How much do I have to pay?
First on most people’s minds is cost. Digital sounds expensive, but it’s not anymore. There are cameras with terrific features available for as little as $100—perfect starter cameras, or great for kids.

Of course, you can spend more than that—as much as several thousand for the most advanced digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras. However, unless you are a professional who needs interchangeable lenses and manual everything, you can get a great camera for between $150 and $400. It all depends on what you want to do with your camera and your photos.

What is a megapixel and how many do I need?
Digital photos are made up of pixels, which is computer-speak for “picture element.” Get a thousand of these little squares together and you have a megapixel—MP for short. Every digital camera you consider will have a number of megapixels associated with it, but higher isn’t necessarily better.

Megapixels affect the resolution of your digital photos—that is, the potential clarity of the photos. If you choose a camera with a high number, for instance, 10 MP, you’ll get rich, detailed photos, perfect for making large prints. Or you could crop your picture and enlarge a section into its own photo without losing clarity.

That sounds good, right? The downside is that the larger the photo resolution, the more space it will take on a memory card, so you won’t be able to take as many photos unless you carry extra storage.

TIP: If you don’t need to make large prints, but do want to print standard sizes like 4″ x 6″ or 5″ x 7″, or e-mail or post your photos online, a camera with 5-6 megapixels will work well for you.

How much control will I have over camera settings?
The short answer is, as much or as little as you want—often on the same camera. Many digital cameras let you choose the level of control, from fully automatic, where the camera makes all decisions, to the completely manual, where you run the show.

In between those options are helpful pre-set shooting modes. These make it easy to take clear, well exposed pictures under a variety of settings—in bright sun, at night, during a sporting event, at the theater. Another fun feature is the ability to change pictures to black and white or sepia, adding versatility. Beyond that, some cameras help you prevent red-eye and other common problems.

TIP: Compare shooting modes and design features when you shop. Look for common ones, like Landscape, Portrait, and Action. Then see if there are others—Night or Snow mode, for example.

!inlineRSS:news_digitalcamera If you want more control of your digital camera’s variables, you can have that too. In addition to the pre-sets, many cameras, especially in the middle and upper end of the price range, let you go manual, and set aperture, shutter speed and ISO yourself—or set one manually and have the camera choose the best settings for the other elements.

It’s fun to play with these different options and see how your pictures change. And one great thing about digital photos is that, if your experiment isn’t successful, you can delete the photo and take another.

What is the difference between optical and digital zoom?
Optical zoom is how far your camera’s lens can physically extend from the camera body (its focal length). It lets you get closer to your subject without actually moving, and without your photo becoming blocky or pixelated.

Digital zoom stretches your camera’s pixels to make a photo look bigger—similar to cropping a photo and enlarging it, but it happens right in the camera.

Digital cameras will often show you a combined optical and digital zoom. They get this by multiplying the two numbers together. For example, a camera with 3x optical zoom and 8x digital zoom will have a total zoom of 24x.

TIP: Pay most attention to the optical zoom, as it will result in clearer close up photos.

What about the camera size—is heavier better?
Digital cameras are built to endure plenty, so choose the style that suits your needs. A slim, small model is handy because it fits easily into a purse or pocket, making it a no-brainer to take along on family excursions or trips.

Slightly larger models offer some helpful features, too, like a bigger LCD screen for taking and viewing photos, and often more manual control.

Go a little bigger still, and your digital camera may also have a more powerful zoom lens, helpful for getting shots at the soccer match, or architectural details of the castle you saw on your trip to Italy.

What other equipment will I need?
Batteries: Some digital cameras use AA batteries that you replace more or less frequently depending on how many photos you take and the resolution of each picture. However, digital camera features like the LCD screen and auto-focus draw lots of power, meaning batteries get depleted quickly. Rechargeable batteries are an alternative option.

