Digital Camera will be a big thing when travel. Before you hit the road, here are some tips to make sure you can capture all or almost all your exciting moment.
#1 The first and the very-very-very important tip, Don’t Forget Your Camera,(I know, it sounds silly). Pack all the equipments, lenses, memory card, batteries and all other stuff and put them in your car. Many has bad experienced when forget to bring their smart, expensive, great camera when travelling, and end up with photos from disposable camera.
#2 Storage! Extra Storage! Extra extra storage. Clear your memory cards, upload all the photos in your memory card to your computer before go. If it is your first time travelling with your digital camera, never think 500 photos will be enough. You will need more than that, thus extra memory will do. Other tips: Bring your laptop, external hardisk, or get accounts at virtual space, i suggest http://www.flickr.com.
#3 Energy, battery. Get your battery fully charged. if can, get extra battery. Make sure you bring charger. Travel charger is the best because it will charge your battery faster and it is can use universal volt range it is useful when travelling across country. Buy universal electric adapter because you will see different plug in different country.
#4 Candid. Not all the pictures have to be posed. Candid shots of people in action make much better photos. You are capturing whot they are at that moment, their real personality. Years from now you can look back at the photos and see how they’ve changed.
#5 Practice how to take panorama. When you travel, you will see many great panorama such as sunset and sunrise. You will find useful technique here http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-photograph-sunrises-and-sunsets/.
It is better to have tripod, small tripod will do for travel when shooting panorama.
- a great technique to take a big picture http://hacks.oreilly.com/pub/h/1807.
#6 Detail. Shoot thing in detail or closer shot. Some things need closer shot such as craft stone, small insect, flowers. It will make your photo look more interesting. But be carefull when try to capture dangerous creature such as snake and scorpion.
#7 Take a lot of pictures! One of the great things about digital cameras is that you can see the photos you take and delete them if you don’t like them. People often set up an entire shot of the family, and then shoot one picture. How many times have you later realized someone’s eyes were closed or someone’s face was turned to the side? Don’t be stingy. Shoot several pictures and you have a better chance of getting a good image.
http://www.camera2photo.com/2006/08/02/7-top-tips-when-travel-with-your-digital-camera/
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Still digital camera image stabilizers - keep your images sharp
Taking stable and sharp photos is hard in some situations. For example when taking a photo using high zoom lenses even the tiniest camera movement will result in a blurry photo. The reason for that blurriness is that while the shutter is open and the photo is being captured the camera moves and the image on the sensor also moves losing its sharpness. Image stabilizers help in solving the problem, here is how.The best solution for camera movements is of course to eliminate the movements. Sometimes this can be accomplished by using a tripod or placing the camera on a stable surface when taking the photo. However in many situation it is impossible to completely stabilize the camera - for example when taking photos of fast objects in high zoom.
When movement elimination is not possible other solutions can be used that instead of preventing the movement compensate for it and prevent its symptom: blurry photos. Such solutions are also known as Image Stabilizers.
There are many different implementations of image stabilizers and many manufacturers keep their implementation details secret to prevent competitors from copying it. An image stabilizer implementation can be divided to two: detecting the movement and compensating for it. Detection is the mechanism that detects that the camera moved while shooting a photo. Compensation is the mechanism that for detected movements compensates to prevent the movement symptoms.
There are two common ways to implement image stabilizers (sometimes known as mechanical image stabilizers for the implementation mechanical feature): a floating lens element or a moving sensor.
Floating lens element: An element is added in the lenses usually in the form of a compensating lens. This element is “floating” in the lenses and can move left, right, up and down. Gyroscopes are placed in the lenses - or micro gyroscopes or equivalent sensors. When the camera moves the gyroscopes detect the movement and send a signal to the floating lens to move in the right direction in order to compensate for the movement. Moving the lens corrects the angle in which the light hits the image sensor compensating for the movement.
Moving sensor: The sensor is a chip behind the lenses that converts the light reflected on it to digital pixels. When a movement is detected the sensor is slightly moved in the opposite direction to compensate for it. Gyroscopes or equivalent sensors could be used to detect movements though many stabilizers use a DSP processor that analyzes the image on the sensor in real time to detect movements eliminating the need of another mechanical part
The advantages of such stabilizers are: getting sharper photos while practically eliminating blurriness in most common scenarios. Sensor based detectors work very well in low light scenarios since they detect actual physical movement while DSP processors based detection is less effective in low light scenarios and more prone to errors. The disadvantages are: added cost, weight and size to the camera as a result of the mechanical mechanism.
http://www.camera2photo.com/2006/09/03/still-digital-camera-image-stabilizers-keep-your-images-sharp/
When movement elimination is not possible other solutions can be used that instead of preventing the movement compensate for it and prevent its symptom: blurry photos. Such solutions are also known as Image Stabilizers.
There are many different implementations of image stabilizers and many manufacturers keep their implementation details secret to prevent competitors from copying it. An image stabilizer implementation can be divided to two: detecting the movement and compensating for it. Detection is the mechanism that detects that the camera moved while shooting a photo. Compensation is the mechanism that for detected movements compensates to prevent the movement symptoms.
There are two common ways to implement image stabilizers (sometimes known as mechanical image stabilizers for the implementation mechanical feature): a floating lens element or a moving sensor.
Floating lens element: An element is added in the lenses usually in the form of a compensating lens. This element is “floating” in the lenses and can move left, right, up and down. Gyroscopes are placed in the lenses - or micro gyroscopes or equivalent sensors. When the camera moves the gyroscopes detect the movement and send a signal to the floating lens to move in the right direction in order to compensate for the movement. Moving the lens corrects the angle in which the light hits the image sensor compensating for the movement.
