Digital cameras have come a long ways in the past few years. They are now more affordable and feature rich than ever. A comprehensive list of features and advice for choosing a digital camera is beyond the scope of this article, but this article will highlight one of the most popular features, video capture capability.
With a video capture feature on your camera, you can take low to medium quality video footage using your digital camera. All cameras with video capture are not created equal, though. Here are some things to check on before buying a camera with video capture:
1 – Sound
Does the camera support sound? If so, does it capture it through a built in microphone, or does it have an input for you to plug in an external microphone?
2- Video Quality
There are two main factors that determine video quality – resolution and frames per second. The higher the resolution, and the higher the number of frames per second, the higher quality the video.
3- Video format
What format is the video in? Ideally, it will be in a standard, easy to edit format, such as MPEG. Some cameras use proprietary video formats, which means that you can't edit your videos with most editors. Windows Movie Maker, which comes free with Windows, is a great editor to use for most generic video formats.
4- Video length
Some cameras limit the length of video clips you can take, often to 30 seconds. This can be a great aggravation. The better cameras allow you to take as long of a video clip as your camera's memory can hold. Of course, you can add a larger memory stick to take a longer video clip. You can now get memory sticks up to 2 GB or larger.
5- Zoom
On most digital cameras, you can use the zoom when taking video footage. However, you can generally only use your optical zoom, not your digital zoom.
http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Digital-Cameras--Another-Kickin--New-Feature--Video-Capture/68360
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Buying The Digital Camera Thats Friendly To Your Wallet
Digital cameras can be pricey - but they can also be cheap. Who wants expensive, anyway? Instead of immediately shelling out hundreds of dollars for a newly-launched model, learn to buy on your terms. You just need to pay attention to the features and bargains and you can have your own camera according to what suits you best. Here are some tips on buying cameras.
The physical design of the camera is not everything. Admit it, consumers always fall for the physical aesthetics. Just because a camera is small, sleek and eye-catching, doesn't mean it will perform well.
" Know your budget. If you are an average photographer with minimal interest in photography, then a $100-199 camera will probably do just fine for you. If you have a passion for photography and are very particular about your shots, then you can have a $200-900 camera. If you consider yourself a professional photographer, then you can spend more than $900 for your camera.
" How many megapixels? The quality of the photos is the number one query of most camera buyers. A 4-megapixel camera is sufficient for average users with a very slim budget.
" What capacity memory card that will work best for you? To get a sense of the capacity you will need, ask yourself some questions about your lifestyle. How often do you take pictures, and how many pictures do you take when you do take pictures? If you take a lot of pictures at a time, then you will want a higher capacity memory card. When and where do you take pictures? If you go on extended vacations then you will want higher capacity as well and you may want to consider back-up memory for your camera.
" Keep yourself in track with sales and promotions. Almost all gadget stores have year-end sales especially when new models are about to come out. You can strike the best deal when you are not rushing to make a purchase.
" When buying discounted digital cameras, set a budget ceiling and stick to it. However, do not compromise quality and warranty for a cheaper deal.
Here are some additional points that you may want to consider:
If you are not a professional, but still want to have latest technology on digital cameras then ask yourself these questions to help you find the right one for you.
Does size matter? The size of the camera is an important factor for most buyers. Almost always, the smaller the camera, the better.
Do you want to achieve best quality photos? Then check out the sensor photo detectors (mega pixels).
Do you want a camera with a good LCD monitor size? It’s always safe to get a camera with an average size of LCD monitor for this gives you a peek to the photos you have taken.
Does the camera feature digital zoom? Does the camera support manual focus?
How often do you take pictures? Do you store photos in your camera? Remember to check the size of the internal and external memory of the camera before buying. If the memory is not enough, you can purchase additional memory sticks or large capacity memory sticks.
Does the camera support USB? A USB connection is the easiest way of transferring or uploading photo files to your computer when your memory is full.
Can you set your own shutter speed? Setting the shutter speed controls the exposure of the picture. You may not be interested in this now but you may be later so this is a good feature to have.
Can you set you own aperture? The aperture setting controls the size of the shutter opening. Like the shutter speed, this is an advanced feature, which you may want to experiment with down the road.
Does your camera have video features? Videos are great fun, and like most functionality, you might find you use it all the time once you have it!
How much does the camera weigh? Look for a camera that is easy to handle and light.
Inject some practicality when spending your money. Hype is not everything. Just because a certain digital camera brand is getting all the attention in the media, does not mean you have to have it. Know what you want and what you need. It only takes a few hours to make a research and comparison of brands. Then you can get a cheaper digital camera brand that can reflect you and your personality.
http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Buying-the-Digital-Camera-thats-Friendly-to-Your-Wallet/61634
The physical design of the camera is not everything. Admit it, consumers always fall for the physical aesthetics. Just because a camera is small, sleek and eye-catching, doesn't mean it will perform well.
" Know your budget. If you are an average photographer with minimal interest in photography, then a $100-199 camera will probably do just fine for you. If you have a passion for photography and are very particular about your shots, then you can have a $200-900 camera. If you consider yourself a professional photographer, then you can spend more than $900 for your camera.
" How many megapixels? The quality of the photos is the number one query of most camera buyers. A 4-megapixel camera is sufficient for average users with a very slim budget.
" What capacity memory card that will work best for you? To get a sense of the capacity you will need, ask yourself some questions about your lifestyle. How often do you take pictures, and how many pictures do you take when you do take pictures? If you take a lot of pictures at a time, then you will want a higher capacity memory card. When and where do you take pictures? If you go on extended vacations then you will want higher capacity as well and you may want to consider back-up memory for your camera.
" Keep yourself in track with sales and promotions. Almost all gadget stores have year-end sales especially when new models are about to come out. You can strike the best deal when you are not rushing to make a purchase.
" When buying discounted digital cameras, set a budget ceiling and stick to it. However, do not compromise quality and warranty for a cheaper deal.
Here are some additional points that you may want to consider:
If you are not a professional, but still want to have latest technology on digital cameras then ask yourself these questions to help you find the right one for you.
Does size matter? The size of the camera is an important factor for most buyers. Almost always, the smaller the camera, the better.
