Bigger is better, the more megapixels the better the quality. With the Canon Powershot 8.0 megapixel digital camera you can be sure that you will be able to capture every detail of your child’s big wide smile, every color of his or her birthday cake or every sleek corner of your brand new car.
A camera has always been a great company in recording moments. Since George Eastman created the first camera, more and more households have had their own personal cameras. Now, with the onset of the digital age, more and more digital camera manufacturers have developed their own digital cameras and developments like the Canon Powershot 8.0 megapixel digital camera have made quality higher and higher.
Becoming one of its flagship cameras in the compact digital camera level, the Canon Powershot 8.0 megapixel digital cameras high quality 8.0 megapixel resolution allows a more detailed image than its predecessors. With a large 2.5-inch LCD screen, you can instantly view your pictures and choose which ones to keep.
Canon’s new offering is a camera that embodies Canon’s commitment to creating cameras that offer superior imaging setting the bar for other digital cameras to emulate.
With a resolution of 8.0 megapixels, you can be able to capture a wider area of images with the Canon Powershot 8.0 camera, Transfering images from your camera to your computer is fast and easy with the 2.0 high-speed USB port and editing is even easier with the bundled software.
http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Canon-Powershot-8-0-megapixel-Digital-Camera-Reviewed/100620
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Spion 5 Mega Pixel Digital Binocular Camera – A Voyeurs Dream
Whether you enjoy bird watching or just spying on your neighbors, the Spion 5 mega pixel digital binocular camera is must have. After all what is the fun of spying on something or someone if you cannot take pictures to show your friends afterwards.
The Spion Digital Binocular Camera Package
The Spion binoculars come packaged in a very colorful and eye catching box. The boxes side also contains a fairly detailed spec sheet so buyers can get a little bit of info about what they are looking at.
Spion Digital Binocular Package
When I first opened up the box I was pleased to find the Spion digital binocular camera came with it’s very own soft carrying case. I also found an installation cd, USB cable, lens cloth, neck strap, instruction manual, and warranty card. The makers of the Spion 5MP digital binocular camera seemed to throw in everything but an SD card and a tripod.
Closer Look At The Spion 5 MP Digital Binocular Camera
There is no doubt that the Spion digital binocular camera look sleek and stylish. But what really makes it tick? So without further delay I will get down and dirty for you and breakdown all of the Spion’s technical specs.
Lets begin with the most basic and biggest part of the Spion binoculars first. Of course I am talking about the binoculars themselves. They are your basic 8×32mm adjustable binoculars. Not really nothing to fancy. Just a nice easy and comfortable to hold pair of binoculars.
There sure was not to much to say about that part of the product now was there. But now with that out of the way we can get onto the fun stuff and take a look at the camera portion of the Spion 5MP digital binocular camera.
I would like to start this off by saying that the Spion uses a very basic 5 mega pixel digital camera with a 4x zoom. This has to be my biggest gripe about the Spion digital binocular camera. While looking through the binoculars themselves you can see up to 8x, but your picture will never get closer than 4x. Simply put your picture may not be as close as what you are viewing through the binoculars.
The digital camera portion of the Spion is powered by four AAA batteries. However standard alkaline batteries will only allow you to take about 25 pictures at 5MP. So just like any other digital camera it is in your best interest to get some rechargeable batteries.
The Spion comes equipped with a 1.5” TFT LCD screen so you can view your pictures directly from the camera or even view what the binoculars are looking at. I myself find the 1.5” screens to small. But there is really no reason why you should even have to look at it since your eyes should be watching through the binoculars themselves. However you may find it hard to watch the LCD outdoors since it has no backlight. This can make figuring out what you are doing fairly difficult.
The Spion’s digital binocular cameras control’s are also very strait forward and easy to learn. Everything you will ever do with them will use only four simple buttons. The first button is the on / mode button. This button will turn on the camera with a simple push. Once the camera is on you can push it again to bring up the menu. When you want to turn it off simply hold the button for 3 seconds.
