point-and-shoot cameras and digital SLR cameras. They offer better lens quality and usually more features than a point-and-shoot, though those little cameras can come pretty loaded these days!
Digital SLR cameras are top of the line and more expensive. These work more like traditional cameras, having a body with detachable lens. This gives you more options with being able to change lens, but it’s also much more expensive. Just one lens can cost as much as a point-and-shoot digital camera! There’s also usually a steeper learning curve to figure out how to use all the options on a digital SLR camera.
However, if you’re buying your first digital camera, intermediate, “prosumer” and digital SLR cameras probably aren’t the best choice. All the settings and features can be a little overwhelming for the beginner, and your expensive camera may end up collecting dust somewhere. Try a low to midrange camera first and get a feel for digital cameras and what features are most important to you. Then when you’re ready to move up and buy a better digital camera, you’ll have a better idea of what to look for before you lay out your hard earned cash!
What To Look For When You’re Ready To Buy A Digital Camera
You can buy digital cameras in all sorts of places these days, from fancy department stores to discount stores, photography/camera shops and many stores online. While you can sometimes find great deals on-line, if this is your first digital camera, go to shops and look at different cameras if at all possible. It helps to pick it up and get the feel of the camera in your hand to see if it’s comfortable and the controls are easy to use, and you can check out what features it has and how they work.
But what exactly are you looking for?
A pixel makes your picture….
One of the first things to check out when buying a digital camera is the MEGAPIXELS. A pixel is a single dot in a graphics image. A megapixel is equivalent to one million pixels. A 1-megapixel camera would produce an image roughly 1200 pixels wide by 900 pixels high, a 3 megapixel would be 2048 x 1536 megapixels, and so on. Higher megapixels mean better resolution, but aren’t the whole picture. The main thing to keep in mind is the more megapixels, the bigger image you can print.
Approximate Megapixels vs. Print Size
2 Megapixels prints well up to 4×6 inches
3 Megapixels prints well up to 5×7 inches
4 Megapixels prints well up to 6×8 inches
6 Megapixels prints well up to 7×10 inches
8 Megapixels prints well up to 10×14 inches
12 Megapixels prints well up to 16×24 inches
For email, websites and printing snapshots, a 3 to 5-megapixel camera is a good choice. If you want to make high quality 8×10 prints or larger, you need more megapixels. Higher megapixels also allow you to crop down to a smaller portion of the picture while still retaining sharpness in prints.
One other thing to keep in mind when considering megapixels and resolution, be sure you are getting optical resolution. This is the actual number of megapixels the camera records. Some cameras offer interpolated resolution to get bigger pictures from the same number of megapixels by using software algorithms to determine what color pixels to add, so the picture becomes bigger at the expense of clarity.
Opt for optical…
Digital cameras have two kinds of zoom, optical and digital. In this case, focus on the optical zoom. It’s the one that actually uses the lens’ optics to bring the subject closer. The higher the number, the further away you can “pull in” your subject. The digital zoom merely takes the original information and makes it bigger, and once again, clarity is sacrificed. Most serious photographers turn off digital zoom. Stick to optical!
For Your Viewing Pleasure…
Digital cameras commonly use an LCD screen instead of a viewfinder to focus on your subject, though some come equipped with both. Check the size of the screen when buying a digital camera to be sure you can comfortably see your subject. It’s also really handy to have a flip screen that allows you to hold your camera low or high, and still be able to see what’s on the screen.
Fun features…
Many digital cameras offer settings for such things as burst shooting mode, which is handy if you want to take pictures of moving subjects. The camera shoots a series of pictures without pause, then writes the files to memory. Other features allow for manually changing settings, special effects, short digital movie files, using an external flash, and much more. Look over several different cameras, decide what features you just have to have, and which are on the “nice to have but not vital” list. No one camera will do everything well.
Get the Picture…
You’ve got to get the pictures out of the camera to share them. Usually the files are downloaded to your computer through a USB port, so make sure your computer has one. Also, keep in mind when choosing a camera, the more megapixels, the bigger the files. You’ve got to store those files somewhere, so how much memory is available on your computer? Does it have a CD burner?
However, you can still buy a digital camera even if you don’t have a computer. Many photo labs, even in places like Walmart or Kmart, have machines with the capability of making prints and/or photo CD’s from memory cards, and will make a disk of the files, sort of like digital negatives. There’s also the option of buying a photo printer with a docking station for your camera. Just plug the camera into the docking station, and bypass the need for a computer to print.
Cash After Camera
When buying your digital camera, keep some cash in reserve, because there are two more important purchases you need to make.
