Basic Digital Camera Tips For the Rest of Us

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Using digital cameras has become quite common in many communities and industries. Technology today has made these cameras so popular that now they are often part of cell phone and PDA features allowing users to have a camera available at any time.

Taking basic pictures is the main feature of digital cameras, which is what links them to their film camera predecessors. However, digital cameras also allow users to take video. Upgrading the camera's memory card gives users great flexibility in storage capacity for both videos and pictures. A wide rage of brands available today includes Nikon, Canon, Kodak, and Olympus and that offer various features.

These brands offer traditional 35mm as well as digital. Other common brands include Sony, Panasonic and Casio. What to Consider in a Digital Camera The LCD offered in digital cameras is a change from the viewfinders of traditional film cameras, and some even offer an LCD screen and a viewfinder. What is nice about the LCD screen is that it allows users to instantly see their picture on a television like screen.

There are also some that have large screens allowing the photographer have a larger view of the subject and background. Digital cameras use memory cards or sticks. These allow the users flexibility in storage capacity from megabytes to gigabytes. Remember, you will pay extra for additional memory. Digital cameras also make use of batteries. The disposal batteries used by some cameras do not last long, so investing in rechargeable batteries might be a good option. Often a battery and charger are offered as part of a camera package.

Lastly, digital pictures need to be downloaded. Many cameras use a USB port that allows easy transfer to a computer. However, some cameras require a memory card reader to download pictures. Features to Consider in a Camera Understanding the cameras basic features should factor into any choice when purchasing a digital camera. The thing to remember is that some brands will offer particular features that need to be considered, even if the basic function of taking a picture remains the same.

One such feature to consider is the mega pixels available and used by a camera. Mega pixels essentially mean the individual dots that comprise a picture. In effect the more mega pixels the clearer a picture will be and that will allow for better picture enlargement. Remember that a camera that has more mega pixels will make for better picture quality. However, the more pixels you have the more memory you will need for each individual picture.

The digital and optical zooms available on a camera are also important to consider. The traditional optical zoom allows you to bring an object closer in the picture. Digital zoom allows cropping or stretching of the picture. Lastly, the casing of a camera should be considered too. Many cameras are made of plastic which makes them more fragile. Others are made of plastic and a metal alloy giving it more durability.