Getting the Most From Your Digital Camera Memory Card

Imagine taking your new digital camera on a vacation and then realizing that you can barely click 20-30 images at a go. So, what do you do to avoid such a situation? The answer to this question lies in the purchase of an extra memory card or two. One of the important components of a digital camera is the memory card. Most digital cameras come with quite a low amount of memory and it is always better to include the cost of a memory card while purchasing a camera. There are several types of memory cards so you must check out the memory options available in the camera that you are planning to buy. Also, remember that if the resolution of your camera is high, then you will also need a high capacity memory card. There is no predetermined number of images that you can store on a particular memory card. It depends on the kind of images, the file type of the images and the compression rate per photograph. Normally, a 128 or 256 megabyte card is adequate for the average photographer using a 3-5 mega pixel camera. There are several types of memory cards available. Here is a list of the kinds of memory cards available in the market today: ·Compact Flash Memory Card: Compact Flash is a relatively cheap memory card. It is available in most shops and is compatible with a large number of digital cameras. It is very popular and is commonly used by camera lovers. These cards come with an in-built controller which results in high transfer speeds. However, in order to use this facility, you normally need to be using a digital SLR. ·Secure Digital & Multimedia Cards: Commonly known as the SD card, these cards are one of the smallest memory cards which are available today. These cards can be used in different types of equipment, i.e. digital cameras, phones, MP3 players and video cameras as well. However, the maximum memory capacity is only 512 MB. The difference between the SD card and the multimedia card is that, as the name suggests, the SD card comes with an additional write-protect switch for data security. ·Memory Stick: The memory stick is an invention by Sony. As a result, these cards can mostly be used only on Sony devices. Hence, if you have a Sony digital camera, a Toshiba laptop; then it is most likely that you will not be able to use your memory stick on both equipments. It is a very durable and rugged memory option. So, unless and until you are a Sony fan, the memory stick has limited use for you. ·Card Reader: Once you have purchased a memory card for yourself, you will also need a card reader in order to transfer your pictures onto your laptop or PC. The advantage of a card reader is that it can be directly attached to your computer through the USB port. Then you simply need to slot in the memory card into the reader, and you can transfer files easily. The card reader does not require any additional cables and neither does it use up the battery of your digital camera. The bottom line with digital camera memory cards is that you need to always have more on hand than you need, prices are often very affordable, and you should choose your camera based on the version of memory card that it takes. Don’t buy into a camera system if you feel the memory card will not accommodate your photo taking needs.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kevin Rockwell worked as a network TV cameraman for 20 years shooting news and sports. Now a devoted fan of digital photography and video he works to gather information, tips and news for digital camera users. Oh and he loves to shoot pictures of his kids playing sports.http://www.great-digital-cameras.com/gdcj.html

Buying a new digital camera

I feel, after visiting so many websites and reading so much advice, and also by frequently visiting photography forums, that I have to speak on this subject.

For the majority of the buying public, there are 2 categories that we fall into when getting started or upgrading in digital photography, the "Absolute Beginner" or the "Amateur" (or serious amateur sometimes labelled as semi pro).
Now for the beginner, or someone getting started in photography itself (not just digital), the choice of cameras nowadays is quite overwhelming! Everywhere you look there are cameras, not just in camera shops like the good old days. You even get given a cheap digital camera as a gift for buying something else in some places. There are reasonably powerful digital cameras in the more expensive mobile phones now and they come in all shapes and sizes.
So where do you possibly start and how do you make that choice for buying a camera for yourself or someone else. Really it is quite simple and there are 3 criteria you should look at:
1.Quality - If you want the camera to last at least a few years and not get bothered by a bit of bashing about, go for quality. A titanium body, not plastic, something that is fairly heavy and robust in your hands, you can feel quality!
2.Features - Do you want quality video capabilities? How big do you want to print the pictures that come from the cameras files (how many mega pixels)? Do you want to have at least some manual features so you can get a bit creative? Or do you just want a "Point-and-shoot" digital camera?
3.Price - You will have a budget in mind of how much you want to spend. Get the best camera and memory you can for your budget, worry about extras later! Don't be cheap; if you want reasonably good quality prints, by spending too little on a very cheap camera, you will waste paper, printer ink and/or good money at your local lab. Get a good make and model of digital camera now and it will outlast a cheapie 4 or 5 times.
DO NOT be swayed by digital cameras that have "Non-Photographic" features, gadgets and gizmos. Any of these unnecessary features added means that some quality has been sacrificed elsewhere. Buy a camera to be a camera, and nothing else. I would also suggest buying one of the top brands such as Canon, Nikon, Konica-Minolta, Olympus etc., they may cost a little more, but the difference in quality is worth it. They all make cheaper end cameras too.
Look for decent features such as a good optical zoom, NOT digital zoom. Digital zoom is an unnecessary marketing tool; it is the same as zooming in on the photo once you get it onto your PC. 10-20X digital zoom is acceptable but I have seen video cameras with 1000X digital zoom, have you ever tried holding the camera steady at these kind of magnifications, even with a tripod?!!
Basically, write down exactly what you want and need from the camera, go to a reputable dealer and buy a good branded camera that has what you need for your requirements and budget, don't be swayed by the salesperson into buying more than you need.
Now, the Amateur or Semi Pro. When you start to look at Semi professional Digital SLR's or Advanced digital compact cameras, the choice is a little less but no less confusing. The same advice goes here as in the previous section, think about what you need the camera for, how you think you may progress in this hobby and your budget.
The "prosumer" advanced digital compact cameras available today are steadily encroaching on the quality of the DSLR, although in my opinion, they will never catch them. The optical zooms are fantastic, the sensors, albeit smaller than the DSLR are powerful and produce stunning images, and some even have "built-in" image stabilisers…Great!
Again, my advice would be to go for quality. These cameras are more expensive anyway and you want one that will last and put up with a bit of knocking from your "getting creative in photography" moments! Once you have your advanced digital compact, don’t be swayed by the latest upgrades, updates or releases. Get to know what you have, learn how to use it effectively and learn the photography side of photography, not the technical side.
Once you are happy with your progression and feel that you want to move on, be more in control and maybe even start to earn from photography, only then should you splash out and upgrade to a Digital SLR.
The Semi Professional Digital SLR or consumer DSLR is a fantastic thing in photography. Many of the "die-hard" film photographers are seeing the light and going digital. Many aspects of film are still widely used and will do for some time, as large format film photography produces the absolute finest detail I have seen (at the time of writing. In 2020, who knows?).
However, the latest batch of Digital SLR's have now reached the point where they match or out perform 35mm film. It is predicted that next year (2006) will be "boom time" for the sales of DSLR's as the quality increases and the prices come down. There has never been a better or cheaper way to get into 35mm photography!
The BIGGEST thing to consider when buying a DSLR kit is to choose your brand loyalty. Look at Canon, Nikon, Konica-Minolta, Olympus, Kodak etc., and make your choice, why? As you progress and become more enthusiastic or serious, you will want to add more lenses to your kit. Wide angle, telephoto, zoom, macro, standard….there is a massive choice.
With the way technology is going, you are much more likely to upgrade your camera than you are your lenses and it will be a lot cheaper to do so once you really get into this hobby, believe me! One decent lens in my kit cost €2,000 (£1400) alone. A decent lens will, with care, last you a lifetime. There is only a certain level of quality of the glass you can obtain with optics so remember this point when buying your camera.
My choice? Canon. I used to work for Nikon and had a preference towards them, but nowadays all my kit is Canon. I feel they are one step ahead with technology and the lenses (especially the nice white ones) are amazing! Just look at the next major sporting event on TV, how many "White" lenses you see. Only Canon makes white lenses.
Again, once you have made your choice, BUY the camera, ENJOY it and LEARN from it! If the sensor (i.e. 8MP of bigger) produces LARGE, high quality prints, why be swayed by the newer, latest upgrades? Photography is about "learning" and enjoyment, DO NOT be intimidated by technological gobbeldy gook, as long as your camera has the features that you need, quality to match and you build a nice set of lenses over time, who cares if the latest model has 0.1% better white balance control, or flashing lights?
If you are new to Digital SLR's, I have a section on my website that explains all the bits and buttons…
Digital SLR Newbie?
All the best and enjoy yourselves!
Nick StubbsAll Things Photography