Rechargeable batteries use one of two different technologies: Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) or Lithium ion (Li-ion). NiMH batteries come in standard sizes and can be recharged multiple times before they need replacing. Many newer cameras are equipped with Li-ion battery packs. These have the advantage that they both hold more energy and be used and recharged more often than other batteries. Check your camera’s manual to determine which type is compatible.

Memory cards: Your digital camera stores images on memory cards, and there are many options for these. It’s a good idea to have several available—especially on vacation or at a special event like a wedding where you’ll be taking lots of photos. Get a larger card—think 1 GB or more—to make sure you’ll have lots of memory.

Dock: If your camera has rechargeable batteries, consider buying a docking station. It gives you a safe, secure way to charge your camera, and an easy way to connect it to your computer when you want to upload photos.

Carrying case: In addition to protecting your camera, a carrying case also lets you keep extra batteries and memory cards in one convenient place.

Now you’re ready to make the buy, and start using your digital camera to help capture and share cherished memories.

About the Author

Jean Fleming writes frequently about digital photography. Please visit our digital camera buying guide and find everything you need to make the right decision when buying a new digital camera.

The SLR is not cheap at all. The price historically started at about $5,000 – which is very steep. So, only those who are either professionals or wannabes purchased an SLR for themselves. Nowadays however, in order to make the SLR available to a larger number of photographers, companies such as Canon and Nikon have come up with SLRs falling in the price range of around $1000 without extra lenses.

!inlineRSS:news_digitalcamera What is it that attracts people to an SLR ? One of the main reasons is that an SLR produces pictures which are of much higher quality than point-and-shoot cameras. The contrast and color are extremely good since the lenses used in an SLR are of very good quality. It is an old maxim in the photography world that much of the quality in your images comes from the glass you put in front of the camera. The better the glass the better the photo, it worked in the film days and it still works in the digital age. The camera is important but don’t skimp on the lens.

The photographer can change the lenses in an SLR, depending upon the shot that he/she plans to take. For example, a wide angle lens is used to take pictures of landscapes such as animals in the wild while telephoto lenses help to take extremely detailed pictures of small objects. Thus, one can pick and choose according to the environmental needs. Today some of the manufacturers have started building in image stabilization to their lenses. This really helps when taking long focal length images. While it uses additional power it can be extremely useful.

In addition to the above, the creative opportunity available to the photographer is much more in a SLR than a regular camera. This is because of the fact that a SLR has a lower contrast and image sharpening features. Hence, the photographer can do a lot of editing on his own to get the kind of effect that he desires. This can be viewed as a disadvantage as well by those who are not truly photo enthusiasts. So, for you guys, a point-and-shoot camera is the best option as not only is it cheaper but also adjusts things automatically.

Since a SLR is comparitvely more expensive than other digital cameras, it is very important that you get yourself a proper insurance for the camera. Especially if you plan to travel a lot with your SLR, insurance is extremely important. And also make sure that damage protection does form a part of the insurance deal as some insurance policies do not provide it. So, read the fine print before signing on the dotted line!

About the Author

Kevin Rockwell worked as a network TV cameraman for 20 years shooting news and sports. Now a devoted fan of digital photography and video he works to gather information, tips and news for digital camera users. Oh and he loves to shoot pictures of his kids playing sports. http://www.great-digital-cameras.com/gdcj.html

Next to your Camera, a camera bag could well be the most important piece of kit you purchase. You certainly want to protect the camera you just spent your hard earned money on, and it also needs to be a safe and sturdy carrying case. It’s very important that your bag allows you to access your equipment easily and helps you organize your photographic equipment into compartments where possible.

!inlineRSS:news_digitalcamera There are many different bags available, from Crumpler and Sony to Lowerpro and Domke, all in a variety of shapes, sizes, materials, and functions. Which bag is most suitable to you largely depends on the type and intensity of photography you undertake. For example a Landscape photographer will often find him or herself shooting in damp or wet environments, so a durable, waterproof bag is appropriate. However, a weekend photographer shooting family day outs would simply need a soft, padded bag, normally carried over one shoulder for ease.

