Digital Camera

For Digital Camera Novices How Images Are Stored and Transferred

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:12:19 +0000

Although Digital Cameras entered the picture quite a number of years ago and have subsequently all but eliminated film cameras, some consumers are just now making the switch. The reason for this is clear as the quality of a 35mm shot is outstanding and quite simply, we understood them. However, digital cameras offer advantages as well, such as the ability to edit photographs and to delete unacceptable images prior to printing or “developing”: a tremendous cost savings that allows photographers to experiment worry-free. When a stalwart film camera fan decides to take the leap some basic questions about how digital cameras function can arise.

Two common questions for digital camera novices are regarding how pictures are stored and then subsequently transferred for printing or sharing over the internet. The quick and dirty answer is that pictures taken with a digital camera are stored on digital memory cards: Smart Media cards, MultiMedia cards, Compact Flash cards etc. Images are stored on the cards and then loaded to a computer. Once on the computer, the images on the cards are generally deleted and the card is re-used so that a huge library of memory cards does not have to be maintained.

Images are usually compressed to fit on the cards. Greater compression allows more images to be stored on a given card helping to eliminate the need to download images to a computer after every few shots. However, it’s important to realize that the more the images are compressed, the more the quality of the image is sacrificed.

When purchasing a card for a digital camera, users can roughly estimate that with a typical 8 megapixel camera, the card will hold at least one quarter as many images as the card has megabytes, which is indicated on the front of the card. Both the amount of compression and the resolution of the images greatly affect the storage capacity of the card. Another option of course is to purchase multiple cards.

Many individuals who travel with their digital camera get a portable hard disk which allows them to download their images onto it, delete images from their card, and continue using the card without having to worry about downloading to their computer when they are away from home.

Once an image is stored on a digital camera, there are several ways of getting images from it to a computer. Individuals purchasing their first digital camera will need to determine how their new camera will connect to their computer to assure they have any necessary equipment/cables to complete the transfer. Common connections include:

Card readers

A Docking station to connect the digital camera to the computer via either a USB or FireWire connection. (USB 2.0 allows much faster downloading that USB 1.1)

PCMCIA adapters. These exist on most laptop computers. The memory cards fit directly into the slot and can be loaded from there.

Once connected to the computer, the software included with the digital camera is simply launched and transfer is completed with the click of a button. Even for those new to digital cameras, the ability to store and download images to their computer should be a very simple process that will be easy to master.

Christine Peppler share information on home entertainment and home electronics products, inluding digital cameras on her website at http://www.homemedias.info.

Digital Cameras Make Great Christmas Gifts

admin — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:15:10 +0000

From your grandmother to your three year old niece, it seems like everyone wants a digital camera for Christmas. Yes, they have digital cameras for three year olds!

However, buying a digital camera for someone can be quite an experience so I’m going to give you a few tips.

When it comes to megapixels, most amateur photographers won’t be able to see the difference between a 4 megapixel camera and a 6 megapixel camera. But there can be a huge difference in the price. Also, normally higher megapixel cameras require more memory. So if the Christmas gift is for an amateur or someone who is new to digital photography then a 4 megapixel camera should work just fine.

If your purchasing a digital camera for an older person, say your grandparents, then make sure that the display and menu commands are large enough for them to read. Your Christmas gift won’t be of much use to them if they can’t see the display or find the buttons.

If you’re giving a digital camera to some who has never had a digital camera or who is upgrading to a more advanced model, then take some time to make sure that they know how to operate the camera. For example:

* how to turn it on and off
* how to make basic menu selections
* how to take a picture

* explain what kind of memory card the camera has
* where the memory card is located
* how to download pictures

* how to clear the memory card so that they can take more pictures
* how to charge and/or replace the batteries

* accessories that they may want to get

Make sure that your Christmas gift is used and appreciated. Consider how the digital camera will be used and who will be using it. Do your research and shop around to get the perfect digital camera for that person on your Christmas list.

