A Guide To Digital Cameras For Beginners
Posted by admin at 19:48 | Filed In Photography
Key Considerations
Unlike traditional, film cameras, digital cameras employ a light sensitive sensor, known as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), or CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor), to convert incident light into an image in electronic, or digital, form. The resolution and physical size of this sensor are important factors in determining the quality of photographs taken with a digital camera.
Resolution is often quoted as the total number of pixels (picture elements), or mega pixels, of which the sensor, and, therefore, the final photograph, is composed. The more pixels an image contains the higher the level of detail that you can expect in that image, so, all other things being equal, the higher the resolution of a digital camera, the better. As a rule of thumb, a basic, entry level digital camera, with a resolution of 1.0, or 2.0 mega pixels (MP), is likely to be adequate for standard, 6 inch x 4 inch prints, or the equivalent, but for larger, 10 inch x 8 inch prints, a resolution of at least 3.0 MP is likely to prove more satisfactory. Advanced digital cameras, amongst them SLR, or Single Lens Reflex, models are, of course, available with resolutions of, perhaps, 10 MP, or more. The Mustek DV5200 Digital Camera, for example, features a maximum resolution of 5.4 MP.
Almost all digital cameras have some form of zoom capability, and this is often quoted as the level of magnification provided, so you will come across figures such as 3x, or 4x, for both digital, and optical zoom. It is important, however, to differentiate between these two types of zoom. Optical zoom involves, the physical, or mechanical, movement of the camera lens to produce a close up image, and produces highly satisfactory results. Digital zoom, on the other hand, is controlled by software alone, effectively cropping a portion of an image, and enlarging that portion to the size of the viewfinder. This can result in grainy, unsatisfactory photographs at all but the lowest levels of magnification, and claims of huge digital zoom capability should be treated with caution.
Many digital cameras can operate on standard, disposable AA, or AAA, batteries, or rechargeable batteries. Rechargeable batteries are more expensive, in the first instance, but may actually prove to be more economical in the long run; digital cameras do tend to be quite battery hungry, and the cost of constantly replacing disposable batteries may soon become prohibitive. The Mustek DV510V Digital Camera, for example, operates on two, 1.5V AA batteries.
Conclusion
Before you start shopping for a digital camera, try to make an assessment of how you intend to use one, now, and in the future. You may, for example, be looking for a digital camera that is easy to use, without constant reference to its user manual, in the first instance; if you also require larger, better quality photographs, at some point in the future, investment in a higher specification digital camera, with a higher resolution, will allow you some room for expansion.
Josh Taylor is a freelance writer specialising in consumer electronics, financial and business subjects.
e-tailers such as 3 Wisemonkeys now offer a guide to buying digital cameras & camcorders. As well as producing quick guides such as the one above, 3 Wise Monkeys will respond to individual queries and offers detailed buying advice over the phone with no pressure to purchase.
Digital Camera Guide - How to Select the Best Digital Camera
An electronic machine that converts images into electronic data is known as digital camera. Latest multifunctional digital ca...
Buying A Disposable Digital Camera
Features1. There are no annoying wires or cords.2. No memory card involved.3. Free picture CD is usually included with you...
The Best Digital Cameras Take Magnificent Pictures
The best digital cameras take fantastic pictures, and pictures are memories. The best digital cameras record so many memories...
Digital Cameras: New Developments in Storing Images and Memories
Are you looking for digital cameras for your next vacation, wedding, birthday, holidays and any other event you could possibl...
How To Go About Buying A Digital Camera
Keeping in mind that the image sensor and the lens are the two most important areas to look at when buying a digital camera, ...
How To Find Cheap Digital Cameras
For people who cannot help but click away at whatever interesting object or person that they see, the need to own a good digi...
Comparison of Best Digital Cameras
The very first thing that a person does when he decides to buy something new is reading up the reviews about it. In case of t...
How To Produce Professional Photos With Digital Cameras
Good technology is always advantageous to the mankind. So, is the case with digital cameras. As time is passing and world is ...
How to Compare Digital Camera Features
The day you decide that you need to buy a digital camera you will need to consider various facts. By doing this you will be r...
Digital SLR Cameras Are More Suited For Hobbyists And Professionals Than The Average Photographer
Digital SLR cameras are becoming very popular today and most photographers use them because of the high quality of images tha...
Video Digital Camera
In this day and age, video digital cameras are on the cutting edge of technology. They are constantly being redefined as pow...
How Do I Know Which Digital Camera to Buy?
This is a major question that many photographers may ask. The decision however is based on how much time you are willing to p...
Canon Elph Digital Camera - When The Size Does Not Matter
If you are looking for a digital Camera you are probably amazed by the quantity of different cameras you can buy. The come in...
Which Is The Best Digital SLR Camera?
The best digital SLR camera for beginners and professionals is the Canon EOS Rebel XTi, however when the Canon EOS Rebel XSi ...
Comparing The Canon Digital EOS XT And EOS 20D
Canon EOS digital cameras may not have been around that long, but the company that makes them has been a leader in the produc...
Canon Powershot 8.0 Megapixel Digital Camera Reviewed
Bigger is better, the more megapixels the better the quality. With the Canon Powershot 8.0 megapixel digital camera you can b...
Reefmaster Underwater Digital Camera - Review
So why in the world would you want to own a Reefmaster Underwater Digital Camera? Well, have you ever been snorkeling or scu...
Olympus Digital Camera Review
Olympus is well known for producing high quality cameras way before digital cameras became popular. Due to the popularity of ...
Olympus Digital Cameras Are Among The Finest You Can Buy
Buying Olympus digital cameras means buying from one of the finest and foremost camera making companies, which is why they ar...
A Brief History of Digital Camera
The history of the digital camera is quite interesting and it goes back quite a while. In fact, NASA used analog signals for ...