Moving sensor: The sensor is a chip behind the lenses that converts the light reflected on it to digital pixels. When a movement is detected the sensor is slightly moved in the opposite direction to compensate for it. Gyroscopes or equivalent sensors could be used to detect movements though many stabilizers use a DSP processor that analyzes the image on the sensor in real time to detect movements eliminating the need of another mechanical part
The advantages of such stabilizers are: getting sharper photos while practically eliminating blurriness in most common scenarios. Sensor based detectors work very well in low light scenarios since they detect actual physical movement while DSP processors based detection is less effective in low light scenarios and more prone to errors. The disadvantages are: added cost, weight and size to the camera as a result of the mechanical mechanism.
http://www.camera2photo.com/2006/09/03/still-digital-camera-image-stabilizers-keep-your-images-sharp/
10 Ways to Make Your Digital Photos Last Forever
Photographs taken with film fade with age, and even negatives yellow and become brittle. Digital photos, on the other hand, retain the same brilliant color and clarity every time you pull them up on the computer screen—until your hard disk crashes and you instantly lose every photo you’ve ever taken.Yes, digital photography has its share of disasters, and that leads some people to distrust it, or even to claim that film lasts longer than digital. But the good news is that your digital pictures can last forever if you take good care of them. Here are 10 rules to follow to make sure you don’t lose pictures to a digital catastrophe:
1. Use a quality memory card.
Start with the “film” your pictures are stored on: the memory card. While the cheap memory cards offer a huge capacity for a small price, it’s best to pay a bit more and get a quality card. A card from a good manufacturer will have less risk of data corruption or other failures. Sandisk, Lexar, and Kingston are good choices.
* Tip: Buy two smaller cards instead of one larger one: for example, two 1GB cards instead of one 2GB card. This will often save you money, and you’ll also have a hedge against data loss—one corrupt card will only affect half of your photos.
2. Get those photos off that memory card.
You might have a huge memory card in your camera that can store thousands of photos, but you should still consider the memory card temporary storage—a memory card can fail, or can be lost or stolen with the camera. Whenever you finish taking a batch of pictures or return from a trip, use a card reader or USB cable to transfer the pictures to the computer.
3. Don’t delete photos in the camera.
Your camera probably has a convenient “Delete” or “Trash” button. I suggest you never use it. There are three reasons for this:
* You avoid accidentally deleting the wrong picture, or accidentally using the “delete all” option.
* I find it helpful to keep all of my photos, since even the “mistakes” could turn out to be the only photo of something important, or a “happy accident” that is good in its own way.
* Can you really determine which photos are good or bad by looking at your camera’s tiny screen? It’s much better to transfer them all to the computer, then decide what to keep.
4. Don’t delete photos at all.
For that matter, why delete photos at all? I keep every photo I take with my digital cameras: the great shots, the out-of-focus shots, the mistakes, the duplicates, everything. Even the bad ones are useful years later for documenting my vacations and remembering what I saw, for seeing how my photographic technique has improved, or for seeing whether a camera is working as well as it used to. This also ensures that I never delete the wrong photo. If there’s a gap in the numbering on my original photo files, I know something’s missing.
If you don’t have room for all of your photos on your hard drive, remember that hard drives are cheap. You can also archive the old ones to CD or DVD media.
5. Keep a Backup. Or two.
Did I mention that hard drives are cheap? I recommend keeping two copies of all of your original photos at all times. I have a daily backup script that copies the new files to an external drive. Be sure to use a separate drive or another computer as your backup, to avoid losing photos in a drive crash.
If you want to guarantee you won’t lose photos, you should also have an off-site backup—use an online backup service, upload them to a server, or just drop off a few DVD-ROMs at a friend’s house. That way your photos are protected even if you have a house fire or other disaster.
6. Use generic photo formats.
Most cameras store images in the standard JPEG format, which should be easily readable for many years. However, higher-end cameras usually have a RAW format option. While raw images are great for post-processing and often beat JPEG in quality, keep in mind that all raw formats are proprietary, and you may have trouble opening these files 10 years from now. It’s best to save a standard JPEG or TIFF version of each photo, even if you use RAW. Some cameras can save a JPEG file along with the RAW file, giving you the best of both worlds.
* Tip: If you are serious about your photography and insist on using RAW format, keep a backup copy of the software you use to process the files. You might need to install it on an antique PC 10 years from now to access an old photo.
7. Don’t edit original photos.
If you use a photo, you’ll often resize, crop, or otherwise process it. This is fine, but the first thing you should do when editing a photo is save it to a new file. Keep the original, unprocessed, full-resolution file along with your edited version. This will make it easier to use the photo for a different purpose later, and it also avoids the costly mistake of overwriting a photo with a messed-up version. Back up the edited version too.
* Tip: Unless you’re very careful and use special software, overwriting a photo will erase the EXIF data that the camera stored with the photo. This is your record of the date and time the picture was taken and the camera settings used.
8. Don’t trust someone else with your photos.
Online photo sharing sites like Flickr are great for sharing photos, but avoid the temptation to use them for storing photos. Don’t trust an online service with the only copy of your photos, or even the backup copy.
Online services might go out of business, and they don’t guarantee that your data will be safe—especially if you forget to pay the bill. They also almost always process the photo (resizing, etc.) when you upload it. Use these services to share pictures, but don’t expect them to last forever there.
9. Test and maintain your backup files.
A backup copy is no good if it doesn’t work, or if you lose access to it. Here are a few tips for making sure your backups will back you up:
* Take a look at your backup files regularly, and make sure you can load a few photos.
* If you back up to a hard disk, check the disk for errors regularly.
* If you back up to CD-R or DVD-R, use quality backup media.
* Test CD or DVD backups every month or two.
