Digital Camera Buying GuideDigital cameras make photography easy and fun. They are as simple to use as traditional point-and-shoots, but have added features such as exposure adjustment, special effects, and clear, bright LCD screens that let you preview your picture before you take it and let you see it at your disposal.

Before setting out to shop for digital cameras, ask yourself what kind of digital photography you’ll be doing:

  • Are you a beginner, experienced or advanced photographer?
  • What will be your most frequent subjects–point-and-shoot family digital photos to be distributed by email, action shots of the children’s soccer games, casual birthday parties and holiday gatherings, or artistic photos to sell?
  • Will you be enlarging the digital pictures for printing?
  • Do you need to take video with your digital camera?
  • Are the children ready for their first digital photography experience?
  • Will you be using this digital camera with a load of camera accessories or straight from the box?

Now that you know how you will use your camera.

Digital Camera Features:

Resolution:
Resolution is a measure of image sharpness based on the number of pixels that make up the image. More pixels produce sharper, more detailed images. Digital camera resolution is measured in pixels.

For professional-quality digital pictures on 4-inch x 6-inch prints, a 2-3MP camera is sufficient. For 5-inch x 7-inch prints, go for a 3-5MP camera. For 8-inch x 10-inch prints, pick a 7-8MP camera. If you require 11-inch x 14-inch digital pictures, you’ll need 13MP or higher resolution.

Memory:
Digital cameras store photos in memory, much like traditional cameras use film.

There are two kinds of memory: built-in memory and removable storage memory. Basic digital cameras have a small image storage buffer built into the camera, and once it is filled, you will have to download the saved images to your computer before you can take more pictures.

Most cameras use removable storage memory to record images. The most popular forms of removable storage memory are Compact Flash cards, Sony Memory Sticks, and Smart Media Cards. Most digital cameras come with one 16MB card. The capacity (size) of the image memory storage will determine how many images you can store.

Understanding Memory and Photo Capacity

Resolution
Setting

16MB
Memory Card

64MB
Memory Card

128MB
Memory Card

1 Megapixel

45 photos

82 photos

365 photos

2 Megapixels

17 photos

71 photos

142 photos

3 Megapixels

13 photos

53 photos

106 photos

4 Megapixels

6 photos

21 photos

42 photos

Size:
Here are three basic “sizes” of digital cameras, and knowing what size camera suits your needs will make your search much simpler.

Compact Compact digital cameras are designed to provide a moderate feature set, stylish looks, and a tiny, “pocketable” size. The advantage is that you are more likely to have a compact camera with you when that “great” photo opportunity occurs. However, they are generally more expensive than standard-sized cameras with similar features.

Standard Standard digital cameras are similar to 35mm point-and-shoot models in appearance and features. Some are reasonably compact, but they are usually too large to drop in your pocket.

Professional If you care more about robust features like interchangeable lenses, flashes, and other accessories, you will most likely have to consider a larger-sized camera. This category includes Professional SLR (Single Lens Reflex) cameras, which are just like traditional 35mm SLRs. These cameras are designed for professional and serious amateur photographers who require manual control and the ability to change lenses easily. Only the most serious amateur photographer will demand the flexibility of these cameras, and they are usually larger and heavier than compact or standard models.

Price:
Today’s digital cameras run anywhere from Rs.2000 to more than Rs.25000 depending on resolution and features. While the initial expense of a digital camera is still higher than a traditional point-and-shoot, you may find that the added convenience and savings in film and processing costs are worth it.

Digital camera components


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Batteries:

Digital cameras tend to drain batteries quickly, so, if you don’t want to buy a lot of them, the rechargeable digital camera battery is the way to go. Most chargers are designed to recharge four batteries at a time, which means you can always have an extra set ready to go. If your camera has an AC adapter, use that when reviewing photos or downloading, and each camera battery charge will last that much longer.

Cables:

  • Universal Serial Bus (USB): An almost universal standard for connecting computers and computer components. All new model digital cameras and memory card readers connect to computers via a USB cable. If your computer is not USB compatible, a USB card can be added as an upgrade.
  • FireWire (IEEE 1394): The other cable technology, better for transferring large amounts of data at high speed. Some professional-grade digital cameras and card readers are FireWire compatible. FireWire cable connections are faster than USB and can connect device to device directly, without going through a computer. If a computer is not FireWire compatible, a FireWire card can be added as an upgrade.

Optical zoom/Digital zoom:

Many digital cameras provide both an optical and a digital zoom. However, using each type of zoom will produce very different quality photos.

Photo quality is not compromised by optical zoom. Digital zooms use internal software applications to magnify (digitally “zoom” in on) and enlarge a small area of the picture, which causes noticeable loss of image quality. Optical zoom is the more important number as it gives the better digital picture.

Speed:

Digital cameras often have a delay between pressing the shutter and the image capture. Some take several seconds to recharge their flash or get ready for the next shot. If you plan on action photography, find a camera with a quick turn-around time.

View Finder:

Most digital cameras are equipped with a liquid-crystal display (LCD) viewfinder that allows you to see what your picture will look like before you take it. LCD viewfinders also permit you to view saved images and delete the ones that you don’t like.

Digital Video Format/Movie Mode:

Many digital cameras include a movie mode feature that lets users shoot very short low-resolution video clips. Shooting short movies with your camera is a lot of fun, but this feature won’t replace a camcorder

Accessories:

There are a number of accessories available for digital cameras, including battery chargers, underwater housings, slave flashes, carrying cases, neck straps, conversion lenses, remote controls, and printers. Prices vary by product and manufacturer.

Many photographers get into digital photography because they can print photos from their home printers. It is convenient and easy. However, keep in mind that printers also require ink and paper. Sometimes it may be cheaper to have photos printed at a retailer.

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