Digital Cameras - The Basics

Digital cameras have taken over the world. In a few short years they’ve pushed the 35mm film that was around for so long to the fringes of the market. If you’re about to plunge into this new exciting world of digital photography then there a few things you need to know to make sure your experience is a happy one.

Image Memory

If you’ve used a camera before then there’s nothing different. You still point the camera in the direction you want and press a button to take an image. The image isn’t recorded on to film though it’s stored on a memory card. There are various card types available but the larger the capacity the more pictures it will hold. Image quality is dependent upon a number of things but one of the most important things to take into account is the CCD. The CCD is the part of the camera that captures the image. The more pixels on your CCD the more scene information is collected. The sensors are rated in megapixels so a 6 megapixel camera has roughly double the capacity of a 3 megapixel camera. The higher the number of megapixels the larger you’ll be able to print your images. Anything above 4 megapixels should comfortably print out a professional looking 6 x 4 postcard sized print.

Megapixels

The megapixel count isn’t the only thing you should be looking at though as its only part of the story. Many digital cameras come with a zoom lens so that you can get closer to the action. Most of the cheaper compact cameras come with a 3x zoom so you get closer to the action but there are longer lenses available that get you even closer. The lens is one of the most important elements of the camera so choose carefully.

LCD Screen

All but the very cheapest of digital cameras will have an LCD screen on the back so that you can see if the image you’ve just taken is any good. If it isn’t then all you have to do is delete the pic and take another. The larger the LCD screen the more of your picture you’ll be able to see. You can also use the LCD to preview your shot rather than squinting through the viewfinder.

Instant Pictures

Getting started with digital photography can be a daunting process but there’s nothing to be scared of. In essence the process of taking images hasn’t changed at all. Seeing your pictures instantaneously is so much better than having to wait outside a shop while they’re developed and there’s the added advantage of being able to retake that shot of mum with her eyes closed. In short there’s nothing to be scared of when jumping into the digital world. Just remember to make sure you buy a camera with enough megapixels and get a few memory cards to store your images on. Once you’ve gone digital and seen the advantages the system offers you’ll wonder what took you so long to jump onboard the digital bandwagon.