Today's digital cameras have come a long way from even a few years ago.
They offer more features and power than ever before--at prices that make
upgrading to a new model an attractive option. Here's everything you
need to know before you buy.
How much do I have to pay?
First
on most people's minds is cost. Digital sounds expensive, but it's not
anymore. There are cameras with terrific features available for as
little as $100--perfect starter cameras, or great for kids.
Of
course, you can spend more than that--as much as several thousand for
the most advanced digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras. However,
unless you are a professional who needs interchangeable lenses and
manual everything, you can get a great camera for between $150 and $400.
It all depends on what you want to do with your camera and your photos.
What is a megapixel and how many do I need?
Digital
photos are made up of pixels, which is computer-speak for "picture
element." Get a thousand of these little squares together and you have a
megapixel--MP for short. Every digital camera you consider will have a
number of megapixels associated with it, but higher isn't necessarily
better.
Megapixels affect the resolution of your digital
photos--that is, the potential clarity of the photos. If you choose a
camera with a high number, for instance, 10 MP, you'll get rich,
detailed photos, perfect for making large prints. Or you could crop your
picture and enlarge a section into its own photo without losing
clarity.
That sounds good, right? The downside is that the larger
the photo resolution, the more space it will take on a memory card, so
you won't be able to take as many photos unless you carry extra storage.
TIP:
If you don't need to make large prints, but do want to print standard
sizes like 4" x 6" or 5" x 7", or e-mail or post your photos online, a
camera with 5-6 megapixels will work well for you.
How much control will I have over camera settings?
The
short answer is, as much or as little as you want--often on the same
camera. Many digital cameras let you choose the level of control, from
fully automatic, where the camera makes all decisions, to the completely
manual, where you run the show.
In between those options are
helpful pre-set shooting modes. These make it easy to take clear, well
exposed pictures under a variety of settings--in bright sun, at night,
during a sporting event, at the theater. Another fun feature is the
ability to change pictures to black and white or sepia, adding
versatility. Beyond that, some cameras help you prevent red-eye and
other common problems.
TIP: Compare shooting modes and design
features when you shop. Look for common ones, like Landscape, Portrait,
and Action. Then see if there are others--Night or Snow mode, for
example.
If you want more control of your digital camera's
variables, you can have that too. In addition to the pre-sets, many
cameras, especially in the middle and upper end of the price range, let
you go manual, and set aperture, shutter speed and ISO yourself--or set
one manually and have the camera choose the best settings for the other
elements.
It's fun to play with these different options and see
how your pictures change. And one great thing about digital photos is
that, if your experiment isn't successful, you can delete the photo and
take another.
What is the difference between optical and digital zoom?
Optical
zoom is how far your camera's lens can physically extend from the
camera body (its focal length). It lets you get closer to your subject
without actually moving, and without your photo becoming blocky or
pixelated.
Digital zoom stretches your camera's pixels to make a
photo look bigger--similar to cropping a photo and enlarging it, but it
happens right in the camera.
Digital cameras will often show you a
combined optical and digital zoom. They get this by multiplying the two
numbers together. For example, a camera with 3x optical zoom and 8x
digital zoom will have a total zoom of 24x.
TIP: Pay most attention to the optical zoom, as it will result in clearer close up photos.
What about the camera size--is heavier better?
Digital
cameras are built to endure plenty, so choose the style that suits your
needs. A slim, small model is handy because it fits easily into a purse
or pocket, making it a no-brainer to take along on family excursions or
trips.
Slightly larger models offer some helpful features, too,
like a bigger LCD screen for taking and viewing photos, and often more
manual control.
Go a little bigger still, and your digital camera
may also have a more powerful zoom lens, helpful for getting shots at
the soccer match, or architectural details of the castle you saw on your
trip to Italy.
What other equipment will I need?
Batteries:
Some digital cameras use AA batteries that you replace more or less
frequently depending on how many photos you take and the resolution of
each picture. However, digital camera features like the LCD screen and
auto-focus draw lots of power, meaning batteries get depleted quickly.
Rechargeable batteries are an alternative option.
Rechargeable
batteries use one of two different technologies: Nickel Metal Hydride
(NiMH) or Lithium ion (Li-ion). NiMH batteries come in standard sizes
and can be recharged multiple times before they need replacing. Many
newer cameras are equipped with Li-ion battery packs. These have the
advantage that they both hold more energy and be used and recharged more
often than other batteries. Check your camera's manual to determine
which type is compatible.
Memory cards: Your digital camera
stores images on memory cards, and there are many options for these.
It's a good idea to have several available--especially on vacation or at
a special event like a wedding where you'll be taking lots of photos.
Get a larger card--think 1 GB or more--to make sure you'll have lots of
memory.
Dock: If your camera has rechargeable batteries, consider
buying a docking station. It gives you a safe, secure way to charge
your camera, and an easy way to connect it to your computer when you
want to upload photos.
