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Digital Camera Buying Guide
Digital cameras allow you to take pictures without buying film. Pictures can immediately be viewed and either saved or deleted. This allows you to never miss a shot when the picture is important. Pictures can be sent to family or friends quickly through email or through a cell phone that has a video display. So purchase your new digital camera today, and start snapping.
When purchasing a new digital camera it is important to know how you want to use the camera – this will help you in selecting the camera that will best fit your needs. For instance, if your pictures will be emailed to others, stick with a camera whose resolution is around 640x480 pixels.
You can now get a digital camera whose resolution is close to those of a 35 mm print. If you have a need for this quality picture, then you will need a digital camera with a higher resolution such as 1280 by 1024 pixels. If you are going to use the camera just to upload pictures for an Internet site, you will not need such a high resolution.
One option that may be useful to you is the ability to set the compression setting. If you have the option of saving pictures in different settings, you may be able to use your camera more efficiently. You could use a higher compression setting when you really need the details to show. Higher compression settings take up more memory. If you don’t need the details, then change the compression settings to a lower setting. This function would allow you to make the most of your digital camera.
There are many good brands out in the market today with well-known names such as Canon, Fuji, Kodak, Olympus, Nikon, Sony to name a few. There are many different manufacturers that maybe not as well-known but still provide a quality digital camera. Costs of a digital camera are just as varied with the range around $100 - $1,000 and up.
The overall design and ease of use of your digital camera is something to look at when making your decision on what digital camera to purchase. The size and shape of the camera may be important to you if you need to travel with the camera or you need to carry it with you for recording an event. Some cameras are very sleek and very small. Others are larger and could be a little easier to operate. Consider how you are going to use the camera and then decide on the size.
Most digital cameras have a small LCD screen so you can view your pictures. This function allows you to see the pictures just taken and decide if you want to keep the picture or not. You can easily delete those pictures that did not turn out and in so doing save some room for additional pictures.
All digital cameras come with software. Again, if you know how you want to use your digital camera, then you will better know what type of software you will need. The software is not only used to transfer your digital pictures to your PC but also allows you to manage and organize your pictures. Some software is extremely user friendly and easy to use and other software is much more complex.
You will need to consider file storage and memory when purchasing a new digital camera. Many digital cameras have removable storage media that can be put in and taken out of the camera. However, not all digital cameras have this capacity. The two most common are Compact Flash and Smart Media. There are also cameras that store pictures on standard floppy disks, which provide a cheap method, but they don’t offer the capacity for high-resolution images and they can be quite large.
You will need to check to see what the image capacity is for the type of digital camera you want to buy. Some cameras can store a large number of pictures in the camera while others cannot. Again it is important to know how you need to use the camera to see what image capacity is acceptable for you.
The connectivity issues should be considered before purchasing your camera as well. The way your digital camera will be connecting to your PC can something to think about. Picture files tend to be very large and can take time to download. A USB connection to your computer can make the file transfer from your camera to your PC a much faster process. You can get a “hot swappable” camera, which means that your computer will recognize your camera without having to reboot when you plug in your camera.
Batteries are another consideration when purchasing a new camera. Some digital cameras come with rechargeable batteries; some take regular double or triple A batteries. You may want to purchase an AC adapter for downloading your picture files if you have access to an electrical outlet when working on your photos.
You may need to consider the accessories that come with the digital camera, for example if the camera has a built in flash or a carry case included. You may also need to consider purchasing a zoom lens if you are going to be taking shots of things that are far away.
Be sure that you take a look at the warranty included with the camera you plan to purchase. Each manufacturer has a different warranty and return policy and you should understand just what it is and what it covers before purchasing.
So start snapping pictures – you will be able to record your memories and immediately share them with your friends and families. Digital cameras allow you to transfer pictures quickly through email and even to cell phones with a digital display. so start making memories and sharing them with a new digital camera.
Article By Karla Soule, May 2004.
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