All about Digital Cameras

By John Q. Harris

The instant results seen with a digital camera has revitalized the whole photographic industry. The lack of mechanical parts has meant that the size of these cameras is only dictated by the size of battery needed to power them. Many types of electronic equipment can now read the images on the storage cards used to capture the pictures. This computer language is called pixels, tiny colored dots represented by ones and zeros that make up the picture that you just captured.

Many similarities exist between the two types of camera because lenses are still required to capture light just the same as a film version. Using an electronic system, a lower specification digital camera does away with film although it is still capturing the light as with a traditional camera. Images seen on good and more expensive models are captured using an alternative method of a charged coupled device commonly known as a CCD which you may have heard of. Some people believe the device used to capture an image in cheaper cameras the CMOS will eventually be the replacement for the better CCD but this is highly doubtful.

The CMOS device is this reason that many models have come down in price so much as they are easier and cheaper to produce than their CCD cousins. Whilst both the CMOS and CCD systems both capture an image using millions of solar cells to make up the whole picture, they perform this in slightly different ways Information to help you choose a suitable model of camera is mention in this review. Image quality is the all important factor and the higher the resolution the more you will be able to enlarge your picture; they can also provide prints that are larger without any degradation

Where you have a choice, optical zooms on digital cameras are better than digital ones - always; perhaps you can remember how grainy and blurred images become when you used your camcorder's digital zoom function? Today's nickel metal hydride rechargeable batteries are very powerful and last for around a 1,000 charges so always use these if you want to save money. Although most are supplied with a number of photo functions, try for as many as you can because you will appreciate the effects that can be achieved; just a few examples of functions to look for are shown here:

* Video capture * Time lapse (i.e. one shot every 5 minutes for example) * Self-timer

High resolution cameras require more space to store images so you will probably need an additional storage card. Although larger storage cards have plummeted in price, a 1GB card should be enough for most peoples needs; some cameras won't accept very high capacity cards anyway.

If your camera is going accompany you wherever you go, then you will need to consider its size. Professional photographers may need heavy, bulky equipment but there is no requirement for a keen amateur to do so! Hopefully, these few tips will be enough to steer you in the right direction when you come to buy your camera. The future of photography has moved on and digital cameras are that future with almost everyone carrying around one type or another every day.