First-time experiences often leave us unsure of how things will go, just as they do with most things in life. Digital cameras can be similarly overwhelming when you buy your first one.
Undoubtedly, you will be bombarded with numbers, numbers, and more jargon than you can handle. In this article, we hope to clarify some of the jargon and guide you to the best places to buy a digital camera.
You may not be interested in some of the features unless you need your camera to perform specific tasks, but it's always a good idea to know exactly what you're purchasing so that you can get the best deal possible.
Megapixels
A camera's resolution is measured and advertised by megapixels. This figure represents the number of pixels the camera needs to take an image. In this case, the higher the number, the better the quality of the picture you will be able to take. For example, if you purchase a camera with a resolution of 4 Megapixels, the pictures you take with that camera will have 4 million pixels.
It's obvious that a camera with a 2-megapixel resolution will not be able to create an image as sharp and detailed as a camera with 4 megapixels.
You may be very concerned about the megapixel rating of your camera if you often print out your images on your PC or send them away for printing.
When you have a higher megapixel camera, you can print larger prints without sacrificing quality. When you try to print a picture too large than what your camera is designed for, the quality is drastically reduced.
The last thing you should know about megapixels is that the higher the resolution, the more space your memory card will consume. In comparison to a picture taken with a 2-megapixel camera, a picture taken with a 4-megapixel camera will require twice as much memory.
If you want quality pictures, ensure that you have enough memory on your camera to back them up. Or have spare media cards to plug in once your space has been exhausted.
Digital Zoom and Optical Zoom
It is evident that you will want a zoom feature on your camera whenever you are buying one. Some first-time buyers have trouble with this area.
Digital cameras come with two types of zoom. Zooming with a digital camera and optical zooming with a digital camera. It is only optical zoom that matters since it is a zoom function that uses the optics of the camera to bring objects closer to you.
When using an image editing software program to zoom in and out, the process is known as digital zoom. An area of the image is enlarged so that it appears closer to you.
A photo editing package can do anything that a digital zoom can, so don't spend a lot of money on a camera with digital zoom only.
You might also see the phrase "total zoom" advertised. This means the number quoted here is the optical zoom plus the digital zoom.
To determine the true value of a camera, find out the magnification level of the optical zoom alone.
Aperture Size
Choosing the right aperture size can have a huge effect on your images, so bear with us. When you take a picture, the aperture determines how much light is let into the camera.
Aperture is like the iris of your eye. Having more light allows you to take better pictures in a variety of lighting conditions, such as on a cloudy day.
It is less likely that you need a flash if the aperture is large enough. In my opinion, I dislike using the flash, because the artificial flash of light does not always do justice to the photo you are trying to take. It is also common to experience red-eye.
Shutter Speed
There are a variety of shutter speeds that can be used to create great effects in images. A decent digital camera should offer the widest range of shutter speeds you can find.
Creating this picture will give you the best chance to manipulate it to your liking. By combining the shutter speed with a pro-active aperture, images can be brought to life or frozen in an instant.
The technique is excellent for capturing moving objects exactly as they would appear if they were still. Slowing down the shutter speed will give more exposure to the CCD (charge-coupled device - the digital equivalent of the film).
The result is that the image appears to run. There is a slight blurring of moving objects. As an example, if you were to take a picture of running water, leaving the shutter speed on for longer will create a pleasing image to the eye, much like how a waterfall appears in real life.
When you have a camera that has a very wide range of shutter speeds, digital photography can be taken to the extreme. Using an extremely slow shutter speed, you can have a long exposure of light to the CCD and thus obtain an image similar to the famous traffic scenes where a continuous stream of headlights blurs the image.
Storage Media
Media card slots are common in digital cameras. You should check what type of storage media your camera requires when you purchase it. Smart Media, Compact Flash, and xD are among the most common types of memory cards.
In most cases, you can buy the correct type of you as long as you know what kind you have. Ask your local retailer if you're not sure. Providing your car's make and model should help them guide you.
You can choose the size of the media card according to your budget but get as much as you can afford. If you have more memory, you won't have to change media cards as often, and you will be able to take pictures of the highest quality all the time. Once you begin to use your camera often, you will soon realize how important it is to have a lot of storage space.
Camera media is just like film in that if you run out you can simply insert a new one if you have one on hand. Although downloading your pictures to your PC can be a bit of a pain, it is less of a hassle than having to delete pictures due to the low space on your media card.
