Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Compact Digital Cameras: Photography's Mighty Mites

Size may matter, and a lot, to some people, when it comes to some things. But when it comes to cameras, the ongoing advances in digital technology have made compact digital cameras a photography force to be reckoned with.

Compact digital cameras can be safely transported into places and situations in which a larger camera would just be an awkward nuisance, and have to be lugged around in your backpack which is already overloaded and chafing you through your T-shirt. A palm-sized compact digital camera can go unobtrusively wherever you choose to take it, and be ready for action when you are.

What You May Give Up

What compact digital cameras achieve in convenience of dimension, however, they must compensate for in other areas. You'll have to adjust to their smaller controls, and some earlier models of compact digital cameras may take longer than you like to ready their flashes, open their lenses, and be up and running. Some of them may take as long as five seconds, in fact, to be fully operational. Five seconds in the world of photography, as you are no doubt well aware, can mean the difference between winning and losing a Pulitzer Prize.

Things in compact digital camera land, however, are slowly but surely improving. Compact digital cameras are now available with fast activation, and self-adjusting zoom lenses which will let you capture even rapid motion shots. If the compact digital cameras you are looking at does not have speed settings, it will be useless in environments with changing light, and useless to you as well. Put it back and continue your search.

Compact Digital camera batteries

Before you decide to go the compact digital camera rout, you will also benefit from an education in their battery capacity. Every digital camera will drain its batteries; some will do it more quickly than others.

You should research both the batteries themselves and choose only those which have the best track records for staying power, and then research the compact digital cameras either by reading consumer reviews on them, or borrowing one, adding your own new battery, and snapping away until the battery gives up the ghost.

Of curse, you can always purchase a charger and rechargeable batteries, but that's not always convenient if you are on a two week camping trip in Yosemite back country.

Another reason to research a compact digital camera before you buy is to satisfy yourself as to the quality of the pictures it takes. The good thing about digital cameras is that they allow you to view your work immediately, even when using a demonstration compact digital camera in the store. You'll know right away if the camera provides sharply defined, brightly colored, or fuzzy-edged, washed out images.

About the Author

You can also find more info on Digital Camera Software Downloads and Digital Camera Online. Topdigitalcamerareviews.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Digital Cameras.