The next button is the take picture / set button. This button is all you need to push once you have found something to take a picture of. When you are in the menu this button will also select whatever you have chosen.
The next two buttons are the up and down buttons. These buttons will help you navigate through the Spion’s menu. They will also be the buttons you use to zoom in and out. I really don’t think the control’s could of got much easier than that.
Now you get to hear about another gripe I have about the Spion digital binocular camera. You just picked up your new Spion binoculars, so you rush home rip open the package, throw in some batteries and proceed to go outside and take a few pictures. But wait, your new Spion just will not do it. You need to go back and get yourself a darn SD memory card!
That is right the Spion is not manufactured with any internal memory. And you used to think that the measly 25 megs they included on your digital camera was bad. So now you have to go and buy an SD card (up to 1GB) just so you can use your Spion binocular camera.
But you will be pleased to know that once you have everything you need your Spion is capable of doing the following. You can take pictures at either 0.3MP, 2.1MP, 3.2MP, or 5.0MP. But that is not all. You can also record movies at either 320 x 240 @ 30fps or even 640 x 480 @ 12fps.
Once you have taken some great pictures or even made a small movie you will probably want to put it on your computer so you can share it with your friends. To do this the Spion digital binocular camera uses a standard USB 1.1 port. Simply attach your binoculars to your computer with the included USB cable and it should find a removable storage device. This is where you can find your pictures / movies.
One last basic feature that I do not want to leave out is the ability to attach a tripod to your Spion 5MP digital binocular camera. Tripods can be pretty handy with a digital camera but you could probably live without one. With the Spion though I can almost guarantee it will save you a lot of headaches. Cameras are a lot easier to hold still and usually you are not using the zoom. With the Spion binoculars you will be using the zoom almost 100% of the time.
Spion 5MP Digital Binocular Camera Specs
Resolution: 3.0MP interpolates to 5.0MP
Image Size: Still Image 0.3MP – 640×480, 2.1MP – 1600×1200, 3.2MP – 2048×1536, 5.0MP – 2560×1920
Movie LO – 320×240 @ 30fps, HI – 640×480 @ 12fps
Image Format: Still Image = JPEG Movie = AVI (no time limit)
Storage Media: SD / MMC Memory Card (Up To 1GB)
Zoom: 1x – 4x
Exposure: Automatic
White Balance: Automatic
Shutter Speed: 1/20~1/2000
Display: 1.5” TFT LCD Screen
Interface: USB 1.1
Power Supply: 4 AAA Alkaline Batteries
Language: Chinese, English, French, Germany, Japanese
Magnification: 8x
Objective Lens: 32mm
Eye Relief: 14mm
Exit Pupil: 3.9mm
Angular Field Of View: 6.3 degrees
A Few Sample Pics
1x zoom
4x zoom
Here are a few sample pics from the Spion digital binocular camera. Both pictures where taken looking in the exact same area (full dune buggy in view). Notice how the 4x zoom pic tured out a little off center.
Conclusion
So to sum everything up I would have to say that the Spion 5MP digital binocular camera is an all around fun gadget. It may not be the greatest digital binocular camera on the market but one thing is for sure. Whether you are looking to spy on wildlife or your neighbors wife the Spion 5MP digital camera binoculars are sure a great investment and offer some good bang for your hard earned buck.
http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Spion-5-Mega-Pixel-Digital-Binocular-Camera---A-Voyeurs-Dream/188555
The Spion Digital Binocular Camera Package
The Spion binoculars come packaged in a very colorful and eye catching box. The boxes side also contains a fairly detailed spec sheet so buyers can get a little bit of info about what they are looking at.
Spion Digital Binocular Package
When I first opened up the box I was pleased to find the Spion digital binocular camera came with it’s very own soft carrying case. I also found an installation cd, USB cable, lens cloth, neck strap, instruction manual, and warranty card. The makers of the Spion 5MP digital binocular camera seemed to throw in everything but an SD card and a tripod.
