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.

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Do I Need an 8MP Digital Camera

If you are on the market for a new digital camera then there is a good chance that you are asking yourself that exact question. Maybe the number of megapixels that you are considering is different. Do you really need a 16MP digital camera? 8MP? 6MP? This article tries to help you answering this question.

New digital camera models that are put on the market support more and more megapixels. This race for more megapixels is in part driven by manufacturers who want you to buy their newest and greatest digital camera and the easiest way for them to make you compare cameras is by using one simple number – megapixels – the higher the better or at least this is what they want you to think.

But reality is different. When it comes to megapixels more is not necessarily better. Since most of us have a limited budget that we are willing to spend on a digital camera spending more money to get more megapixels means spending less on other features or accessories – such as storage and lenses. The overall quality of your photography experience is dependent on such extra features.

When deciding on the number of megapixels that you need you should first consider what your expected usage is. You need more megapixels if you plan to print photos (especially big enlargements) or if you need to zoom in and grab fine details out of big digital photos. On the other hand – you do not need much if you plan to watch your digital photos on your computer screen and occasionally print a few 4X6 prints. In fact 2 megapixels are more than enough for such usage. Consider your computer screen resolution which is in most cases 1024X768 - even when viewing your digital photos in full screen mode you are only really watching 1024X768 <>

page 4X6 2MP

page 5X7 3MP

page 8X10 7MP

page 11X14 14MP

page 16X20 28MP

page 20X30 54MP

When considering spending more of your digital camera budget on getting more megapixels you should ask yourself questions like: should I instead get better lenses? Should I instead get an external flash unit? Should I instead get extra storage media?

Don’t be a victim of the megapixels race. In many ways the race for more megapixels is similar to the race for more megahertz on personal computers. In early days when computers speeds were slow – more megahertz was important. Today though – having a 4Ghz or 5Ghz computer does not make a difference and you are better off spending more money on more memory than more megahertz. The same is true with megapixels – in early digital cameras days the number of megapixels was low and it was important to get more. Today with most cameras having a high number of megapixels it is probably wiser to get better lenses or more storage than upgrading from 8MP to 10MP.

Ziv Haparnas is a technology veteran and writes about practical technology and science issues. This article can be reprinted and used as long as the resource box including the backlink is included. You can find more information about photo album printing and photography in general on http://www.printrates.com - a site dedicated to photo printing.

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Scenes that Will Fail Your Digital Camera Auto Focus

Digital cameras include sophisticated mechanisms that can automatically figure out the perfect focus for the scene that you are photographing. However even the most sophisticated digital camera can be fooled by scenes that are hard to focus on. Here are a few such scenes and explanations.

There are three main ways to implement automatic focus:

Passive auto focus: This is practically an electronic version of the way in which photographers manually focus on objects. In this mode the digital camera defines areas in the photo on which it will try to focus. These are usually around the center of the photo. The camera captures the picture in real time and analyzes the quality of the focus in these areas. The camera moves its optical components (lenses) back and forth in a search for the optimal focus quality position. This in many ways is similar to the way photographers focus on objects – they try to move the lens in one direction, if the focus gets better they move the lens a bit more, if the focus gets worse they move the lens to the other direction. The process continues until the best focus is achieved.

Active auto focus: Active auto focus is a more direct implementation of auto focusing. In theory if you knew the exact optical characteristics of the camera and its lens and the exact distance to the objects that you are trying to focus on – you could calculate the exact position of the lens that will result in a prefect focus. Active focus systems measure the distance to the objects in the picture by transmitting an invisible light beam and measuring the time it takes for the beam to bounce back from the objecst. The measured distance is used to calculate the position to which the lens should be moved in order to achieve the best focus.

Combined auto focus: These systems are a combination of passive and active focusing. High end digital cameras support both passive and active methods. In combined mode the camera either chooses which system will work best for any given scene (for example in dark scenes passive auto focusing is not practical) or it uses both systems together (for example using the active system to bring the lens close to the perfect focus and then the passive system to fine tune that focus position.

In some scenes auto focus systems can fail. It is important to understand what these scenes are and it is even more important to understand why the auto focus system fails in these scenes. Photographers that understand how auto focus system works and why it fails can easily identify scenes in which the digital camera would not be able to automatically focus. In such scenes the photographer can use techniques such as manual focusing or focusing on another object in the same distance and panning the camera (while the focus is locked).

Following are a few scenes that will fail the auto focus system and the reasons why:

Low light or dark scenes: Passive auto focus systems need to electronically see the objects in the scene in order to calculate the quality of the focus and find he best focus position. In low light or dark scenes such systems can not work since they are not able to see the objects and to calculate the focus. Some digital cameras solve this problem by shooting a series of flashes toward the objects and having the passive auto focus capture the image and try to find the perfect focus. This solution is very limited. It can only work with objects that are within focus range. In addition such aggressive flash usage is not practical in many scenes for example if you are trying to quietly take a photo of an animal. In low light or dark scenes the usage of active systems is very effective since they do not need ambient light in order to work.

