digital cameras 101

1
digital cameras 101
digitalcorner

• digital camera buyers guide

2
digital cameras 101
digitalcorner

• J.J. Johnson
• Pegasus Photography

3
History
digitalcorner

• Feburary 17, 1994, Apple produce the first
  consumer-market level digital camera that worked
  with the home computer.
• Digital Camera Timeline

4
So you want to buy a digital camera?
digitalcorner

• What is your Budget
• Point and shoot or DSLR
• Megapixels
• Lenses
• Zoom (Optical / Digital)
• Memory Cards
• Image Format
• LCD Screen
• Recycle Time
• Battery
• Accessories
• R.P.M

5
Most Popular Digital Cameras
digitalcorner
6
Categories
digitalcorner

• What Type of Photographer Are You?

Point-and-Shoot Beginner Amateur Serious
Amateur Advanced Amateur Family
dSLR Professional 
7
Categories
digitalcorner

• What Type of Photographer Are You?

• Point-and-Shoot 
• You want a digital camera that automates
  everything
• You 'point' and 'shoot' the picture -- the camera
  does the rest

8
Categories
digitalcorner

• What Type of Photographer Are You?

• Beginner Amateur 
• Just starting out in photography
• Probably your first digital camera
• You need something that is relatively easy to use
• you want a camera that will let you try a few
  things without getting overwhelmed
• Your digital camera will have Auto mode, plus a
  few controls to allow some learning and
  experimentation

9
Categories
digitalcorner

• What Type of Photographer Are You?

• Serious Amateur 
• Well, you're hooked!
• Photography is fun, and digital photography has
  opened up new horizons in seeing and artistic
  expressions.
• You want to learn about f/stop, depth of field,
  and freezing action how to apply the rules of
  good composition, proper exposure in different
  situations, and faithful color reproduction.
• Your digital camera will allow you to explore and
  experiment you're ready and not afraid to learn
  what all those controls are for, experiment with
  them to see the different images you obtain

10
Categories
digitalcorner

• What Type of Photographer Are You?

• Advanced Amateur 
• You've been at it for years now, and you know
  both your own personal strengths and limits, as
  well as the strengths and limitations of digital
  cameras and image editing software.
• You've learned to not only follow the rules, but
  also when to break them. You know the type of
  photography you like best.
• Your digital camera should give you total
  creative control as well as the best image
  quality possible
• You want a digital camera that you can customize
  to work the way you like to work

11
Categories
digitalcorner

• What Type of Photographer Are You?

• Family dSLR 
• As easy to use as a PS but with the image
  quality, speed of operation and flexibility you
  would expect from a dSLR.
• A Family dSLR is as full-featured as any digital
  SLR and will take you as far as you want to go.
• It is Point-and-Shoot simple in use -- not in
  features.

12
Categories
digitalcorner

• What Type of Photographer Are You?

• Professional 
• You are a pro.
• Only the best will do.
• Buy whatever you want from any of the categories
• -- and why are you even here today?

13
Categories
digitalcorner

• Basic Digital Point-and-shoot
• Advance Digital Point-and-shoot
• Digital SLR- Advanced features

14
camera categories THERE ARE THREE MAJOR CATEGORIES OF DIGITAL CAMERAS, DIGITAL SLR (PRO AND AMATEUR), ADVANCED DIGITAL CAMERA, AND BASIC DIGITAL CAMERAS (OR COMPACTS). OF COURSE THERE'S CROSSOVERS BETWEEN THEM, BUT HERE'S A TABLE THAT MAY HELP WITH YOUR PURCHASE DECISIONS. THERE ARE THREE MAJOR CATEGORIES OF DIGITAL CAMERAS, DIGITAL SLR (PRO AND AMATEUR), ADVANCED DIGITAL CAMERA, AND BASIC DIGITAL CAMERAS (OR COMPACTS). OF COURSE THERE'S CROSSOVERS BETWEEN THEM, BUT HERE'S A TABLE THAT MAY HELP WITH YOUR PURCHASE DECISIONS. THERE ARE THREE MAJOR CATEGORIES OF DIGITAL CAMERAS, DIGITAL SLR (PRO AND AMATEUR), ADVANCED DIGITAL CAMERA, AND BASIC DIGITAL CAMERAS (OR COMPACTS). OF COURSE THERE'S CROSSOVERS BETWEEN THEM, BUT HERE'S A TABLE THAT MAY HELP WITH YOUR PURCHASE DECISIONS. THERE ARE THREE MAJOR CATEGORIES OF DIGITAL CAMERAS, DIGITAL SLR (PRO AND AMATEUR), ADVANCED DIGITAL CAMERA, AND BASIC DIGITAL CAMERAS (OR COMPACTS). OF COURSE THERE'S CROSSOVERS BETWEEN THEM, BUT HERE'S A TABLE THAT MAY HELP WITH YOUR PURCHASE DECISIONS.
FEATURES DIGITAL SLRS ADVANCED DIGITAL BASIC DIGITAL NOTES
Interchangeable lenes Yes No No  
Accessory lenes Yes Yes No Lenes that can be attached to camera to extend or shorten focal length
Range of focal length Great Very Good Good  
Built-in-flash Mostly no Yes Yes  
Viewfinder Optical Optical or Electronic Optical Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) is like looking as a mini LCD
Live LCD No Yes Yes On outside to the camera, this allows you to look at the camera rather than through it while composing.
Shutter Lag Negligible Slight Moderate The time it takes for pressing the button until it takes the picture.
Program Mode Many, except top pro models Many Some  
Weight Heavy Light Very Light  
High resolution Yes Yes Moderate  
Noise in images Cleanest Clean except higher ISO Clean except higher ISO  
RAW - JPEG Most Most No  
Buffer for burst shooting Large Small No  
Price 800 - 8,000 300 - 1,000 150 - 900  
15
Categories
digitalcorner