Do you want to achieve best quality photos? Then check out the sensor photo detectors (mega pixels).
Do you want a camera with a good LCD monitor size? It’s always safe to get a camera with an average size of LCD monitor for this gives you a peek to the photos you have taken.
Does the camera feature digital zoom? Does the camera support manual focus?
How often do you take pictures? Do you store photos in your camera? Remember to check the size of the internal and external memory of the camera before buying. If the memory is not enough, you can purchase additional memory sticks or large capacity memory sticks.
Does the camera support USB? A USB connection is the easiest way of transferring or uploading photo files to your computer when your memory is full.
Can you set your own shutter speed? Setting the shutter speed controls the exposure of the picture. You may not be interested in this now but you may be later so this is a good feature to have.
Can you set you own aperture? The aperture setting controls the size of the shutter opening. Like the shutter speed, this is an advanced feature, which you may want to experiment with down the road.
Does your camera have video features? Videos are great fun, and like most functionality, you might find you use it all the time once you have it!
How much does the camera weigh? Look for a camera that is easy to handle and light.
Inject some practicality when spending your money. Hype is not everything. Just because a certain digital camera brand is getting all the attention in the media, does not mean you have to have it. Know what you want and what you need. It only takes a few hours to make a research and comparison of brands. Then you can get a cheaper digital camera brand that can reflect you and your personality.
http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Buying-the-Digital-Camera-thats-Friendly-to-Your-Wallet/61634
Digital Video Cameras - More Fun Than Ever
With your trusty digital video camera by your side you can capture all those special moments, such as your child's first steps, your birthday or wedding, or your vacation with family and friends etc.
With so many manufacturers and models available in the digital video market, you may find it confusing trying to choose the perfect one for you. Your choice will, however, depend on the features that you want and how much you are willing to spend.
The most important thing to consider is the format in which your videos will be stored, as the video format determines the video quality. Digital 8 otherwise called D8, Mini-DV, DVD and HDD are the main types of video format that digital cameras offer. Both D8 and Mini-DV are tape-based formats, with the Mini-DV currently offering the highest quality video format to consumers. The DVD format allows direct video recording onto a digital disk, while the HDD type uses internal hard drives where the video is recorded. As the tape format is slowly being phased out by major manufacturers, it is a good idea to invest in disk or hard drive based digital video cameras.
Digital video cameras also come with charged coupled device or CCD imaging sensor. Digital video cameras come with 1-CCD or 3-CCD features. Cameras with 1-CCD suffer from poor video quality, whereas 3-CCD cameras produce much better quality videos. Most professional camcorders use the 3-CCD technology, thus making them more expensive than the other models.
The optical zoom feature of the camcorder lens generally ranges from 10X to 20X. The choice of zoom depends on how close you want to get to the action. Some digital video cameras also allow still photography at various resolutions, and some camcorders offer both video and still photography features. Some digital video camcorders have in-built flash for low-light photography, while some video cameras come with a 'Night Shot' feature. Other popular options include external flashlights, external microphones and external storage devices that can be attached onto the camcorder.
Camcorders with longer battery strength is also recommended. Digital video cameras have battery life ranging from 4 to 8 hours of continuous shooting. However, using the zoom or any external devices reduce the battery strength.
All cameras nowadays come bundled with a digital video editing software. But if you are not satisfied with the one provided, you can always buy a better and more expensive editing software from Adobe or any other reputable brand.
Video camera prices today vary from $500 to $4000, with Sony, JVC and Canon being the more popular brands.
http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Digital-Video-Cameras---More-Fun-Than-Ever/59590
With so many manufacturers and models available in the digital video market, you may find it confusing trying to choose the perfect one for you. Your choice will, however, depend on the features that you want and how much you are willing to spend.
The most important thing to consider is the format in which your videos will be stored, as the video format determines the video quality. Digital 8 otherwise called D8, Mini-DV, DVD and HDD are the main types of video format that digital cameras offer. Both D8 and Mini-DV are tape-based formats, with the Mini-DV currently offering the highest quality video format to consumers. The DVD format allows direct video recording onto a digital disk, while the HDD type uses internal hard drives where the video is recorded. As the tape format is slowly being phased out by major manufacturers, it is a good idea to invest in disk or hard drive based digital video cameras.
Digital video cameras also come with charged coupled device or CCD imaging sensor. Digital video cameras come with 1-CCD or 3-CCD features. Cameras with 1-CCD suffer from poor video quality, whereas 3-CCD cameras produce much better quality videos. Most professional camcorders use the 3-CCD technology, thus making them more expensive than the other models.
The optical zoom feature of the camcorder lens generally ranges from 10X to 20X. The choice of zoom depends on how close you want to get to the action. Some digital video cameras also allow still photography at various resolutions, and some camcorders offer both video and still photography features. Some digital video camcorders have in-built flash for low-light photography, while some video cameras come with a 'Night Shot' feature. Other popular options include external flashlights, external microphones and external storage devices that can be attached onto the camcorder.
Camcorders with longer battery strength is also recommended. Digital video cameras have battery life ranging from 4 to 8 hours of continuous shooting. However, using the zoom or any external devices reduce the battery strength.
All cameras nowadays come bundled with a digital video editing software. But if you are not satisfied with the one provided, you can always buy a better and more expensive editing software from Adobe or any other reputable brand.
Video camera prices today vary from $500 to $4000, with Sony, JVC and Canon being the more popular brands.
http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Digital-Video-Cameras---More-Fun-Than-Ever/59590
Digital Body Worn Cameras
What is small than a credit card, takes up to eighty quality digital photos, can be used as a web cam and carries your keys, as well? This is simply one of the best body worn cameras available on the market today. It is a keychain digital camera. When you leave the house, do you ever go anywhere without your keys?
Probably not, so why not take along a great little body worn camera with you and use it to catch all of the action and memories that you would have lost had you not had this digital camera keychain with you? It has sixteen megabytes of memory and operates on a “AAA” battery. Then when you are ready, just download your photos and you are ready to roll.
