The most critical element in a digital camera
is the lens because all light must go through the lens. So choose
from traditional film camera makers, especially those renowned for
their optical lens.
2.
Consider what type of storage media the digital
camera uses. SmartMedia is flimsy because its connecting wires are
outside the cards. Memory stick is proprietary to Sony devices only,
so it's not considered industry standards. Compact Flash card is by
far the best bet because it is thick and hardy. Many output devices
eg. printers and projectors use the card as storage device, so images
stored can be output straight away in these devices.
Is pixel count all that important?
Traditional camera uses film to record images.
But for digital camera, the film is replaced by a small sensor chip
- either CCD (charged Coupled Device) or CMOS (Complementary Metal
Oxide Semiconductor) - which stores the image into a digital format.
The CCD or CMOS sensor's surface is divided into tiny squares called
pixels and each pixel records one segment of an image. The more
pixels a sensor has, the more details it can record. While it's
true that the number of pixels a CCD contains is an excellent measure
of the details the digital camera can contain, this is not enough.
Picture quality doesn't necessarily improve with another million pixels.
Other features such as lens, colour filter used on the sensor and digital
image processor also play an important role in determining picture quality.
(See picture below to understand the intricacies of a digital camera
in the analogy of a human eye)
To capture an image, lights first have to go through the lens (equivalent
to human's eye) which are later gathered as electrical charges by
the sensor (equivalent to human's retina). The sensor, by itself,
is incapable of perceiving colours, so it obtains colour data via
a colour filter arranged above individual pixels. Image data gathered
by the sensor is converted into digital signals to be analysed and
processed by the image processor (equivalent to human's brain) before
recording the image onto a memory card. Each process is crucial in
determining image quality.
So don't just be deceived by pixel count. Check for manufacturer's
lens and CCD.
How to take quality pictures from
the digital camera?
Compose Your Picture Using The LCD First Firstly, identify the subject that you are interested to emphasize. Next
compose your picture using the LCD. Ensure that only the things you want
viewer to see appear in the LCD screen. If you are taking a moving object,
always leave enough space in front of the subject so that it appears to
be moving into the picture. Now take the shot and you'll end up with your
full image size "framed" the way you like it. If you are not happy with
the composition, reshoot it.
Ensure that there is sufficient light in the background
Make sure that the automatic flash function is working when using a snap
happy camera. If you are using a camera with creative controls, there are
several ways to overcome the lighting conditions during your filming.
•
You could slot in different types of flashes according
to the lighting conditions.
•
Adjust the aperture setting /speed to allow more/less
light to enter the camera.
•
For night filming, you can adjust the ISO setting
ranging from 100 to 400.
•
Use exposure compensation mode if there is a strong
light coming from the back of the subject.
How to ensure that your
batteries will not run out on you at the crucial moment?
•
Use special longer-life lithium batteries, which
cost twice as much, but last three times longer.
•
Use rechargeable Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) or, even better,
Nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries. NiMH batteries charge up to 500
times and take just three hours for a full charge.
•
Buy multiple backup batteries, so you'll always have
spares.
•
Consider a rechargeable, plug-in camera battery pack
with longer power time. Before buying your camera, make sure that it
has the right connections for such a pack.
•
Use the camera's optical viewfinder whenever possible,
unless your camera doesn't have one. Those sexy little LCD screens are
handy for reviewing shots, but they make you pay by draining fresh batteries
in 20 minutes or less. If you're shopping for a camera, make sure it
has a traditional optical viewfinder as well as an LCD viewfinder.
•
If you have the choice, switch off the LCD except
when you must view the scene digitally or review an already recorded
shot to check your success.
•
Get used to turning off the camera between shots.
Don't leave the camera on unless you're ready to shoot again immediately.
Store it in your PC - The new range of digital cameras
comes with a USB cable for fast connection to PC. Just download the
software and get the digital camera to 'talk' to the PC. Once your
photos are loaded into your PC, convert the image from its original
format (usually a .tiff or .gif) into a .jpeg file. This is the most
common way to send images because they are "compressed"
and load faster. After the connection, organise the digital images
using bundled album software like ZoomBrowser to help you organise
your picture. Remember to delete those pictures you do not want or
it will take up too much memory space.
b.