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Professional photographer with more than 20 years experience. Started at 13 by building own darkroom, progressed to become an apprentice at 16 and have not looked back since.

Transfer the digital camera images to your computer

By Jakob Jellinghttp://www.snapjunky.comThere are a few very important tasks associated with using the digital camera. The most important is of course capturing a beautiful photograph. The next most important task is that of transferring this image somewhere from where it can be printed. The most suitable place is hence the computer. Now, here comes another area of importance that needs to be analyzed and sufficient knowledge is required to be imparted to the users to make ample use of such an important feature. This discussion is thus generally focused upon this mechanism to transfer the digital camera images to the computer, and the various types of such a transfer. Looking from a very simple point of view, there are two methods for transferring the digital camera images to the computer; they are firstly by attaching the digital camera directly to the computer (a process that is popularly called tethering) and secondly by the use of a memory card reader. In the present world most digital cameras are endowed with arrangements for a comparatively nippy USB connection. USB is basically an interface between a computer and peripheral devices like keyboards, telephones, scanners, and printers. In the current case this peripheral device is the digital camera. This USB feature enables the computer to be directly connected to the digital camera and transfer the images via the USB port present in the computer itself also. Many of the computer operating systems (like the Windows XP) have features for in-built tethering support for this purpose solely. One major problem of this feature of tethering is that it consumes a huge amount of power from the batteries. For this reason, many of the digital cameras are provided with AC adapter that powers the camera. The appropriate software installed within the computer and the digital cameras provides the entire task for making a successful transfer of the images from the digital camera to the computer.Regarding the software associated with such a digital image transfer from a digital camera to a computer, it is important to state that digital cameras come equipped with CDs containing driver files, image viewers and photo editing software. It connects to the computer via a USB or other port. Some digital cameras come with a PCMCIA interface also. The next feature for making a successful transfer of image from the digital camera to the computer is via memory card readers. These memory card readers make image transfers without consuming a lot of the precious digital camera batteries; this is the best part of this method. Two important points define the memory card readers; the first is the type of memory card the digital camera uses for storing images. Secondly, the type of connection the digital camera has with the computer. USB is the most predominant kind of card reader available in today's world. In some cases, many computers are equipped with certain slots that take in cards directly inside the computer or may be with the help of a PC card adapter too. Then the transfers of images are made appropriately from the digital camera into the computer memory efficiently.All the features and the technology discussed in the above lines are focused towards uncovering the various efficient and suitable methods for a better transfer method of the images and photographs from the digital camera into the computer memory. As technology advances with years, these would get further improved and the popularity and flexibility of this fantastic device, the digital camera, would get even more all the rage!


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.