A cam-bag should make carrying your camera easier, not more of a hassle. So make sure that you find a bag that fits your camera well and preferably has wide, padded straps for comfort. If you are just starting out, you may only need a simple basic camera bag that will just hold just your camera.

However, if you’re more experienced, or carry more kit than usual, such as lenses, filters etc, you will obviously need a larger bag capable of taking more weight. Ideally, you’re going to want one that can hold all of the accessories you use most. Normally a camera body, spare lens, cleaning cloth and memory card holder. Remember though, if your camera bag is going to be used to carry more than just a camera, you definitely want dividers in it. These make it easier to keep your accessories separate. Try to find a bag with an inner zip pocket which can be ideal for your car keys or money, when traveling on foot.

A very important factor often overlooked when choosing a camera bag is the ‘Zip’. Look for Bags with big tooth zips. These type are less likely to jam or stick if they get damp or dirty. Some of which are available with rain closures which protect the zipper from rain. There are also double closure Zips which open and fasten from both ends, great for shooting pictures on the move. Although the color isn’t crucial, it is worth thinking about subtle colors, these will undoubtedly draw less attention from potential thieves and also mid toned bags will not absorb heat as quickly as other colors in hot environments, which could cause possible problems with digital equipment.

About the Author

Gary Bunn (Editor)
http://www.Your-Digital-Photography.com

Basically, strictly considering the facts, there are three file formats used by digital cameras to create images of photographs taken by them. These are JPEG, TIFF and RAW. These are the names of the formats but like their strange names their identity remains in the dark if these are not conversed in a little detail. The most vastly and commonly used file format for digital cameras is the JPEG file format. It is time and again the lone available file format on primary and some intermediate standard digital cameras. Many sophisticated digital cameras allows the users to opt for between JPEG, TIFF and RAW. However professional photographers usually prefer to shoot RAW. Yet the discretion remains with the human preference only.

!inlineRSS:news_digitalcamera It is a fact that the acronym JPEG stands for “Joint Photographic Expert Group” after the group that developed this file type. To make things easier it must be clarified that JPEG is a compression technique that can considerably trim down the file size of a photograph and other unremitting tone images. Almost all digital cameras have a number of JPEG compression levels and quality settings to select from. The users can make use of them as per discretion and the photograph taken. Thus the jpeg images do not consume much space on a memory cards. Another specialty of this digital camera file format is that JPEGs store camera settings and scene information. All these advantages make this file format so popular and diversely accepted.

The next digital camera file format is the TIFF (Tagged Image File Format). This file format has the greater advantage that it does not lose any image file information during the compression process and moreover as a consequence it does take up a lot of space from a memory card in comparison to a JPEG image. Due to this detailed storage it also takes additional time to retrieve the information to the card. Basically the TIFF compression reduces images to about one-third their original size as per convention.

Coming to the next digital camera file format. It is defined as the RAW file! It is also sometimes referred to as an appropriate digital negative. Most advanced digital cameras allow or permit the ability to shoot RAW in professional standards. The interesting portion is that in a RAW image no alterations are made by the camera (such as sharpening or white balance). And this gives entire control to the photographer when he or she processes an image later. However this RAW file format is not used extensive due to the fact that most image editors cannot open it and computer-processing time is also more. However the fact still remains that a RAW image has a smaller file size than a TIFF.

With all these discussions regarding the different digital camera file formats, it is clear that the three most widely accepted file formats have their own advantages and disadvantages, yet they are unique in some way or the other that makes them special in their own manner. The knowledge about these digital camera file formats of storage not only yields greater understanding of the camera; it also opens the eyes towards the fantastic results of technological advancements in our daily lives.

About the Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.

Leaving aside the ever power thirsty LCD screens and flashes, the digital cameras themselves exhaust batteries much faster than film cameras, due to their state of the art electronic designs and intricate circuitry. Many digital cameras run from AA cells, around 4, and can even drain a set of alkaline cells in less than 1 hour of working! For example, the Kodak DC120 draws about 210mA during start or switch ON, but progresses to around 1.3A with the association of the LCD fully working and can go ahead to about 2.1A while picture taking and after it too.

