Canon Inc. has consistently released quality cameras, so it should be no surprise that in 2006, Canon dominated the market. Canon’s Digital Rebel line of cameras gained them many ardent fans, and their latest in the series, the Digital Rebel XTi(400D), looks to be a smash hit as well.
Canon is known for producing a wide variety of digital cameras. Their standard point and shoot cameras have always been a top choice for the budget minded consumer. And their high quality digital SLR’s are ideal for professional photography. Canon cameras have consistently received high ratings for solid construction, and superior image quality.
Another reason for Canon’s continued success is their use of Secure Digital (SD) Memory Cards. Other camera manufacturers, such as Sony, made the decision to use proprietary formats that will only work interchangeably within the brand. Digital memory cards are the modern day equivalent of rolls of film. They are measured in megabytes (MB) and can range in size from 16MB to 4GB. Depending on the format of the images, and the size of the card, you can potentially store thousands of pictures. One of the primary advantages with this type of media becomes evident when your storage is full. Instead of having to buy a new roll of film, you can transfer the photos to your computer, or delete them off the card, directly from your camera.
Digital cameras usually come with either a minimal amount of built-in memory, or a small memory card. These standard options, in almost every case, do not provide enough storage space for practical use. Even casual users will appreciate the increased capacity memory cards offer. Those who plan to use their cameras for professional photography, or require ultra-high resolutions should consider high-capacity cards that can handle larger file types.
Memory cards come in a variety of formats including Secure Digital, CompactFlash, and Memory Stick, to name a few. There is little difference in image quality between the major brands, so it’s best to base your choice on the amount of memory the cards offer, as well as their write speed. Depending on which card you purchase, you may have the ability to use it for additional storage on your other media devices, including digital music players. The majority of cameras will require one specific type so it is important to purchase a card that will be compatible.
Recently, several high-speed cards have been released to the market. These cards are often more expensive than their regular speed counterparts, but avid photographers will find this to be an invaluable enhancement. A faster write speed means that less time is tied up in saving the image. This becomes extremely noticeable during the live-action photography used for sports games.
One of Canon’s most popular cameras is the PowerShot SD600. It offers six megapixel resolutions for highly detailed images. It also features a 3x optical zoom, and the legendary DIGIC II imaging processor. The DIGIC processor offers many enhancements in addition to a 35% reduction in power consumption. It also increases photo resolution, vibrancy, and color, while speeding up startup, autofocus, and shutter response. The SD600 also has the ability to color correct, and edit photos right from the camera. Not needing a computer for post-processing has proven to be a major advantage for photo enthusiasts. The camera uses the latest in MultiMedia Card (MMC) technology, the MMCplus. Fully backwards compatible with standard MMC’s, the latest cards offer a 52MB/sec transfer speed to provide the highest data transfer rate available. Compatible cards range in sizes from 128MB to 2GB so you can take up to 1100 photos at the SD600’s highest resolution. Best of all, Canon has found a way to compress all these features into a lightweight, pocket-sized package.
The IXUS is another popular line of Canon cameras. The IXUS 430 has a wide appeal due to its sleek design and ease of use. With 4.3 megapixles, and a 3x zoom, you’re able to capture even the most distant targets, with crisp clarity. Navigating the menus is fairly intuitive, and the controls are all conveniently located. The IXUS uses Compact Flash cards for storage which range in size from 128MB, all the way up to 8GB, giving you an extensive variety of cards to choose from. The Integral 512MB I-Pro Compact Flash card is ideal for high resolution images as well as rapid shooting. It can save up to 380 pictures at the IXUS 430’s highest resolution. The SanDisk Extreme III 2.0 GB Compact Flash card is another great option. Designed specifically with professional photographers in mind, it offers some of the latest features in digital storage. It has a minimum of 20MB/sec read and write speed which allow for faster image capture, and data transfer. It uses Enhanced Super-Parallel Processing Technology to provide superior performance in all conditions. The Extreme III is shock and vibration tested for handling the rigors of travel. The card also ships with a mini-CD with software to help retrieve photos that are accidentally deleted, as well as a travel case. The Extreme III can hold 1524 at the IXUS’s highest resolution.
Transferring the photos from your flash card to your PC is an easy task. Many of today’s personal computers come with several different types of memory card readers already built-in. Should your computer not have this option, you can always purchase a memory card reader. These readers connect to your computer and allow you to transfer files with ease. Photo printers are also commonly built ready to accept photos directly from memory cards. The ability to transfer your photos across devices is one of the main advantages of removable storage.
Canon has always made a quality product, and consumers have noticed. Their sales are booming as their cameras reach a wider audience. To get the most out of your camera, you’ll need a memory card. It will allow you the freedom to snap as many shots as you need, without having to worry about running out of room, and this should put a smile on every photographers’ face.
http://www.memorybits.co.uk/articles/digital-camera-articles/120