* Once every year or two, copy CD or DVD backups to brand new discs. Media has a lifespan potentially as low as 5 years.
* If you get a new computer, be sure to move the photos from your old computer, and make sure you still have two copies.
* If CD or DVD formats are going away in favor of some kind of new Super Blue-HD discs, copy your files to the new media as soon as it’s practical.
10. Label, organize, and sort your photos.
If you follow the above rules for 20 years, you’ll end up with thousands of great photos—and now you have a different problem. Finding a few pictures of “that one time we went to Yellowstone” could be virtually impossible when you have thousands of photos stored in a disorganized mess of folders.
At the very least, do what I do: store each batch of photos in a separate folder with a descriptive name beginning with the date. Here are some examples:
* 2006-05-10 Yellowstone Park
* 2006-08-22 Testing new Camera
* 2006-09-01 Elvis sighting at Caesar’s Palace
* 2006-12-26 Opening Christmas presents
I avoid renaming the photo files, since I consider them my “negatives” and want a complete record of the pictures I’ve taken. Instead, I store them in folders like the above, then group those into larger folders for each year. This makes it easy to find particular photos, and the pictures are in convenient groups for archiving to DVD-ROMs every few months.
You may even want to move the best photos (or the ones you’ve chosen to print) into a separate folder within each folder, especially if you’re like me and you have more “misses” than “hits”.
If you want to go one step further, you can catalog your photos with a program like ACDSee, which lets you store a title, description, keywords, and rating for every photo. That would make it even easier to find what you’re looking for, if you can find the time to label and rate each picture.
http://www.camera2photo.com/2006/08/17/10-ways-to-make-your-digital-photos-last-forever/
1. Use a quality memory card.
Start with the “film” your pictures are stored on: the memory card. While the cheap memory cards offer a huge capacity for a small price, it’s best to pay a bit more and get a quality card. A card from a good manufacturer will have less risk of data corruption or other failures. Sandisk, Lexar, and Kingston are good choices.
* Tip: Buy two smaller cards instead of one larger one: for example, two 1GB cards instead of one 2GB card. This will often save you money, and you’ll also have a hedge against data loss—one corrupt card will only affect half of your photos.
2. Get those photos off that memory card.
You might have a huge memory card in your camera that can store thousands of photos, but you should still consider the memory card temporary storage—a memory card can fail, or can be lost or stolen with the camera. Whenever you finish taking a batch of pictures or return from a trip, use a card reader or USB cable to transfer the pictures to the computer.
3. Don’t delete photos in the camera.
Your camera probably has a convenient “Delete” or “Trash” button. I suggest you never use it. There are three reasons for this:
* You avoid accidentally deleting the wrong picture, or accidentally using the “delete all” option.
* I find it helpful to keep all of my photos, since even the “mistakes” could turn out to be the only photo of something important, or a “happy accident” that is good in its own way.
* Can you really determine which photos are good or bad by looking at your camera’s tiny screen? It’s much better to transfer them all to the computer, then decide what to keep.
4. Don’t delete photos at all.
For that matter, why delete photos at all? I keep every photo I take with my digital cameras: the great shots, the out-of-focus shots, the mistakes, the duplicates, everything. Even the bad ones are useful years later for documenting my vacations and remembering what I saw, for seeing how my photographic technique has improved, or for seeing whether a camera is working as well as it used to. This also ensures that I never delete the wrong photo. If there’s a gap in the numbering on my original photo files, I know something’s missing.
If you don’t have room for all of your photos on your hard drive, remember that hard drives are cheap. You can also archive the old ones to CD or DVD media.
5. Keep a Backup. Or two.
Did I mention that hard drives are cheap? I recommend keeping two copies of all of your original photos at all times. I have a daily backup script that copies the new files to an external drive. Be sure to use a separate drive or another computer as your backup, to avoid losing photos in a drive crash.
If you want to guarantee you won’t lose photos, you should also have an off-site backup—use an online backup service, upload them to a server, or just drop off a few DVD-ROMs at a friend’s house. That way your photos are protected even if you have a house fire or other disaster.
6. Use generic photo formats.
Most cameras store images in the standard JPEG format, which should be easily readable for many years. However, higher-end cameras usually have a RAW format option. While raw images are great for post-processing and often beat JPEG in quality, keep in mind that all raw formats are proprietary, and you may have trouble opening these files 10 years from now. It’s best to save a standard JPEG or TIFF version of each photo, even if you use RAW. Some cameras can save a JPEG file along with the RAW file, giving you the best of both worlds.
* Tip: If you are serious about your photography and insist on using RAW format, keep a backup copy of the software you use to process the files. You might need to install it on an antique PC 10 years from now to access an old photo.
7. Don’t edit original photos.
If you use a photo, you’ll often resize, crop, or otherwise process it. This is fine, but the first thing you should do when editing a photo is save it to a new file. Keep the original, unprocessed, full-resolution file along with your edited version. This will make it easier to use the photo for a different purpose later, and it also avoids the costly mistake of overwriting a photo with a messed-up version. Back up the edited version too.
* Tip: Unless you’re very careful and use special software, overwriting a photo will erase the EXIF data that the camera stored with the photo. This is your record of the date and time the picture was taken and the camera settings used.
8. Don’t trust someone else with your photos.
Online photo sharing sites like Flickr are great for sharing photos, but avoid the temptation to use them for storing photos. Don’t trust an online service with the only copy of your photos, or even the backup copy.
Online services might go out of business, and they don’t guarantee that your data will be safe—especially if you forget to pay the bill. They also almost always process the photo (resizing, etc.) when you upload it. Use these services to share pictures, but don’t expect them to last forever there.
9. Test and maintain your backup files.
A backup copy is no good if it doesn’t work, or if you lose access to it. Here are a few tips for making sure your backups will back you up:
* Take a look at your backup files regularly, and make sure you can load a few photos.
