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