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Lewis Leake loves the Christmas season and Classic Christmas Stories. He has also uncoverd some of the best Christmas Gifts for kids of all ages.
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Digital Cameras New Developments in Storing Images and Memories

admin — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 07:02:02 +0000

Are you looking for digital cameras for your next vacation, wedding, birthday, holidays and any other event you could possibly imagine? Perfect for absolutely any occasion, your digital cameras will be your best item with you on vacations or anywhere else. They are very simple to use and their abilities continue to increase as the market continues to develop new and more complex digital merchandise.

The greatest prices and best selections of digital cameras are often found in the internet. Shop from home with several options to choose from, many more options than you could find in any store. Shop from the comfort of your home, and from the huge selection that online shopping offers you. Do not waste any more time trying to adjust you schedule to store hours. Order great high-technology digital cameras from a great website and you will not be sorry you did.

There are differences between disposable and non-disposable cameras such as image viewing, for example, as well as deleting photos. The only photo that can be deleted on most disposable digital cameras is the very last picture one takes. The chance that these disadvantages will last the in the construction of disposable cameras is quite arguably very unlikely.

There are both disposable digital cameras and digital cameras to choose from on the market today. Of course, there are certain benefits to having a digital camera that is not disposable, that are missing in the digital cameras available on the market, but the basic system is the same.

The overall methods and technological improvements currently being made by manufacturers and digital engineers is lifting at such a rapid pace, indicating that it is quite plausible that the benefits of disposable digital cameras will soon catch up to those of non- digital cameras. When the world is advancing at such speed and with such uncomplicated technology virtually available to everyonewe should all be keeping up. The ascension of digital technology has made

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening and electronic innovation. For more of her articles about digital cameras please visit Digital Cameras.

Helpful Tips On How To Choose A Digital Camera Without Wasting Your Money

admin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:04:11 +0000

When the time comes to buy yourself a digital camera, it can be a very confusing process. There are so many digital cameras available on the market today, it’s hard to know where to start. There are so many great features, and each camera has its own particular capabilities for things like image resolution, lens power, storage capacity and so on. So where do you start?

In the end, you buy a digital camera to take pictures. So although there are many things you need to consider before choosing a camera, there’s no doubt that image quality and color trueness are the most important. You need to spend time checking out the images generated by a number of different cameras before you can make a decision. Don’t look at retouched images, just at fresh shots.

Resolution is also very important. The quality of a camera and its photos are in direct proportion to the image resolution. The higher the mega pixels, the better the resolution. For example, a camera with a capability of 3 mega pixels (MP) will output images that are between 1 and 2 MB in size. But a 7 MP camera produces images from 4 to 5 MB in size. For beginners, a low or mid-end MP camera will be fine, but professionals must go for high pixel cameras.

Once you have a few cameras in mind, try picking them up and seeing how easy they are to operate. A large or heavy camera can be difficult to carry, and may be difficult to hold still while taking photos. It’s also important that all the main buttons for operating the camera are easy to locate and use.

Check out the storage capacity of the camera. A small memory card doesn’t matter if you’re only going to take a few photos at a time and have ready access to your computer for downloading. But if you’re going to be using your camera while traveling, you will probably find you need a large memory card or perhaps a couple of small memory cards. That way you won’t constantly be running out of space. Even if the camera you prefer only has a small card, it doesn’t matter, because you can buy a larger card separately.

Most of the low to mid range cameras come with a single lens, and generally have some sort of ‘zoom’ capability. If you’re going to be taking lots of photos at close range, such as less than 1.5 feet (of flowers, for example) then make sure you choose a camera with a macro option. It’s also possible to buy a high-end camera, which is basically a 35mm SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera, which allows you to change lenses. These are great for professional photographers, but for the average person you will probably find you spend a lot of money for nothing.