Want to know about another great little digital body worn camera? This little gem looks just like a cigarette lighter, a great innovation for all of you smokers. But not only does it take great digital photos, it can also be used to send live video across the Internet. Imagine using a lighter to talk face to face with your friends while you are online.
And it works with most windows based programs. You will get great pictures every time with this camera’s automatic exposure and white balance features. So that regardless if you are a professional photographer or a rank novice, you will get the kinds of photos that you desire. These are perfect body worn cameras for private investigators, too. The lighter camera is capable of take up to 104 VGA pictures or 30 SXGA pictures.
http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Digital-Body-Worn-Cameras/56626
Probably not, so why not take along a great little body worn camera with you and use it to catch all of the action and memories that you would have lost had you not had this digital camera keychain with you? It has sixteen megabytes of memory and operates on a “AAA” battery. Then when you are ready, just download your photos and you are ready to roll.
Want to know about another great little digital body worn camera? This little gem looks just like a cigarette lighter, a great innovation for all of you smokers. But not only does it take great digital photos, it can also be used to send live video across the Internet. Imagine using a lighter to talk face to face with your friends while you are online.
And it works with most windows based programs. You will get great pictures every time with this camera’s automatic exposure and white balance features. So that regardless if you are a professional photographer or a rank novice, you will get the kinds of photos that you desire. These are perfect body worn cameras for private investigators, too. The lighter camera is capable of take up to 104 VGA pictures or 30 SXGA pictures.
http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Digital-Body-Worn-Cameras/56626
Digital Cameras
Confused on what type of digital camera to purchase? Here are some things to consider when purchasing a digital camera.
There are many manufacturers of digital cameras with some of the more popular brands being Canon, Nikon, Kodak and Olympus.
The final decision on which digital camera to purchase should be based on several factors. What do you intend to use the digital camera for. Do you intend to take close-up photos and need a zoom in feature or scenery photos, where you will need a wide angle lens. Will you be sending the pictures over the Internet or printing off copies which requires more pixels. How many pictures will you be taking before you are able to upload or print them off as this will require a larger storage capacity. The kind of photographer you are will contribute to the price of the digital camera. Are you a point and shoot type of digital photographer with minimal involvement in the process then a $40 - $199 digital camera may meet your needs. For an intermediate photographer who would like some flexibility in the shots taken, $200 - $900 would be the right price range. A professional digital photographer who demands total control of the process could spend from $1000 - $8000 for a digital camera. Once you have established this, then you must go through the various features and determine if they would be something you would really use and need. As previously noted, the more involvement and quality you want the higher the price of the camera. Visit some of the websites that allow you to conduct side-by-side comparisons of different brands of cameras with similar features within the same price range.
http://www.buying-guide-for-digital-cameras.com/
There are many manufacturers of digital cameras with some of the more popular brands being Canon, Nikon, Kodak and Olympus.
The final decision on which digital camera to purchase should be based on several factors. What do you intend to use the digital camera for. Do you intend to take close-up photos and need a zoom in feature or scenery photos, where you will need a wide angle lens. Will you be sending the pictures over the Internet or printing off copies which requires more pixels. How many pictures will you be taking before you are able to upload or print them off as this will require a larger storage capacity. The kind of photographer you are will contribute to the price of the digital camera. Are you a point and shoot type of digital photographer with minimal involvement in the process then a $40 - $199 digital camera may meet your needs. For an intermediate photographer who would like some flexibility in the shots taken, $200 - $900 would be the right price range. A professional digital photographer who demands total control of the process could spend from $1000 - $8000 for a digital camera. Once you have established this, then you must go through the various features and determine if they would be something you would really use and need. As previously noted, the more involvement and quality you want the higher the price of the camera. Visit some of the websites that allow you to conduct side-by-side comparisons of different brands of cameras with similar features within the same price range.
http://www.buying-guide-for-digital-cameras.com/
Kodak Cx7300 Digital Camera
Quality digital cameras are becoming affordable for just about everyone these days. Kodak's entry into the low cost end of the market is their CX7300 3.2 mega pixel model. You just may be surprised at what a terrific value it is. Please read on.
As recently as two years ago, if you were shopping for a 3.0 mega pixel or greater camera, you would have paid approximately $249. for one. Today, prices have tumbled and it isn't uncommon to find cameras in this category going for $150 or less. Recents sale prices I have observed have brought this price down further with one retailer selling the Kodak CX7300 for just under $100.
As you may know a 3.0 meg camera is ideal if you are taking pictures to post online. Anything greater isn't necessary, so there is no need to expend the extra bucks for a 5.0, 6.0, or even 7.0 meg camera.
This particular Kodak model is no bare bones model either. Top features include:
3.2 million pixels
3x digital zoom
1.6" color display
Red eye reduction
Self timer
Color modes
Multiple scene modes
Movie mode
16 MB internal memory
Easy Share software
The CX7300 is easy to use and picture quality is very good. Kodak also markets this model camera as a C300, so shop around and see what your retailer is offering.
http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Kodak-CX7300-Digital-Camera/6927
As recently as two years ago, if you were shopping for a 3.0 mega pixel or greater camera, you would have paid approximately $249. for one. Today, prices have tumbled and it isn't uncommon to find cameras in this category going for $150 or less. Recents sale prices I have observed have brought this price down further with one retailer selling the Kodak CX7300 for just under $100.
As you may know a 3.0 meg camera is ideal if you are taking pictures to post online. Anything greater isn't necessary, so there is no need to expend the extra bucks for a 5.0, 6.0, or even 7.0 meg camera.
This particular Kodak model is no bare bones model either. Top features include:
3.2 million pixels
3x digital zoom
1.6" color display
Red eye reduction
Self timer
Color modes
Multiple scene modes
Movie mode
16 MB internal memory
Easy Share software
The CX7300 is easy to use and picture quality is very good. Kodak also markets this model camera as a C300, so shop around and see what your retailer is offering.
http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Kodak-CX7300-Digital-Camera/6927
Digital Camera Accessories That You'll Actually Need
In just about any technical product these days you are bound to have some options for accessories. This is no different with Digital Cameras. The problem is that the average consumer can be a little overwhelmed when trying to decide which accessories they really need for their camera. Especially coming from a pushy salesperson.
