If you are looking for a new camera it is worth asking yourself a few questions first to be sure that the camera you buy meets your needs.
·What are you looking to accomplish?
·Do you want to print your photographs or simply view them on your PC monitor or publish them on the Web?
·If you are going to print, what kind of output device will you be working with and what are its resolution requirements?
·How big do you want to print your images?
·How many photographs will you need to be able to store on the camera?
·Will you be taking pictures of items smaller than a business card? (If so you will need a macro facility); and of course……
·How much money do you have to spend?
With these questions in mind, the most important things to look for when buying a digital camera are:
- Pixel Power. The more mega pixels (the dots that make up the image) the higher the resolution (better quality) the image. Cameras with less than 1 mega pixel are more than adequate if you want to publish images on the web but will result in poor quality photos if you print them out. If you want to print your photos, then 1 mega pixel is the absolute minimum specification you need, but I would recommend 2 mega pixels.
If you do want to print your images, then you need to consider your printer as well as your camera and will need to purchase photo-quality paper. There are lots of good reviews on photo quality printers on Ciao if you need further information.
Memory. The amount of memory available determines the number of digital images that can be stored on the camera. Some digital cameras just store images in their internal memory. When you fill up the capacity of such a camera, you must download your files to a computer to free up more space. Others us removable storage media (called Flash RAM, PCMCIA cards etc.) – this allows you to expand the memory of your camera so that it will hold more pictures. Much like a floppy disk, the card is simply inserted it into the card slot on the camera. Additional cards can be purchased (although these can be expensive) so you can store more photos while away from your PC or laptop.
LCD viewfinder. A viewfinder will let you preview your pictures instantly. This is an extremely useful function because it allows you to view and selectively erase images so you can make the most of your available storage space. Beware though – if you use the LCD viewfinder as a monitor rather than looking through the eyepiece to frame your photos, you will go through batteries like there’s no tomorrow. Leaving such a monitor on or using it as a viewfinder can cause your camera to die within a matter of hours and all the money you’ve saved on film and processing will be wasted on new batteries.
PC Interface. You will need to transfer your images from the camera or memory card onto your PC. This can be done through a direct connection from a serial or USB port. Serial connections are very slow so I would highly recommend a USB connection. Some cameras are supplied with an interface cradle. Other options include a removable card reader which acts like a mini disk drive.
Lens Features. The benefits of having the capability to go from at least a moderately wide angle (lots of picture in view) to a moderate zoom (close up) can’t be overstated. In terms of being able to effectively compose your pictures and to ensure that you can get the shot you want this is a must. The only reason I can see not to go for zoom would be cost.
Another thing you may want to look for is macro close-up capabilities. A macro mode allows you to bring the camera closer to your subject allowing you to take those must-have shots of postage stamps, the head of a flower, your fingernail. Well whatever.
- Software. Most digital cameras will be supplied with some kind of stand-alone program that allows the user to transfer images from the camera to the computer’s hard drive and probably offers some basic image editing features such as cropping, resizing, adjusting brightness and hue, etc.
A TWAIN acquire module will allow direct acquisition of images into other image software programs on a Windows PC. If you want to be a bit more creative with your photos or fancy yourself as a digital artist you will probably want to use a program like Photoshop or an equivalent for your digital editing.
Burst Rate. This becomes an issue if you want to use your camera for things like sports photography where you may need to take several shots in quick succession. Because digital cameras have to write an image file every time you take a picture there can be between 4-8 seconds of dead time between shots. Higher end cameras use RAM which acts as a buffer overcoming his problem.
Battery Consumption. As mentioned earlier, overuse of the LCD monitor will seriously reduce battery life. However, there are considerable differences in battery consumption between different models of camera. It is advisable to either get a camera with a rechargeable battery pack or one which can take standard rechargeable batteries.
Flash. Unless all your photos will be taken outside in good daylight, you will need one of these.