Carrying case: In addition to protecting
your camera, a carrying case also lets you keep extra batteries and
memory cards in one convenient place.
olympus sz 10 14 mp digital camera with 28mm wide angle 18x optical zoom and 3 lcd silver, panasonic
lumix dmc g3 16 mp micro four thirds interchangeable lens camera with 3
inch free angle touch screen lcd and 14 42mm lumix g vario f3 5 5 6
lens, panasonic lumix dmc fz200 12 1 mp digital camera with cmos sensor and 24x optical zoom black, nikon 35mm f1 8g af s dx lens for nikon digital slr cameras, flip ultrahd video camera black 8 gb 2 hours 2nd generation, leica
d lux5 10 1 mp compact digital camera with super fast f2 0 lens 3 8x
zoom lens 3 lcd display o i s image stabilization black, canon
powershot a4000is 16 0 mp digital camera with 8x optical image
stabilized zoom 28mm wide angle lens with 720p hd video recording and 3 0
inch lcd blue, canon eos rebel t3 slr digital camera w 18 55mm 75 300mm ultimate rebel experience, nikon 24 70mm f2 8g ed af s nikkor wide angle zoom lens, veho vcc 005 muvi hd10 muvi hd 1080p mini handsfree camcorder with remote control and wide angle lens 4gb memory card, olympus
stylus tough 8010 watershockproof blue digital camera 14mp 28mm 5x zoom
2 7 lcd screen 2gb internal memory tap control hd video and more kit
includes 16gb memory card reader batter, canon
powershot elph 520 hs 10 1 mp cmos digital camera with 12x optical
image stabilized zoom 28mm wide angle lens and 1080p full hd video
recording bllue, nikon d3200 24 2 mp cmos digital slr with 18 55mm f3 5 5 6 af s dx vr nikkor zoom lens red, canon ef 70 200mm f2 8l is ii usm telephoto zoom lens for canon slr cameras, drift hd full 1080p high definition helmet action camera kit, canon powershot d10 12 1 mp waterproof digital camera with 3x optical image stabilized zoom and 2 5 inch lcd, panasonic dmc fz150k 12 1 mp digital camera with cmos sensor and 24x optical zoom black, nikon coolpix aw100 16 mp cmos waterproof digital camera with gps and full hd 1080p video blue, canon ef 50mm f1 4 usm standard medium telephoto lens for canon slr cameras, nikon 18 200mm f3 5 5 6 g ed if af s vr dx zoom nikkor lens, sony nex f3kb 16 1 mp compact system camera with 18 55mm lens black, nikon coolpix l120 14 1 mp digital camera with 21x nikkor wide angle optical zoom lens and 3 inch lcd black, canon
powershot elph 110 hs 16 1 mp cmos digital camera with 5x optical image
stabilized zoom 24mm wide angle lens and 1080p full hd video recording
silver, canon ef s 55 250mm f4 0 5 6 is ii telephoto zoom lens for canon digital slr cameras, olympus 40 150mm f4 0 5 6 ed zuiko digital lens for olympus digital slr cameras, nikon 1 j1 10 1 mp hd digital camera system with 10 30mm vr and 30 110mm vr 1 nikkor lenses white, panasonic
lumix dmc gh2 16 05 mp live mos interchangeable lens camera with 3 inch
free angle touch screen lcd and 14 42mm hybrid lens black, panasonic lumix ts4 12 1 tough waterproof digital camera with 4 6x optical zoom orange, flip ultrahd video camera white 8 gb 2 hours 3rd generation, sigma 15mm f2 8 ex dg diagonal fisheye lens for canon slr cameras, panasonic lumix sz1 16 1 mp digital camera with 10x optical zoom silver, canon powershot sx150 is 14 1 mp digital camera with 12x wide angle optical image stabilized zoom with 3 0 inch lcd black, nikon coolpix p510 16 1 mp cmos digital camera with 42x zoom nikkor ed glass lens and gps record location red, contour plus camera, canon ef 70 300mm f4 5 5 6 do is usm lens for canon eos cameras, canon
powershot a3400 is 16 0 mp digital camera with 5x optical image
stabilized zoom 28mm wide angle lens with 720p hd video recording and 3 0
inch touch panel lcd black, panasonic lumix zs20 14 1 high sensitivity mos digtial camera with 20x optical zoom red dmc zs20r, panasonic lumix sz7 14 1 mp high sensitivity mos digital camera with 10x optical zoom black, flip slidehd video camera white 16 gb 4 hours, olympus
m ed 9 18mm f4 0 5 6 micro four thirds lens for olympus and panasonic
micro four third interchangeable lens digital camera, olympus tg 820 12mp shockwaterfreeze proof camera red v104060ru000
No comments:
Post a Comment