Digital cameras tend to go through a lot of batteries, so you may like to choose one with an AC adapter so that you can recharge the battery directly from an electrical socket. The only problem is that you can’t use the camera while it’s being charged. So you may prefer to buy some rechargeable batteries and a battery charger. Always make sure you have a spare set of batteries ready to go.

For more information on digital cameras to include reviews, a digital camera buying guide, the advantages of digital photography and how a digital camera works try visiting Digital-Photo-Tips.info

Digital Cameras vs Film Cameras

admin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:05:14 +0000

The debate is on: digital cameras vs. film cameras. Ever since digital cameras first came out, people have been plotting digital cameras against film cameras. Which one is better? Which one is best for you?

Of course, one type of cameras is not necessarily better than the other type. That is the problem with the whole “digital cameras vs. film cameras” ordeal. Each type of camera is great for different reasons.

Here are some of the benefits of digital cameras:

Battery Devouring Digital Cameras and the People Who Love Them

admin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:18:02 +0000

Millions of people have fallen in love with their digital camera; and for good reason. They are compact making them easy to tote along anywhere a person may wander, they are capable of producing images of outstanding quality which can easily be shared online with others anywhere in the world, and with digital storage, they are a space saving wonder. In addition, digital cameras allow users to save the expense of film and developing. But perhaps the greatest attraction of these cameras is the control they provide over the images one creates during the editing process.

Unfortunately, most of those who love digital cameras have also come to know their dark side; their thirst for power. From the first touch of the button to power a digital camera on, setting the focus, shutter speed, zooming, and providing a flash for image capture, to reviewing images taken and editing, these cameras are energy junkies.

The good news is that there are things that can be done to help to make it easier to live with power craving cameras and to curb their appetite. Certainly, having a camera with rechargeable batteries is by far the best option and charging the battery per manufacturer’s guidelines can help sustain optimal functioning. For the people who love their digital camera, there are also steps that can be taken in the way they use it to help reduce the rate of power consumption.

When finished shooting, remove the batteries from the camera if it will not be used for another 2 or 3 weeks. This will prevent a trickling discharge that can occur when left in the camera.

Use the on/off function appropriately. Certainly a digital camera should not be left on for any extended period of time as the energy is wasted. However, if another shot will be taken within a few minutes it is better to leave the camera on as it consumes a great deal of energy to power on/off. If the camera has a sleep mode, it is best to set the timer for that function to the shortest interval in case the user forgets to turn the camera off.

Disable or don’t use features that aren’t needed. Zoom for instance uses a great deal of power. If the same result can easily be achieved by simply moving the subject or stepping closer, do that instead. Use of the flash function is also energy intensive. Flash should be used only when it will be effective. For instance, if lighting is already sufficient or the subject is out of flash range anyway, don’t use the flash function.

When possible use the viewfinder to set up a shot as the LCD screen consumes a great deal of battery power. Use of the LCD screen can improve some shots such as in the case of close-up/macro photography but in most instances use of the viewfinder is sufficient. (Remember, photographers operated without LCD screens for most of the history of photography!)

Use other power sources when appropriate. For instance use an AC adapter when downloading images and use the computer for review and image deletion rather than performing such functions directly on the camera.

Do things manually when feasible. From powering the camera off to focusing; auto anything takes more power.

Some experts indicate that some types of media storage consume more energy as well. For instance, Compact Flash is said to be a more energy conscious form of storage than MicroDrive Media.

Certainly, the many features offered on a digital camera are convenient and desirable. Users merely need to be aware of the tremendous demands placed on the camera battery by these same features. Understanding this allows a digital camera owner to make a choice between ease of use and conservation of the battery.

Christine Peppler shares information on home entertainment and home electronics products, including digital cameras, on her website at: http://www.homemedias.info

Choosing A Digital Camera (Part 3) Goodwill, Good Stuff

admin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:10:19 +0000

We’ve discussed a few alternatives of buying used so far, but now let’s take a look at the gem of all used stores: Your local Goodwill.