* If you back up to a hard disk, check the disk for errors regularly.
* If you back up to CD-R or DVD-R, use quality backup media.
* Test CD or DVD backups every month or two.
* Once every year or two, copy CD or DVD backups to brand new discs. Media has a lifespan potentially as low as 5 years.
* If you get a new computer, be sure to move the photos from your old computer, and make sure you still have two copies.
* If CD or DVD formats are going away in favor of some kind of new Super Blue-HD discs, copy your files to the new media as soon as it’s practical.
10. Label, organize, and sort your photos.
If you follow the above rules for 20 years, you’ll end up with thousands of great photos—and now you have a different problem. Finding a few pictures of “that one time we went to Yellowstone” could be virtually impossible when you have thousands of photos stored in a disorganized mess of folders.
At the very least, do what I do: store each batch of photos in a separate folder with a descriptive name beginning with the date. Here are some examples:
* 2006-05-10 Yellowstone Park
* 2006-08-22 Testing new Camera
* 2006-09-01 Elvis sighting at Caesar’s Palace
* 2006-12-26 Opening Christmas presents
I avoid renaming the photo files, since I consider them my “negatives” and want a complete record of the pictures I’ve taken. Instead, I store them in folders like the above, then group those into larger folders for each year. This makes it easy to find particular photos, and the pictures are in convenient groups for archiving to DVD-ROMs every few months.
You may even want to move the best photos (or the ones you’ve chosen to print) into a separate folder within each folder, especially if you’re like me and you have more “misses” than “hits”.
If you want to go one step further, you can catalog your photos with a program like ACDSee, which lets you store a title, description, keywords, and rating for every photo. That would make it even easier to find what you’re looking for, if you can find the time to label and rate each picture.
http://www.camera2photo.com/2006/08/17/10-ways-to-make-your-digital-photos-last-forever/
Expert Advice About Choosing Digital Camera
Do all digital cameras suffer from shutter lag?
It is true that digital cameras do suffer from shutter lag. Shutter lag is the time in between clicking the shutter button and the picture actually being taken. Once the button is pressed digital cameras get to work setting the focus, white balance and exposure time. They also need to charge up the CCD. The end result, a brief pause before the picture is taken can be very annoying and can prove to be the difference between a great picture and a missed opportunity. As with most things in the world of digital cameras shutter lag times are decreasing as the technology evolves. In fact in higher spec digital cameras shutter lag has almost been eliminated. It won’t be a problem with the majority of pictures that you take, but it is something to be aware of.
How can I tell which digital cameras allow playback through my television?
Not all digital cameras allow playback through your television. When you are reading specifications for digital cameras look out for ones that have “video out” under interfaces.
What is the best image manipulation software for images taken with digital cameras?
The market leader is Adobe Photoshop. This remarkable piece of software will let you do almost anything with an image. Before you rush off and buy Adobe Photoshop there are two things that you need to consider. First it is aimed at digital photographers who are looking for serious image manipulation. This gives Adobe Photoshop a fairly big learning curve and there are plenty of books and courses dedicated to helping you get the most from the package. Secondly it doesn’t come cheap. A guide price is £500-550.
There are a couple of very good alternatives to Adobe Photoshop for those of you who are looking for more general image manipulation. One is Adobe Photoshop’s little brother Adobe Photoshop Elements, priced at around £65-70. The other is Paint Shop Pro which you can pick up for under £40. I have used this package myself and it does everything that I’ve ever wanted to do with an image.
Cheaper still are products like Kai’s Photo Factory. You shouldn’t have to pay more than £15 and it gives you some useful image manipulation tools.
Digital cameras seem to have lots of features that I’ll never understand. They must be difficult to use.
It’s true that digital cameras, particularly at the higher end of the market do have some pretty amazing features. It is also true that these will really only be of use to serious photographers who want to experiment with their digital cameras and want to learn and use all that their camera has to offer. Even then digital cameras come with a fully automatic mode that will allow you to use it in a similar way to a traditional point and shoot camera. The important point to remember here is that feature rich digital cameras also cost a lot of money. If you are not planning to make use of all the available features then I would suggest that you buy a model with a smaller feature set and save yourself a loot of money. You will find that digital cameras that are more basic in the functionality that they offer are also more easy to use.
How much is a good printer to print photographs taken with digital cameras?
The most common type of printer for home use is the Inkjet. You can buy an inkjet that gives an acceptable level of print quality for under £100. In my view though, you have to pay around £300 if you are serious about printing at home.
Even then to get the best results you need to use coated photographic paper. This can prove to me quite expensive. Ink cartridges do not last long, especially if you are printing up to 8×11″. You need to factor additional cartridges and paper into your budget, because together they can increase the costs substantially. If you are not planning to print that many pictures then I would advise you to consider having your photographs printed by a professional printing services company. Otherwise it begins to get hard to justify paying out for the printer and consumables.
If you are more dedicated to your photography and are looking for a higher standard print than is available from the inkjet range, then you can buy a dye sublimation printer. These are a clear step up in terms of print quality, but there is also a clear step up to pay as well. A good quality dye sublimation printers could cost you around £300.
Printing has become a major growth area in digital photography and there are now plenty of professional services that you can select from at a very reasonable price. You can either drop into shops such as Boots or take advantage of online printing services. I have been very impressed by how easy it is to use the service and how little it costs.
I find all the different memory cards confusing. What’s the difference?
It is a fact that there are many different types of memory card around. Normally a digital camera is compatible with just one type of card. Sometimes a digital camera can use a variety of different types of cards. The important point is to make sure that the card you buy is the right type for your camera. If you are not sure make sure it is probably best to buy from your local camera shop where the staff should be able to help you.