My goal here in this article is to provide some ideas as to what you really ought to be considering when purchasing Digital Camera Accessories.
An Extra Battery! - For me personally this is the number one on my list of Digital Camera Accessories. I don't know how many times I have been somewhere and my camera decides to die on me. Most Digital Cameras today use up an enormous amount of power, and unfortunately the only solution is to carry a lot of spare batteries on the side. There are camera with batteries you can recharge, naturally these are usually more expensive, but the same rules apply. You will need to charge these batteries very often, so having one on the side will certainly help with the continuity of photo taking!
Digital Camera Software - While you may have taken the worst picture in the history of photography (OK, that would be a pretty hard task to accomplish) but the good news is that you can often correct the mistakes with software. Fixing aspects like red-eye and brightening effects can turn a so-so photograph into a professional-looking one.
Tripod - This is one of the key items that professionals use all the time. This will allow you to take photographs with a much more evened look to them. The trick on this item is to get one that is relatively easy to carry around. Some tripods can be very bulky and cumbersome.
Carrying Case - When you spend a few hundred dollars on a good camera, you really need to find something that will protect it from nature's elements and also the accidental drop on the ground. Try to look for one that provides ample cushioning for your camera.Another Flash - This is also known as an "external flash" and is really for more professional and advanced users. The most obvious benefit of this flash is that it provide much better lighting than your normal camera
There are more accessories that you can buy, but for now these are some basics to get you started.
Here's to some great photographs!
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=177172&ca=Arts+and+Crafts
My goal here in this article is to provide some ideas as to what you really ought to be considering when purchasing Digital Camera Accessories.
An Extra Battery! - For me personally this is the number one on my list of Digital Camera Accessories. I don't know how many times I have been somewhere and my camera decides to die on me. Most Digital Cameras today use up an enormous amount of power, and unfortunately the only solution is to carry a lot of spare batteries on the side. There are camera with batteries you can recharge, naturally these are usually more expensive, but the same rules apply. You will need to charge these batteries very often, so having one on the side will certainly help with the continuity of photo taking!
Digital Camera Software - While you may have taken the worst picture in the history of photography (OK, that would be a pretty hard task to accomplish) but the good news is that you can often correct the mistakes with software. Fixing aspects like red-eye and brightening effects can turn a so-so photograph into a professional-looking one.
Tripod - This is one of the key items that professionals use all the time. This will allow you to take photographs with a much more evened look to them. The trick on this item is to get one that is relatively easy to carry around. Some tripods can be very bulky and cumbersome.
Carrying Case - When you spend a few hundred dollars on a good camera, you really need to find something that will protect it from nature's elements and also the accidental drop on the ground. Try to look for one that provides ample cushioning for your camera.Another Flash - This is also known as an "external flash" and is really for more professional and advanced users. The most obvious benefit of this flash is that it provide much better lighting than your normal camera
There are more accessories that you can buy, but for now these are some basics to get you started.
Here's to some great photographs!
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=177172&ca=Arts+and+Crafts
10 Steps to Buying a Digital Camera You Must Know
You are anxious to purchase your new digital camera! You want to get it in your hands quickly so you can begin to enjoy it. Are you going to go to the store right now and pick one out? Wrong! You must have some basic knowledge and know-how prior to entering into the world of salesmen and digital cameras! Here are the steps to buying the digital camera that is right for you.
1. Know your budget. Yes, you have to do the number crunching this time. No sense in getting your hopes up for a high powered digital camera you can't afford. Do not be afraid to tell the salesman straight away what your budget is either. Don't waste your time looking for cameras that don't fit this budget.
2. Know what you want to use the camera for. Is this for a professional or to take pictures of your kids? Will it be used mostly indoors, outdoors, or both? Knowing this information can help narrow down your search as well.
3. Needs versus desires. Okay so just about everyone wants the digital camera that is loaded with features and added bonuses. But, is it really what you need? Cutting down all these extras will help you cut the extra costs as well. But, don't skimp either. Take some time to check out several of the available digital cameras in your price range. Know what to expect for your money.
4. Do your research. Trust me, once you walk into that saleroom, chances are you are going to want to lay your hands on a camera and leave with it. But, this is not a smart choice. You need to either decide not to do this until you have checked out several places or you can do the smarter thing. That is doing your research online from home, far away from the store itself. Just keep going from site to site to determine what are the basic cameras available in your price range. Who is offering the most bang for your buck?
5. LCD screen or not? Most of us want to be able to preview the image we are going to take using the LCD screen. But, it is a costly addition to the camera. Consider whether it is right for you or not.
6. Memory Cards. Will you need to purchase a memory card for your digital camera as well or will one be provided. How many should you buy depends on how much you will use the camera in between downloading them. How much memory will be on the cards for the camera you plan to purchase?
7. Pixels and Resolution. Just, what is all that about? The better quality cameras which have higher pixels and resolution provide a clearer picture with much more detail then others. Again, compare the different models once you are at the store. Which model, in your budget range, has the best picture? Or, which camera has the best picture for what you are willing or able to spend. Test them out prior to purchasing to see the difference here.
8. Is the camera compatible with your computer? This is very important here since this is how most people download and even print off their pictures! This is usually not a problem unless you own an older computer.
9. Ease of use. Purchasing a digital camera is supposed to make your life easier, right? Make sure you are choosing one you can understand how to use and one that is simple to use. When you want to take a picture, you usually don't have 5 minutes to figure it out.
10. Cost of features over name brand. Our last comment has to do with name brands. Surely, you know that just because a name brand sticker is on an item it is not a way to tell if it is the best model out there. Compare the features and items listed above to find the best camera available to you, not the label.
Putting all of this together can produce a great digital camera that suits your needs, your budget, and even your desires. Now, that you have an idea of what to look for, go ahead, run to your retailer with the best deal and get the digital camera you have been waiting for!
