However, in a digital camera there are two kinds of ‘zooms’. The first is similar to that of a conventional camera and is known as the optical zoom. The second is the digital zoom, and is more interesting. It ’simulates’ optical zoom by enlarging a portion of the image that is the digital zoom selects a portion of the photograph and blows it up.

The zoom effect should not be confused with photo editing, where an image editing software is used to crop and blow a picture on a computer screen. Cropping a picture can refer to enlarging the main subject, or an area of choice - thereby eliminating the remaining parts. Another misconception associated with digital zoom is that it is very handy in capturing long distance images. Nothing can be more misleading. Optical zoom matters more in a digital camera.

The zoom that should be used for comparing cameras is optical zoom, and not digital zoom or total zoom. A camera’s quality depends upon the value of optical zoom; a camera with higher optical zoom is better than a camera with lower optical zoom. In fact, today the digital camera manufacturers have started using a new term - “total zoom.” This term only confuses the customer for there is nothing like total zoom. At best, it can be used to indicate the fact that a digital camera has both kinds of zoom - optical zoom and digital zoom.

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Individuals who previously used the 35mm camera or an APS camera used only optical zoom. This uses the lens to bring the subject of the picture closer. Digital zoom are associated with the digital video cameras.

Many photographers do not really associate digital zoom as “zoom” in the digital cameras, as it only enlarges a portion of the image. In layman’s terms, the camera crops a certain aspect of the image, and then enlarges it back to size which causes a loss in image quality. But what it actually does is replace the image editing for cropping.

Another zoom effect that has been developed recently is the “smart zoom”. This particular zoom maintains the image quality by avoiding interpolation of the image. However, smart zoom works only if you select an image smaller than the full available image size.

Sometimes optical zoom is compared to resolution while buying a digital camera. Nothing can be more absurd. These are two different values and have no common link. Resolution is used to indicate the number of pixels in an image while optical zoom is used to define the lens power. It can neither increase nor decrease the resolution.

There is also a tendency today to disable digital zoom. Some photographers prefer to crop and enlarge an image on a computer screen. They don’t trust the camera to do it for them. This is not a good practice because it reduces the effectiveness of your camera.

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The digital camera can reduce the destructive impact on the environment compared to film cameras. How is it possible? You may think that your film camera does not do any harm to the environment. It was not your traditional film camera that harmed the environment. Your film processing did indeed do the harm because film photo processing centers uses chemicals.

Any time you take your pictures to a photo processing center, the film is run through batches of chemicals. These chemicals are environmentally hazardous. Once they have been used to process film, the chemicals must be immediately discarded. These chemicals are the developer solutions and the fixer solutions.

When the chemicals are used, they have to be discarded in an environmentally sound way according to the environmental protection law of the country. Because it is expensive to do so, many film processing companies just pour the chemicals down the drain.

While many bigger and better known companies probably adhere to the environmental laws, many of the smaller companies probably do not follow the law. And this means these chemicals enter the water supply and go downstream. And we consume the water ultimately.

In international waters, cruise ships do not have to adhere to the environmental protection laws. Cruise ships dump raw sewage into the open ocean on a regular basis and that includes the film developing chemicals into the open ocean. This is done routinely and it is happening all over the world.

They develop your film for all the pictures you took while on holiday and then dump the polluting chemicals to the ocean water. And we are still wondering why our oceans are dying and our coral reefs are dying at a fast rate.

With digital photography, we do not need to use all of those chemical solutions for developing photographs. Most digital cameras nowadays use rechargeable batteries. These batteries do not end up being thrown away at our landfills everyday. This is good as we do not want too much alkaline batteries pollution.

The rising digital camera popularity perhaps has a net positive effect for the environment. With the advances in our technology, the manufacturing process of digital cameras may become more environmentally friendly too. Lets hope our engineers may devise ways to do so. Until then, enjoy your photo shooting and ply a part in reducing environmental waste.

Different models of digital security cameras are available in the market. They include wireless digital security cameras, color digital pen-type mini cameras, security system with indoor and outdoor cameras, security first fas-1248, pelco digital security cameras, and e-mobile-cameras. Wireless digital cameras are smaller, light weight and professional quality devices.

They have higher sensitivity and saturation signal. They are powerful and easy to install and operate. Color digital pen-type mini cameras have multifunction software, USB cable, tripod and AAA batteries. Security first fas-1248 cameras have 14 inch black and white monitor with built-in real-time quad processor. Pelco digital security cameras have a compact body style. They have digital signal processing and auto white balance. E-mobile-cameras are digital security camera systems for vehicle, retail or secret use.

