The MegaPixels
One of the most important features of a digital camera remains
its "Megapixels". Also, most manufacturers and retailers
often hype on the megapixel specification above all else.
Very often one might be be tempted to make a decision on a
digital camera solely based on the megapixel count- that's
precisely why almost all manufacturers print the megapixel
count on the front of their digital cameras.
But professionals will tell you that megapixels
is just one of the features : a camera needs a lot more than
just a high-pixel count to shoot great pictures. Thus, it
is important to pay attention to other features as well. A
slow camera, for example, takes too much time between shots
- that could make you miss the best action. Or a heavy camera
might spend more time on the shelf than in your bag. A camera
with all automatic controls might take great pictures in bright
sunlight, but not so great ones in more challenging conditions.
Resolution: If your intentions are to take pictures
only to email them to distant friends or to print them at
snapshot size, a camera with any resolution will do. More
pixels will give you a lot more flexibility--you can get to
print sharper pictures at larger sizes, or even crop and print
small sections of pictures. Generally A 2 megapixel digicam
can usually produce a good 5x7 print; a 3 megapixel camera,
an 8x10; and a 4 megapixel or greater model, will be good
fror 11x17 sizes.
Zoom lens: Cheaper digital cameras
are often lacking in optical zoom lenses. If one had to pick
between a digital camera with a zoom and one with higher resolution,
one would select the camera with the optical zoom : it simply
means one will not have to magnify the subject and later use
imaging software to crop the image. A few digital cameras
now offer zoom ratings of upto 10X. These lenses are indeed
great for nature or sports photography, but one might need
a steady hand or even a tripod to avoid hazy images at extreme
tele photo lengths.
Design, Size and weight:
To many digital camera users, the weight of the digital camera
weighs and if it fits comfortably into a pocket would be more
important factors than its resolution. There are digital cams
that weigh as much as 2.5 pounds and as little as 4 ounces.
Small cameras are of course convenient, but they also have
have smaller buttons and dials that make changing settings
somewhat difficult.
Manual focus feature: For close ups or situations where
the digital camera cannot get a focus lock, it is best to
switch to manual focusing. Lower-end digicams usually omit
manual focusing or allow only stepped-focusing, that only
allows you to shoot from a few preset distances.
Storage cards: At its highest resolution,
a 2-megapixel camera can store around 8-10 images on an 8MB
memory card. The size of the memory card that comes with the
camera isn't vitally important, because you will almost always
have to buy another one. Secure Digital Cards, CompactFlash
and SmartMedia cards cost around $35 for 64MB, or $45 for
128MB.
Sound/Movies: Most digital cameras
can capture video as well as still pictures, though typical
size memory cards do not hold much video footage. The option
is still useful for short movie clips when you do not have
a camcorder.
Exposure setting: Almost all digital
cameras allow you to shoot in fully automatic mode: all you
need to do is just press the shutter, release and you get
a picture. Higher end cameras offer "aperture and shutter
priority" modes, where one can adjust the the size of
the lens opening and the camera automatically controls other
variables to give you correct exposure.
Usually one would use aperture priority
to maintain control over image depth of field--to blur the
background of a shot while keeping the foreground sharp--and
shutter-priority mode, for example, to capture fast moving
subjects. A digital camera that relies only on full auto would
try to keep both the foreground and background in focus and
it could blur the moving subject in the latter.
Usually, digital cameras that offer priority
modes also offer full manual exposure control, in which you
set both the variables. These modes make a digicam adaptable
to almost any condition.
Batteries: Digital cameras use one
or several types of batteries: AAs, either nonrechargeable
alkaline ($5 for four) or rechargeable nickel-metal-hydride
(NiMH, around $14 for four); high-capacity disposable CRV3s
(approx. $12 apiece, and some digital cameras take two CRV3s);
or proprietary rechargeable batteries that can cost $35 to
$75 to replace.
White balance: Nearly all digital
cameras allow you to choose a white-balance setting via its
presets. This setting tells the camera which elements in a
pictre should look white and what should look black. And what
everything in between the two should look like. If you are
a bit finicky about color accuracy, try looking for a manual
calibrator in which you press a button while aiming at a white
object.
Menus: When trying out a digital
camera, consider how easily can you reach common settings
like resolution, flash, macromode, and exposure adjustments--and
how easily you can playthe back just taken images. Too many
buttons: you waste time trying to make out which button does
what; too many menus: you waste time going through them.
LCD Screens: Low-end digital cameras
often omit an LCD screen that is essential for reviewing just-taken
pictures on the camera. A good LCD is vital for knowing whether
you got the shot you wanted. It also can usually indicate
whether it was properly exposed. LCD quality does vary widely--
Many get washed out in sunlight or become grainy in low light,
or the image might change if you tilt the camera slightly.
If you can, try using a camera outdoors before you buy it.