Goodwill, Good Stuff

This is another secret some of us photographers use as a resource, and I probably shouldn’t be mentioning it here for the fact I’m going to have competition when I cruise the aisles of my local Goodwill store. But that’s ok.

When I purchased my Nikon D100 back in the summer of 2002, I didn’t have many lenses. In fact, I had none. I had a 50mm f/1.4 lens on the way, and an AF-S 80-200mm in transit, but that didn’t help my current situation–I needed to put a lens on my camera NOW, or I was going to break down and cry like a little girl.

The same day I’m talking to my grandfather, and I mention I got a digital camera. He said something to the effect of, “Hey, I’ve heard of those!” After a few moments of explaining the general digital camera to him, he says to me, “So, you’re going to be hanging out at the thrifty stores, aren’tcha.”

Whah? Huh? Goodwill stores…ehhhhh, yeah, ok whatever.

After getting off the phone, I decided I had nothing to lose (except for my dignity, and since no one knew about my soon-to-be trip to the Goodwill, I was clear). My first visit to the Goodwill was a loss. I didn’t see anything except for a few used disposable cameras (I have no idea why they were there–maybe had a few pictures left on it too take?) and several of those “Get A FREE 35MM Camera!” thingies you see when you receive your credit card statement, and about a few dozen promotional materials fall out. Yes, that kind of 35mm camera.

I decided to embark to another Goodwill which was in a less busy location. As soon as I walked in the front door, I glanced at the glass counter, and I saw the Nikon name on what appeared to be a 50mm lens. I immediately went over to take a closer. Yep, sure enough. It was a 50mm lens. It was an older AI-S 50mm 1.8. Price? Well, you better sit down. $15. The lens was in good condition, not excellent, but it was certainly worth the $15 I immediately whipped out of my wallet and said, “I’ll take that lens, thanks.”

Will you always find a gem like this at a Goodwill store? Probably not. However, that sort of ruins the mystical and mysterious hunt for treasure, now doesn’t it. I can tell you, that you have a much better chance of finding a deal there, than other places. A regular trip every weekend sure isn’t going to kill you, and it could pay off considerably.

Pawn Shops

Now, pawn shops aren’t all what they used to be. Today, pawn shops have a highly inflated price tag on most of their items. You might as well go to a regular camera store and pay the price of a new item because you wouldn’t be paying much more. In some cases, you might be paying less. However, there is a chance you may find a pretty good deal on a lens, tripod, or even a camera. Tripods usually sell for really cheap, and I would definitely recommend looking around your local pawn shop cluster if you’re in a large city, because you will probably find one. And considering if you’re in a small town, you will probably find an even better deal. Why? Because there isn’t the kind of merchandise flowing through and the expertise is not as present as, say, a dealer in New York City or Los Angeles. Most of us may live in larger cities, so don’t expect to get a Manfrotto for $20, but there are other brands which come very close to the high and might tripod brands, and are extremely discounted. Velbon for example. I’ve seen $150-$200 Velbon tripods sell for $35, in mint condition. Did I buy it? Well, long story short, I didn’t know it was this expensive until I remembered the model number, went online, had a heart seizure, then immediately drove back to the pawn shop.

It was gone. You win some…you lose some.

In the next part of Choosing A Digital Camera, we will discuss some of the camera features you should prioritize when purchasing a digital camera. Yes, it may get technical, but I will be there with you every step of the way.

Choosing A Digital Camera (Part 3): Goodwill, Good Stuff

A part of The DigitalDingus Guide To Photography series.

Digital Camera Auto Exposure and Auto Focus

admin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:15:14 +0000

The digital camera being a fantastic and technologically advanced device contains many different applications of its own. Many users of this fabulous device are unaware of quite a few of these functions which can actually do wonders. And it is the duty and right of every person possessing the digital camera to intervene into the depths of knowledge to understand their prized possession and their varying qualities in order to foster the true respect that this device deserves. This article deals with providing information regarding one those qualities - Auto focus and auto exposure!