They store up to 32 digital images. Their typical applications include installation in vehicles such as taxi’s, delivery vans, ambulances, police cars or use in small shops and restaurants.

Black and white security cameras are inexpensive cameras that work well in high and low light conditions. Color security cameras are also inexpensive but they work only in general working light. Covert security cameras are so small that they cannot be easily seen. They can be concealed as a different device (such as smoke detector, clock or teddy bear). Day/night security cameras switch from color to black and white depending on lighting levels. They are ideal for variable lighting conditions.

High-resolution security cameras have extra light sensors on their digital chips. They increase the effective image quality. These cameras are effective only with high-resolution monitors. Infrared security cameras have their own light source in a light spectrum that can?t be seen by the naked eye. These cameras are good for small areas with no light. Outdoor security cameras have hardened, waterproof outer bodies. Vandal proof security cameras come in hardened cases that can resist the toughest physical abuse.

The best part about using a digital camera is the fact that you can easily upload photos to photo galleries like Yahoo photo albums. This eliminates the need for sending large image files because you can just send a link to the photo gallery to friends or family.

Part of the fun of experimenting with photography is with different lightings. The ease of the digital camera to adjust to various lightings makes this more fun. You can make some spectacular looking photos by just taking them in different settings. Lighting is everything in photography and you can experiment with many different shades and exposures.

Use different angles to add to the effects. They are light and easy to handle with not too many accessories to worry about. This will make it easy to take different shots for different poses and angles.

Zooming in and out is another way to get interesting photos with digital cameras. Because of the ease that you can do this you can experiment with different focuses. This is especially fun when you take portrait photos. You can also make some interesting pictures with objects. Have fun experimenting with different focuses making part or the complete background out of focus for different effects.

Perhaps the most useful and intriguing way that digital cameras can be used is the ability you have to adjust and fine-tune your pictures even after you have taken them. This will take a little expertise in graphic programs like Photoshop but will be well worth it.

You can create many effects and adjust photos with these graphic programs. This means you can achieve a picture perfect photo before you print it, even if your original one may have been less than perfect. You can even change the file format to get a sharper, clearer image.

There are many exciting things you can do with your digital camera. It has opened the doors to a new and exciting world for photographers. Whether you are doing photography for a hobby or professionally you will enjoy this new and exciting way of taking photos.

However, buying a digital camera for someone can be quite an experience so I’m going to give you a few tips.
When it comes to megapixels, most amateur photographers won’t be able to see the difference between a 4 megapixel camera and a 6 megapixel camera. But there can be a huge difference in the price. Also, normally higher megapixel cameras require more memory. So if the Christmas gift is for an amateur or someone who is new to digital photography then a 4 megapixel camera should work just fine.

If your purchasing a digital camera for an older person, say your grandparents, then make sure that the display and menu commands are large enough for them to read. Your Christmas gift won’t be of much use to them if they can’t see the display or find the buttons.

If you’re giving a digital camera to some who has never had a digital camera or who is upgrading to a more advanced model, then take some time to make sure that they know how to operate the camera. For example:

* how to turn it on and off
* how to make basic menu selections
* how to take a picture
* explain what kind of memory card the camera has
* where the memory card is located
* how to download pictures
* how to clear the memory card so that they can take more pictures
* how to charge and/or replace the batteries
* accessories that they may want to get

Make sure that your Christmas gift is used and appreciated. Consider how the digital camera will be used and who will be using it. Do your research and shop around to get the perfect digital camera for that person on your Christmas list.

The choice for a Pro user, of course, is to go for a Digital SLR camera. Now for the average user remains the question. The answer is: it depends on your budget and your necessities.

Since price gap between digital SLR and the best compact digital cameras is closing sharply, then, let?s review the characteristics of a SLR digital camera. The features and performance you get from an digital SLR have increased enormously and better yet, they are now easier to operate. The lag time has been reduced drastically.

The lag time is the that it takes the camera between the shutter being pressed and the camera actually taking the photo. For a SLR this lag time is almost instantaneous just like the SLR film cameras. The compact cameras are catching up but the difference is still significant. The reaction time of a compact camera is about 0.5 sec, time enough to make loose the heartbeat of the moment and the opportunity of a great picture.

Another significant difference is the sensor capacity. SLR has a larger sensor and a compact camera has a smaller sensor. This means the auto focus feature is faster in the SLR, the resulting quality of the picture is better and the possibility of taking good pictures under low light conditions is considerably better. The sensitivity is measured in the standard ISO of the film cameras. The larger the range of the camera the more sensitive is. For example, a compact digital camera features normally ISO 50 ? 400, while a digital SLR is 100 ? 1600..The larger the last number the better pictures can be taken under low light conditions.

