A Guide to Digital Cameras

In this section we will briefly review some of the functions and features of digital cameras helping you to better understand what to look for when buying and using your digital camera.

• Megapixels
  Pixels are the individual coloured blocks that make up your picture. The more pixels in your picture, the more detail it holds. A picture from a 5MP camera will contain a resolution of about 2592x1944 pixels. To get good clear sharp prints you will need a camera capable of 4 or more Megapixels. In you enlarge a picture taken with too low a resolution the individual coloured blocks will become visible. 
  >> About Pixels
• Zoom Lens
  A 3x optical zoom lens will be able to draw in an object 30 meters away to look as if it was only 10 meters away, without loss of resolution or quality. Similarly a 10x optical zoom would make that same object look as though it was only 3 meters away. A quality lens makes all the difference to the quality of your pictures.
• Digital Zoom
  Unlike an optical zoom, a digital zoom doesn't actually zoom, it just seems to. The camera takes the images it sees and enlarges the center of it. With digital zoom you loose quality. You are chopping off pixels around the borders and enlarging the pixels in the center. Normally you would only use digital zoom when you have reached the limits of your optical zoom.
• Video
  Many compact digital cameras are capable of recording movies and most of them with sound. The movies are recorded and stored on your memory card. The video clips may be viewed on a computer and if the camera has a video out option you can also watch them on a television.
• Memory Card
  Digital cameras come with some built in memory and you will be able to take a limited amount of photos. You will need to buy a memory card in order to take and store a larger amount of pictures and movie clips.
  >> All about Memory Cards
• Batteries
  Very small digital cameras may come supplied with a flat rechargeable battery that can only be used in that camera or similar models. These cameras will come supplied with a battery charger. Slightly bigger, yet still compact and other larger digital cameras mostly use AA size batteries. As digital cameras use a lot of power, NiCad rechargeable and Lithium batteries work best.
  >> All about Batteries
• Shutter Lag
  Virtually every digital camera suffers shutter lag - the time taken from the moment you press the button to take the shot and when the camera actually records the image. When you fully press the shutter button to take a picture, the camera has to focus on the subject and then save it. Less expensive cameras generally have a slower shutter lag.
• Viewfinder
  The LCD screen allows you to view the picture before and after you have taken it. If you are not happy with the shot, you can easily delete it. The better cameras have a higher screen resolution and a faster refresh rate. Cameras with low screen resolution and refresh rates shows less detail and the image as you pan the camera around.
• Flash
  The flash on a compact digital camera has a range of about 1 meter to a few meters. In full auto mode the camera will determine if the flash is required by reading the level of ambient light. The flash can be turned off or forced on. It can also be used to reduce red-eye by giving off a few pre-flash bursts.
  >> All about Flash
• Size & Shape
  This is something you need to think about. Your intended use of the digital camera will give you and idea, if not, determine the size and shape of it. If you want to just take happy snaps at parties and functions, a small thin camera would be enough, whereas if you wanted to buy a new camera to take on a once in a lifetime safari trip you would need a bigger zoom lens.
  >> All About Body Styles

Key terms: digital cameras | digial camera guide