Active systems can fail too. For example they can fail when taking photos of objects that absorb the infrared energy that is used by the camera in order to measure the distance to the objects. They can also fail in scenes with objects that emit infrared energy such as candles or other heat sources. This emitted energy can cause the digital camera active system to measure the wrong distance.

Low contrast objects: Objects such as white walls or blue skies are low contrast objects. Passive auto focus systems rely on the fact that the focus quality significantly changes in relation to the optical components position. This is only true for high contrast objects. Low contrast objects are harder for the camera to focus on since the focus quality does not change much and it is almost impossible for the camera to find a definite best focus position. This can be solved by using an active system that can simply measure the distance to the object or by focusing on another high contrast object in the same distance and then panning to the low contrast object while keeping the focus locked.

Ziv Haparnas is a technology veteran and writes about practical technology and science issues. This article can be reprinted and used as long as the resource box including the backlink is included. You can find more information about photo album printing and photography in general on http://www.printrates.com - a site dedicated to photo printing.

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What You Need To Buy A Digital Camera Wholesale

Digital cameras are available in several price ranges today. They can be purchased wholesale as well as retail. Whether your budget is a mere $30 or $300, you are sure to find a camera within the given price range. However, you might have to compromise on some of the features that you will get in the deal.

So, what do you do if you want the best at the cheapest price? The answer to this question lies within the World Wide Web. You do not have to make telephone calls to sales persons or go camera hunting in many shops…simply sit at home and click away !

There are cameras which are available at wholesale prices. However, the trick here is that these are not so easily available because you need to take a pre-requisite number of cameras before you can get them at such a bargain. Or there might be older models which companies are trying to sell off at wholesale prices. Hence, it is possible to get a bargain but you really need to shop hard before you strike gold.

What you can do however, is to access the Internet for services known as ‘price comparison engines’. These are basically web sites which search the Net for the best prices available on digital cameras from different suppliers. So instead of visiting hundred different sites consisting of different suppliers, you can choose to visit ten price comparison engines and get a good estimate for the digital camera that you need.

But this is only possible if you have a basic idea of what you are looking for in a digital camera. You should at least know the make, if not the model, so that the research can be done properly. This will help you to narrow down your search drastically and thus save you a lot of time and effort.

Some of the well-known web sites which sell wholesale digital cameras include Ebay.com and Amazon.com. Both these sites have a huge collection of digital cameras, and you are sure to find what you are looking for at a cheap price. These sites also deal in digital camera accessories; hence you can probably find that extra memory card on Amazon or Ebay and get yourself a good packaged deal.

It is very important that you keep in mind the fact that the wholesaler from whom you purchase your camera is authentic and can be relied upon. Thus, do not get lured by attractive deals at wholesale prices before checking this out.

Kevin Rockwell worked as a network TV cameraman for 20 years shooting news and sports. Now a devoted fan of digital photography and video he works to gather information, tips and news for digital camera users. Oh and he loves to shoot pictures of his kids playing sports.

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Getting Truthful Information Before Buying A Digital Camera

Digital photography is a fun hobby and can be quite addicting. Go to a social event or on a trip and almost everyone is clicking away with a digital camera. So many cameras, so many models, how do you get some information before buying?

There are two things you have take into consideration when shopping for a digital camera and you need to go back to the days of traditional photography for the first--some companies have made good names for themselves by manufacturing quality cameras. They are not about to tarnish their reputation by making poor quality digital cameras especially now that the transition from film cameras to digital has taken over.

Secondly, there are some companies who made their reputation by manufacturing other electronic products like stereos or televisions also throwing their hat into the digital photography arena. This is where you may want to think twice. Just because these particular companies made great audio or television products does not necessarily mean they have the knowhow and science in the field of photography.

With these in mind, make a list of about three or four photography companies you would consider buying your digital camera from. Then go to each company's official website and get as much information as you can about the digital cameras they offer. A camera that shoots at least 4 megapixels is a good starting point for beginners. Other features to consider are optical zoom, size of LCD screen, timer, and flash. Make sure you jot down all the model numbers too.

Now that you have a list of models and features you are interested in, this is where your shopping becomes more challenging and a bit time consuming. Go to your favorite search engine and look up digital camera reviews. Naturally you will be bombarded with a plethora of sites offering reviews but you do not have to be particular, click on any of the links presented to you.

Once you get to the review site's page, there is a possibility some of the models you took note of from the manufacturers' websites are already in the review site's navigation menu. The logic is that manufacturers will hawk their latest models and the review sites will, in their attempt to satisfy their visitors, have reviews available on the newest models already.