!inlineRSS:news_digitalcamera With all these nightmares regarding the batteries of the digital cameras, it is worthwhile to analyze and reveal some of the available batteries for the digital cameras in an effort to explore area of power consumption in this fantastic device. Coming to first one of these, like its great name suggests, it is the Li-ion (Lithium Ion). It is one of the latest cell types available to digital camera users. This has many advantages to its credit. It is light in weight and currently available for many commercial uses and thus being so the Li-ion (Lithium Ion) battery type is becoming quite popular. This has an added advantage of being able to endow with more power than any of the other main cell types available. It is also free from the problems of memory effect, hat some battery types do have, and maintenance is least in this type of battery. These are but real goodies about this Li-ion (Lithium Ion) battery. Yet it has one major disadvantage, that is, the price is usually significantly higher than conventional batteries, due to its sophisticated design and technology.

Coming to the next one in the line, the NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride). This is a battery that is perhaps the most frequently under use for not only digital cameras, but also for other sophisticated devices like laptop computers! This has the advantage of being cheap in price due to the fact that it incurs cheap manufacturing costs, and thus a choice for many users! But this does have the problems of memory effect, and much more maintenance and care is required while handling this kind of battery.

Another such battery is the NiCAD (Nickel Cadmium) Battery. This is perhaps belonging to one of the older cell types generally available for older laptops and electronic devices. These batteries or cells have an aptitude for handling high power loads, and therefore is more frequently found in handy power tools and devices that require more amounts power to work efficiently and perfectly. Yet again, these batteries too have the problems of memory effect, and much more maintenance and care is required while handling this kind of battery.

Apart from the different batteries themselves, the selection should be based upon the charging techniques and the different charges available for all these digital camera batteries. Latest batteries come handy with charging free techniques too! So care needs to be taken in this area also, depending upon the requirements of the user.

With all the vivid conversation regarding the hearts of the digital cameras, their batteries, it is expected for every person going through the lines to have grabbed a significant amount of information in dealing with the intricacies of the purchase, and thereby also augment the ability of the person in using such a sophisticated device as a digital camera with a proper battery!

About the Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.

To make things simple and without getting too technical, the major benefits of using a digital camera is that it is cheap and fast. There is no cost involved in clicking digital photographs as compared to film cameras. Also, you can preview the pictures before choosing to print them; hence there is little/no wastage of snaps involved.

However, for traditional users, a digital camera is not such an easy gadget to use. One does not only need to learn how to use a digital camera but he/she also needs to gain mastery over the computer. This can get to be a little difficult for those who are computer-averse.

!inlineRSS:news_digitalcamera As far as image quality is concerned, there are four major factors – picture resolution, presence of noise/grain in cameras, dynamic range and the color quality of the image.

Resolution, in photography language, means the sharpness and the visibility of the image. In this area, the film camera definitely wins since nearly a 6 mega pixel camera is needed to match a 35mm film camera.

Noise/grain refers to the amount of grains which appears in cameras. Digital cameras are extremely sophisticated in this aspect in comparison to film cameras and the level of noise/grain appearance is much lower.

The dynamic range is one of the main weaknesses of a digital camera. The range of a digital camera largely gets affected in contrasting light and normally occurs in the form of white highlights in the image. But some of the latest digital technologies are trying to eliminate this problem in digital photography.

Color quality in digital photographs is much, much better than those images which are taken from film cameras. The pictures are much sharper, brighter, and more vivid and tend to have a three-dimensional quality – which is very difficult to obtain in prints from film cameras.

Thus, overall, both the digital and the film camera have their own advantages and disadvantages. It depends on the user and his personal preferences to choose one over the other.

If you are an average, computer-friendly individual who uses the camera for taking pictures of your family, then a digital camera is recommended due to its lower price and greater convenience.