Top 10 Advanced Digital Cameras

Canon EOS 20DThe Canon EOS-20D is one of the best digital cameras for the advanced user. With an 8.2 megapixel resolution and a bewildering range of manual modes, this digital SLR will deliver professional looking photos.
Canon PowerShot G6The Canon PowerShot G6 has a 7.1 megapixel resolution, a 4x optical zoom, as well as a wide range of scene modes and manual controls. Even though it lacks a digital SLR body, the images shot with this camera are nothing short of outstanding. It’s also one of the cheapest advanced digital cameras out there.
Olympus C-7000The Olympus C-7000 zoom offers a 7.1 megapixel resolution and 5x optical zoom. It also boasts 5 scene modes and full manual options. A very attractive buy, although the optional lenses are not allowed.
Nikon D70The Nikon D70 is one of the best-selling entry level digital SLRs. It has a solid design, a bewildering range of options, powerful speed, as well as great photo quality. With its cheap price, this 6.1 megapixel SLR is one of the best value cameras for serious photographers looking to upgrade their camera.
Canon Digital RebelThe 6.3 megapixel Canon Digital Rebel is a direct competitor to the Nikon D70. It targets photographers at the lower end of the advanced digital SLR market. Its low price, excellent image quality and speed give the Nikon D70 a run for its money.
Sony Cybershot Pro DSC-V3The Sony Cybershot Pro DSC-V3 is a decent advanced camera which is light and easy to use. With its 7.2 megapixel resolution and 4x optical zoom, it’s a great buy. Do note the colors can be a bit poor in some shots.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IIThe Canon EOS-1D Mark II is a new digital SLR aimed at professional photographers who want excellent customization options, great photo quality and impressive speed. This 8 megapixel camera is high on my list of recommendations.
Olympus C-8080With its 8 megapixels and a 5x optical zoom, the Olympus C-8080 represents great value for those hunting for a digital SLR. While it doesn’t sell as well as the Canon and Nikon SLRs, I think Olympus comes up with pretty decent advanced cameras too.
Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2The Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 is a hot favorite amongst professionals. From a feature and function point of view, it’s one of the best digital SLRs I’ve seen. However, the build quality lacks that nice and heavy SLR feel.
Sony DSC-F828Featuring a whopping 8 megapixel image resolution, the Sony DSC-F828 comes replete with a powerful 7X zoom lens and great camera optics. Very nice camera indeed.
ConclusionThere are lot of cameras suitable for the advanced digital photographer, but the list above covers some of my favorites. I particularly like the Nikon D70 and Minolta DiIMAGE A2. One shopping tip to remember is that the camera above tend to be more expensive than the average point-and-shoot model. So do consider carefully whether you need to features before buying the camera. If you're just starting out in digital photography, you may want to try a simpler and cheaper model first.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gary Hendricks runs a hobby site at www.basic-digital-photography.com. Read his tips on digital photography and learn to shoot better photos with your digicam.

Buying your child a digital camera- what you need to know

Purchasing any gift item for your child is a mind-numbing task. You can never be sure whether they will like what you buy for them or not. So, when you want to buy a digital camera for your little kids, then there are lots of things, which you must know, which will help you (hopefully!) to get the right camera for your child. One of the most important things for children is that the digital camera should be one of the latest available in the market. If it has been heavily advertised and people are talking about it, then it is even better. This gives children a sense of pride and also allows them to ‘show-off’ their possession to their friends. Another factor, which is critical for children, is that the camera must look good. This is very, very important to them. It does not matter whether it has a big screen or small screen, whether it is 2 mega pixel or 1.5 mega pixel – the camera should have a smart shape, come in flashy colors or it can also look cute or funky. But, the camera should not look ‘boring’ or very ‘serious’ in nature. However good the functions might be, if the camera does not look good, it is most likely that your choice will get rejected. The size is also important. Most children will definitely prefer a digital camera that is small and compact in size. The weight and size should be such that they are able to easily put the camera in their pocket or hang it by a string. Large and bulky models, even if they have better features are not advisable for children. It is also necessary to remember that even though you might gift your child a digital camera to click photographs for school projects, they will be using it to take pictures of their friends. So, look for some ‘fun’ features in the digital camera. These can include colorful background images or sound effects, photographic effects that they can use to enhance the images taken by them. One more thing is ease of use. It is important that the camera has a simple system through which children can easily take pictures quickly. However, you really do not need to worry about this aspect a lot because today’s children have been born in the digital era. They are able to pick up things much faster than you or me, so as long as the camera is good in all other aspects, even if its ‘click ability’ is a little confusing, it does not really matter. They are fast learners these days!Last but not the least, is the price. While buying a digital camera for your child, it is understandable that you really do not want to spend a lot of money. There are lots of choices available in the market today. The price range starts from as low as $30 and can go up to $300. So, it really depends on how much you would like to spend on the camera. Start simple and upgrade if they grow out of the digital camera that you buy for them. Hey share them with the whole family!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kevin Rockwell worked as a network TV cameraman for 20 years shooting news and sports. Now a devoted fan of digital photography and video he works to gather information, tips and news for digital camera users. Oh and he loves to shoot pictures of his kids playing sports.http://www.great-digital-cameras.com/gdcj.html

How to Buy a Digital Camera

In fact, buying a digital camera need not be a difficult task. I'll highlight the key considerations you need to think through before making that purchase decision. Always, always remember to consider these factors when buying a digital camera:* Battery Life* Number of Megapixels* Zoom Lens* Exposure Control* User ControlsBattery LifeThis has got to be one of the most overlooked features in digital cameras. I know many people who go for the latest and greatest digital cameras which are short in the battery life department. If you want to take good photos, your camera needs to powered for extended periods of time. I've found that cost and battery life don't go together - many cheap cameras have good battery life, while some high-end models drain your battery really fast. Make sure you choose a camera that has good battery life.Number of MegapixelsThe megapixel rating of a digital camera determines how much fine detail you can capture in your shots. Typically, the number of megapixels can range around from 2 megapixels to 8 megapixels. How do you decide how many megapixels you need? As a rule of thumb, if you're only interested in taking small snapshots to send via email or for posting on the Web, you won't need more than 2-megapixels. If you want large print outs of your gorgeous photographs, then you'll probably want to get 5-megapixel cameras and above.Zoom LensYou'll definitely want a camera with decent optical zoom. Now the keyword here is optical zoom (as opposed to digital zoom). Optical zoom physically moves the camera lenses to zoom in on a subject. Digital zoom, however, digitally averages and magnifies the image within the camera's microchip - resulting in poor picture quality. Many manufacturers' advertisements talk about digital zoom instead of optical zoom - so do be careful when choosing. I'd recommend getting at least 3x optical zoom in any camera you buy.Exposure ControlThe ability to control exposure settings such as shutter speed and lens opening is critical to professional photographers. Cheaper digital cameras only allow you to shoot photos in automatic mode - just press the shutter release and voila, your picture is taken. More advanced users prefer to tweak the shutter speed and aperture to capture fast moving objects or blur the image background. Choose a camera with good exposure control if you foresee yourself taking on photography as a serious hobby.User ControlsIf you are getting a point-and-shoot camera, make sure you find one that's easy to use. User controls to set resolution, macro mode, flash and exposure should be within easy reach. Of course, if you're a serious photography buff who wants to take the time to tweak all sorts of manual settings, then this many not be so critical. I prefer to try out the camera first in the store - play with the controls and get comfortable with them. Only then will you know whether it's comfortable enough for you.ConclusionWell, I do hope this article has helped you understand what factors to consider when buying a digital camera. A general piece of advice I can give is - if you're a total newbie, don't go for the latest digital SLR. It may be tempting to get that Nikon D70 right from the start, but I'd reckon its much better to start off with a cheaper camera first. Learn, experiment and build up your digital photography skills. Once you're more skilled, then proceed to upgrade to a better camera. Good luck and happy shopping!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gary Hendricks runs a hobby site on digital photography. Visit hiswebsite at http://www.basic-digital-photography.com for tips andtricks on buying digital cameras, as well as shooting great photos.