A good review site should offer the following information on each camera model: 1) all the features available; 2) the pro's and con's of each feature; 3) the price; 4) information about the battery and other accessories that are included; 5) comparisons with other brands of the same level; 6) reviews posted by people who bought that particular model; and very likely 7) tests they carried out on the model. Some may even post pictures of shots they took with the model being reviewed and show what happens when such a feature is turned on or off and so on.

So do a search for the models you are interested in at the review site. If their reviews include all or a majority of the information listed above, you are on the right track. Try to soak in as much information as you can. If you notice a degree of impartiality (in that they do not tend to favor a particular brand), then you can be assured of pretty accurate information. The sites that have a lot of press releases from manufacturers are the ones you want to avoid. Home shopping channels are also a bad source when trying to obtain impartial reviews.

Without a doubt, the first steps are always the hardest and buying the first digital camera is no exception. With so many brands, models and features, a first-timer can easily get confused and wind up with a camera that is actually unsatisfactory. The good news is that truthful information is easily available albeit just a little time consuming to gather. The smart shopper knows that going the extra mile in getting the right information will help avoid having to deal with customer service or issues that will take away from an otherwise enjoyable experience.

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Digital photography is indeed a fun-filled hobby regardless of your skill level. To read articles and get more information from fellow hobbyists, please visit the author's digital photography website.

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Digital Camera and Cell Phones Are They Really Privacy Busters

Many people believe that they deserve privacy and yet what is privacy; is anything truly private? After all we hear people talking in the coffee shops, in airports and in lines at the post office on their cell phone and although you can only hear one side of the conversation you can learn a lot of personal data about someone by listening in.

What is amazing is people really don't seem to care; they chat away as if no one is listening, yet they often raise the volume of their voice so everyone can hear and therefore everyone really is listening. Some people want people to hear what they are saying and then they start making the conversation elevated to impress the nearby listeners.

Yet despite all this that goes on people want their data secured at the government and the corporations they do business with. Identity theft is the number one complaint of consumers at the Federal Trade Commission and this is increasing. Identity theft has now passed the illegal drug sales on the criminal monetary scale.

But people are really not doing much about it and they still give away information to the public freely on their own. Of course it is their right to do so, yet at the same time they demand privacy protection from their government. Wouldn't you?

Even if you are careful with your data others find ways to capture your data or information or privacy without your knowledge, via camera cell phones for instance. I certainly hope this article is of interest and that is has propelled thought. The goal is simple; to help you in your quest to be the best in 2007. I thank you for reading my many articles on diverse subjects, which interest you.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

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A Quick Checklist Before Buying A Digital Camera

In a quandary as to what kind of digital camera to invest in? Should you buy the cheap one first or go straight for the Rolls Royce of digital cameras? Digital cameras can be extremely notorious for making you regret the "buy cheap first" decision. Getting an understanding of what digital cameras can and probably cannot do will go a long way in guiding you to buy that first one. Here are seven things to look out for:

1. Categories of a camera
• ultra compact--by far, the lowest of the low-end, no flash, no zoom, no nothing; just aim and shoot;
• compact--for the hobbyist, basic features;
• digital SLR cameras--single-lens reflex cameras, for the serious photographer.
2. Mega pixels
• 2 mega pixels--for basic snapshots; small prints are okay but pixelation occurs when the photos are enlarged;
• between 3 and 5 mega pixels--you can count on good quality prints;
• 5 mega pixels and above--aside from producing excellent quality large prints, you can easily do image manipulation.
3. Zoom
• optical zoom factor--by magnifying the light entering the main lens, distant objects appear close; this produces good quality photos;
• digital zoom factor--magnifies the resulting image.
4. Carrying case and tripod

Most reasonably priced cameras will bundle these two items in the same package but very likely, the case will only be a pouch, which is just enough for the camera itself. If you have decided to "soup up" your digital camera, then you should also invest in a more spacious carrying case.

The same can be said about the tripod, the bundled one will very likely be one of those 3-inch table top tripods which may also be wobbly. The tripod helps keep the shots stable and also to take advantage of the timer. The serious shutterbug will want to invest in a much taller and more stable tripod.

5. Storage media

Most digital cameras have some built in memory but do not count on this to store your photos because the memory size is very small. You will find that the built-in memory easily runs out when taking pictures of 5 mega pixels and above. Invest in a compact flash or secure digital flash card. 256 Kb will give you good enough storage when taking high mega pixel shots. But if you are an avid clicker, consider getting at least a 1 Gb card.

6. Battery

One of the most overlooked accessories is by far the battery. Most lower priced cameras will come bundled with a no-name battery which is almost tantamount to no reliability. People will tell you that these batteries should last at least a year but do not be surprised if these kinds of batteries breaks down in less than a year. The good news is that these batteries have model numbers and you can find a suitable replacement from a reputable manufacturer.