However, if you are an avid photographer, then it is best that you master both technologies. Since, as the future unfolds, it will be necessary for all to know how to use a digital camera with expertise.

About the Author

Kevin Rockwell worked as a network TV cameraman for 20 years shooting news and sports. Now a devoted fan of digital photography and video he works to gather information, tips and news for digital camera users. Oh and he loves to shoot pictures of his kids playing sports. http://www.great-digital-cameras.com/gdcj.html

Understanding the true function of a lens is relatively simple. It all has to do with focal length and field of view. Whether your camera be a digital one with a fixed lens, or one that allows you to switch lens, most often you’re using a zoom lens. ‘Focal length’ is better defined as follows;

!inlineRSS:news_digitalcamera The ‘focal length’ simply determines how much of a scene it will capture. A ‘normal’ focal length will capture a horizontal field of about 45 degrees for example. While a wide angle lens captures a wider field, such as 90 degrees and more. Telephoto lens are great for close-ups because, it captures a much smaller field of view. Actually any background as you focus on your main subject will appear blurry, or out of focus, which makes for a really nice effect.

Most people understand how a zoom lens works. You zoom out to get more of a scene, while you zoom in to get less of a scene. But since the advent of digital cameras, in comparison to our old 35mm cameras, the relationship between focal length and field of view has changed somewhat because the dimension of the sensors in the cameras are now different, and much smaller. Confusing? Sure is!

What this means for you is that unless you’re a real photography nut, and really want to know what each of your lens will do , you shouldn’t concern yourself with all of this stuff. But let’s assume you really need to know for whatever reason.

In the old days of the 35mm with film, If you owned a wide angle lens, you could count on the fact that it would deliver an end result (a photo) almost exactly how you saw it in your camera viewer. But today, using the same lens on a digital camera will give you a complete different result.

For example, I’m holding in my hand my wife’s HP digicam with a 7-21mm zoom lens. But because it’s a digital, this small lens will give me a result compared to and up to my 105mm telephoto lens, because of the size of the sensor. Still confused? Don’t blame you. Bottom line is that most of you have given up on old 35mm cameras, and only use digital anyway. And as is with any camera, just as it was in the 35mm era, you still need to test in many different situations to get any good at it.

For example, I can take a sunset scene and within 5 minutes get a whole bunch of different effects just by using different aperture openings. You don`t need a photography course to be a good photographer. You just need to read up on what all these numbers mean and do, and as you experiment take notes.

Here’s a trick I learned very early in my photography years; every time you take a shot, make a note on the lens you used, the aperture opening, the scene, and the shot number you’re at. In this way, you can generally repeat the process for your favorite shoot. Anyway, if you plan on entering any photo contest, as you submit your entry, you usually have to inform them of the type of lens you used, the aperture opening, the ASA/ISO rating etc., hence the importance of notes when it comes to serious photography, digital or not.

About the Author

Jon G. Michel is a successful webmaster and publisher of digitalkool.com. To learn more about the next generation of digital photography lens, visit his website. For great deals on digital photography camera lens, there’s no better place.

The best way to decide what kind of digital camera is right for you is to decide what kind of photography’s wish to do. There are roughly four different kinds of digital cameras available. There is the compact point and shoot, the standard point and shoot digital camera, the advanced or prosumer models, and the digital single lens reflex or DSLR. No single model of digital camera is perfect for every use. A compact point and shoot digital camera is great for one purpose while DSLR’s are more appropriate for another purpose.

!inlineRSS:news_digitalcamera If you’re looking for digital camera to keep if you at all times, or just want a digital camera that will be convenient to keep with you, the compact point and shoot digital camera is a good place to start looking. While some models in this category are no bigger than an audio cassette in size, some cheaper brands have such a low resolution and poor image quality that they’re not much more than toys. Sticking to high quality brands and a reasonable resolution, many models still easily fit into the pocket or purse. Small size does not need to mean poor quality picture. Some of the smallest digital cameras have image resolution and image quality equal to those even in the prosumer category.