The most common type of card is the SD (Secure Digital) card. Fuji and Olympus tend to use xD cards, while Sony use their own Memory Sticks. More advanced cameras still tend to use CompactFlash because of the high storage capacities available on a single card.
What size memory card should I buy?
It depends on the number of megapixels your digital camera has. If you have a digital camera less than five megapixels then you can get away with 64mb. Ideally you would go for a card with a higher capacity, but if your budget is restricted then a 64mb card will allow you to record around between 30 and 35 images. For a camera with five megapixels or more then I would suggest a minimum size of 128mb. This will allow you to save around 50 photos.
How many pixels do digital cameras need to produce good quality 6×4 prints?
It depends on just how pin sharp you want the image. Two megapixel digital cameras will produce very good 6×4 prints, but if you are looking for exceptional quality then you will be better off looking at 3 megapixel digital cameras. Likewise with 8×11 prints. Three megapixel digital cameras will produce very good prints, but if you are looking for exceptional quality then you need to step up to 4 megapixel digital cameras.
What are compression modes?
Digital cameras use different compression modes to store images. If you use high or fine or super fine etc. compression modes then the image produced will be much sharper. Pictures taken at a high resolution will also take up more room on the storage card. Therefore if you are using digital cameras with relatively small storage cards then they will soon become full if you are shooting at a high resolution.
Are digital cameras under £200 worth the money?
It all depends on what you are looking to get out of using digital cameras. Digital cameras have really come down in price and some of those available for under £200 are very good cameras indeed. In fact there are digital cameras on the market for under £100 that will do a very good job if you are looking for a camera that will take good quality snap shots and is easy to use.
Why are some memory cards cheaper than others?
Higher priced memory cards have a higher speed rating. This means that the picture is written to the card faster and the digital camera becomes ready to take the next shot quicker. This is really only an issue for anyone using digital cameras and wanting to shoot a number of pictures very quickly. It is also felt that the faster memory cards are of a little higher quality.
I have seen effective pixels referred to on specifications for digital cameras. What does this mean?
Not all the pixels that are on a digital camera’s CCD can be used when the photograph is taken. Some fall outside the range of the lens and some are painted black to help with colour balance. Therefore it is the number of effective pixels that people need to look out for when buying digital cameras.
I have a 35mm SLR camera. There seems far less choice with SLR digital cameras.
It’s true that SLR digital cameras are few and far between all though this too is changing. They are also expensive, but recent additions to the range have caused a real price breakthrough. There is no need to despair though as the group of digital cameras known as “Prosumer” carry the same advanced features as most 35mm SLR cameras. Check out this range of digital cameras before you buy.
What is Digital Zoom?
Digital zoom causes digital cameras to zoom in on the centre section of an image. The centre area will then look bigger, but the same number of pixels are used. This means that the quality of the image is reduced. If a zoom lens is important to you then make sure that you look out for digital cameras that come with an optical zoom. Digital cameras with optical zooms will produce images of a far higher quality.
Do all digital cameras offer a movie mode?
The vast majority of digital cameras come with a movie mode. It is normally only those at the very low end or very high end that may not. The reason why those at the high end do not have a movie mode is that they are aimed at professional or very serious amateur photographers and the view is that they will not be spending time shooting movies. Almost all cameras shoot colour movies with sound now.
As it stands more and more cameras are offering a movie mode with a resolution of 640×480 and a speed of 30 frames per second. These figures may not mean much to you, but this resolution and speed provide TV quality movies. An increasing number of cameras can also shoot movies that are only limited in duration by the capacity of the memory card and batteries. One more feature worth mentioning is cameras that let you zoom in on the action while you are shooting the movie.
Do you need a card reader to upload images from digital cameras?
You don’t necessarily need a card ready to upload images taken by digital cameras. Digital cameras come with a lead that will connect them to the PC and you can upload your pictures through that cable. Some people do experience difficulties from time to time uploading their images using this method. A card reader simplifies the process by creating another drive on your computer and from there it is relatively straight forward to transfer your images from the card to the PC.
Do all digital cameras use batteries very quickly?
It is certainly true that all digital cameras use batteries quickly. There is some good news though in that the latest digital cameras are a lot more efficient in the way that they use power and this means that batteries last a lot longer.
There are also one or two things that you can do to conserve the life of your batteries and get more out of them. The simplest way is to turn off the camera when it is not in use. I know that this sound obvious, but it can be tempting to leave digital cameras running so that you are always ready to take your next shot. Another tip is to turn the LCD screen off when it’s not in use. The LCD screen is a big power user and therefore can run your batteries down very quickly. From my own personal experience I am also well aware that overuse of movie mode on digital cameras can drain the life out of a battery quicker than anything.
More and more digital cameras will also take rechargeable batteries. Some come with rechargeable lithium ion batters and a charger. For those that take AA batteries you can pick up a set of rechargeable batteries and a charger to help keep down running costs.
Are there any cameras that save pictures on a floppy disk or CD?
Yes. Sony produce a range of digital cameras called Mavica. The Mavica digital cameras are divided into two sections, FD Mavicas and CD Mavicas. The FDs take floppy disks and not surprisingly the CD range uses CDs as storage.
What do digital cameras use a LCD screen for?
The LCD screen that is found on the back of digital cameras comes in very handy indeed. It has two functions. First it displays menu options. For example it controls the deletion of images that you don’t want to keep. It’s main function is that it allows you to see the picture that you are about to take before you take it and how it turned out afterwards. For me this is one of the biggest advantages digital cameras offer an inexperienced photographer. The ability to see exactly how you picture turned out immediately after taking it allows you to identify areas that you can improve on. It can also allow you a second chance with a photograph. If you take it and don’t like the look of it you can always delete the image and take the picture again.