7. Lenses and filters

Just like traditional cameras, there are digital cameras that allow additional lenses to be attached or completely changeable. Three basic lens types are:

• macro lens--allows you to take close-ups of objects like insects and flowers;
• wide-angle lens--self-explanatory, used to capture large and wide sceneries;
• telephoto lens--can you say paparazzi?

Filters can be used to soften or enhance images, which means adding more drama some shots.

It also helps to talk to your relatives or friends who have already owned a digital camera for some time. Their input plus the tips that you have just read will go a long way in helping you invest in a gadget that will give you hours of fun and capture moments that you will cherish.

The author is an owner of a cheap digital camera. It is so cheap, the battery actually is half the price of the camera. Avoid the kind of fate he suffered. Learn from experienced users and share your own by visiting the Digital Photography website.

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A Tale of More Colors With Digital Camera

Since time immemorial, fleeting moments have been a thing to look back at and relive the mirth and murk associated with them. More than practice, it has been the instinct which roots deep within us. Our past is not just a matter of seconds and hours we lived. It implies a lot beyond that. What is it and how does it affect us can best be answered in one word – memories, we value what we cherish.

Cameras have found a very distinct place in our lives. To some, it may lead to their profession and to others a hobby which guides their way to getting closer to those valuable moments which they would yearn to live again. With time and technology, the world of camera evolved and today the fad is digital cameras which we dotingly call Digicams.

Since the days of bulky cameras which transformed into traditional cameras which are still very much in use (image is captured on a film) and now digital camera, there have never been a shred of doubt on what they have done and can do with technical advancement. Let us pay a glance on the relevance and functionality of these digicams.

Digital camera does not involve a film roll which needs to be developed, rather it saves the images captured either onto the inbuilt memory or memory sticks/cards which can be transferred to a computer, another digicams or printed directly completely depending upon the facilities integrated. High resolution images, adjustable zooms, colour adjustment and various modes available to choose from in which you would like to shoot the photographs (depending upon ambience) work towards flexibility and inundate consumers with too many applications.

To lay hands on your desired digicams should not be much of an ask as there are various manufacturers making quality cameras and you can virtually compare digital cameras of different makes before buying one. Cheap digital cameras should be available on online shopping websites to make life easier and more colourful!

Fletcher Mak is an author, write various articles on different themes to expand information, because articles is a good way to send their information to needy people easily. You can get more information about compare digital camera and other consumer electronics.

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Digital Camera Accessories Cover the Bases

With many professional portrait studios opting for them as the shooting weapon of choice and more and more homes going completely electronic, there’s no denying that digital cameras are here to stay. As technology continues to advance and pictures taken on them prove incredible, the amount of digital camera accessories to make shots even better is really on the rise. Where only a few extras used to be available, digital camera fans are finding a whole host of choices these day.

There are two major categories of digital camera accessories on the market – the must haves and the would love to haves. Let’s look at both.

Must Haves

• Extra memory. With digital cameras offering such ease in shooting, those who want to take high-quality pictures find themselves tearing through memory cards rather quickly. These digital camera accessories are generally pretty affordable and are more than easy to carry. Typically the size of postage stamp or just slightly larger, extra memory cards can be used by anyone from the professional shooter to the amateur on vacation.

• Spare batteries. It might be hard to consider these as an “accessory,” but the fact is many who own these cameras do. While most digital camera batteries can last a long time, when they run out in the middle of a vacation or a particularly fun shoot, it can be really irritating. Having a spare set can really come in handy. It’s best to consider rechargeable spares to save on replacement costs down the road.

• Weatherproof camera bag. When it comes to digital camera accessories, this one is a must have for anyone that intends to take their camera outside, ever. Providing protection from bad weather and drops alike, these accessories aren’t very expensive either and they can help store those extra batteries and memory cards, too.

Love To Haves

• Lighting mechanisms. This particular class of digital camera accessory might almost fit into the “must have” list. While most digital cameras take very good pictures, there onboard flashes tend to leave a lot to be desired. There are all kind of lighting mechanisms that are available that can remedy this. Some are designed to work with specific cameras and others are standalones that can assist in any photography setting. These are great for anyone who wants to take spectacular shots to consider.

• Tripods. When it comes to digital camera accessories, this is one any serious shooter might want to consider. These help take away the shake that’s involved in some settings and can really help create spectacular images.

• Extra lenses. Not all cameras will accept these digital camera accessories, but those that do can really benefit from them. Providing a way to really turn a digital into an all-purpose camera, these add ons should be considered by those who can use them.

When it comes to digital camera accessories, the options are becoming amazing. The above is just a small list of those available. While not everyone will need many digital camera accessories to take the pictures they want, it’s nice to know options are out there. To learn more about digital cameras, accessories and shooting tricks, visit http://www.digitalcamerawiz.com

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