The primary feature of the compact point and shoot class is small size. It is also the main disadvantage of the compact point and shoot camera. Because of their small size they usually have a very limited zoom range for the lions. Other than the range of the zoom, you’ll find many of the features that are found in larger point and shoot digital cameras.

The standard point and shoot digital camera has the most resemblance to a 35mm point shootout camera. It’s larger size usually permits a better range zoom lens, and sometimes a slightly lower price than a compact version. Without size as a feature like the compact models, and the technological advances of the advanced models, the primary consideration in this class is probably price and zoom range. In this category choose a camera from a major manufacturer, with a resolution of the least five to six megapixels, then choose a camera based on price. The standard size point and shoot digital camera is fine for just about anything that you would refuse to 35mm point and shoot camera for.

The advanced point and shoot digital camera is designed for the serious hobbyist or those with extra money to spend. Often referred to as prosumer models, the advanced point and shoot digital camera often have features that you might find in a professional model. These models feature the latest technology and often include lenses with incredible zoom range, an advantage if you take pictures of your children in sports. Many models also include image stabilization for sharper images. Wide range of zoom provides a good alternative to a digital single lens reflex. If you are someone who takes a lot of pictures and likes to experiment with photography, the extra cost of a prosumer model may provide the features that you need.

The digital single lens reflex camera or DSLR for short, is the final category of digital camera. The DSLR features unparalleled image quality. Even when comparing similar resolution chips to DSLR’s always seem to come up with a better image quality versus a point and shoot. Another feature the DSLR is the ability to change lenses. Size and cost are the only disadvantage of the DSLR, although some models like the Canon digital rebel are similar in size to some of the larger prosumer models. Image quality and flexibility make a DSLR a must for the professional.

So if your primary requirement in your digital camera is convenience choose a Compaq camera. For price or flexibility look into a standard size point and shoot digital camera. For the latest technological advances choose a prosumer model. For professional use or the best image quality choose a digital single lens reflex.

About the Author

You can get additional information on how to take better photos here. James Thoenes is a professional photographer with over 20 years in photography. Learn how to take better photos at his website http://www.photographybyjet.com.

!inlineRSS:news_digitalcamera Well, first of all decide how you plan on using the prints that you will make. Will they mostly be 4 X 6 snapshots, or do you plan on making enlargements on up to 11 X 14 or so? This will determine how much resolution that you need to buy when you get your digital camera. For snapshots, a 4 -6 megapixel camera should do the job just fine, but if you want to make larger prints you may want to look for a 6 – 8 megapixel camera instead. And if you plan on doing lots of photo editing that can involve zooming in and cropping a small portion of the image, you may even want a 10+ megapixel camera for that kind of heavy duty work.

Most fixed lens digital cameras come with a zoom feature, but you should know that there are two different types of zooms that are used. One is an optical zoom that relies on the lens for it’s magnification, and the other is the digital zoom that enlarges the image already captured by digital means instead. The optical zoom is far more preferable than the digital zoom as it will produce sharp and clear zoom shots throughout it’s entire focal range. The digital zoom is only magnifying the resulting image and so it can produce less sharp, grainy pictures instead when used at the higher end of the focal range. So try to get a camera that has as much of the zoom range that you want being handled by the optical rather than the digital zoom.

If having the best image quality is important to you then you want to look for digital cameras that save their files in TIFF, GIF and RAW formats as these do not sacrifice any image quality when compressing the image file for storage. On the other hand, the JPEG image format that many cameras use will cause some loss of image quality in the file compression part of saving the image file.

When deciding what digital camera to buy, much of your decision will revolve around how you plan to use the camera and the resultant image files, and what features are most important to you and the way you shoot your photos. The tips given above should help you though to be more informed about how to select the digital camera that fits your photo style best.

About the Author

Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including digital photography. You can find top selling digital cameras and cannon digital cameras by visiting our Digital Photography website.