1. Memory – The digital camera’s equivalent of film, the amount of memory determines how many pictures you can take. Different cameras use different types of memory, so the first step is to find out what your camera uses. The most popular types are: Secure Digital (SD), CompactFlash (CF), SmartMedia (SM), Memory Stick (MS), MultiMediaCard (MMC), and xD-Picture Card (xD).
Cameras are usually packaged with a small MB-sized card. A second card of 64 MB is good, but of course the more MB and the more cards, the more pictures you can take before having to download and erase the images. The different cards are NOT interchangeable, so be sure to buy the right kind for your camera!
2. Battery – There’s nothing more frustrating than being in the middle of snapping pictures and the battery dies. Get extras. It’s worth the expense to have a second battery charged and waiting should the one in your camera lose power. The rechargeable ones are more expensive, but the ability to use them over and over makes them worth the initial outlay of cash.
That’s The Total Package!
There you have the basics for choosing a digital camera. Decide what kind of pictures you are likely to take, what size prints you want to make, how much zoom, and are there any extras you can’t live without? Look for the camera that most closely matches your list in your price range, buy a bigger memory card and an extra battery set, and you’re good to go!
Have fun sharing those pictures with friends and family!
By: Pat Lyne
About the Author:
Digital Photography Tips has information on digital cameras, digital photography and more at http://www.thephotographylearningcenter.com/
Posted in Digital Cameras |
Tags: Advent, Buying A Digital Camera, Hobby Photographer |
No Comments »
How to Make a Digital Camera Comparison
There are, as we know, different brands and models of digital cameras. Before you buy a digital camera you might first want to see if you can make a digital camera comparison. From the results of this comparison you will become aware of the various aspects of buying a digital camera.
In your digital camera comparison there are certain factors which must be looked at thoroughly before you make your final choice for a digital camera. These factors include the matter of handling the camera, the many features that can be found in the digital cameras, and the performance abilities of your chosen camera.
The final factor which needs to be looked into is that of the value for money that you will get from buying a certain camera.
As you look at the first digital camera comparison category, the handling of the camera, you will need to think about various items, and this includes how the digital camera feels in your hands. This means does the camera feel sturdy or poorly made, is it lightweight or heavy.
You will need to note the materials that your digital camera is made from as well in your digital camera comparison. The other item that needs to be looked into is that of the controls and if you can easily read and understand them. You should also be able to get a feeling for the quality of the digital camera from this digital camera comparison.
The next item to be seen to on your comparison test should be that of the many features that you can find with various digital cameras. You should check to see if you have a variety of useful features when you are selecting a type of digital camera that you consider as being suitable.
The other features that makes buying a digital camera a marvelous idea is if you have access to a menu system that will help you navigate the many features of the camera. To have great pictures the metering, focusing and flash exposure systems will need to be seen to as well.
Your digital camera comparison will need to include the performance of the digital cameras that catch your eyes. In this category you should look at the noise level that can be heard from a digital camera. You will have to see if the different digital cameras have the capability of presenting you with clear and sharp pictures.
You will have to go through all of these aspects to find out if you are buying a worthwhile digital camera that you will use. From this digital camera comparison you will be able to know if you’re getting a good digital camera that’s worth the money that you are paying for it.
By: Muna wa Wanjiru
About the Author:
In your digital camera comparison there are certain factors which must be looked at thoroughly before you make your final choice for a digital camera. These factors include the matter of handling the camera, the many features that can be found in the digital cameras, and the performance abilities of your chosen camera.
The final factor which needs to be looked into is that of the value for money that you will get from buying a certain camera.
As you look at the first digital camera comparison category, the handling of the camera, you will need to think about various items, and this includes how the digital camera feels in your hands. This means does the camera feel sturdy or poorly made, is it lightweight or heavy.
You will need to note the materials that your digital camera is made from as well in your digital camera comparison. The other item that needs to be looked into is that of the controls and if you can easily read and understand them. You should also be able to get a feeling for the quality of the digital camera from this digital camera comparison.
The next item to be seen to on your comparison test should be that of the many features that you can find with various digital cameras. You should check to see if you have a variety of useful features when you are selecting a type of digital camera that you consider as being suitable.
The other features that makes buying a digital camera a marvelous idea is if you have access to a menu system that will help you navigate the many features of the camera. To have great pictures the metering, focusing and flash exposure systems will need to be seen to as well.
Your digital camera comparison will need to include the performance of the digital cameras that catch your eyes. In this category you should look at the noise level that can be heard from a digital camera. You will have to see if the different digital cameras have the capability of presenting you with clear and sharp pictures.