Exploring the information in slight more details it can be stated that auto exposure cameras are provided with a fixed focus lens or manual focus lens. These cameras are the simplest to set exposure. To obtain the correct exposure for a particular subject of photography, the only thing that needs to be done is to simply lock the exposure by pressing the shutter down halfway on the digital cameras upon a reference object that is about one fifth gray and also illuminated by the aid of the same source of light as subject of photography. After locking the exposure, the photographer has to recompose the frame and shoot the picture. Auto exposure and auto focus cameras are to some degree harder for setting the exposure, because they contain the exposure lock that is generally tied to focus-lock. However, the users or photographers using these auto exposure and auto focus cameras can still make adjustments for the correct exposure and correct focus using the digital cameras and make the photographs perfect! Again, the exposure can be adjusted by locking on an 18% reference that is illuminated by the aid of the same source of light as subject of photography. The users have to only ensure that the distance to this so-called reference is the same as the distance to the subject of photography that actually sets the focus.

Now discussing the auto focus and auto exposure lock (AE/AF) a bit more in detail. The shutter release button on a digital camera has more function than just snap a cool picture. The users have to grab a technique where he or she has to depress this shutter release button half way down thereby locking both the auto exposure and auto focus. This enables the users or photographers to have more control on exposure in difficult lighting situations while using the digital camera. Moreover, this entire process also helps him or her to determine where the camera focuses. Like if the photographer intends to set the exposure before composing the final shot of the photograph then he or she can move the digital camera slightly so that only the subject to be photographed is visible prominently in the auto focus frame in the viewfinder. As a next step he or she can depress the shutter-release button down half way to set focus and exposure and then recompose the picture and finally completely depress the button in order to capture and freeze the moment of time! It is to be noted here that the auto focus and auto exposure lock (AE/AF) is available in all photography modes of the digital cameras that are nowadays available for the general people.

Not much remains to be discussed about this particular topic of auto focus/auto exposure and a brief discussion as above is enough to reveal a bounty of information regarding this fantastic feature of the digital cameras. At the end of this discussion it can be expected that both the novice and expert photographers and user of the digital camera would benefit from whatever has been revealed and the effort to bring out the human mind from the dark oblivion about auto focus and auto exposure lock would be a success in the magic light of the digital camera!

About The Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.

Getting The Right Digital Camera For You

admin — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:15:00 +0000

There are really great advantages in digital photography:

You can shoot till you drop

Taking digital images on your camera has no implication other then you have captured the image. Then you can review each image on the small screen on the back of your camera. You can shoot as many pictures of the same scene as you like - store them in memory - delete the ones that you do not like and print the one(s) you like.

Each image is a winner

Alternatively you can put an image up on a computer screen or email it to all you friends - can black mail be this easy?

Print at home or in a lab

You can print your image at home on a photo printer - turn your image into a greeting card, calendar, or a whole other list of photo memorabilia. Or hand over the job to the professionals.

So what digital camera should I buy?

A question we are often asked is ‘what sort of camera should I buy’? There are literally hundreds of different models available from a large number of well known manufacturers.

This is a difficult question, which might be answered in a complex way. Rather, here we have tried to emphasise the salient points and assist you in your decision.

Key components of the camera, which will influence your buying decision will include:
What do I want to use the camera for? How big an image can I print? Does the camera have a zoom? What size and weight is the camera?

How big an image can I print?

If your objective is to take a camera on holiday, take it onto the beach and up a mountain and to print memorable images of your time on 6 x 4 inch prints, then do not spend a lot of money on your camera. A small compact camera with an image resolution of 2 or 3 Mega Pixels will be adequate for your needs and should you drop the camera or get sand in its workings then you will be pleased that you did not spend too much money.
More serious photographers will want to make bigger pints or selectively enlarge. They will want a higher image resolution and will benefit from a zoom lens.
So - what is this MegaPixel thing? Well it is the image size - quality - taken by the camera. The higher the number - the better the quality and the larger the prints which can be made.