Closer Look At The Spion 5 MP Digital Binocular Camera
There is no doubt that the Spion digital binocular camera look sleek and stylish. But what really makes it tick? So without further delay I will get down and dirty for you and breakdown all of the Spion’s technical specs.
Lets begin with the most basic and biggest part of the Spion binoculars first. Of course I am talking about the binoculars themselves. They are your basic 8×32mm adjustable binoculars. Not really nothing to fancy. Just a nice easy and comfortable to hold pair of binoculars.
There sure was not to much to say about that part of the product now was there. But now with that out of the way we can get onto the fun stuff and take a look at the camera portion of the Spion 5MP digital binocular camera.
I would like to start this off by saying that the Spion uses a very basic 5 mega pixel digital camera with a 4x zoom. This has to be my biggest gripe about the Spion digital binocular camera. While looking through the binoculars themselves you can see up to 8x, but your picture will never get closer than 4x. Simply put your picture may not be as close as what you are viewing through the binoculars.
The digital camera portion of the Spion is powered by four AAA batteries. However standard alkaline batteries will only allow you to take about 25 pictures at 5MP. So just like any other digital camera it is in your best interest to get some rechargeable batteries.
The Spion comes equipped with a 1.5” TFT LCD screen so you can view your pictures directly from the camera or even view what the binoculars are looking at. I myself find the 1.5” screens to small. But there is really no reason why you should even have to look at it since your eyes should be watching through the binoculars themselves. However you may find it hard to watch the LCD outdoors since it has no backlight. This can make figuring out what you are doing fairly difficult.
The Spion’s digital binocular cameras control’s are also very strait forward and easy to learn. Everything you will ever do with them will use only four simple buttons. The first button is the on / mode button. This button will turn on the camera with a simple push. Once the camera is on you can push it again to bring up the menu. When you want to turn it off simply hold the button for 3 seconds.
The next button is the take picture / set button. This button is all you need to push once you have found something to take a picture of. When you are in the menu this button will also select whatever you have chosen.
The next two buttons are the up and down buttons. These buttons will help you navigate through the Spion’s menu. They will also be the buttons you use to zoom in and out. I really don’t think the control’s could of got much easier than that.
Now you get to hear about another gripe I have about the Spion digital binocular camera. You just picked up your new Spion binoculars, so you rush home rip open the package, throw in some batteries and proceed to go outside and take a few pictures. But wait, your new Spion just will not do it. You need to go back and get yourself a darn SD memory card!
That is right the Spion is not manufactured with any internal memory. And you used to think that the measly 25 megs they included on your digital camera was bad. So now you have to go and buy an SD card (up to 1GB) just so you can use your Spion binocular camera.
But you will be pleased to know that once you have everything you need your Spion is capable of doing the following. You can take pictures at either 0.3MP, 2.1MP, 3.2MP, or 5.0MP. But that is not all. You can also record movies at either 320 x 240 @ 30fps or even 640 x 480 @ 12fps.
Once you have taken some great pictures or even made a small movie you will probably want to put it on your computer so you can share it with your friends. To do this the Spion digital binocular camera uses a standard USB 1.1 port. Simply attach your binoculars to your computer with the included USB cable and it should find a removable storage device. This is where you can find your pictures / movies.
One last basic feature that I do not want to leave out is the ability to attach a tripod to your Spion 5MP digital binocular camera. Tripods can be pretty handy with a digital camera but you could probably live without one. With the Spion though I can almost guarantee it will save you a lot of headaches. Cameras are a lot easier to hold still and usually you are not using the zoom. With the Spion binoculars you will be using the zoom almost 100% of the time.
