What to look when buying digital camera
If you are thinking of abandon old school film camera and want to find a digital camera or your present digital camera is not doing its best. Here are some simple tips for beginners.
The first thing is of course the pixels. Pixels are the number of dots of colours on your photo, the higher it is the higher the resolution. Most of the digital camera this day has pixels in term of mega or one million. If you have use one digital camera before I am sure you have heard someone asking how much is your camera pixels. If you are those who is just want to take a normal photo without enlarging it 2 megapixels and higher is good. If you want to enlarge the photo in the size of A4 you have to buy a digital camera with at least 3 megapixels. If you want a bigger size of photo you have to buy digital camera with at least 5 megapixels. Sometimes you seen a word call interpolation. It written 3 megapixels and 6 megapixels by interpolation. Interpolation is a method of increasing the number of pixel artificially. The quality is not best but enough for you to get a good photo. That technology are one of those used in CSI as seen in the movie. Interpolation has its limit so it depends on how the developers improve it. Different companies have different technology and you have to be an expert to know which one works the best but for most of us we just have to listen to what it claims.
Secondly, is the optical zoom of the digital camera. Most basic digital cameras have no optical zoom but they have a digital zoom. The difference between an optical zoom and digital zoom is the resolution or the quality. Optical zoom does not enlarge the photo but it makes lights from distant object to be concentrated or absorbing more light from the object. This makes the object can be seen in detail. Digital camera enlarge the photo and it seems like it was zoomed but it is not. The object you zoom with digital zoom can be seen large but not as detailed. Typical optical zoom for a digital camera is 3x while digital zoom is 2x and 4x when playback. For beginner optical zoom of 3x is good but if you want to do more then you may consider optical zoom of 8x and higher. No matter how high the digital zoom is, it cannot be compared to optical zoom.
Next is the type of battery that the digital camera uses. The most popular battery used in camera is AA type battery. But for heavy use of digital camera you need to use alkaline batteries. Some digital cameras would not work using carbon-zinc battery or the normal battery that you bought for $1 or RM1-4 such as Everyready Heavy Duty. The most popular brand of alkaline disposable battery are the Energizer and Duracell. If you want to use rechargeable battery, the build in lithium-ion battery is a popular choice or you can use rechargeable AA alkaline battery NiMH/NiCd but I will encourage the use of NiMH because it provides higher mAh. mAh of 1800 is the least and you will need higher mAh to provide longer use of digital camera.
The features of the digital camera are also important. The most crucial feature is the night scene mode. You will need that when shooting photo in dark places. Besides if the digital camera has manual shutter, exposure and aperture option I will encourage you to buy that camera as well. Manual shutter, exposure and aperture replace the roles of all the feature such as sports, slow and night scene. Learn how to use the manual shutter, exposure and aperture enable you to take brilliant photo. Build in flash are also important but you cannot determine how flash would work in different condition. Choose digital camera which has an optional external flash socket on it if you can. If you can't it is ok.
The types of memory storage is quite important. The most convenient type of memory storage is the sd or mmc cards. But sometimes different companies uses different type of memory storage for example most of Canon's digital camera uses CF card. There are companies which uses its own memory storage such as Sony's digital camera which uses memory stick. The memory size of the card must at least 256mb or common use and at least 1gb for heavy use.
Design and size are also important when choosing a digital camera. If you want a digital camera which can be fitted in your pocket you have to choose a compact digital camera. If you do not mind about the bulky lens and size of the camera you can choose the SLR type of digital camera. SLR has no movable part as in the compact digital camera which has a movable lens. The easies way to choose whether a design is good or not is to hold it your self if you are comfortable holding it then the design is ok if you feel heavy and tired while holding the camera then it does not suit you.
Other special features are not important as it depends on each individual needs. For example Nikon's digital cameras come with a wifi connection which is benificial for website or administration relating personels. Feature such as remote controlled shutter is good for night shooting.
Accessories is an option external tools. The most important accessory is the tripod. Tripod is used when you want to shoot night scene, panorama, scenery, and self timer. Secondly, straps and bags are also important because you don't want to loose or drop you camera.