Where is the best place to buy digital cameras?
You are certainly spoilt for choice when it comes to buying digital cameras. Just about every shop on the High Street or the Internet, plus just about every mail order company sells digital cameras. If you know very little about digital cameras then I would strongly advise you to research thoroughly. The Internet is obviously a great place to cover the research, but it may also be worth your while to buy a magazine or two. Shopping around on the Internet usually leads to the best deals on digital cameras and I would certainly advise anyone to take advantage of our digital cameras price comparison service to make sure that you save that bit more money when you buy.
I have heard that digital cameras use a CCD. What is it?
The CCD is the Charge Coupled Device. It is a light sensor that sits behind the lens in digital cameras. It records the image when you take a photograph. It is a grid made up of millions of tiny light sensors. The capacity of the CCD is measured in megapixels. The higher the number of megapixels the higher the resolution of the picture.
There are so many digital cameras. Which one is right for me?
This is the number one question that I receive about digital cameras and I am afraid that it is one that I cannot answer for you. I can try and help all I can. All the knowledge that I have about digital cameras is already on the site. The reason that I cannot answer the question for you is that whichever one of the wide range of digital cameras that you choose it ultimately has to be your decision. You will find a section of recommended digital cameras on the site and you will also find specifications, consumer reviews and price comparisons. Please use all of these facilities to help you sort through the wide range of digital cameras and find the one that is right for you.
Must I buy a digital camera if I want to have digital images.
No you could buy a digital scanner or when you have your photographs developed you can have them put on to a CD. This is certainly worth considering if you are happy with your equipment and have already invested heavily in it. Only you have either a scanned image on your computer or on a CD you have the same freedom to edit your images, use them on websites or send them by email that you would if you had taken them with a digital camera.
I have seen that some digital cameras have a burst mode. What is it?
Digital cameras with burst mode have the ability to take a number of pictures in quick succession. The number of frames that can be shot is denoted by frames per second and the number of seconds that the camera is able to operate for in this manner.
http://www.camera2photo.com/2006/09/27/expert-advice-about-choosing-digital-camera/
5 Ways to Get Cheaper Camera
1. Coupons and Discounts
There are numerous websites out there that are committed to keeping track of special coupons. On any given day you should be able to find at least one coupon or discount that can be used to purchase a digital camera. Observe the sites for a week or so to get an idea of the kind of deals and coupons that come about. When you notice one that applies to the digital camera you want (or a similar model), grab it !!!
2. Employee Discounts
You may be able to get the same discount that your company does if you work for a company that buys computers or electronic appliances on a regular basis. Talk or be friend to the person in charge of purchasing the company’s computers (usually purchasing officer) and ask if he or she can get some discount from the vendor.
3. Buy Online
“Buy Online Get 5% Discount”, we often see that message when visit some online store. But, very carefull, they do give you 5% off on other hand the handling and shipping fee is expensive. So, try find an online store with free shipping and give some discount for buying online. Many new online store give discount. (An attractive way to promote their site).
4. Close-out Sales, Liquidation
Keep your eyes peeled for close-out, fire, and liquidation sales. Camera technology is changing at a fast pace, many lines are discontinued to make room for newer inventory with the latest technology. Many of these close-out sales will offer great laptops at reduced prices.
5.Don’t Forget To Haggle
If you’re buying a camera from your local dealer, don’t always take the sticker price as gospel. Ask for a special deal, you may be pleasantly surprised at the savings. This works best with independent dealers who can offer you a special deal. If you’re a regular customer, the better the deal you should demand!
http://www.camera2photo.com/2006/09/23/5-ways-to-get-cheaper-camera/
25 things you must know before buying digital camera
As we all know, digital cameras have already replaced the old film-type cameras. After all, you can take as many shots as you want with a digicam and not worry about wasting film, you can print your own photos at home, and - more often than not - a digicam also doubles as a video camera and a portable USB flash drive, all in one package. Plus, digicams are very pretty.
However, with all the features that we want and all the convenience and hipness they promise, digicams are not cheap either. So if you're about to go out and pick yourself your own cam, you might first want to stop for a minute or two since there are certain things that you might want to know about before forking over your hard-earned cash.
Over at Camera2Photo.com, a guide of 25 essential tips have been compiled to help the casual (and maybe even the pro) photographer pick out the perfect digital camera. Tips that have been included range from how to gauge the price of your selection as compared to its features, warnings to not get wowed by the megapixels that a model supposedly sports, as well as why one should consider optical zoom over a camera's digital zoom capability.
This is one set of rules to follow since it may possibly save you or someone you know either lots of money or from the heartache that is caused by buyer's guilt. Check out the rules by checking out the link below.
Buying a digital camera to get started in the world of digital photography or to replace your old camera? Read tips on getting the best digital camera for your money.
#1: Set a Budget Before Buying
Budget yourself when purchasing a digital camera.
#2: Ignore Digital Zoom
When buying digital cameras, concentrate on optical zoom, not digital zoom.
#3: Two Considerations when Buying a New Camera
Consider these two items before buying a new digital camera.
#4: Small Doesn’t Mean Underpowered
Small digital cameras may be exactly what you need.
#5: Be Careful When Buying Package Deals
Digital camera package deals may be too good to be true - or a real bargain!
#6: Check What the Zoom Really Means
Advertised digital camera zoom levels may not just be optical zoom.
#7: Get a Camera with Magnified Photo Previews
Magnified photo previews can help determine the sharpness of a digital photo.
#8: Is There a Built-In Microphone?
A digital camera microphone can provide added benefits to your photo taking.
#9: Effective Pixels and Foveon X3
Sometimes advertised digital camera pixel counts can be deceiving.
