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In the past few years, digital cameras have taken the world of photography by storm. A large number of people these days have computers in their homes, and after digital cameras were invented it was only a matter of time before everyone started realizing how much easier it was to have cameras that uploaded pictures directly to their computers and let them print them out themselves. This made taking and developing pictures a lot more convenient than having to take your roll of film to the developers when it was used up and then waiting for them to develop it for you. How many times have you taken a roll of film, only to let that roll sit in a drawer for months or even years before you finally remembered to take it to the developer? With a digital camera, this never happens.
Digital cameras do not use film. When you take a picture with this type of camera, the image is saved in digital format and stored as a file in the camera’s memory. Digital cameras come with software that you install in your computer that works directly with the camera. When you are done taking your pictures, you plug the camera into the computer using cables that are supplied with the camera, and the software uploads the pictures from your camera into a folder in your computer. You can then send these pictures through email, upload them to a website, put them on disc for viewing on a DVD player, or you can print them using your printer. Digital cameras are one of the hottest products going right now, but for many people, the daunting array of specifications and options are overwhelming. Here is an idea: keep it simple! Most people worked this out in the old days of film cameras, but with the sudden onslaught of digital cameras, with new terms and features to learn about, some have just opted to stick with film. But there is hope! While it is true there are all sorts of new terms and features one can deal with and benefit from, to take good digital photos you do not have be an electronics expert. A few basic bits of information about digital cameras will allow regular people to enjoy the benefits of digital cameras. Probably the most advertised feature is that mystical term “mega pixels”. Basically, this is a video term that describes how many pixels, or dots of color, can be squeezed into a given space. For example, a 6.0 mega pixel camera will cram six million pixels into a picture. Where this comes into play is how large of a print you can make without losing clarity. While this is one of those hotly debated topics, suffice it to say that if you plan on taking regular sized photographs, a digital camera with a mega pixel rating of 3.0 to 6.0 will be quite sufficient. A second key will be the zoom factor. Digital cameras introduced the concept of digital zoom, which is essentially the computer zooming as opposed to a traditional camera lens physically zooming, called “optical zoom”. Many people prefer optical zoom instead of digital zoom, but not all cameras are equipped with optics that will zoom. This really becomes a matter of price point, because optical zoom lenses are more expensive. Spend a little time researching your options, and consider your photography needs. You will quickly realize a digital camera is something you will enjoy, and grow with over time. |