Send it to your friends via email - Make sure your
recipient uses an e-mail program (like Microsoft Outlook) that allows
him or her to view attachments. Then scan your "best" photos.
Limit your attachments to 1 or 2-they will load faster.
c.
Store pictures in online PC-based albums There are
many online photo albums, some offer free storage, while others charge
for rental space. Check out these sites:
Images stored on the compact flash card can be
sent to photolabs for print. However, they will not touch up the image
for you. The best is to print it out into a photo quality printer.
Just use ZoomBrowser to download the images into the PC and fit them
onto an A4 size. You can print two 5R or four 3R prints on an A4 sized
paper
Print the
images II
e.
You can also buy direct photo printer. Link the
Canon digital camera to CP-10 (MRT card size) or CP-100 (post card
size). Or insert the compact flash card directly into S820D to print
4R or A4 size.
Set Up Album on your PDA Dream of carrying your album on your PDA. These sites
offer you some possibilities:
How to select the right resolution
& compression?
Resolution is the measurement of an image in pixels.
Since the maximum available resolution of an image is only getting higher,
digital cameras use a process known as "Compression" to reduce the size
of the image to a manageable size before it is stored. While this dramatically
increases the amount of pictures you can store on each memory card, there
is a trade off in quality.
Pending your usage of the images, the table below is a suggested guide.
Usage of images
Suggested Resolution
Suggested Compression Mode
Email
Low-medium
Normal
Printing people/ potraits
Large
Fine/ Superfine
Printing building/ scenery
Large
Normal
Note:
•
Low Resolution (800 x 600 pixels), Medium Resolution
(800x600-1280x1024 pixels), High Resolution (Above 1280 x 1024 pixels)
•
Compression mode yields progressively higher image
quality as one switches from "Normal" and "Fine" to the Superfine Mode.
What is the storage capacity of
the digital camera?
Digital Cameras store images in removable storage
media such as compact flash card. The storage capacity depends on the memory
space of the compact flash card , for instance, 32MB can store more images
than an 8 MB compact flash card.
However, the amount of images a storage media can keep varies with the CCD size in a digital camera. It also depends on the resolution and the compression of the picture.
How
to take care of your lenses?
Dirt, dust and fingerprints impact the performance of your lens. And
believe it or not, there is a right way and a wrong way to clean a
lens. Do it right and you’ll maintain peak optical performance.
Do it wrong and you could scratch an expensive piece of photographic
equipment.
Carefully blow off any dust or
dirt, using a blower brush or (very carefully!) compressed air.
Place a drop of lens cleaning
fluid on a clean piece of lens cleaning tissue, or blow gently on
the lens so that moisture condenses on its surface.
Gently wipe the lens surface
from the edges toward the center of the lens, with a lifting rather
than rubbing action. A micro-fiber cleaning cloth is a good alternative
to lens tissue, and requires no lens cleaning fluid.
For best performance, use only the Canon Lens Cleaning Kit which contains
cleaning solution, lens tissue and blower brush, available through
your authorized Canon Camera Dealer.
Consider using a Skylight or UV filter as full-time
protection of your lens, shooting your pictures through it and removing
it only when you're using another filter for special effect. And of
course, don't forget to use your front and rear lens caps!
Your lenses are precision instruments just like
your EOS camera is. Protect them from shock, impacts and dust by using
an appropriate lens case. And store them in cool, dry areas whenever
possible.
How focal length makes
a difference to your images
Whether it's a dramatic close-up or a stunning wildlife shot from
a 100 yards away, focal length will determine if you get the shot
you want. See below to see just what a difference focal length can
make in an image.
Do you need the Flash.
Built-in flashes typically produce harsh shadows
and edges, unnatural skin tones and "flat", washed-out images.
So when using electronic flashes, don't use it head on. Instead, diffused
the flash using various accessories such as bounce cards or soft boxes,
or aimed to reflect from other surfaces, also known as "bounce flash".