Spion 5MP Digital Binocular Camera Specs
Resolution: 3.0MP interpolates to 5.0MP
Image Size: Still Image 0.3MP – 640×480, 2.1MP – 1600×1200, 3.2MP – 2048×1536, 5.0MP – 2560×1920
Movie LO – 320×240 @ 30fps, HI – 640×480 @ 12fps
Image Format: Still Image = JPEG Movie = AVI (no time limit)
Storage Media: SD / MMC Memory Card (Up To 1GB)
Zoom: 1x – 4x
Exposure: Automatic
White Balance: Automatic
Shutter Speed: 1/20~1/2000
Display: 1.5” TFT LCD Screen
Interface: USB 1.1
Power Supply: 4 AAA Alkaline Batteries
Language: Chinese, English, French, Germany, Japanese
Magnification: 8x
Objective Lens: 32mm
Eye Relief: 14mm
Exit Pupil: 3.9mm
Angular Field Of View: 6.3 degrees
A Few Sample Pics
1x zoom
4x zoom
Here are a few sample pics from the Spion digital binocular camera. Both pictures where taken looking in the exact same area (full dune buggy in view). Notice how the 4x zoom pic tured out a little off center.
Conclusion
So to sum everything up I would have to say that the Spion 5MP digital binocular camera is an all around fun gadget. It may not be the greatest digital binocular camera on the market but one thing is for sure. Whether you are looking to spy on wildlife or your neighbors wife the Spion 5MP digital camera binoculars are sure a great investment and offer some good bang for your hard earned buck.
http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Spion-5-Mega-Pixel-Digital-Binocular-Camera---A-Voyeurs-Dream/188555
Digital Video Cameras And A Look At Some Of Their Features.
Digital video has only been around for a relatively short period of time yet some of the latest models have quite a long list of features. Lets look at some of those features.
One major component of the video camera is the CCD or charge coupled device which acts like the film in the old film type video cameras except it works by capturing the light that falls on it and converting it to electrical signals. It is made up of a grid of individual pixels where each pixel represents a pixel in the captured image. The more pixels the camera uses the higher the resolution of the image it produces. The CCD quality is also measured by how much light it takes to produce an image which is measured in lux. The lower the lux rating the less light needed and therefore the better the images will be in low light situations.
When recording with the video camera you need to view the image you are trying to capture and this is achieved either by using the viewfinder or an LCD screen designed for this purpose. It is often best to use the viewfinder to follow your subject while recording and use the LCD screen to review the recorded images. This prevents excessive drain on your battery. You will want to make sure you have a large enough LCD screen to make review and menu applications easier if it has a touch screen and that it also has enough pixels to give you a clear image.
The recording medium is another thing to consider when you are looking at video cameras. A lot of them use MiniDV tape but there are some that record directly to DVD. The tape format is usually easier to use if you intend to load your video onto your computer and do a lot of editing. The advantage to the DVD's is that they give you random access to your recordings. Some of the DVD based video recorders are able to use rewriteable discs but you need to make sure that the format is compatible with with your home equipment if you intend to view it on you DVD player. There are also some models that use nonremoveable hard drives similar to a notebook computer but the disadvantage here is clear because you have a limited storage capacity. However there are others that use removable storage devices like flash memory such as SD cards or Memory Stick.
The lens is another major feature and is probably the most expensive component and can make a huge difference in the quality of your video. Most video cameras will have some kind of zoom feature that is usually just in the adequate range and not too exceptional. Between the optical zoom and the digital zoom, the optical is a more important one to consider since it is determined by the actual range of the focal length of the lens and gives the best image compared to digital zoom.
If you are using the zoom feature a lot then will want to be sure that the video camera has a good image stabilization feature as well. This keeps the image from becoming blurred due to movement of the camera which is more exaggerated with longer shots. Image stabilization is done either electronically using digital circuits or optically using a variable prism or lens group witin the lens. Optical stabilization is considered to be better.
