10 tips for buying a digital camera

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Is pixel count all that important?

Traditional camera uses film to record images. But for digital camera, the film is replaced by a small sensor chip - either CCD (charged Coupled Device) or CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) - which stores the image into a digital format.

The CCD or CMOS sensor's surface is divided into tiny squares called pixels and each pixel records one segment of an image. The more pixels a sensor has, the more details it can record. While it's true that the number of pixels a CCD contains is an excellent measure of the details the digital camera can contain, this is not enough. Picture quality doesn't necessarily improve with another million pixels. Other features such as lens, colour filter used on the sensor and digital image processor also play an important role in determining picture quality.

To capture an image, lights first have to go through the lens (equivalent to human's eye) which are later gathered as electrical charges by the sensor (equivalent to human's retina). The sensor, by itself, is incapable of perceiving colours, so it obtains colour data via a colour filter arranged above individual pixels. Image data gathered by the sensor is converted into digital signals to be analysed and processed by the image processor (equivalent to human's brain) before recording the image onto a memory card. Each process is crucial in determining image quality.

So don't just be deceived by pixel count. Check for manufacturer's lens and CCD.

Eg: Olympus Mu 9000, SP-590 UZ etc

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How to take quality pictures from the digital camera?

Compose Your Picture Using The LCD First

Firstly, identify the subject that you are interested to emphasize. Next compose your picture using the LCD. Ensure that only the things you want viewer to see appear in the LCD screen. If you are taking a moving object, always leave enough space in front of the subject so that it appears to be moving into the picture. Now take the shot and you'll end up with your full image size "framed" the way you like it. If you are not happy with the composition, reshoot it.

Ensure that there is sufficient light in the background

Make sure that the automatic flash function is working when using a snap happy camera. If you are using a camera with creative controls, there are several ways to overcome the lighting conditions during your filming.

1) You could slot in different types of flashes according to the lighting conditions.
2) Adjust the aperture setting /speed to allow more/less light to enter the camera.
3) For night filming, you can adjust the ISO setting ranging from 100 to 400.
4) Use exposure compensation mode if there is a strong light coming from the back of the subject.

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How to ensure that your batteries will not run out on you at the crucial moment?

• Use special longer-life lithium batteries, which cost twice as much, but last three times longer.

• Use rechargeable Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) or, even better, Nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries. NiMH batteries charge up to 500 times and take just three hours for a full charge.

• Buy multiple backup batteries, so you'll always have spares.

• Consider a rechargeable, plug-in camera battery pack with longer power time. Before buying your camera, make sure that it has the right connections for such a pack.

• Use the camera's optical viewfinder whenever possible, unless your camera doesn't have one. Those sexy little LCD screens are handy for reviewing shots, but they make you pay by draining fresh batteries in 20 minutes or less. If you're shopping for a camera, make sure it has a traditional optical viewfinder as well as an LCD viewfinder.

• If you have the choice, switch off the LCD except when you must view the scene digitally or review an already recorded shot to check your success.

• Get used to turning off the camera between shots. Don't leave the camera on unless you're ready to shoot again immediately.

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How to select the right resolution & compression?

Resolution is the measurement of an image in pixels. Since the maximum available resolution of an image is only getting higher, digital cameras use a process known as "Compression" to reduce the size of the image to a manageable size before it is stored. While this dramatically increases the amount of pictures you can store on each memory card, there is a trade off in quality.

Note:

• Low Resolution (800 x 600 pixels), Medium Resolution (800x600-1280x1024 pixels), High Resolution (Above 1280 x 1024 pixels)

• Compression mode yields progressively higher image quality as one switches from "Normal" and "Fine" to the Superfine Mode.

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What is the storage capacity of the digital camera?

Digital Cameras store images in removable storage media such as compact flash card. The storage capacity depends on the memory space of the compact flash card , for instance, 32MB can store more images than an 8 MB compact flash card. Typical storage for a still camera is 2 GB at the minimum. Another thing is the speed of the memory. If the memory used is of low speed, it will take more time to save images. The instrument will be ready only after few minutes for a second shot. So while selecting the camera, check the response time of the camera memory. Eg : Olympus xD picture card.

However, the amount of images a storage media can keep varies with the CCD size in a digital camera. It also depends on the resolution and the compression of the picture.

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How to take care of your lenses?

Dirt, dust and fingerprints impact the performance of your lens. And believe it or not, there is a right way and a wrong way to clean a lens. Do it right and you’ll maintain peak optical performance. Do it wrong and you could scratch an expensive piece of photographic equipment.

Carefully blow off any dust or dirt, using a blower brush or (very carefully!) compressed air.
Place a drop of lens cleaning fluid on a clean piece of lens cleaning tissue, or blow gently on the lens so that moisture condenses on its surface. Gently wipe the lens surface from the edges toward the center of the lens, with a lifting rather than rubbing action. A micro-fiber cleaning cloth is a good alternative to lens tissue, and requires no lens cleaning fluid.

Eg : Canon Lens Cleaning Kit.

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What can you do with the images you have taken?

a. Store it in your PC - Digital cameras comes with a USB cable for connection to PC. A .jpeg file is the most common way to send images because they are "compressed" and load faster.

b. Send it to your friends via email - Make sure your recipient uses an e-mail program (like Microsoft Outlook) that allows him or her to view attachments. Then scan your "best" photos. Limit your attachments to 1 or 2-they will load faster.

c. Store pictures in online PC-based albums There are many online photo albums, some offer free storage, while others charge for rental space. Check out these sites:

• Yahoo
• photopoint.com
• BizHat.com