John Howard is an avid digital photographer. Visit his website for tips and tricks at: Digital Photography
©2005 John Howard All Rights Reserved. This article may be published in web based or email form as long as this credit box is attached and the hyperlink is active. It may not be altered or edited in any way.
http://www.advancingwomen.com/photography/41807.php
1. Know your budget. Yes, you have to do the number crunching this time. No sense in getting your hopes up for a high powered digital camera you can't afford. Do not be afraid to tell the salesman straight away what your budget is either. Don't waste your time looking for cameras that don't fit this budget.
2. Know what you want to use the camera for. Is this for a professional or to take pictures of your kids? Will it be used mostly indoors, outdoors, or both? Knowing this information can help narrow down your search as well.
3. Needs versus desires. Okay so just about everyone wants the digital camera that is loaded with features and added bonuses. But, is it really what you need? Cutting down all these extras will help you cut the extra costs as well. But, don't skimp either. Take some time to check out several of the available digital cameras in your price range. Know what to expect for your money.
4. Do your research. Trust me, once you walk into that saleroom, chances are you are going to want to lay your hands on a camera and leave with it. But, this is not a smart choice. You need to either decide not to do this until you have checked out several places or you can do the smarter thing. That is doing your research online from home, far away from the store itself. Just keep going from site to site to determine what are the basic cameras available in your price range. Who is offering the most bang for your buck?
5. LCD screen or not? Most of us want to be able to preview the image we are going to take using the LCD screen. But, it is a costly addition to the camera. Consider whether it is right for you or not.
6. Memory Cards. Will you need to purchase a memory card for your digital camera as well or will one be provided. How many should you buy depends on how much you will use the camera in between downloading them. How much memory will be on the cards for the camera you plan to purchase?
7. Pixels and Resolution. Just, what is all that about? The better quality cameras which have higher pixels and resolution provide a clearer picture with much more detail then others. Again, compare the different models once you are at the store. Which model, in your budget range, has the best picture? Or, which camera has the best picture for what you are willing or able to spend. Test them out prior to purchasing to see the difference here.
8. Is the camera compatible with your computer? This is very important here since this is how most people download and even print off their pictures! This is usually not a problem unless you own an older computer.
9. Ease of use. Purchasing a digital camera is supposed to make your life easier, right? Make sure you are choosing one you can understand how to use and one that is simple to use. When you want to take a picture, you usually don't have 5 minutes to figure it out.
10. Cost of features over name brand. Our last comment has to do with name brands. Surely, you know that just because a name brand sticker is on an item it is not a way to tell if it is the best model out there. Compare the features and items listed above to find the best camera available to you, not the label.
Putting all of this together can produce a great digital camera that suits your needs, your budget, and even your desires. Now, that you have an idea of what to look for, go ahead, run to your retailer with the best deal and get the digital camera you have been waiting for!
John Howard is an avid digital photographer. Visit his website for tips and tricks at: Digital Photography
©2005 John Howard All Rights Reserved. This article may be published in web based or email form as long as this credit box is attached and the hyperlink is active. It may not be altered or edited in any way.
http://www.advancingwomen.com/photography/41807.php
Ricoh GR Digital digital camera Review
the Ricoh GR series of 35mm film cameras were born in the shape of the GR1. This camera and its later film bearing GR counterparts were some of the company's first compact cameras aimed at the enthusiast or pro snapper where image quality and resolving power of the lens were the paramount considerations, but crammed into a tiny package.
Today that small GR package has evolved and the introduction of a digital GR version that aims to follow those illustrious forbears in terms of image quality, usability and sheer photography panache, has its work cut out.
The Ricoh GR Digital certainly looks the part of a GR of yore, its 25mm "thin" body with slightly bulging handgrip-come-battery-and-memory-card housing are key traits. Its fixed focal length 28mm (35mm equiv.) lens has a bright F2.4 maximum aperture and as a prime lens, it's the key to preserving the GR reputation; it does however provide the same unparalleled sharpness and lack of distortion synonymous with the GR name.
Those familiar with GR film cameras know they were not simply point and shoot cameras; the new GR Digital is no different. It provides a comprehensive set of controls, full manual shooting options and a range of fine tuning options for controlling the cameras myriad settings that will satisfy the most demanding pro or enthusiast.
There are also a set of "system" accessories that allow you to attach accessories, wide-angle lens adapters, matched optical viewfinders (disappointingly there is no built-in optical viewfinder) and external flashguns (incidentally made by Sigma) that allow you to expand the camera and its versatility.
In use, the camera sits snuggly in the hand with the shutter release and dual control dials (one front and one on the back, a la D-SLRs) making the camera feel every inch a camera within your complete control. A mode dial with the manual, aperture priority and program settings includes a green coloured point and shoot setting a 320 x 240-pixel, 30fps movie mode and a single Scene mode. This last item providing a black and white text setting for snapping documents.
The large 2.5-inch screen provides comprehensive display options including composition frame lines and dominates the back plate; active histogram display and you can opt for nothing being displayed at all. The screen is sadly quite difficult to use in brighter conditions and although it is very sharp, I found that shadows and highlight areas in a shot were not displayed particularly well even when adjusting the screens brightness, giving a lack of detail that belied the true quality of the shots, more on that later.
Other controls on the back include the main menu/ok control; a four-way button set up that surrounds the menu button providing flash, replay, and the camera's excellent 1.5cm macro settings. These buttons also double as jog-style buttons that assist in scrolling the many menus the GR has to offer or displayed images.
The menus include the usual array of set-up options, access for the more advanced settings such as the completely customisable image parameters where sharpness, contrast and colour depth can be tweaked and saved as custom settings. There is also auto exposure bracketing and white balance bracketing built-in along with the ability to shoot with the AdobeRGB colour space embedded into the shots.
You cans shoot JPEG, TIF, RAW and RAW/JPEG combo files which savable on either the internal 26MB storage of removable SD or MMC storage. You get comprehensive ISO control, from ISO 64 to ISO 1600, with the noise controlled fairly well up to ISO 400, mediocre at ISO 800 but suffering more beyond that.
A fast shutter response of around 0.1-second makes the camera responsive to use but writing larger TIF or RAW files to any storage is disappointingly. In terms of image quality, the 256-zone metering and AF work a treat, macro focusing is excellent too and the sheer level of detail that GR lens captures (or the GW-1 0.75x wide-angle adaptor lens I also got to play with on this test) allows those 8 million pixels on the sensor to do there job well. Distortion is minimal at worst and negligible at best.