#10: Don’t Expect a Camera to Come with Enough Media
Buying a digital camera? Be prepared to buy some extra media.
#11: What to Look for to Take Night Photography
Helpful features some digital cameras provide to take better night photos.
#12: Don’t Get Caught Up in Megapixels
Megapixels are not everything when it comes to buying a digital camera.
#13: Consider the Total Cost of Ownership
You won’t just be purchasing a digital camera - you may need to buy accessories.
#14: Be Careful with Very Cheap Prices
Beware of the digital camera ‘package deal’ sales technique.
#15: Pre-Programmed Scene Modes May Help
Scene modes make it easier to take digital camera photos in tough lighting conditions.
#16: Does Flash Come with an SLR?
Consider the total cost of ownership when purchasing a digital SLR.
#17: Uses for your Old Digital Camera
Don’t throw away your old digital camera - here are some ways to get some use out of it.
#18: How Much Optical Zoom is Needed?
Do you require a digital camera with 6x optical zoom, or is 2x or 3x enough?
#19: Where is the Tripod Socket?
Make sure when purchasing a digital camera that it fits well on a tripod.
#20: Use Comparative Shopping Search Engines
Looking for the absolute best prices for digital cameras or digital camera accessories? Search many online vendors at once.
#21: Digital Camera Reviews
Links to websites offering reviews of specific digital cameras
#22: More Megapixels Means Greater Cropping Ability
Higher-megapixel digital cameras let you crop more.
#23: More Control May Cost You
To set manual exposure, you might need a more-expensive camera.
#24: Consider a Weatherproof Camera
Some digital cameras are made to withstand moisture.
#25: Look for ISO 50 Support
Look for digital cameras with ISO 50 support for crisper, cleaner images.
http://camera2photo.com/2006/08/25/25-things-you-must-know-before-buying-digital-camera
However, with all the features that we want and all the convenience and hipness they promise, digicams are not cheap either. So if you're about to go out and pick yourself your own cam, you might first want to stop for a minute or two since there are certain things that you might want to know about before forking over your hard-earned cash.
Over at Camera2Photo.com, a guide of 25 essential tips have been compiled to help the casual (and maybe even the pro) photographer pick out the perfect digital camera. Tips that have been included range from how to gauge the price of your selection as compared to its features, warnings to not get wowed by the megapixels that a model supposedly sports, as well as why one should consider optical zoom over a camera's digital zoom capability.
This is one set of rules to follow since it may possibly save you or someone you know either lots of money or from the heartache that is caused by buyer's guilt. Check out the rules by checking out the link below.
Buying a digital camera to get started in the world of digital photography or to replace your old camera? Read tips on getting the best digital camera for your money.
#1: Set a Budget Before Buying
Budget yourself when purchasing a digital camera.
#2: Ignore Digital Zoom
When buying digital cameras, concentrate on optical zoom, not digital zoom.
#3: Two Considerations when Buying a New Camera
Consider these two items before buying a new digital camera.
#4: Small Doesn’t Mean Underpowered
Small digital cameras may be exactly what you need.
#5: Be Careful When Buying Package Deals
Digital camera package deals may be too good to be true - or a real bargain!
#6: Check What the Zoom Really Means
Advertised digital camera zoom levels may not just be optical zoom.
#7: Get a Camera with Magnified Photo Previews
Magnified photo previews can help determine the sharpness of a digital photo.
#8: Is There a Built-In Microphone?
A digital camera microphone can provide added benefits to your photo taking.
#9: Effective Pixels and Foveon X3
Sometimes advertised digital camera pixel counts can be deceiving.
#10: Don’t Expect a Camera to Come with Enough Media
Buying a digital camera? Be prepared to buy some extra media.
#11: What to Look for to Take Night Photography
Helpful features some digital cameras provide to take better night photos.
#12: Don’t Get Caught Up in Megapixels
Megapixels are not everything when it comes to buying a digital camera.
#13: Consider the Total Cost of Ownership
You won’t just be purchasing a digital camera - you may need to buy accessories.
#14: Be Careful with Very Cheap Prices
Beware of the digital camera ‘package deal’ sales technique.
#15: Pre-Programmed Scene Modes May Help
Scene modes make it easier to take digital camera photos in tough lighting conditions.
#16: Does Flash Come with an SLR?
Consider the total cost of ownership when purchasing a digital SLR.
#17: Uses for your Old Digital Camera
Don’t throw away your old digital camera - here are some ways to get some use out of it.
#18: How Much Optical Zoom is Needed?
Do you require a digital camera with 6x optical zoom, or is 2x or 3x enough?
#19: Where is the Tripod Socket?
Make sure when purchasing a digital camera that it fits well on a tripod.
#20: Use Comparative Shopping Search Engines
Looking for the absolute best prices for digital cameras or digital camera accessories? Search many online vendors at once.
#21: Digital Camera Reviews
Links to websites offering reviews of specific digital cameras
#22: More Megapixels Means Greater Cropping Ability
Higher-megapixel digital cameras let you crop more.
#23: More Control May Cost You
To set manual exposure, you might need a more-expensive camera.
#24: Consider a Weatherproof Camera
Some digital cameras are made to withstand moisture.
#25: Look for ISO 50 Support
Look for digital cameras with ISO 50 support for crisper, cleaner images.
http://camera2photo.com/2006/08/25/25-things-you-must-know-before-buying-digital-camera
Shopping Online For Digital Photography and Electronic Equipment
First: There are two ways these items enter the United States: (1) Each Manufacturer designates an official importer of their goods who then distributes them to the various merchants throughout the country. These goods carry the manufacture’s USA warranty. The company then has factory trained technicians located throughout the US who can repair your purchases if needed. (2) Goods are purchased in a country outside the US and then imported. These are called "Grey Market" goods. You save a little money by purchasing them, but not much. They do not carry the manufacture’s USA warranty. This is perfectly legal. However, in case repairs are needed, the manufacturer may refuse to repair the item or will charge more for the repairs, more than you saved by buying Grey Market. The item may need to be returned to Japan for repairs. The documentation may be in Japanese.
