| Digital Cameras have become a common | | | | is what it looks like. Most people print |
| site wherever you go. If you're getting | | | | their film to 4x6 prints and many are |
| ready to purchase your first digital | | | | now doing the same with their digital |
| camera, or maybe you're looking to | | | | cameras. Ask to see printed samples of |
| replace one you already have, it is best | | | | pictures which are like the type you |
| to familiarize yourself with the | | | | would normally take and compare the same |
| knowledge of what makes one digital | | | | prints between different cameras. Many |
| camera different from another and choose | | | | stores will try to dazzle you with |
| the one that is right for you. In this | | | | colorful still life images of piles of |
| article we'll cover one of the most | | | | multi-colored fruits and hot air |
| significant factors in picture quality. | | | | balloons. Do you take pictures like |
| This is the "digital film." | | | | that? Probably not, so perhaps they're |
| Just like with a film camera, the | | | | not the best images to be scrutinizing. |
| digital camera has a lens which brings | | | | If you take pictures of friends standing |
| light into focus on a bed of light | | | | around, use each camera to take pictures |
| sensitive material. In the digital | | | | of people standing around. Then use a |
| camera, that light sensitive material is | | | | demonstration printer at the store to |
| a circuit bed called a "CCD." The CCD | | | | make prints and look at the results. Do |
| plays the same role as film in a film | | | | you see little dots in the middle of |
| camera and the lens allows light to fall | | | | solid colors? Does the image look like |
| onto the CCD which is then converted | | | | it was taken with a poor quality film |
| into a digital image. The quality of the | | | | camera? Don't seek out the digital |
| lens can make a significant difference | | | | camera that happens to take perfect |
| in the clarity of that image. Very cheap | | | | pictures in a perfect setting, contrived |
| digital cameras may even use a piece of | | | | by the marketing department of the |
| plastic as the lens, which will usually | | | | digital camera's manufacturer. Look for |
| have an uneven surface and light | | | | the digital camera that takes pictures |
| transmission. This will be noticeable in | | | | you like in the settings in which you |
| the picture but may not be an issue for | | | | most commonly find yourself. |
| a security camera or a web cam. Better | | | | Another issue to consider is that some |
| quality digital cameras will have | | | | digital cameras are designed for "point |
| ground-glass lens and high-end digital | | | | and click" use while other cameras are |
| cameras will even have interchangeable | | | | designed with lots of settings which |
| lenses as do high-end film cameras. The | | | | must be manipulated for optimal results. |
| lens still plays the important role of | | | | In my personal experience, I have found |
| bringing light clearly to the CCD | | | | that Kodak makes digital cameras which |
| surface for a distortion free picture. | | | | are ideally suited for simple "point and |
| A CCD also provides an interesting | | | | click" use and consistently take great |
| advantage to the digital camera. It is | | | | looking pictures in a wide variety of |
| possible to automatically adjust light | | | | settings. I have also personally found |
| sensitivity to improve contrast, shoot | | | | that digital cameras from Nikon work |
| in dim light, or even take black and | | | | best when you set them to "manual" and |
| white, sepia or infrared and ultraviolet | | | | do not rely on the automatic settings. |
| light pictures with the touch of a | | | | This seems to be true of their film |
| button. Because any of these images are | | | | cameras as well. Does this make one |
| stored as the same data on the memory | | | | digital camera better than another? Only |
| card, a digital camera can offer | | | | if one fits your needs and skills, and |
| unsurpassed versatility without the need | | | | the other does not. |
| to change film types. Not all digital | | | | There are many magazines available on |
| cameras have these features built in, | | | | digital cameras today. Most recognize |
| but they are options you may see in some | | | | these differences in digital camera |
| cameras. While the possibilities are | | | | quality, based on needs and intended use |
| cool, ask yourself if you that is a | | | | of the owner. Before buying your new |
| feature you need in a digital camera. | | | | digital camera, pick up a few of these |
| With digital cameras, CCD is a grid of | | | | magazines and familiarize yourself with |
| light sensitive points which capture the | | | | the latest reviews. Remember that the |
| image for conversion into a digital | | | | pros and cons are still written "through |
| image. The number of points on the CCD | | | | the lens" of the reviewer. If you see a |
| is measured in terms of "mega pixels." | | | | negative about a digital camera that you |
| The mega pixel rating is a completely | | | | otherwise like, ask yourself if that |
| new bit of terminology and is unique to | | | | negative is meaningful to your needs. |
| the digital camera. The mega pixel | | | | Next ask yourself if that negative might |
| rating is a measure of the resolution of | | | | be meaningful to your needs as you |
| the camera, or its ability to store | | | | become more experienced. If the answer |
| details of am image. For example, a | | | | is yes, ask yourself if you would still |
| digital camera with a maximum resolution | | | | be using that camera as a more |
| of 1280 by 768 pixels (dots) comes out | | | | experienced photographer in the future |
| to a total of 983,040 pixels with which | | | | or would you perhaps sell it and buy an |
| to describe the digital image. As each | | | | entirely new digital camera? It's |
| mega pixel represents one million | | | | unlikely that the digital camera you buy |
| pixels, we can see this isn't even one | | | | today is going to be the only one you'll |
| mega pixel. Some digital cameras have | | | | ever have. Buy the digital camera that |
| mega pixel ratings at 5.1 and even 7.1 | | | | most reasonably meets your needs and how |
| mega pixels. What does this mean to you? | | | | you normally plan to take pictures. |
| The more pixels the more detail stored. | | | | Memory cards and battery life are also |
| If the image is going to be viewed on a | | | | consideration factors which will be |
| screen or a TV, this isn't very | | | | covered in other articles. For now, I |
| meaningful because video displays have | | | | hope this information has taught you |
| resolutions which are usually well below | | | | more about the workings of a digital |
| one mega pixel. However, when printing | | | | camera and some of the factors to |
| on a high quality photo printer, the | | | | consider when choosing one. Take your |
| difference between a 3 mega pixel | | | | time and learn a bit about digital |
| digital camera and a 5 mega pixel | | | | cameras before your purchase. Sure, it's |
| digital camera can be very obvious. | | | | not like buying a car, but photography |
| Some people will try to evaluate a mega | | | | is a very personal experience and the |
| pixel rating by how large a print can be | | | | right digital camera will truly make a |
| made from the digital camera's image. | | | | difference in your enjoyment of |
| The truth is that any digital image can | | | | capturing the moment with digital |
| be printed to any size. The real issue | | | | photography. |