Another important point is the battery life, being larger that of a SLR camera, because of the less use of the LCD screen used only to view the image. A normal point and shoot camera may allow you to take about 500 photos while with the SLR you may take up to 2000 shots. Then it comes another important aspect: the interchangeability of lenses only possible on those SLR cameras. This is important for the zoom and macro features.

Among the disadvantages to mention for SLR cameras compared to those compacts is the more size and weight of the SLR camera. Moreover, since they do not have a LCD screen is not possible to preview the image (an additional accessory is required to have a LCD screen). Another aspect that could be important is the inability to take videos of the SLR cameras. Finally, the cost of the lenses may be even larger than the camera itself.

To summarize, I may say that the final decision depends on your expected use of the camera. The quality and features of an SLR camera are not compared to the best compact digital camera. But if your concern is about portability and ability to record videos, the digital compact camera is your best choice. You can have a combination of good pictures with easy to use features.

Unfortunately, most of those who love digital cameras have also come to know their dark side; their thirst for power. From the first touch of the button to power a digital camera on, setting the focus, shutter speed, zooming, and providing a flash for image capture, to reviewing images taken and editing, these cameras are energy junkies.

The good news is that there are things which can be done to help make it easier to live with power craving cameras and to curb their appetite. Certainly, having a camera with rechargeable batteries is by far the best option and charging the battery per manufacturer’s guidelines can help sustain optimal functioning. For the people who love their digital camera, there are also steps that can be taken in the way they use it to help reduce the rate of power consumption.

* When finished shooting, remove the batteries from the camera if it will not be used for another 2 or 3 weeks. This will prevent a trickling discharge that can occur when left in the camera.

* Use the on/off function appropriately. Certainly a digital camera should not be left on for any extended period of time as the energy is wasted. However, if another shot will be taken within a few minutes it is better to leave the camera on as it consumes a great deal of energy to power on/off. If the camera has a sleep mode, it is best to set the timer for that function to the shortest interval in case the user forgets to turn the camera off.

* Disable or don’t use features that aren’t needed. Zoom for instance uses a great deal of power. If the same result can easily be achieved by simply moving the subject or stepping closer, do that instead. Use of the flash function is also energy intensive. Flash should be used only when it will be effective. For instance, if lighting is already sufficient or the subject is out of flash range anyway, don’t use the flash function.

* When possible use the viewfinder to set up a shot as the LCD screen consumes a great deal of battery power. Use of the LCD screen can improve some shots such as in the case of close-up/macro photography but in most instances use of the viewfinder is sufficient. (Remember, photographers operated without LCD screens throughout the history of photography!)

* Use other power sources when appropriate. For instance, use an AC adapter when downloading images and use the computer for review and image deletion rather than performing such functions directly on the camera.

* Do things manually when feasible. From powering the camera off to focusing; auto anything takes more power.

* Some experts indicate that some types of media storage consume more energy as well. For instance, Compact Flash is said to be a more energy conscious form of storage than MicroDrive Media.

Certainly, the many features offered on a digital camera are convenient and desirable. Users merely need to be aware of the tremendous demands placed on the camera battery by these same features. Understanding this allows a digital camera owner to make a choice between ease of use and conservation of the battery.

1. Basic Tools

The software should include basic tools like cropping or cutting a portion of the photograph in one easy step. There should be a tool to combine various elements from different images to make a collage. It is essential to have a manual adjustment tool for brightness and contrast. You will need a software editing tool that allows you to adjust the color balance and saturation. Filtering tools will ideally include custom, CC or Wratten filters. The tool that allows you to convert the image color to black and white should include several editing options. Two of the most common are greyscale and duotones.

2. Dodge, Burn, Smudge Tools

Other important Digital Art tools that will assist you in making artistic statements with your photographs include global or selective dodging, burning, blurring and mosaic. More advanced editing programs include vignetting, linen, solarizing, posterizing and embossing. Most wordprocessing and photo editing software provide image management options today that allow you to place an image in front of text, in-line with text or behind text. Sophisticated desk-top publishing software will provide text and image boxes to manually place your material.

3. Printing Options

Photo editing software should allow for a variety of print options including duplex printing and large format document prints. When buying computers and printers be sure to consider the need for a full-color photography printer ideally with CD imprint capabilities. Depending on your needs, you may want to include video editing software options that will allow you to integrate your photographs in short movies and audio-video presentations for home or work. CD and DVD burner capabilities make sharing, archiving, labeling and storing the creations you make from your photographs much easier.

4. Scrapbooking

A popular new use of digital photographs is for digital scrapbooking. It is a great way to present your photographic treasures to family and friends. Digital cameras can be used to document artifacts, art and items you want to sell on the Internet. Digital scrapbooking and gallery techniques with related software will assist you in achieving the best result.