10 Top Tips To Consider When Purchasing A Digital Camera

by: David Crossley
A digital camera is an electronic device to transform images into electronic information. New digital cameras are typically multifunctional and the same device can take pictures, video and audio.
Many digital cameras can connect directly to a computer to transfer data. Early cameras used the PC serial port. USB is the most commonly used method, though some have a Firewire port or use Bluetooth. Some cameras are able to attach to computer networks wirelessly via Wi-Fi.
Here are 10 top things to consider when looking to purchase a digital camera: -
1. Price: This can vary from around $100 to upto $10,000 for a high end professional camera. You can buy one with good resolution and options for under $600. Ones with more manual control settings can be found for around $600-2000 dollars, usually suited to serious amateurs.
2. Resolution: To print good quality color photos at the standard film sizes 4"x6" or 5"x7" you'll need a 1-2 megapixel camera. If you are printing as large as 8"x10" then you're going to need a higher resolution around 2-3 megapixels.
3. Viewfinder: Low-end digital cameras provide an optical viewfinder while more expensive ones replace the viewfinder with a LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). Look towards purchasing one with an LCD display. Kodak make digital cameras with superb displays so have a look at those.
4. Focus: Most cameras are either fixed-focus or autofocus which is suitable for the average digital camera user. With a fixed-focus lens everything from a few feet to infinity is in focus. The only problem with this is when shooting pictures up close. Autofocus will automatically bring whatever is in the centre of the viewfinder into focus.
5. Storage: Many cameras come with a small memory card, but if you want to take lots of pictures or footage, it is a good idea to check whether what is supplied is enough. Chances are it won't be, so look at how much a new 'decent' capacity memory card etc is going to cost for that particular model.
6. Compression: If you want the highest possible image quality, look for a camera that will let you save pictures in "CCD raw mode" which means with no compression at all.
7. Batteries: It is important to get a camera that will accept rechargeable batteries. There are three varieties of batteries available Nickel Cadmium (NiCad), Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) and Lithium-ion (Li-ion or LiOn). A camera may accept only one or two kinds of batteries so be sure to find out what kind.
8. Power Saving: To save battery power, use a camera that accepts an AC adaptor.
9. Interface: If you are interested in maximum speed you should keep your eyes open for cameras and card readers that support FireWire
10. Video Output: This can be invaluable for presentations. If you would like to do this, look for a camera with a video-output terminal. It allows you to display your pictures on a TV or projector.
About The Author
Article by David Crossley of http://www.digitalcamerasinfozone.com ( All the information you need on buying your next digital camera )

The Best Digital Camera's -How To Find Them

by: Steven Harrison
It seems that every month, if not every week, different manufacturers are coming up with the latest digital cameras to tempt potential clients. How can we keep up with them all?
After spending a lot of time reading and researching we finally make a decision and head off to the mall for that eye-popping, 7 mega pixel, 10x digital zoom, candy colored, 512MB expandable memory high tech prize.
Credit card in hand and half way into the mall we pass by a new display - an eight mega pixel, up to 1G expandable memory, with built it mic and stereo surround, video playback capable, with 22 scenic modes kind-of-camera . And we sigh because the producer of this amazing gadget claims that this is the best digital camera yet out in the market. So now we hesitate we want the "Best Digital Camera" right?
Of course we do so we spend a little more than we planned and return home happy and excited.
The trouble is our happiness doesn't last very long, after two months or so, there's another "best digital camera."
What you have to remember is that there will always be another "best digital camera"
Just around the corner so in making your decision on which digital camera to buy
there are certain factors to consider when looking for the "best digital camera" .
MEGAPIXELS . One of the most important features of digital camera to make it into the best digital camera category is its mega pixel property. The higher the mega pixels the better the actual photograph will come out. A mega pixel is equivalent to one million pixels. The resolution of your image is based upon the mega pixel property of your camera. This means that as you enlarge the photograph, you would get more detail and less blurry colors.
LCD SIZE. The best digital camera will always have a large LCD to help you frame your subject without having to squint through the viewfinder. This is also helpful when reviewing your images, some cameras enable touch up and editing features with its LCD. A 1.5-inch display is average, a 2-inch LCD display is good, but the best LCD size would be 2.5 inches or higher.
ZOOM. Most digital cameras have both digital and optical zoom. A higher optical zoom is always better than a higher digital zoom. Digital cameras are usually furnished with optical of between 3x to 10x . The better the optical zoom, the higher it climbs up to the best digital camera category.
MEMORY CARD. Always make sure that your memory card is the right one for your digital camera. There are different types of memory card like the xD, SD and Compact Flash . These types of memory cards go with certain types of digital cameras. of course memory storage is also up there in choosing the best digital cameras. Choose the size of memory that you need, if you're a photo junkie, you might need more than 32MB . The early Memory cards were in the MB range but these days you can get cards in the Gigabyte range.
The key point to find the best digital camera is to find one that will best fit you and your lifestyle. Don't just buy the latest or the one that claims they are the best digital cameras out in the market. You wouldn't want to buy a DSLR and use it with your home activities or family outing and have to lug it around.
By the same rule you don't want to buy the latest point and shoot camera when you're serious about being a professional photographer. (Of course, you can use this for starters, but if you're not a novice photographer anymore, you wouldn't want to get this kind of camera.)
Actually, the best digital camera is the one that you will enjoy and use. Not the one that you will end up leaving in its box stuck in a draw somewhere.
Just remember the more features a camera has the more complicated it can become and therefore the more likely it is to stay in it's box instead of being used. So the best digital camera to buy is the one you can afford and will feel comfortable using for all your photography.
The author, Steve Harrison, has been writing articles for some time now and grants permission to use this article so long as it is kept in it's original form and the Authors resource is included . If you would like more information on Digital Cameras or Digital Photography please visit http://www.cameraelite.com
About The Author
Steven Harrison has given his permission to use this article so long as you don't edit or alter it in any way. For more info on Digital Photography and Digital Camera's Please visit http://www.cameraelite.com.