You will have to go through all of these aspects to find out if you are buying a worthwhile digital camera that you will use. From this digital camera comparison you will be able to know if you’re getting a good digital camera that’s worth the money that you are paying for it.
By: Muna wa Wanjiru
About the Author:
Muna wa Wanjiru is a web administrator and has been researching and reporting on internet marketing for years. For more information on digital camera comparison, visit his site at DIGITAL CAMERA COMPARISON
Posted in Digital Cameras |
Tags: Buying A Digital Camera, Digital Cameras, Flash Exposure |
No Comments »
Guide to Buying a Digital Camera
The digital camera market today offers buyers a large number of choices, with products in widely differing price ranges, sizes and degree of operational complexity. From miniatures the size of a credit card, to fully functional professional SLR (Single Lens reflex) systems, you can buy a digital camera from manufacturers including traditional camera brands such as Canon, Olympus, Nikon, film companies such as Kodak and Fuji, and consumer electronic companies like Sony. Then there are other options that include the mobile phone manufacturers, and webcam suppliers.
The advantages of digital photography are numerous. Topmost is the fact that there is no film processing: expensive both in cost and time. But there is also the advantage of smaller sized equipment, portable media and instant picture viewing. And if you don’t like what you see, you simply delete it and shoot again: no wastage.
If you like to take pictures, being a digital photographer makes a lot of sense. But which camera is the best one for you? In a field of excess abundance, how do you narrow down what you need? How much to pay? How many megapixels? (What are they anyway?) Which brand? How much memory?
Digital CamerasEvery shopper is different.
At MyShopping.com.au we recognise this fact, and so we list practically all brands and models from hundreds of suppliers. These listings include the cold hard digital data facts about each camera and a range of comparative pricings offered by different suppliers. But just as every shopper is different, every photographer is different too. And just having the facts may not make you feel any more knowledgeable about which camera is right for you.
You could begin with the question: What sort of pictures will you take with your new digital camera? This is a valid starting point because from here you can begin to qualify your requirements in terms of technical capability and price. What sort of pictures will you take with your new digital camera?
Is it simply for happy snaps whenever you get together with friends and family at weekends and holidays? Or are you a serious bird watcher and you want to capture nature at its finest? Perhaps you want a camera for work to record your inventory, or recording information from a client. Maybe you’re a PI on a mission. The point is, you need to begin by recognising that your reason for buying a digital camera may not be the same as that of your best friend who is recommending the model she bought.
Once you’ve figured out the sort of pictures you are going to take, you can then set about deciding on the type of camera that will meet your needs. If you need something highly portable that fits in your shirt pocket or your handbag and lets you take it anywhere you go, make size a big consideration. If you want to take seriously good photographs, and you want to pursue an artistic endeavour, make image flexibility your main concern.
It might also be worthwhile considering your own position in the digital photography experience. Are you a novice about to buy your first camera, do you have some intermediate experience, or are you an advanced user?
Someone new to the market will likely not want to spend a lot of money, nor have a lot of mind-boggling features that leave you confused. There are cameras ideal for beginning users that have basic ‘point and shoot’ features including optical and digital zoom lens, flexible storage media and built in flash. There is a huge range of cameras available with simple features at low cost.
If you consider yourself an intermediate user with some operational knowledge of digital camera technology, you may want to consider more advanced features that give you more control over the pictures you take. These features usually come in a range of automatic settings and manual settings for capturing the image and different storage options in terms of resolution and picture type (raw data, jpeg, tiff). Naturally there is some cost attached to additional features when compared to more basic cameras.
For advanced users, there are a lot of professional options you can consider; such as SLR view finding and lens interchange ability. Cameras in this range provide much greater control over the image, both before and once it is captured. These options include shutter speed and aperture adjustment, and many cameras offer the ability to manipulate images ‘in camera’, such as cropping, and brightness and contrast adjustments.
After the picture is taken
A further main consideration is what are you going to do with your images once you have them? The great beauty of digital photography is the simple fact that you can store them on digital media such as CDs and media cards, and view them on computer screens and in many cases, your television. You need print only when and those you want to see, or show to others. Digital photography also gives fantastic opportunities to manipulate your images using popular image manipulation programs, resizing them, altering brightness and contrast characteristics, and correcting problems such as red eye, or removing skin blemishes.
Most digital cameras are computer ready, able to plug directly into your PC or Mac using USB connectors. They usually include proprietary software allowing you to easily and instantly manage your image files in photo albums or slide shows. Many digital cameras also include a video capture facility enabling you to take short motion pictures.