Some other features you might see are still image capture similar to photographs where the image may be captured on video tape along with the video or could be recorded separately on flash memory cards. There are long play features that allow you to capture more video on a single tape by extending the recording time from 60 to 90 minutes and even an infrared feature that allows you to record with infrared light in low light conditions such as at night.
There are still more features to consider than there are listed here so you will have to do more research to find out all you need to know in order to make an educated purchase. Just do your homework and review several models and makes and you should be able ok.
http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Digital-video-cameras-and-a-look-at-some-of-their-features-/295265
One major component of the video camera is the CCD or charge coupled device which acts like the film in the old film type video cameras except it works by capturing the light that falls on it and converting it to electrical signals. It is made up of a grid of individual pixels where each pixel represents a pixel in the captured image. The more pixels the camera uses the higher the resolution of the image it produces. The CCD quality is also measured by how much light it takes to produce an image which is measured in lux. The lower the lux rating the less light needed and therefore the better the images will be in low light situations.
When recording with the video camera you need to view the image you are trying to capture and this is achieved either by using the viewfinder or an LCD screen designed for this purpose. It is often best to use the viewfinder to follow your subject while recording and use the LCD screen to review the recorded images. This prevents excessive drain on your battery. You will want to make sure you have a large enough LCD screen to make review and menu applications easier if it has a touch screen and that it also has enough pixels to give you a clear image.
The recording medium is another thing to consider when you are looking at video cameras. A lot of them use MiniDV tape but there are some that record directly to DVD. The tape format is usually easier to use if you intend to load your video onto your computer and do a lot of editing. The advantage to the DVD's is that they give you random access to your recordings. Some of the DVD based video recorders are able to use rewriteable discs but you need to make sure that the format is compatible with with your home equipment if you intend to view it on you DVD player. There are also some models that use nonremoveable hard drives similar to a notebook computer but the disadvantage here is clear because you have a limited storage capacity. However there are others that use removable storage devices like flash memory such as SD cards or Memory Stick.
The lens is another major feature and is probably the most expensive component and can make a huge difference in the quality of your video. Most video cameras will have some kind of zoom feature that is usually just in the adequate range and not too exceptional. Between the optical zoom and the digital zoom, the optical is a more important one to consider since it is determined by the actual range of the focal length of the lens and gives the best image compared to digital zoom.
If you are using the zoom feature a lot then will want to be sure that the video camera has a good image stabilization feature as well. This keeps the image from becoming blurred due to movement of the camera which is more exaggerated with longer shots. Image stabilization is done either electronically using digital circuits or optically using a variable prism or lens group witin the lens. Optical stabilization is considered to be better.
Some other features you might see are still image capture similar to photographs where the image may be captured on video tape along with the video or could be recorded separately on flash memory cards. There are long play features that allow you to capture more video on a single tape by extending the recording time from 60 to 90 minutes and even an infrared feature that allows you to record with infrared light in low light conditions such as at night.
There are still more features to consider than there are listed here so you will have to do more research to find out all you need to know in order to make an educated purchase. Just do your homework and review several models and makes and you should be able ok.
http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Digital-video-cameras-and-a-look-at-some-of-their-features-/295265
Tips For Finding The Best Small Digital Cameras
It used to be that if you wanted to get a decent digital camera, you had to get one that was rather large. I bought mine over a year ago, and it was indeed rather big and cumbersome. I love it though, so I won’t complain too much about the size. I have seen a new trend lately, however. It seems that cameras are getting smaller while not having to give up picture size and memory. Many of these small digital cameras have the same features the larger ones do, but are far easier to carry around.
I’m not so sure I will be willing to get a smaller camera the next time I decide I would like a new one though. It’s not that I don’t think small digital cameras will work as well or take the same great pictures. It’s not that at all. It’s that I am prone to losing things. The fact that I have not lost my cell phone over the last two years is something of a miracle. I suppose if I spend a lot of money on something I am going to keep it close, but I fear losing such small things all the time. It’s in my nature.