VERDICT
While the Ricoh GR Digital is not without flaws and notwithstanding its £400 price tag, which may make some swallow hard before parting with any cash for it, it is also a very accomplished little camera. The new GR would be ideal as a professional's back up, or perhaps the main weapon of choice for photo enthusiasts.
In either case they'd be safe in the knowledge the camera boasts a superb spec, lacking practically nothing; a built-in optical viewfinder would be a benefit though. Moreover, the image quality and versatility will not let them down. In short, it is worth every penny.
http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/reviews/review.phtml/1490/2514/ricoh-gr-8-megapixel-digital-camera.phtml
Today that small GR package has evolved and the introduction of a digital GR version that aims to follow those illustrious forbears in terms of image quality, usability and sheer photography panache, has its work cut out.
The Ricoh GR Digital certainly looks the part of a GR of yore, its 25mm "thin" body with slightly bulging handgrip-come-battery-and-memory-card housing are key traits. Its fixed focal length 28mm (35mm equiv.) lens has a bright F2.4 maximum aperture and as a prime lens, it's the key to preserving the GR reputation; it does however provide the same unparalleled sharpness and lack of distortion synonymous with the GR name.
Those familiar with GR film cameras know they were not simply point and shoot cameras; the new GR Digital is no different. It provides a comprehensive set of controls, full manual shooting options and a range of fine tuning options for controlling the cameras myriad settings that will satisfy the most demanding pro or enthusiast.
There are also a set of "system" accessories that allow you to attach accessories, wide-angle lens adapters, matched optical viewfinders (disappointingly there is no built-in optical viewfinder) and external flashguns (incidentally made by Sigma) that allow you to expand the camera and its versatility.
In use, the camera sits snuggly in the hand with the shutter release and dual control dials (one front and one on the back, a la D-SLRs) making the camera feel every inch a camera within your complete control. A mode dial with the manual, aperture priority and program settings includes a green coloured point and shoot setting a 320 x 240-pixel, 30fps movie mode and a single Scene mode. This last item providing a black and white text setting for snapping documents.
The large 2.5-inch screen provides comprehensive display options including composition frame lines and dominates the back plate; active histogram display and you can opt for nothing being displayed at all. The screen is sadly quite difficult to use in brighter conditions and although it is very sharp, I found that shadows and highlight areas in a shot were not displayed particularly well even when adjusting the screens brightness, giving a lack of detail that belied the true quality of the shots, more on that later.
Other controls on the back include the main menu/ok control; a four-way button set up that surrounds the menu button providing flash, replay, and the camera's excellent 1.5cm macro settings. These buttons also double as jog-style buttons that assist in scrolling the many menus the GR has to offer or displayed images.
The menus include the usual array of set-up options, access for the more advanced settings such as the completely customisable image parameters where sharpness, contrast and colour depth can be tweaked and saved as custom settings. There is also auto exposure bracketing and white balance bracketing built-in along with the ability to shoot with the AdobeRGB colour space embedded into the shots.
You cans shoot JPEG, TIF, RAW and RAW/JPEG combo files which savable on either the internal 26MB storage of removable SD or MMC storage. You get comprehensive ISO control, from ISO 64 to ISO 1600, with the noise controlled fairly well up to ISO 400, mediocre at ISO 800 but suffering more beyond that.
A fast shutter response of around 0.1-second makes the camera responsive to use but writing larger TIF or RAW files to any storage is disappointingly. In terms of image quality, the 256-zone metering and AF work a treat, macro focusing is excellent too and the sheer level of detail that GR lens captures (or the GW-1 0.75x wide-angle adaptor lens I also got to play with on this test) allows those 8 million pixels on the sensor to do there job well. Distortion is minimal at worst and negligible at best.
VERDICT
While the Ricoh GR Digital is not without flaws and notwithstanding its £400 price tag, which may make some swallow hard before parting with any cash for it, it is also a very accomplished little camera. The new GR would be ideal as a professional's back up, or perhaps the main weapon of choice for photo enthusiasts.
In either case they'd be safe in the knowledge the camera boasts a superb spec, lacking practically nothing; a built-in optical viewfinder would be a benefit though. Moreover, the image quality and versatility will not let them down. In short, it is worth every penny.
http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/reviews/review.phtml/1490/2514/ricoh-gr-8-megapixel-digital-camera.phtml
Sony F707 Digital Camera
March 21, 2002 People with ten thumbs and an IQ equivalent to their shoe size can take amazing pictures with this camera. It also takes five megapixel images (2560 x 1920) and it takes pictures in the dark without a flash due to its infrared capabilities - we're not talking poor lighting conditions here - we're talking about shooting a piece of coal on black velvet at the bottom of a mineshaft at midnight on a cloudy night. That was the rough wording of a magazine article I read at a newsstand in Singapore airport that convinced me to let the moths out of the wallet and I have never regretted the purchase. The NightShot mode is a very useful feature for candid photographs at parties without alerting the subjects with a flash - the quality is grainy and monochrome but the priceless shots it produces are ideal for capturing moments in time without destroying them.As the first of the five megapixel cameras, Sony's F707 is an evolution of the previous three megapixel 505 model, with a couple of extra features.
Most significantly, the F707 is capable of true infrared photography, meaning that extreme low light (indeed, no light) photography is possible. This is fantastic for many different situations, particularly for portrait work and documenting social occasions - as the 707 will enable you to take pics in the dark, it's possible to get pictures without alerting the subjects via the flash.
It's also very suitable for situations where a flash would be entirely inappropriate, as can be seen in the pics below. The first time you see a set of images from the F707 you realise 2560 x 1920 pixels is a very large image, and the quality of the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lens is immediately evident. Incredible detail is contained within the roughly 2Mb JPEG image which the camera stores on the Sony memory stick (at maximum quality), and the standard 16Mb stick will fit only eight such images. We used a 128MB stick to fit around 70 shots but the full story is even better.