Does the camera have a zoom?

In past times zoom lenses were regarded as second best because of their distortion and fogging. This is no longer the case - zoom lenses are truly brilliant. 3 x zooms are common and 6 x zooms feature on the more expensive cameras. So you can have a single lens which covers both wide angle views and provides a short telephoto. All very usefully packaged in a lightweight camera.

Beware of Digital Zoom. This is a technique, which zooms in on a portion of the image by processing the picture and interpolating the image between pixels - a technique which always produces inferior results.

What is the size and weight of the camera?

Digital cameras do not have to be bulky or heavy. Indeed there are some very small models available, which will fit inside a handbag. However the more sophisticated gear tends to be bulkier - and heavier. Professional models with interchangeable lenses and external flash guns will require their own hold all.

Making the Right Selection

There is a fantastic range of digital cameras available on the market. Nonetheless manufacturers focus on their customers and target specific models at certain sectors of the market. The table below summarises the information, which we have discussed.

Basic camera

A fixed lens camera priced at less than

Do Higher Digital Camera Prices Mean Better Cameras

admin — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 10:08:01 +0000

Understanding digital camera prices makes finding the best camera value much easier. Uncovering digital cameras best buys is easier if we know what’s available within various price ranges. With that in mind let’s explore camera prices in more detail.

Digital Cameras Priced Under $100

Super cheap digital cameras priced less than $50 are available from several companies. Resolutions are usually 1.3 megapixels or less, so they’re only suitable for small snapshots. But these cameras are great fun at very low cost - some under $20!

For $50 to $100 companies like Concord, Kodak and Oregon Scientific offer terrific discount digital cameras in the 2 to 4 MP range. They have limited features, but many include optical zoom, video capture and other neat stuff.

Cameras Priced From $100 to $200

Most cameras in this price range include 3 to 5 megapixel resolution - some even higher. Entry level models from respected camera makers including Canon, Fujifilm, Konica Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, Sony and others are included in this price range.

Most feature optical zooms, multiple scene and exposure modes, and other handy functions. These are usually compact digital cameras, with some small enough to slip in a pocket. For those shopping digital cameras this group deserves a close look.

$200 to $500 Digital Cameras

Far-and-away the broadest and most popular selections of cameras fall into this price range. Virtually all manufacturers offer many models with a dizzying array of features and functions. Sensor resolutions range from 3.0 to 8.0 megapixels or more.

This group includes compact and ultra-compact digital cameras. Ultra-compact models can be as small as a credit card and less than an inch thick with high resolution sensors and advanced features.

Basic Prosumer (serious enthusiast) cameras are in this price category. Advanced controls including manual settings, multiple AF zones, and sophisticated scene modes are common features of these cameras.

$500 to $1,000 Price Range

Most SLR-style Prosumer and a growing number of digital SLR cameras are in this price grouping. Serious photographers looking for creative control and high quality images are sure to find the perfect camera in this group.

All cameras in this price range feature a vast array of functions including full manual control, aperture or shutter priority, in-camera editing and more. High resolution sensors capable of 6 to 12 megapixels and precision lens optics are standard, many with high-powered zooms.

Professional Cameras Priced Over $1,000

Prices in this group can exceed $15,000, although most are under $5,000. Most are digital SLR’s and offer nearly limitless photo manipulation for the professional photographer. Here’s where you’ll find the most technologically advanced image sensors, processors and optics.

Unless you earn your living with a camera, SLR and Prosumer models priced under $1,000 will most likely provide all you could want or need in a digital camera. Most of the refinements in images taken by these high priced professional cameras aren’t noticeable even to experienced amateur photographers.

Digital cameras information from A to Z: camera types & features, how they work, accessories, photo printers, comparisons and more - plus digital photo processing tips and info at A-Z Digital Cameras.com, Your Complete A-Z Resource for Digital Cameras, Accessories and Information.