A lot of my friends have the small digital cameras, and they say that they love them. I still fear losing one, but they are quite appealing. I have to have a larger purse in order to take mine with me when I go out, but they can slip theirs in a small handbag. I have also noticed that the small digital cameras can take the same quality pictures as mine will take, so I would guess that the small camera is the wave of the future.
If you do decide to go with small digital cameras the next time you buy, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Though they might seem slim enough to slip into your back pocket, this is never a good idea. This is a great way to break one. Also remember that even though you can easily slip them into your purse, you might still want to get a camera bag to protect your camera. If you can’t find a bag made especially for small digital cameras, you can find something that works for another electronic device of similar size. As long as it will protect your camera, it does not really matter what it was made for.
http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Tips-For-Finding-The-Best-Small-Digital-Cameras/203058
I’m not so sure I will be willing to get a smaller camera the next time I decide I would like a new one though. It’s not that I don’t think small digital cameras will work as well or take the same great pictures. It’s not that at all. It’s that I am prone to losing things. The fact that I have not lost my cell phone over the last two years is something of a miracle. I suppose if I spend a lot of money on something I am going to keep it close, but I fear losing such small things all the time. It’s in my nature.
A lot of my friends have the small digital cameras, and they say that they love them. I still fear losing one, but they are quite appealing. I have to have a larger purse in order to take mine with me when I go out, but they can slip theirs in a small handbag. I have also noticed that the small digital cameras can take the same quality pictures as mine will take, so I would guess that the small camera is the wave of the future.
If you do decide to go with small digital cameras the next time you buy, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Though they might seem slim enough to slip into your back pocket, this is never a good idea. This is a great way to break one. Also remember that even though you can easily slip them into your purse, you might still want to get a camera bag to protect your camera. If you can’t find a bag made especially for small digital cameras, you can find something that works for another electronic device of similar size. As long as it will protect your camera, it does not really matter what it was made for.
http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Tips-For-Finding-The-Best-Small-Digital-Cameras/203058
Digital Cameras: Why You May Or May Not Want An External Flash
The built-in flash on a digital camera is compact, simple to use, and often effective in providing the extra illumination needed to assure adequate exposure of a subject when ambient light is insufficient. In some instances, the internal flash is able to soften shadows in harsh light as well. So why then, would the average, non-professional photographer need or want an external flash for their camera?
The built-in flash on the average digital camera has a useful range of about 13 to 15 feet. An external flash has more power and can illuminate a larger area; their range can be as large as 70 feet. Whether trying to illuminate a large group of people only 15-20 feet away or a single subject 50 feet away, an external flash can provide much better lighting in such situations. An external flash is particularly useful when shooting with a wide angle as many can disperse the flash to fill the width of the scene.
Shadows can be excessively harsh when illuminating a subject directly.
The internal flash on a digital camera shines directly in front of the camera lens onto a subject and can create shadows behind them when it is the primary source of lighting. An external flash offers the user greater versatility with models that tilt, swivel, and many that can be positioned well away from the camera body. An external flash can create lighting from different angles and can be bounced off of a white ceiling or reflector to significantly soften any shadows and reduce any glare. The ability to have the flash moved away from the camera lens also helps to eliminate the red-eye effect as the light is not reflected from the eyes of a subject directly back into the lens.
Slow flash recycling can make it difficult to take shots in rapid succession.
The typical built-in flash on a digital camera can take several seconds to recycle after being triggered during which time additional shots with the flash are not possible. An external flash is often able to recycle in less than a second and thus allows multiple shots to be taken in rapid succession.
As lighting is generally considered the single most crucial factor in the quality of the image captured, using an external flash with a digital camera would seem to be an excellent choice. However, there are instances in which a user might wisely opt to forgo the additional expense and complexity of using an external flash.
Compact size or sleek styling is of primary interest to the user.
An external flash is large, bulky, and certainly does not lend itself to going unnoticed. They cannot be toted around in a pocket and thus are not a good choice for casual use.