As the 707 enables you to examine your pics, either through the viewfinder or on the LCD screen on the back of the camera, it's possible to cull the gallery to free memory space. You can therefore be rid of those Sunsets that don't work, or take half a dozen candid shots in search of a certain angle, choose the best and chuck the rest. Everyone got into this "polaroid" feature and when you're shooting a virtually unlimited roll of film, and seeing the results on-the-fly as you go, you get very good, very quick.
Couple this with the hologram laser focus assist, exposure metering, multi-pattern metering and TTL pre-flash exposure control plus the ability to control the exposure to the limit of your knowledge, and VIEW THE RESULTS, and you get a very versatile package. People who never thought of themselves as photographers were suddenly getting creative and more importantly, getting rewarded with fabulous pictures. Whoever used the 707, the result was invariably a full stick of red hot pics. It quickly became standard practice at social events to take the 128MB stick home, burn its contents to a CD-ROM, and give it to the host(ess) as a present to commemorate the event - all for a cost of around $1.00.
The other factor that contributed greatly to this was the battery life of the camera - even with liberal use of the LCD viewing screen to show off results to the throngs, there were very few occasions where the batteries didn't go the full distance, and they were invariably because the batteries weren't fully charged before the event.
Like most digital cameras these days, the 707 can be used in MPEG mode and capture a 320 x 240 movie at 16fps or 160 x 112 at 8fps - it's convenient if you want a quick mpeg for your web site, or you're in the right place at the right time and want to sell your movie to the TV News - but stick to video cameras for any other purpose.
The length of the clip is limited only by the capacity of the Memory Stick being used and the MPEGs chew up memory very fast. There's also a Clip Motion mode which is essentially designed for creating animated GIFs - it will take up to ten sequenced images (at 160 x 120 or 80 x 72) which can be processed into a small set of moving pictures ideal for a space-efficient animated GIF for your web site. Indeed, as we found over the last month or two, the 707 is an incredibly useful camera if you are in the web development business.
Getting The Best Out Of Your Digital Camera
Any digital camera has an array of functions and uses that enable the handler to take excellent pictures. However, many of the functions are not fully understood and the pictures are not of the best possible quality. Understanding these features enable the user to have complete control over their machine, and therefore get the best possible images.
Firstly the quality of the image that can be produced relies upon the resolution of the digital camera. This is made up of mega pixels. The number of mega pixels determines the level of detail in the picture. The pixels are the tiny dots of colour that make up image. These look fine on the computer or screen. However, once transferred to the computer and enlarged, images containing a lower number of pixels show these dots and so the image is flawed. Therefore, for good quality images the best digital camera to choose is one that has a high number of mega pixels.
The quality of the digital camera lens will also affect your picture quality. The lens should have a zoom feature, which enables you to zoom both in and out to create the perfect composition for your image. Each device will differ, but the concept is the same. The lens should be labeled with two zoom numbers; the smallest states the shortest possible zoom distance and the biggest number shows the longest possible distance. Consider the type of photographs that you are going to take when choosing your digital camera. If the pictures will mainly be indoors, then a lower number is required to be able to zoom out in enclosed areas.
The average digital camera will have an inbuilt auto focus function which will serve most amateur photographer`s needs. However, for more effects or for advanced photography, select a camera that has a manual focus option also. The auto focus can be turned off in some devices, which is an exceptional feature as the photographer can choose which option is best for the photograph being taken.
Another consideration is the shutter delay on the digital camera. The shutter delay affects the quality of focus and composition. The delay means that the picture is actually taken some time after the button is pressed on the camera. This means that the subject of the composition may have moved, clouds may shadow the expected lighting effects, or that your hand may shake and so the image is distorted and blurred. A good way to combat this is to only half press the button when you are composing the picture. This activates the auto focus and prepares the device for the shot. When the button is pressed, the photograph will be taken much more quickly, and will help combat any distortions.
Memory space is important if you want to take good photographs with your digital camera. Not only does this enable lots of storage, it also gives you the opportunity to take several photographs, in search of that one perfect shot.
Any digital camera will have inbuilt storage but this is minimal, averaging around 16 megabytes in total. The memory space can be added to with the use of a memory card or stick. The type chosen will depend upon what is compatible with your camera. Any memory card or stick is good, and they go up to 2GB in size. It is important that the type chosen is compatible with your home computer so that the images can be transferred and stored, giving you access to more photographic opportunities.
This article is under GNU FDL license and can be distributed without any previous authorization from the author. However the author's name and all the URLs (links) mentioned in the article and biography must be kept.
http://www.activeauthors.com/Article/Getting-The-Best-Out-Of-Your-Digital-Camera/5927
Firstly the quality of the image that can be produced relies upon the resolution of the digital camera. This is made up of mega pixels. The number of mega pixels determines the level of detail in the picture. The pixels are the tiny dots of colour that make up image. These look fine on the computer or screen. However, once transferred to the computer and enlarged, images containing a lower number of pixels show these dots and so the image is flawed. Therefore, for good quality images the best digital camera to choose is one that has a high number of mega pixels.
The quality of the digital camera lens will also affect your picture quality. The lens should have a zoom feature, which enables you to zoom both in and out to create the perfect composition for your image. Each device will differ, but the concept is the same. The lens should be labeled with two zoom numbers; the smallest states the shortest possible zoom distance and the biggest number shows the longest possible distance. Consider the type of photographs that you are going to take when choosing your digital camera. If the pictures will mainly be indoors, then a lower number is required to be able to zoom out in enclosed areas.
The average digital camera will have an inbuilt auto focus function which will serve most amateur photographer`s needs. However, for more effects or for advanced photography, select a camera that has a manual focus option also. The auto focus can be turned off in some devices, which is an exceptional feature as the photographer can choose which option is best for the photograph being taken.
Another consideration is the shutter delay on the digital camera. The shutter delay affects the quality of focus and composition. The delay means that the picture is actually taken some time after the button is pressed on the camera. This means that the subject of the composition may have moved, clouds may shadow the expected lighting effects, or that your hand may shake and so the image is distorted and blurred. A good way to combat this is to only half press the button when you are composing the picture. This activates the auto focus and prepares the device for the shot. When the button is pressed, the photograph will be taken much more quickly, and will help combat any distortions.