If you are thinking of abandon old school film camera and want to find a digital camera or your present digital camera is not doing its best. Here are some simple tips for beginners.
The first thing is of course the pixels. Pixels are the number of dots of colours on your photo, the higher it is the higher the resolution. Most of the digital camera this day has pixels in term of mega or one million. If you have use one digital camera before I am sure you have heard someone asking how much is your camera pixels. If you are those who is just want to take a normal photo without enlarging it 2 megapixels and higher is good. If you want to enlarge the photo in the size of A4 you have to buy a digital camera with at least 3 megapixels. If you want a bigger size of photo you have to buy digital camera with at least 5 megapixels. Sometimes you seen a word call interpolation. It written 3 megapixels and 6 megapixels by interpolation. Interpolation is a method of increasing the number of pixel artificially. The quality is not best but enough for you to get a good photo. That technology are one of those used in CSI as seen in the movie. Interpolation has its limit so it depends on how the developers improve it. Different companies have different technology and you have to be an expert to know which one works the best but for most of us we just have to listen to what it claims.
Secondly, is the optical zoom of the digital camera. Most basic digital cameras have no optical zoom but they have a digital zoom. The difference between an optical zoom and digital zoom is the resolution or the quality. Optical zoom does not enlarge the photo but it makes lights from distant object to be concentrated or absorbing more light from the object. This makes the object can be seen in detail. Digital camera enlarge the photo and it seems like it was zoomed but it is not. The object you zoom with digital zoom can be seen large but not as detailed. Typical optical zoom for a digital camera is 3x while digital zoom is 2x and 4x when playback. For beginner optical zoom of 3x is good but if you want to do more then you may consider optical zoom of 8x and higher. No matter how high the digital zoom is, it cannot be compared to optical zoom.
Next is the type of battery that the digital camera uses. The most popular battery used in camera is AA type battery. But for heavy use of digital camera you need to use alkaline batteries. Some digital cameras would not work using carbon-zinc battery or the normal battery that you bought for $1 or RM1-4 such as Everyready Heavy Duty. The most popular brand of alkaline disposable battery are the Energizer and Duracell. If you want to use rechargeable battery, the build in lithium-ion battery is a popular choice or you can use rechargeable AA alkaline battery NiMH/NiCd but I will encourage the use of NiMH because it provides higher mAh. mAh of 1800 is the least and you will need higher mAh to provide longer use of digital camera.
The features of the digital camera are also important. The most crucial feature is the night scene mode. You will need that when shooting photo in dark places. Besides if the digital camera has manual shutter, exposure and aperture option I will encourage you to buy that camera as well. Manual shutter, exposure and aperture replace the roles of all the feature such as sports, slow and night scene. Learn how to use the manual shutter, exposure and aperture enable you to take brilliant photo. Build in flash are also important but you cannot determine how flash would work in different condition. Choose digital camera which has an optional external flash socket on it if you can. If you can't it is ok.
The types of memory storage is quite important. The most convenient type of memory storage is the sd or mmc cards. But sometimes different companies uses different type of memory storage for example most of Canon's digital camera uses CF card. There are companies which uses its own memory storage such as Sony's digital camera which uses memory stick. The memory size of the card must at least 256mb or common use and at least 1gb for heavy use.
Design and size are also important when choosing a digital camera. If you want a digital camera which can be fitted in your pocket you have to choose a compact digital camera. If you do not mind about the bulky lens and size of the camera you can choose the SLR type of digital camera. SLR has no movable part as in the compact digital camera which has a movable lens. The easies way to choose whether a design is good or not is to hold it your self if you are comfortable holding it then the design is ok if you feel heavy and tired while holding the camera then it does not suit you.
Other special features are not important as it depends on each individual needs. For example Nikon's digital cameras come with a wifi connection which is benificial for website or administration relating personels. Feature such as remote controlled shutter is good for night shooting.
Accessories is an option external tools. The most important accessory is the tripod. Tripod is used when you want to shoot night scene, panorama, scenery, and self timer. Secondly, straps and bags are also important because you don't want to loose or drop you camera.
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