Buyer Beware: You have heard the saying, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is". When shopping online, if you find a price much lower than all of the others, Beware!!!!!
An example: I typed "Canon EOS 30D" in www.ask.com. "Ask.com" is like "Google" only better. Up came several options. One was at "Express Cameras", www.expresscameras.com. Their price for this camera was $599 when the next lowest price I could find was a little over $1000. This price raised a red flag for me. I watched the price for a couple of weeks and suddenly it was lowered to $549. Next I "asked" (googled) "Express Cameras". You can't believe the information I found there, ALL OF IT BAD, REALLY BAD. One site I found there was www.resellerratings.com. There were letters after letters telling of really awful experiences buyers had there. The following themes evolved as I read the letters:
(1)Bait and Switch. You order online. The next day you receive a call from them informing you that the item you ordered was Grey Market and out of stock. They don't expect to receive more for 3 or 4 months. However; here is the switch, they can let you have the item with manufactures USA warrantor for $900 ($200 less than they usually charge) with the Deluxe Accessory Package for $400, for a package price of $1300. They go on to list the items in the package, most of which are junk, and try to convince you that you really need them. They are really convincing so you relent. You must have really wanted the item because you ordered it online. Sucker. You should not have done it. You could have obtained the item from a reputable dealer for less money.
(2)An order is placed online. The next day they call you and try to sell you additional items which you don't want and don't need. Being savvy, you stand firm and the end result is that they agree to ship the item the next day for the advertised price. A week later it has not arrived. You call only to be informed that your order has been cancelled. Great news. They can't sell an item for less than they paid for it.
(3)They take your order and ship a different, much less expensive item. You call. They are, to say the least, not very cooperative. You are stuck with an item you would never have ordered.
The men, never women, manning the phones are very good at what they do. They will sell you the Brooklyn Bridge if you are not careful. You must be firm. Sometimes they will hang up on you. Most of the shady sites are located in NYC or in nearby New Jersey.
If you ever get caught in one of these scams, call and cancel your order and immediately call you credit card company and inform them not to accept any charges from this company.
Not to Worry: There are reputable dealers out there. Before you order for the first time from any merchant go to the site, www.resellerratings.com, click on "Store Ratings" and type in the name of the company. At this site you will probably only get negative comments. However, if there are many and they are really bad, you are probably better off not to order from them.
Another approach would be to go to the following sites and look for good prices. Then click on the ratings at the right to get information on the merchant. Only order from those with ratings of 4+. Check on shipping charges. Some charge much more than others. Some have free shipping.
Sites to check for best prices:
There are others.
Sites that I have ordered from and can recommend:
Buyer Beware: You have heard the saying, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is". When shopping online, if you find a price much lower than all of the others, Beware!!!!!
An example: I typed "Canon EOS 30D" in www.ask.com. "Ask.com" is like "Google" only better. Up came several options. One was at "Express Cameras", www.expresscameras.com. Their price for this camera was $599 when the next lowest price I could find was a little over $1000. This price raised a red flag for me. I watched the price for a couple of weeks and suddenly it was lowered to $549. Next I "asked" (googled) "Express Cameras". You can't believe the information I found there, ALL OF IT BAD, REALLY BAD. One site I found there was www.resellerratings.com. There were letters after letters telling of really awful experiences buyers had there. The following themes evolved as I read the letters:
(1)Bait and Switch. You order online. The next day you receive a call from them informing you that the item you ordered was Grey Market and out of stock. They don't expect to receive more for 3 or 4 months. However; here is the switch, they can let you have the item with manufactures USA warrantor for $900 ($200 less than they usually charge) with the Deluxe Accessory Package for $400, for a package price of $1300. They go on to list the items in the package, most of which are junk, and try to convince you that you really need them. They are really convincing so you relent. You must have really wanted the item because you ordered it online. Sucker. You should not have done it. You could have obtained the item from a reputable dealer for less money.
(2)An order is placed online. The next day they call you and try to sell you additional items which you don't want and don't need. Being savvy, you stand firm and the end result is that they agree to ship the item the next day for the advertised price. A week later it has not arrived. You call only to be informed that your order has been cancelled. Great news. They can't sell an item for less than they paid for it.
(3)They take your order and ship a different, much less expensive item. You call. They are, to say the least, not very cooperative. You are stuck with an item you would never have ordered.
The men, never women, manning the phones are very good at what they do. They will sell you the Brooklyn Bridge if you are not careful. You must be firm. Sometimes they will hang up on you. Most of the shady sites are located in NYC or in nearby New Jersey.
If you ever get caught in one of these scams, call and cancel your order and immediately call you credit card company and inform them not to accept any charges from this company.
Not to Worry: There are reputable dealers out there. Before you order for the first time from any merchant go to the site, www.resellerratings.com, click on "Store Ratings" and type in the name of the company. At this site you will probably only get negative comments. However, if there are many and they are really bad, you are probably better off not to order from them.
Another approach would be to go to the following sites and look for good prices. Then click on the ratings at the right to get information on the merchant. Only order from those with ratings of 4+. Check on shipping charges. Some charge much more than others. Some have free shipping.
Sites to check for best prices:
- shopper.cnet.com
- www.pricegrabber.com
- www.bizrate.com
There are others.
Sites that I have ordered from and can recommend:
- www.adorama.com
- www.bhphoto.com
- www.newegg.com
- www.itsupplies.com
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