Cameras

Digital Cameras

The digital camera market is expected to reach, if not surpass, 23 million units sold annually in 2003, and the industry continues to boom as these cameras become increasingly popular for mainstream use. Home users, small businesses and graphics professionals are learning that going digital offers benefits including ease-of-use, fast transfer to computers for image editing, reduced expenses for film and processing and the ability to preview photos instantly.

Digital Cameras By Budget
Resolution
FAQ
Memory

Digital Cameras By Budget

A few of the primary features to consider include resolution, zoom, settings and cost. The least expensive digital cameras generally feature low resolutions and automatic settings, while midrange cameras offer higher resolutions, manual and automatic settings and sometimes, optical zoom. Digital cameras with the highest resolutions usually include full optical zoom, automatic and manual settings and more.

To determine which types of digital cameras fit your customers' budgets, check the chart below. Note that these costs are approximate, and prices of cameras often change as new products are introduced.

 

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Pixels And Pictures: Which Resolution Is Right?

Cost is just one factor in a purchasing decision. Before choosing the highest available resolution, consider the intended use of the camera. Doe you want to post images online? Doe you need to print photos at a specific size? Additionally, high-resolution photos use more camera storage memory and take longer to transfer to a computer. The following table shows minimum resolutions recommended for intended use:

 

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FAQ

What is AF?
Autofocus. Two pricipal AF types exist. Active AF uses sound or a beam of light to determine the distance of the subject. Passive AF analyzes the image contrast to find an edge, then adjusts the focus to maximize the contrast.

Is fixed focus or autofocus preferable?
Unless you will only be shooting pictures at a distance, autofocus is recommended. This way you can shoot close-ups as well as landscape photos.

Do you need a camera with a viewfinder, LCD or both?
The viewfinder is the "window" you look through to set up a shot. An LCD screen allows preview and management of images. The ideal solution is a digital camera with both, so you can use the viewfinder to frame the shot and the LCD to preview the photo.

Are all digital cameras compatible with all personal computers?
Not necessarily. Most cameras are interchangeable between Mac and IBM PCs. Consider the platform the camera supports (Windows 98, OS9, etc.) and ensure that the camera's interface will connect to your computer (parallel, SCSI or USB).

How do optical and digital zoom differ?
Optical zoom changes the shot magnification but not the resolution. Digital zoom automatically crops the picture, but reduces the resolution in the process. Because of this difference, optical zoom is preferred, although the feature is not available on many of the standard digital cameras.

What if I need detailed photographs taken from a distance?
Optical zoom enables the user to magnify far away objects for more detailed photos. Typically, cameras with optical zoom offer 2X or 3X zoom, with 3X models offering the most detail.

How do card adapters differ from card readers?
Storage, such as memory cards, are inserted into card adapters to be read by computers or printers. A card reader transfers files to a computer or printer from memory cards, connecting to a port by cable.

Which interfaces enable speedy download of digital photos?
First, determine the interface your computer supports. For example, USB might be recommended, but if the computer has no USB port, another option is necessary.

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Don't Forget About Memory

• Built-in memory
  Digital cameras include up to 8 MB of memory and many hold up to 200 pictures, depending on resolution.
   
• Removable storage
  Most digital cameras support removable storage such as SmartMedia (up to 32 MB) and the more expensive CompactFlash (up to 128 MB) cards. Some adapters support both types of memory cards.
   
• PCMCIA cards
  Primarily used by professionals who need extra storage, PCMCIA cards include up to 500 MB of memory.

We recommend you purchase additional memory with your camera as memory modules tend to fill up quickly with images. To store numerous catalogued images we recommend that you purchase a mass storage device.

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