How to Choose a Digital Camera

by: Rachel Deutsch
A Digital Camera has become the standard in photography. It's smaller than film camera, easier to operate, and holds many more pictures. On a digital camera you can click away as much as you want. If you don't like the outcome - just delete it. For a non professional photographer it's heaven. Instead of taking just one picture you can take 10 pictures - with and without flash, in different modes, from different angles. Later, at home, you can choose the best one to keep (You will probably just keep them all).
The problem at hand is how to choose the best digital camera. Here are some points to consider.
Price
There are cameras at under $100, and well over $2000, the sky is the limit. How much should you pay? It all depends on your budget and on what you expect from the camera. Professionals and serious amateurs will not settle for anything but the latest, best model. The "Sunday photographer", who just wants to document a trip abroad, would probably not need these models. To get the best outcome of a sophisticated camera takes knowledge that not anyone wishes to acquire. Still, I don't recommend taking the simplest cheapest cameras. The cameras in the mid-price range ($300-$600), have enough "wisdom" built into them to compensate for beginner mistakes, and enough simplicity in the human interface for anyone to operate them.
Doesn't matter which digital camera you buy, it will cost less next week, when the new model comes out. The new model will be better, and will cost what you paid now. This is always true, and will be true next week and next month. Accept it. Don't wait forever for the ultimate model with the lowest price. Make the best choice possible today.
Remember also to check what the price of the camera includes. Usually you will need budget for some accessories such as extra memory card, batteries, battery recharger (make sure it works on 110 Volts and 220V), tripod, bag and anything else you would want.
Mega Pixels
This number appears first on all digital camera data sheets, and it seems like the higher the better. In a way, this is true, but how high do you really need it to be?
This number determines the picture resolution. Instead of film, a digital camera has a grid of electronic cells that read light and color information. Having a grid that is made up of more "dots" enables finer details of the picture to appear clearly. This sounds great - why not have as many pixels ("dots") as possible? First, because it costs more. You need more of these electronic cells in the camera, and you need to pay for them. Then, you need to save the information that all these cells produce. A picture taken by an 8 Mega-pixel camera will occupy twice the memory taken by a 4 Mega pixel camera.
Do you need such a sensitive camera? Depends on what you want to do with the pictures. If you are going to enlarge them into billboards, you will need all the details as fine as you can get them. If you are going to print the pictures out in standard size, even 4 Mega pixels is much more than enough. If you are going to look at the picture on your monitor, 4 mega pixels is very good.
Optical and Digital Zoom
Forget about digital zoom!! Ignore it, disable it, and never touch it. Your camera has this grid we talked about inside. The picture comes through the lens, and every point of this grid assigns a value of color and brightness to itself. This is what this points "saw". It cannot "look closer". Now, suppose you want to zoom in x4. The small processor on your camera takes 1/4 of the points it really saw, and smears them on your viewfinder. It has an algorithm that helps it "guess" how it should look. When you click on your camera's button, the camera saves information that is made up of a quarter of the picture, and the camera's zoom in algorithm.
If you don't use digital zoom, you can save all the information that your camera picked. Later, at home, you can display the picture on your monitor. Most of the graphic programs on PC will have more powerful algorithms to zoom in, and with a large view on the monitor you will be able to control the outcome better.
Optical zoom does matter. A good lens brings good information of a far view to the cells in the camera. This is actually one of the big advantages of digital cameras over film camera. The electronics is so much smaller than a film, that there is no need for huge long lenses. You can have 10 or 12 times optical zoom from a very small camera.
What is the downside? When you try to take a picture from a distance you need a tripod, of a good stabilizer in the camera.
Response Speed
When you turn the camera on it takes some time until you can take a picture. Most times it doesn't matter, but if you think you will need to draw fast - check this number.
Video capability
Most digital cameras can take short video movies. The length of these movies depends on the amount of memory you have, normally no more than a few minutes. The quality of these movies is not as good as the quality taken by video cameras, and some digital cameras don't allow zoom in or out while shooting video.
Interchangeable lenses
This is rather new, and now dropping in price. Until not long ago, these cameras were very expensive. Now, the Nikon D50, for example is coming to the $500-$600 price range.
Recommended Cameras
New cameras with better features are announced by the manufacturers every day. A great site that keeps track of all this is: http://www.dpreview.com/
You can learn about what other people buy these days by checking out Amazon digital camera best sellers
About The Author
Rachel Deutsch is the owner and writer of http://www.dream-vacation-in-Tuscany.com. On this site, as in others, she shares her experience in travel, and the interest in Italy, its history and its pleasures.