What you want to do with your images after you have them can have an impact on your choice of camera. If you want to make enlarged prints for example, you will want a high megapixel capacity (also talked about as ‘resolution’). If you want images for website use, you will want to get the best quality images that can be reduced in resolution without severe degradation.
Beauty is in the “I”
Great pictures usually come from great conditions. You capture a great moment, the light is just right, the subject is at the perfect distance, the image is perfectly framed. But not every digital camera offers the flexibility to make the best of existing light conditions, or position. Most digital cameras (certainly at the budget end) come with a built in automatic flash, which is terrific for happy snaps in darkened environments. And the automatic flash automatically does not ‘go off’ in bright sunny conditions. But in those times when you want to use the existing light, you need a camera that gives you manual control over the operation or not, of the flash.
Moreover, most digital cameras in the lower and medium price ranges are highly automated. If you are moving from a traditional SLR film camera where you have maximum control over shutter speed, aperture and ISO speeds, it may be frustrating to not have easy access to the same range of tools to take advantage of existing light conditions.
In the more advanced (and therefore more expensive) range of digital cameras, most lens and aperture functions are available in exactly the same way as other SLR systems. What differs is how the colours and light of the image is translated through pixel capture compared to the chemical processing systems.
You may want a wide range of focus options. Most digital cameras have two different types of image magnification, lens magnification (zoom) that may be equivalent of a 35mm to 150 mm lens, and a digital magnification that may be to ten-fold (expressed as x10). This provides you with zoom lens capability, which may be limited in its depth of field control and is subject to soft focus and movement if the conditions aren’t just right, and a digital magnification of the pixel image. If being able to capture magnified distant images is important to you, you need more megapixels, and a lens system that gives you some control over its focus and aperture management.
A final word on accessory
Digital cameras are electronic equipment. That means they run on batteries, and if you use your camera a lot, you will find that you will be frequently replacing batteries. Some cameras have rechargeable batteries; others simply use dry cells (AA), which you can of course load with rechargeable ones. It pays to have spare batteries so that you always have a charged power source. Some cameras have docking stations to help manage the connection with computers. Many digital SLR cameras have interchangeable lens systems, some of which may be compatible with traditional film SLRs.
You can also print your own pictures at home with special printers that handle standard photograph paper, and connect directly to your camera. Although it may be less expensive to simply take your camera’s card, or a CD to your local camera store, and now many supermarkets and department stores, and use the automatic printing machines to print the images you want.
There is a lot you can do with a digital camera, and you can pay les than $200, or more than $10,000. It all depends on how you see yourself as a photographer, what you’re shooting, and what you want to do with your pictures. At Myshopping.com.au you can very quickly compare specifications and prices.
By: Andrew Gates
About the Author:
The advantages of digital photography are numerous. Topmost is the fact that there is no film processing: expensive both in cost and time. But there is also the advantage of smaller sized equipment, portable media and instant picture viewing. And if you don’t like what you see, you simply delete it and shoot again: no wastage.
If you like to take pictures, being a digital photographer makes a lot of sense. But which camera is the best one for you? In a field of excess abundance, how do you narrow down what you need? How much to pay? How many megapixels? (What are they anyway?) Which brand? How much memory?
Digital CamerasEvery shopper is different.
At MyShopping.com.au we recognise this fact, and so we list practically all brands and models from hundreds of suppliers. These listings include the cold hard digital data facts about each camera and a range of comparative pricings offered by different suppliers. But just as every shopper is different, every photographer is different too. And just having the facts may not make you feel any more knowledgeable about which camera is right for you.
You could begin with the question: What sort of pictures will you take with your new digital camera? This is a valid starting point because from here you can begin to qualify your requirements in terms of technical capability and price. What sort of pictures will you take with your new digital camera?
Is it simply for happy snaps whenever you get together with friends and family at weekends and holidays? Or are you a serious bird watcher and you want to capture nature at its finest? Perhaps you want a camera for work to record your inventory, or recording information from a client. Maybe you’re a PI on a mission. The point is, you need to begin by recognising that your reason for buying a digital camera may not be the same as that of your best friend who is recommending the model she bought.
Once you’ve figured out the sort of pictures you are going to take, you can then set about deciding on the type of camera that will meet your needs. If you need something highly portable that fits in your shirt pocket or your handbag and lets you take it anywhere you go, make size a big consideration. If you want to take seriously good photographs, and you want to pursue an artistic endeavour, make image flexibility your main concern.
It might also be worthwhile considering your own position in the digital photography experience. Are you a novice about to buy your first camera, do you have some intermediate experience, or are you an advanced user?
