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