Nikon D50 Review

by: Bo Cakmak
The Nikon D50 is a surprisingly affordable, top-notch entry level digital camera. Some of its attributes include a 6 mega pixel APS-format sensor, 2.5 frames-per-second burst mode, vibrant color representation, and excellent noise performance. The Nikon D50’s price tag is attainable for most amateur photographers. MSRP is $899.95, but with a little bit of internet research, users can find prices around $700 or lower.
The Nikon D50 enters into the ever competitive digital SLR realm, but can hold its own. It supplies a 2-inch, 130,000 pixel LCD and a strong auto focus system. The D50 is smaller than its sister model, the D70 and has a very deep feature set and a mass of manual controls that will help any first time digital SLR user develop their knowledge and fine tune their skills. It’s light weight makes it comfortable to hold and all buttons and dials are labeled clearly, and logically. A quick review of its instructions will enable even the most apprehensive user, a full-fledge photographer.
The Nikon D50 is also an extremely fast camera. It has a fast shutter speed with a range from 30 to 1/4,000 seconds, allowing full creative control. It has rapid flash sync shutter speeds up to 1/500 seconds, which gives its user the ability for great fill-effects under brighter light and difficult back-lighted conditions. The Nikon D50 also powers up immediately and responds almost instantly to a touch of the shutter button. This feature makes it easy for capturing models on the move and quick changing scenery.
Its tech specs include a Dynamic buffer (temporary data storage bank) and a super fast LSI processor which allows the camera to take at minimum ten full-resolution JPEG shots in a single burst at 2.5 fps. The USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) interface allows for speedy data transfer. It also contains a seven automated Digital Vari-Program selections, including a new "Child" mode for the ability to capture unforgettable photos of children with ease. Its 3D Color Matrix Metering II ensures accurate exposure control and white balance.
The spirit of this camera is its ease of use and outstanding end product. There is no better value for an entry level camera in today’s market – yet. So click away, knowing you’ve scored value and performance, all in one.
You can compare prices and reviews for cameras at http://www.1audio-equipment.com.
About The Author
Bo Cakmak New author trying to contribute to the information world. bo@pyramiddesignsllc.com

Finding The Best Small Digital Camera

by: Brandon Layne
Digital cameras are getting smaller and smaller every year. People seem to have a fascination for very compact gadgets. Remember how bulky mobile phones used to be? I remember lugging around a bag phone the size of a woman’s purse and much heavier.
Now they have models that are as small as a chapstick.
Since digital cameras are one of the most popular portable devices on the market, a lot of people are looking for the smallest digital camera they can find. If you find yourself scouring the internet and your local electronics stores with that goal, just keep in mind that one way to reduce the size of a digital camera is to include fewer features. Don’t sacrifice important features just for a smaller size.
After all, what good is a small digital camera if it only has enough memory to store a few shots, or if it is a low-resolution camera that produces grainy photos?
You need to find the right balance. Find the right trade-off between small size and the important features. Let’s compare some of the smallest models to illustrate what I mean.
- The Blink by StyleCam is, technically speaking, the smallest digital camera available today, but it only has a resolution of 0.3 megapixel. It’s not built for serious photography. It also doesn’t have any zoom function to speak of, but at a price of less than $40, it could be considered a good value digital camera.
- Sony’s CyberShot DSC-U20 can also compete for the title of the smallest digital camera, but it’s loaded with features to boot! It comes with a 2.0 megapixel resolution and expandable memory storage using Sony’s memory stick technology.
- Casio’s Exilim EX-M2 is probably the best investment when it comes to compact digital cameras. It also comes with a 2.0 megapixel resolution, but it can also play mp3 files and record voice conversations. The only thing going against the Casio Exilim EX-M2 is a price tag of almost $400.
Just because we’re looking at the smallest digital cameras doesn’t mean that they will also be the cheapest models. It can be expensive to shrink the best features into a tinier package. It also doesn’t mean that we should settle for fewer features. Our investment can go a long, long way as long as we exercise a little caution and do a fair amount of research before making our choice of digital camera.
About The Author
Brandon Layne is a "serious amateur", using both digital and film cameras primarily for action shots and outdoor photography. He offers current digital photography news and digital camera reviews on his web site at http://digitalfotoinfo.com/.

How Do Underwater Cameras Work?

by: Nicola Kennedy
Underwater Cameras are cameras that are specially designed for underwater use or in circumstances that requires protection to prevent any water and pressure damage. There are many types of underwater cameras, depending on your budget and uses.
There are underwater cameras that are simply disposed of after use. These are the cheapest type of underwater camera available in the market. They have the capacity to take between 20 to 30 pictures, and photos can easily be developed. They are waterproof enough to be used in harsh rain and snow storms, and are usually tolerant of being fully submerged up to twenty or thirty feet.
There are also underwater cameras that are cheap reloadables. These cameras are designed with economy of price in mind. These are very similar to disposable underwater cameras, expect that the user can replace the film and use the camera multiple times. They are usually capable of greater water depths than their disposable counterparts.
New generation cameras have resolutions in the 3-4 megapixel range and can take excellent quality pictures underwater.
These cameras offer options for every level of diver and snorkeler. For the experienced diver/photographer who wants more control over the camera functions. The Advanced-Dive control system allows users to manipulate resolution, light sensitivity (EV), exposure modes and much more while underwaterwhile the Easy-Dive control system is the perfect choice for divers seeking a simple underwater photo system that produces breathtaking results.
Underwater cameras are designed for one-Button-Operation and can be set to Land or Sea modes plus modes that take into account the unique aspects of underwater photography. Cameras also feature three dedicated underwater external flash modes, allowing for more exposure control when using an external flash. For perfectly lit photos in any situation, users can toggle among Macro Flash, Portrait Flash and Far Flash modes, which adjust exposure based on camera-to-subject distance.
While an on-camera flash helps illuminate objects below the surface, cameras are also compatible with external flash units, which ignite the vivid colors of the underwater environment and allows users to illuminate objects from different angles. Because the external flash is a unit activated via the on-camera flash, no sync cord is necessary. Set the camera to "External Flash," and it automatically de-activates the digital pre-flash.
To compensate for low-light conditions that naturally occur as divers travel below the water's surface, cameras can adjust the shutter speed and aperture automatically to compensate for difficult light conditions, ensuring vivid images without worry of underexposure.
Photos can be composed via a large color LCD monitor on the back of the camera; or users can frame subjects through a top-mounted SportsFinder. Either way, composition is simple, even when viewing subjects through a dive mask. To help conserve power during underwater adventures, users often shut off LCD monitors while the camera is on and compose photos using large top-mounted viewfinders.
With the many technological advances of recent years, underwater photographers now no longer have to compromise on quality. Users are almost guaranteed to return to land with a stunning set of images.
About The Author
Nicola Kennedy publishes articles and reports and provides news, views and information about photography and underwater cameras at http://www.under-water-camera.info.
This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright Under-Water-Camera.info.

