Demystifying Digital Camera Jargon
Want to buy a digital camera but confused by the sales jargon? Talk of pixels, LCDs and ELVs, digital zoom verses optical zoom driving you crazy? Then stress no more, here are all the basic terms and their meanings in simple, easily understood terms.
Mega pixels:
Pixels are just the tiny dots that make up a digital picture. Each mega pixel is a million pixels so the more mega pixels a camera has the more dots will make up your picture. The more mega pixels or dots your picture has, the better quality it will be. Digital cameras can be bought with one to six mega pixels. The higher mega pixel your camera is the larger size photo you can take and the more you can enlarge and print photos without sacrificing picture quality.
LCD
LCD means Liquid Crystal Display or in simple terms, it is the display screen used in digital cameras. These screens vary in size depending on the camera. It allows you to preview what you are photographing by giving you a 'through-the-lens-view'. It can also be used to preview photos, delete unwanted photos and some will allow you to magnify your photos to look at details.
Optical Viewfinder
This is simply the viewfinder you look through to take your photos (if you aren't using the LCD screen) as you would with any camera. They will show the full area of what you are photographing but the only drawback is they won't show you if the picture is in focus. Many cameras have an ELV ?Electronic View Finder, instead of an Optical Viewfinder, which shows the same view as on your LCD screen but has the advantage of screening out the sun. You can also see your camera settings and functions in the ELV just as you would on the LCD.
Digital and Optical Zoom
Digital zoom allows you to enlarge the size of a photo by doubling the size of the pixels. The problem with this is that as the pixels are made larger they become fuzzier thus leading to a decrease in photo quality. An optical zoom however actually magnifies the subject of the photo so retains the quality.
Memory Cards/Sticks
Memory cards/sticks are just the storage device for digital cameras. Most cameras have a small amount of built in memory but if you want to be able to store a reasonable number of photos you will need to purchase some extra memory. Memory comes in a range of sizes (measured in megabytes or gigabytes) and the more memory you want, the higher the cost. Ensure the memory you buy is compatible with your camera.
Obviously there is a lot more to know about digital cameras but understanding these basic terms will go a long way toward helping you find the digital camera that is right for you without being lost in the digital dialogue spouted by salespeople.
Raelene Hall is lives in Outback Western Australia. She has written non-fiction articles for magazines, newspapers and the Net on a variety of topics, including education, Outback life, communications, nature, spirituality, families, technology, and the environment. Raelene is a regular columnist for a regional newspaper. Contact Raelene at nedscreekstn@bigpond.com or check out her website at nedscreekstn@bigpond.com
executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport carStarted in a single-room by three Japanese men in the... Read More
Probably one of the most common problems you will be... Read More
How many people have pictures in a shoe box? In... Read More
Think about Laurel and Hardy for a moment, or Charlie... Read More
Photos are a great way to share your travel experiences... Read More
Photos are a great way to share your travel experiences... Read More
The world of photography is an amazing one. It's been... Read More
With modern technology in the form of SLR digital cameras,... Read More
Saturate yourself with your subject and the camera will all... Read More
There are two types of underwater camera systems: an ""amphibious""... Read More
Early cameras of the 16th and 17th century were able... Read More
Are you having megapixel envy each time you walk by... Read More
We all love our animals. They do such funny, adorable,... Read More
Several years ago, I met a fellow photographer - albeit,... Read More
Point and click. The new life of digital cameras gives... Read More
There are two sources for obtaining the moulding for making... Read More
There are major obstacles to overcome to get into nude... Read More
Sony was the first company to introduce digital cameras into... Read More
Do you like to take photos? Are you always standing... Read More
Before you are able to take the kind of photos... Read More
Get a good face shot: Use Higher quality cameras at... Read More
Demystifying Digital Camera JargonWant to buy a digital camera but... Read More
Almost any shot will look better if you take two... Read More
Digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras are excellent cameras that... Read More
There are a few very important tasks associated with using... Read More
O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..The vast beauty and richness of the desert can be... Read More
There's so much you can do with an underwater video... Read More
When I promised readers that I was going to do... Read More
Children are naturally photogenic. Ive worked in studios and children... Read More
You may have joined the photo-sharing craze to share your... Read More
At a Photo Club meeting I attended recently, the President... Read More
Have you read the manual that came with your digital... Read More
A few years ago I became interested in digital photography,... Read More
Basic CompositionNow that you are beginning to understand how your... Read More
Nature is all around us, and its beauties are unlimited.... Read More
Digital cameras are available in several price ranges today. They... Read More
Good wildlife safari photography is not only about composition and... Read More
When should you use hyperfocal focusing? Well, sometimes when shooting... Read More
It's hard to find sometimes but it's making a resurgence,... Read More
There are a few very important tasks associated with using... Read More
Photography 101 Part One Equipment: camera, meter, flash, tripod This... Read More
There is one simple technique any body can do to... Read More
Reality TV is experiencing an upsurge in popularity and its... Read More
If you use a digital camera (I use a Canon... Read More
Are you having megapixel envy each time you walk by... Read More
Photography is a diversified field of creating a spectral variety... Read More
Taking pictures of your new baby is a great way... Read More
A digital SLR camera or a single lens reflex (SLR)... Read More
Good wildlife camera equipment on safari can make the difference... Read More
There are a large number of digital camera accessories available... Read More
Photography |