Ease of use is critical.
An external flash often requires the user to manually adjust settings. For the most simplicity, a TTL flash (through the lens) is the best choice versus a non-dedicated or slave flash device, as a TTL flash communicates with the camera and triggers automatically. The process of purchasing an external flash can also present some complexity as the buyer must assure that the camera and flash are compatible, that they will communicate or connect (via hot shoe, cold shoe, sync-cord, adapter, and so forth) and that the voltage on any flash device that connects to their camera will not harm their camera circuitry.
Budget constraints.
An external flash, as with any auxiliary or accessory device, adds cost. The average flash will add $140-$500 to the total cost of a camera. In addition to the up front cost of the device, an external flash can also consume a significant amount of battery power adding to the life time cost of the camera.
Use of an external flash with a digital camera can significantly improve the quality of images created by giving the user much greater control over lighting. However, these devices do add another level of complexity as well as cost to the photo taking process. First time buyers merely need to weigh which features are most critical for them to determine whether or not an external flash will be a good investment.
http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Digital-Cameras--Why-You-May-or-May-Not-Want-an-External-Flash/219979
The built-in flash on the average digital camera has a useful range of about 13 to 15 feet. An external flash has more power and can illuminate a larger area; their range can be as large as 70 feet. Whether trying to illuminate a large group of people only 15-20 feet away or a single subject 50 feet away, an external flash can provide much better lighting in such situations. An external flash is particularly useful when shooting with a wide angle as many can disperse the flash to fill the width of the scene.
Shadows can be excessively harsh when illuminating a subject directly.
The internal flash on a digital camera shines directly in front of the camera lens onto a subject and can create shadows behind them when it is the primary source of lighting. An external flash offers the user greater versatility with models that tilt, swivel, and many that can be positioned well away from the camera body. An external flash can create lighting from different angles and can be bounced off of a white ceiling or reflector to significantly soften any shadows and reduce any glare. The ability to have the flash moved away from the camera lens also helps to eliminate the red-eye effect as the light is not reflected from the eyes of a subject directly back into the lens.
Slow flash recycling can make it difficult to take shots in rapid succession.
The typical built-in flash on a digital camera can take several seconds to recycle after being triggered during which time additional shots with the flash are not possible. An external flash is often able to recycle in less than a second and thus allows multiple shots to be taken in rapid succession.
As lighting is generally considered the single most crucial factor in the quality of the image captured, using an external flash with a digital camera would seem to be an excellent choice. However, there are instances in which a user might wisely opt to forgo the additional expense and complexity of using an external flash.
Compact size or sleek styling is of primary interest to the user.
An external flash is large, bulky, and certainly does not lend itself to going unnoticed. They cannot be toted around in a pocket and thus are not a good choice for casual use.
Ease of use is critical.
An external flash often requires the user to manually adjust settings. For the most simplicity, a TTL flash (through the lens) is the best choice versus a non-dedicated or slave flash device, as a TTL flash communicates with the camera and triggers automatically. The process of purchasing an external flash can also present some complexity as the buyer must assure that the camera and flash are compatible, that they will communicate or connect (via hot shoe, cold shoe, sync-cord, adapter, and so forth) and that the voltage on any flash device that connects to their camera will not harm their camera circuitry.
Budget constraints.
An external flash, as with any auxiliary or accessory device, adds cost. The average flash will add $140-$500 to the total cost of a camera. In addition to the up front cost of the device, an external flash can also consume a significant amount of battery power adding to the life time cost of the camera.
Use of an external flash with a digital camera can significantly improve the quality of images created by giving the user much greater control over lighting. However, these devices do add another level of complexity as well as cost to the photo taking process. First time buyers merely need to weigh which features are most critical for them to determine whether or not an external flash will be a good investment.
http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Digital-Cameras--Why-You-May-or-May-Not-Want-an-External-Flash/219979
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