Digital Cameras: The New Generation

by: Olga Sen
With the advent of modern scientific tools, life has become highly sophisticated. There has been a significant evolution in the technology and the lifestyles of the human beings. One of the fine examples of evolution is the advent and craze for digital cameras. A digital camera is equipped with an electronic photosensitive sensor. The photographs are stored digitally in the in-built memory of the camera and can be directly uploaded on a computer for viewing and printing. There is no need for buying films or getting them processed with these modern gadgets.
The craze for using the cameras can be traced back to the 16th century. Man has used the cameras to capture the history or larger-than-life-events. As the science has expanded in this ever-shrinking world, the expansion of camera technology has soared to new heights. From the normal camera, the world has stepped into the era of digital cameras. These cameras have brought in a complete revolution in the camera industry.
The features of digital camera are so unique and advanced, that handling the camera has become a child’s play. Before you go and buy your digital camera, you should know some basic information on these modern weapons. You must pick the right camera to capture your precious moments.
How a Digital Camera Works
The basic difference between a digital camera and normal camera is that a normal camera uses a film to store the photographic images, while a digital camera uses an in-built memory to store the photographs in digital format. The lens of the digital camera focuses the light directly on to a semiconductor device. This device records the light electronically. The computer then breaks and stores this electronic data into digital data, which gets stored in the memory of the camera and can be transferred on to a computer.
Charge Coupled Device (CCD) is employed as the image sensors in the digital cameras. These charge coupled devices are responsible for converting the light into electronic forms. The CCD is made up of light sensitive diodes which accumulate electrons when hit by a beam of light. The prominently used CCDs are the triple CCD cameras. The product of these cameras is superb as the three CCDs react separately to the three basic colors such as red, blue and green. The end result is fantastic. These electronic symbols are then stored as digital data in the digital camera.
Buying a Digital Camera
The modern market is booming with various types of digital cameras. Digital cameras vary in function and most of all their mega pixel quality. If you plan to buy a digital camera, prior information about digital cameras would be an added advantage.
First of all you should figure out your need for buying a digital camera. The need for a digital camera helps you narrow your search for the best camera, suited to your requirements. You might want to buy a digital camera for posting photographs on the net, using photos for professional graphics work, to get a better-quality photographs and much more.
Next thing you should determine is the resolution you require in a digital camera. There are broadly 5 classifications of resolutions for digital cameras. These resolutions are expressed as mega-pixels. The higher the resolution of a camera, the better quality photograph it will produce. There are cameras available with 6 and 7 mega-pixels however, anything above 4 mega-pixels will produce really great photos.
Now buying a digital camera should be easy!
About The Author
Olga Sen writes articles on a number of different topics. For more information on Digital Cameras please visit http://www.digital-camera-guides.com/ and for additional Digital Camera related articles please visit the following article page http://www.digital-camera-guides.com/digitalcameras-articles/

Digital Cameras

by: Potoaphe Numeri
Digital Cameras For Quality Images
Digital cameras are a sophisticated and advanced version of the traditional cameras we have been using before their development. Digital cameras transform images into electronic files providing the user with the facility of taking photographs, making videos providing option for sound effects.
Digital cameras can be traced back to 1970's when analog to digital converter was being experimented upon. They can be further classified into video cameras, web cams used primarily for video conferencing services and cam recorders that give an option of simultaneously watching the video while it's being made.
Digital cameras can give you an excellent control to make the image sharper as per your discretion. Digital cameras operate in an automated mode. Unlike the traditional cameras the digital cameras give you the provision to focus on the subject as such and not on your posture while taking an image.
Digital cameras have an in built option of auto flash that illuminates the surroundings if the background is somewhat dim adjusting the color balance simultaneously. Digital cameras commonly use a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) format that enables you to compress the images according to your wish. However, DCF, RAW and EXIF formats are equally popular in the world of digital cameras.
If you want to create sharper image with softer background you may use a shallow depth of field. In contrast to this, great depth of field keeps the entire image sharper right from the foreground to the background. Digital cameras can be operated on multiple exposure modes including fully automated, programmed and manual modes.
You might require following the camera manual in the initial stages to adjust the brightness and contrast to obtain the best picture quality. The biggest advantage of digital cameras is that you enjoy using them once you become familiar with the various modes and their effects on the picture.
In order to store data, digital cameras need memory that can be facilitated using a memory card. Cameras phones, for instance use a programmable read-only memory. You have the provision of connecting the digital camera directly with the computer so as to transfer images using a Fire Wire or a USB port.
Digital cameras are the first choice for both professional and amateur photographers due to the immense number of options provided by them. They capture the image in a digital format that can be loaded on the computer with great ease. Remember, the more you use your digital camera, the easier it would be for you to operate.
About The Author
Potoaphe Numeri
Potoaphe Numeri is the administrator and delegate of All About Digital Cameras, your premier online source for all of your digital camera needs. Find the camera for you at: http://www.allaboutdigitalcameras.com