Memory space is important if you want to take good photographs with your digital camera. Not only does this enable lots of storage, it also gives you the opportunity to take several photographs, in search of that one perfect shot.
Any digital camera will have inbuilt storage but this is minimal, averaging around 16 megabytes in total. The memory space can be added to with the use of a memory card or stick. The type chosen will depend upon what is compatible with your camera. Any memory card or stick is good, and they go up to 2GB in size. It is important that the type chosen is compatible with your home computer so that the images can be transferred and stored, giving you access to more photographic opportunities.
This article is under GNU FDL license and can be distributed without any previous authorization from the author. However the author's name and all the URLs (links) mentioned in the article and biography must be kept.
http://www.activeauthors.com/Article/Getting-The-Best-Out-Of-Your-Digital-Camera/5927
Why do digital camera batteries run dry so fast?
Digital cameras are useless when their batteries run dry. Battery technologies have improved a lot in the last years but batteries still have just a limited energy capacity. To get more out of your batteries you should understand what digital camera feature consumer more power and how to minimize energy consumption.
Not all camera elements consume the same amount of energy. You can save battery energy by minimizing usage of battery energy guzzling features. The following is a list of battery hungry battery features minimizing usage of those features will provide you with longer battery life.
The digital camera elements can be divided to electronic and mechanical. The chipset and the CCD for example are electronic while the lenses focus motors are mechanical. Generally speaking mechanical elements tend to consume more energy than electronic elements for the same amount of usage time. The exception is the LCD screen that is an electronic element but is also a battery hungry one.
Here is a list of three components that consume the most energy in a typical digital camera and some ideas for how to minimize their consumption.
The LCD screen: Digital cameras allow viewing of digital photos immediately after they were taken on a small bright LCD screen built into the camera. This allows you to review the digital photo composition and to decide if the digital photo is good or if you need to take more photos. LCD screens are also convenient when used as view finders. You can use the LCD to see a real time view of the picture the camera is capturing and then hit the shutter button when you got the digital photo you are looking for. The drawback of the colorful bright LCD screen is that it consumes a lot of energy. If you ever wondered why those LCD screen are turned off automatically by the camera it is to save energy as if they were left on all the time the battery would last a very short time. To save battery try to minimize the usage of the LCD screen. If you have an optical view finder use it whenever possible instead of the LCD. Manually turn off the LCD and only turn it on when absolutely necessary to either access some digital camera menus or to preview a digital photo.
The motors: The digital camera mechanical components are powered by electrical motors. For example an auto focus is implemented by motors that move the lenses in and out. Some digital cameras also include motors that let the photographer control the zoom factor with a press of a button. Motors are electro-mechanical components. They are high energy consumers. The bigger and heavier the lens, for example using high zoom telescopic lenses, and the optical elements that the motor has to move the more energy is consumed. To minimize battery consumption move the digital camera components manually whenever possible. For example if the camera supports zoom in zoom out buttons avoid using them and instead manually move the lenses ring to change the zoom. Try to focus only when you are ready to take a digital photo. Avoid using continuous focusing and holding the shutter button half way for a long time as the motors will keep moving and consume energy during all that time.
The flash: Flash is used when taking digital photos in dark scenes or as fill-in when there are shades on the objects. Flash is an electro-optical component. Energy is charged into a special electronic component and later on that energy is discharged in a short time in the form of light energy. In general the brighter and longer distance a flash unit supports the more energy it consumes. Avoid using flash in scenes where there is enough ambient light.
http://www.activeauthors.com/Article/Why-do-digital-camera-batteries-run-dry-so-fast-/6647
Not all camera elements consume the same amount of energy. You can save battery energy by minimizing usage of battery energy guzzling features. The following is a list of battery hungry battery features minimizing usage of those features will provide you with longer battery life.
The digital camera elements can be divided to electronic and mechanical. The chipset and the CCD for example are electronic while the lenses focus motors are mechanical. Generally speaking mechanical elements tend to consume more energy than electronic elements for the same amount of usage time. The exception is the LCD screen that is an electronic element but is also a battery hungry one.
Here is a list of three components that consume the most energy in a typical digital camera and some ideas for how to minimize their consumption.
The LCD screen: Digital cameras allow viewing of digital photos immediately after they were taken on a small bright LCD screen built into the camera. This allows you to review the digital photo composition and to decide if the digital photo is good or if you need to take more photos. LCD screens are also convenient when used as view finders. You can use the LCD to see a real time view of the picture the camera is capturing and then hit the shutter button when you got the digital photo you are looking for. The drawback of the colorful bright LCD screen is that it consumes a lot of energy. If you ever wondered why those LCD screen are turned off automatically by the camera it is to save energy as if they were left on all the time the battery would last a very short time. To save battery try to minimize the usage of the LCD screen. If you have an optical view finder use it whenever possible instead of the LCD. Manually turn off the LCD and only turn it on when absolutely necessary to either access some digital camera menus or to preview a digital photo.
The motors: The digital camera mechanical components are powered by electrical motors. For example an auto focus is implemented by motors that move the lenses in and out. Some digital cameras also include motors that let the photographer control the zoom factor with a press of a button. Motors are electro-mechanical components. They are high energy consumers. The bigger and heavier the lens, for example using high zoom telescopic lenses, and the optical elements that the motor has to move the more energy is consumed. To minimize battery consumption move the digital camera components manually whenever possible. For example if the camera supports zoom in zoom out buttons avoid using them and instead manually move the lenses ring to change the zoom. Try to focus only when you are ready to take a digital photo. Avoid using continuous focusing and holding the shutter button half way for a long time as the motors will keep moving and consume energy during all that time.
The flash: Flash is used when taking digital photos in dark scenes or as fill-in when there are shades on the objects. Flash is an electro-optical component. Energy is charged into a special electronic component and later on that energy is discharged in a short time in the form of light energy. In general the brighter and longer distance a flash unit supports the more energy it consumes. Avoid using flash in scenes where there is enough ambient light.
http://www.activeauthors.com/Article/Why-do-digital-camera-batteries-run-dry-so-fast-/6647
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)