Scrapbooking software may include tools for restoring old or damaged photographs and for retouching dirt specks and scratches. The software will have settings for sharpening and unsharp, masking, removing distracting backgrounds and creating album pages. Be sure the software includes tools for resizing images, monitoring and changing the photographs dots per inch or dpi resolutions. Resizing should provide several measurement options including per inch.

5. Placing Images On The Web

Try Java Script if you want to edit images on the internet. This allows you to manipulate your photos in a variety of ways using mini programming techniques. Java Scripting may become an artistic goal of your photography and thus inspire a variety of options while you are taking photos.

Digital photography can be shared with anyone who has internet access! That is ample motivation for presenting the best image we can produce with the time and resources we have. Become more familiar with editing programs and make the best out of your keepsakes.

Special “macro” lenses are recommended for the enthusiast but most digital cameras can accept small screw on “close-up” lenses which provide additional magnification. The digital cameras most consumers purchase are auto focus and merely require the push of a button to enter close or “macro” mode but the owner’s manual should be reviewed to discover the minimum focusing distance of the camera. When shooting at a distance of only inches there are a number of precautions to take to assure a high quality image.

1.) Focus: When photographing at close range/high magnification, images can be blurred by the slightest movements.

* If the digital camera has a feature for mirror lock-up, it should be activated as the mere movement of the mirror can blur the image taken.

* Use a tripod

* Because slight breezes can cause movement, it is easiest to shoot subjects indoors when possible to gain control over the environment. In addition, shooting inanimate objects can also be a good starting point for a novice as the subject of the picture will not be moving.

* Because of the close range, blurriness in all but a very small area of the picture frequently occurs. To get more area in focus, reduce the aperture and increase lighting. In some instances, increasing distance from the subject may be necessary.

* Be sure the subject is parallel to the lens as items which are perpendicular have portions which are further away and therefore tend to blur.

2.) Getting the view you want: What is seen through the viewfinder of the digital camera is different than what the lens sees. This is particularly evident when photographing at close range.

* Use the LCD instead of the viewfinder to see what is being photographed.

* Or, use the correction marks (lines) that can be seen through the viewfinder which approximate the border of the image being taken to visualize what the lens is truly seeing. Then adjust the shot as necessary.

3.) Lighting: True macro photography commonly makes use of specialized flash units but care should be taken when using the flash unit with a digital camera to avoid over exposure and to obtain a natural looking background. Beginners can try a couple of things to obtain the best outcome.

* Diffuse the light by using very thin tissue in front of the flash.

* Place plain poster board (beige or gray is often used) behind the subject if the background is blackened. This will lighten the background and if placed far enough away, blur to look more natural.

* Use natural diffuse light when possible. As in most photography, avoid direct, overhead sunlight.

Although basic digital cameras have limitations related to macro photography, beginners can certainly obtain images with a level of detail and beauty seldom seen with the naked eye when giving necessary attention to the special needs of close up photography.
]]> http://www.digitalcamerasplus.com.au/getting-up-close-with-digital-cameras-a-brief-guide-for-the-novice/feed/ http://www.digitalcamerasplus.com.au/auto-and-manual-focus-modes-in-digital-cameras/ http://www.digitalcamerasplus.com.au/auto-and-manual-focus-modes-in-digital-cameras/#comments Sat, 24 Nov 2007 09:55:03 +0000 admin http://www.digitalcamerasplus.com.au/auto-and-manual-focus-modes-in-digital-cameras/ One of the important phases of shooting a good photo is focusing on the photo’s objects. Photos that are out of focus look bad and blurry. Sometimes shooting out of focus objects is done on purpose as an artistic effect but in most cases a sharp focused object is the photographer goal.

Most low-end pocket digital cameras do all the focus work for you. These are literally “point and shoot” cameras. Furthermore even if you wanted to manually focus using such cameras it would have been practically impossible since they do not include a real optical viewfinder. Using the LCD to check for focus is useless as the LCD is not good enough to truly let you know if an object is perfectly focused or not.

Digital SLR cameras on the other hand have an optical viewfinder that allows you to truly see the photo through the camera’s lens. With digital SLR cameras you can see how well the objects in the photo are focused and correct the focus as needed.

Digital cameras support at least three focus modes:

Like any other feature automatic and manual focus modes have their pros and cons. The first step to using them to your advantage is to understand how they work and what they were designed for. The next step is to experiment shoot photos using different focus modes and different types of objects and see how the camera behaves. Once you have done that you will be ready to instinctively use the best focus mode for each photo situation.
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