Someone new to the market will likely not want to spend a lot of money, nor have a lot of mind-boggling features that leave you confused. There are cameras ideal for beginning users that have basic ‘point and shoot’ features including optical and digital zoom lens, flexible storage media and built in flash. There is a huge range of cameras available with simple features at low cost.
If you consider yourself an intermediate user with some operational knowledge of digital camera technology, you may want to consider more advanced features that give you more control over the pictures you take. These features usually come in a range of automatic settings and manual settings for capturing the image and different storage options in terms of resolution and picture type (raw data, jpeg, tiff). Naturally there is some cost attached to additional features when compared to more basic cameras.
For advanced users, there are a lot of professional options you can consider; such as SLR view finding and lens interchange ability. Cameras in this range provide much greater control over the image, both before and once it is captured. These options include shutter speed and aperture adjustment, and many cameras offer the ability to manipulate images ‘in camera’, such as cropping, and brightness and contrast adjustments.
After the picture is taken
A further main consideration is what are you going to do with your images once you have them? The great beauty of digital photography is the simple fact that you can store them on digital media such as CDs and media cards, and view them on computer screens and in many cases, your television. You need print only when and those you want to see, or show to others. Digital photography also gives fantastic opportunities to manipulate your images using popular image manipulation programs, resizing them, altering brightness and contrast characteristics, and correcting problems such as red eye, or removing skin blemishes.
Most digital cameras are computer ready, able to plug directly into your PC or Mac using USB connectors. They usually include proprietary software allowing you to easily and instantly manage your image files in photo albums or slide shows. Many digital cameras also include a video capture facility enabling you to take short motion pictures.
What you want to do with your images after you have them can have an impact on your choice of camera. If you want to make enlarged prints for example, you will want a high megapixel capacity (also talked about as ‘resolution’). If you want images for website use, you will want to get the best quality images that can be reduced in resolution without severe degradation.
Beauty is in the “I”
Great pictures usually come from great conditions. You capture a great moment, the light is just right, the subject is at the perfect distance, the image is perfectly framed. But not every digital camera offers the flexibility to make the best of existing light conditions, or position. Most digital cameras (certainly at the budget end) come with a built in automatic flash, which is terrific for happy snaps in darkened environments. And the automatic flash automatically does not ‘go off’ in bright sunny conditions. But in those times when you want to use the existing light, you need a camera that gives you manual control over the operation or not, of the flash.
Moreover, most digital cameras in the lower and medium price ranges are highly automated. If you are moving from a traditional SLR film camera where you have maximum control over shutter speed, aperture and ISO speeds, it may be frustrating to not have easy access to the same range of tools to take advantage of existing light conditions.
In the more advanced (and therefore more expensive) range of digital cameras, most lens and aperture functions are available in exactly the same way as other SLR systems. What differs is how the colours and light of the image is translated through pixel capture compared to the chemical processing systems.
You may want a wide range of focus options. Most digital cameras have two different types of image magnification, lens magnification (zoom) that may be equivalent of a 35mm to 150 mm lens, and a digital magnification that may be to ten-fold (expressed as x10). This provides you with zoom lens capability, which may be limited in its depth of field control and is subject to soft focus and movement if the conditions aren’t just right, and a digital magnification of the pixel image. If being able to capture magnified distant images is important to you, you need more megapixels, and a lens system that gives you some control over its focus and aperture management.
A final word on accessory
Digital cameras are electronic equipment. That means they run on batteries, and if you use your camera a lot, you will find that you will be frequently replacing batteries. Some cameras have rechargeable batteries; others simply use dry cells (AA), which you can of course load with rechargeable ones. It pays to have spare batteries so that you always have a charged power source. Some cameras have docking stations to help manage the connection with computers. Many digital SLR cameras have interchangeable lens systems, some of which may be compatible with traditional film SLRs.
You can also print your own pictures at home with special printers that handle standard photograph paper, and connect directly to your camera. Although it may be less expensive to simply take your camera’s card, or a CD to your local camera store, and now many supermarkets and department stores, and use the automatic printing machines to print the images you want.
There is a lot you can do with a digital camera, and you can pay les than $200, or more than $10,000. It all depends on how you see yourself as a photographer, what you’re shooting, and what you want to do with your pictures. At Myshopping.com.au you can very quickly compare specifications and prices.
By: Andrew Gates
About the Author:
Andrew Gates is a writer for comparison online shopping site MyShopping.com.au. MyShopping.com.au helps you compare digital cameras and buy online from top-rated online stores. You can also read digital cameras reviews and specifications.
Posted in Digital Cameras |
Tags: Buying A Digital Camera, How Many Megapixels, Price Ranges |
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