How To Buy Digital Cameras Cheap And At A Large Discount

by: Malcolm Silberman
There is a nice fluid market for both new and after market digital cameras on eBay. Digital Camera usage has grown enormously over the past few years. Technology has reduced the old film and developing almost to the archives. Quality cameras ranging in price from well under $500 to over $2000 are available. Professionals, amateur hobbyists and regular households all seem to be acquiring cameras, often more than one per household. The question becomes how can I acquire a digital camera at the best possible price?
With a large volume of most models being traded everyday, this is the ideal efficient market. One can study the dynamics of this micro-market and determine some useful buying rules. With a little more information than the rest of the marketplace, one can almost certainly make some intelligent buying opportunities. This article focuses on how to identify these gaps and often purchase digital camera's for 20-40% below retail.
This article should be read together with my longer piece and a web site, which produces the information required to identify buying nuggets. Find the links and URL's to these two sites at the bottom of this article. The niche site focuses specifically and only on data from the digital camera market.
Most information on eBay focuses on the selling element, i.e. how to sell your stuff. I have tended to specialize on the buying end and trying to identify market opportunities and price in-efficiencies to really capture excellent deals. To do this we need to understand the dynamics of the eBay market place. Like any other market it is supply demand driven, and like a large flee-market if a buyer has knowledge of how many items are for sale at what prices and how many other buyers are in the market, then that buyer can capture the upper hand. Lets focus a little more on supply.
The eBay supply dynamic is a little different in that supply of an item must be seen at a point in time. In other words, because auctions end at different times, one needs to grasp the number of auctions ending in close proximity for the same item. This gives you a feel for the supply of items or in our case cameras. What makes this interesting is that today there could be a large amount of auctions ending for a particular model, but next week there could be very few. This is one element driving the price.
The demand side is slightly more complex and hidden from the average eBay buyer. This is where that the web site I refer to at the bottom has some useful data. Demand in eBay terms is measured (by sellers) as a number of factors - how many people view my auction, how many people ask questions, how many people place me on their watch page, and how many people actually bid. Obviously as we progress down this list the data become more reliable as an indication of demand. Page views are not easy to obtain, although some sellers place a publicly viewable counter on their auction pages. Questions and watchers are available to sellers, and the special web site mentioned below will expose this information. Number of bids is available for all to see.
Now if we happened to produce a graph as the auction progresses of the changes in the number of questions, watchers and bid's one can easily see how the demand is changing as time progresses. Typically if questions are high and watchers are high, but bids are low, this may indicate some confusion and a possible buy opportunity. If watchers are very high and climbing, but bids are low, this can point to a last minute bidding war, and a stay out indicator.
Armed with this information and also a quick summary of other similar auctions ending soon, plus a quick feel for the skill set of the seller and the current highest bidder, once can see a picture very different from the average eBay buyer. Soon the trained eye will observe some nice buying opportunities. For the professional or amateur photographer this will soon bring in a number of digital camera buys that are quite a bit cheaper that retail. For example it is quite possible to find gems at 20-40% of retail prices. Lets face it, most digital camera's perform perfectly years after acquisition. Digital electronics seldom degrade over time, so the aftermarket such as eBay is the idea place to buy camera's cheaply.
Resources; How to buy a digital camera Digital Camera bargains
About The Author
Article by Malcolm Silberman and Education Specialist trained by eBay, for a more lengthily discussion of this topic visit http://bargainsfrom.us/how-to-buy-digital-cameras-at-a-discount-both-new-or-used and to see Camera auctions with this value added data visit http://digital-camera.bargainsfrom.us email him at digital-cameraATmacsilber.com.
digital-camera@macsilber.com

5 Simple Tips For A Longer Digital Camera Battery Life

by Keisha Seaton

What is a digital camera battery? Every one knows the answer - the power source that drives a digital camera. In fact, it won't be wrong to say that the performance of a digital camera is largely dependent upon the stability of power supply it could derive from the battery. However, the digital camera has never been famous for its power consumption. For example, AA cells that drive most digital cameras, taken 4 at a time, can power a digital camera for one hour maximum, assuming it ran continuously. Not a good omen in any count, but for any digital photographer, the writing on the wall is quite clear; if to use a digital camera, be ready to spend a decent amount on recharging the battery.

No one is to be blamed for this type of unbridled power consumption of a digital camera. It has something to do with the state-of-the-art digital design and intricate circuitry. The only way out is to keep check on the power consumption rate and to use a more efficient battery.

Commenting on the latter point first - recently it has been found out that Li-ion, NiMH, and NiCAD batteries are more efficient and long lasting than conventional AA cells. NiMH is the costliest amongst the lot, but its feature to recharge, in a longer run, could help cover the initial cost.

Selecting the most efficient of the digital camera batteries alone won't solve the problem completely. To strike a balance between the battery life and your pocket, further steps need to be taken. Elaborating on this, the one aspect those using a digital camera tend to forget is that they mainly waste a lot of power by not effectively handling the camera. As a rule of thumb, let us see few tips that can be for lengthening the battery life.

· While selecting batteries, never ever mix and match different brands.

· Check playback to the minimum possible.

· Never expose the batteries to moisture or water. If not in use, take out the batteries from the camera.

· Switch off the LCD viewfinder if not using.

· And the most important of all, when not in use, switch of the digital camera.

Many of our inefficient ways are borne out of carelessness than any technical hurdle or ignorance. By following the above mentioned steps, with a little effort, one can easily learn to fetch more mileage for his/her digital camera batteries. Remember, it not only extends the battery life but also these simple tips will save you money.

About the Author

Keisha Seaton is the owner of http://my-articles.com. To read more Computers and Technology Articles please visit http://www.my-articles.com/Category/Computers-and-Technology/170.