Digital Cameras
The digital camera market can be simplistically divided in to either compact or SLR (single lens reflex) digital cameras. The choice of switching to digital is a personal one, but there are many advantages for doing so. For example, sophisticated image editing is easy to do if you have access to a computer and image editing software.
A drawback with digital cameras at the moment is the ability to take photographs quickly. Even very expensive models have a delay between pressing the shutter button and the picture being taken. This slow response makes digital cameras still impractical for fast action events such as sport or even capturing a person's expression.
Compact digital cameras
- Automatic, small & light
- Image format can be viewed on the PC or TV, or printed out using a good quality colour printer.
- Quality pictures. Images consist of small pieces (pixels). The more pixels, the finer the resolution. Most digital cameras now have a resolution of at least 2m pixels. However, if you intend taking photos in low light conditions, consider cameras with fewer but larger pixels as they will capture more image detail in low light conditions.
- Enable editing of photos, by use of photo-editing software on the PC. ie. change composition of picture, clarity / colour / contrast of image, and also other changes using advanced programs.
- LCD Screen enables viewing (in colour) of what the camera lens is focusing on; and then after the photograph, view the actual photo taken.
- E-mail mode automatically saves the picture in format/file size suitable for e-mailing.
- Voice Memo Mode records small sections of sound with the picture eg. commentary or natural sounds
- MPEG* Video Recording (similar to a camcorder) to record (with sound) a very short film (only 1-2min on many models at present, but longer times are being developed).
- Film and sound use a lot of memory so, if used regularly, larger memory cards may have to be purchased.
* MPEG stands for 'Moving Picture Experts Group'. This is a format which minimises the size of the file.
Other useful features to consider include:
- Free; ensures everything is in focus (regardless of distance from lens)
- Auto Focus; ensures subject is in focus (usually in centre of viewfinder), resulting in background out of focus.
- Spot Autofocus; enables manual selection of point of focus (can be non central). Useful for depth of field special effects
- Zoom Lens
- brings the subject closer
- used to increase the impact of the picture or photograph from a distance
- measured either by magnification (eg. 2x zoom) or by maximum and minimum focal lengths (eg. 35-70mm)
- Red-eye Reduction Flash; reduces incidence of red-eye in subjects (caused by a flashback of the flash through the eye)
- Panoramic mode
- for wide landscape scene, large groups of people
- pictures are wide and short
- preferably printed on panoramic paper
Single Lens Reflex Digital Cameras
- Aimed at the creative photographer or professional
- flexibility in functions
- pictures of the highest quality
- have ability to override many automatic settings of compact cameras, eg. shutter speed, depth of field.
- Spot focus
- high quality lenses (enabling enlargement of the final image which requires higher quality colour reproduction)
- viewing through the lens is possible, what you see is what you take (cf. compact cameras with viewfinder frame giving only a guide of what will be included in the picture)
- many accessories available eg. lenses and filters
- usually heavier, bulkier and more expensive than compact cameras
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