• Basic - Point-and-shoot
• Compact camera
• Autofocus
• Built-in flash
• Best selling

16
Categories
digitalcorner

• Advanced - Point-and-shoot
• Same features as the Basic PS
• Zoom Lenses
• Better focus and exposure system
• Red-eye reduction

17
Categories
digitalcorner

• dSLR (digital Single Lens Reflex)
• Full control
• Manual (M) aperture speed
• Speed priority (S)
• Aperture priority (A)
• Programmable (P)
• Interchangeable lenses
• Hot shoe flash

18
Categories
digitalcorner

• dSLR (digital Single Lens Reflex)

19
How Many Megapixels
digitalcorner
The key element to picking a digital camera

• Megapixel
• Definition One-million pixels, a unit of
  measurement in an image. This number will
  determine the quality of the image. Think of it
  as the number of dots in your picture. A low
  density of dots will result in a poor image
• Pixel stands for PICture ELment
• Pronunciation MEG-uh-PIX-uls
• Common Misspellings megapixals
• Examples Images from my one megapixel camera
  will really only look good in an email, but I get
  great enlargements from my five megapixel camera.

20
How Many Megapixels
digitalcorner

• 2 megapixels or less
• This is typically found on smaller, inexpensive
  cameras or cameras in combination with other
  devices (such as
• cellphones or PDAs).
• It will be hard to make a high-quality print of
  any size, but these are just fine for e-mailing
  photos or posting photos
• for a personal web site.
• I wouldn't recommend it for family portraits or
  if you really need a nice-looking print.
• Expect to pay 100 to 150 for the camera alone,
  more for a combo unit.

21
How Many Megapixels
digitalcorner

• 3 megapixels
• This is actually a good compromise between
  picture quality and low price for most casual
  photographers.
• You can print lovely 4x6 images, decent 5x7s and,
  depending on the camera, might even knock out a
  good 6x9 or 8x10.
• You will pay around 150 to 250.

22
How Many Megapixels
digitalcorner

• 4 megapixels
• You're getting nicer. These images make
  practically photo-lab quality 4x6s, and great
  5x7s and 6x9s.
• You can print a nice 8x10.
• You'll typically pay about 250 to 350.

23
How Many Megapixels
digitalcorner

• 5 megapixels
• Hello, enlargements! This will produce beautiful
  8x10s, and even a nice 11x14.
• Now you are getting closer to professional
  photographer levels, and the quality shows it.
• And you'll pay the price, around 350 to 450.

24
How Many Megapixels
digitalcorner

• 6 megapixels and up (16 MP)
• Wonderful image quality, but high price tags. You
  can print large photos, even 11x14 or perhaps
  more, with
• satisfying results.
• There are some high-megapixel cameras coming out
  with lower price tags than most, but they usually
  have very few
• features.
• Unless megapixels are the only thing you care
  about (it shouldn't be), don't get a camera that
  sounds outrageously
• inexpensive for its megapixel range.
• In this category, expect to pay 450 and up, up,
  up.

25
LensWhat kind of lens do you need
digitalcorner

• Zoom
• Optical
• Digital

26
Zoom LensesWhat kind of lens do you need
digitalcorner

• Optical Zoom
• Definition This is a type of zoom on digital
  cameras that replicates what a 35mm zoom does, by
  actually magnifying the subject of the photo.
• Examples The optical zoom lens produces a better
  quality image than the alternative digital zoom

27
Zoom LensesWhat kind of lens do you need
digitalcorner

• Digital Zoom
• Definition Enlarging of an image that requires
  the camera to double the size of the pixels. Due
  to the doubling of pixels the image begins to
  become fuzzier and fuzzier as you enlarge.
• Examples I try to avoid using digital zoom
  because the image suffers.
• Bottom Line Avoid Using the Digital Zoom

28
LensWhat kind of lens do you need
digitalcorner

• Fixed-focal-length lenses
• Retractable zoom lenses
• Fixed zoom lenses
• Interchangeable lenses

29
Fixed-focal-length lenses
digitalcorner

• These lenses offer no optical zoom. Look for
  autofocus instead of fixed focus, as well as
  selectable macro and landscape focus modes.Best
  for snapshooter, budget buyer

30
Fixed-focal-length lenses
digitalcorner

• Advantages  Allows compact or ultracompact
  camera designs. Easy and quick camera
  operation. Inexpensive. Lenses usually offer
  relatively wide angle of view, which  is good
  for landscapes and group shots.
• Disadvantages  Can't zoom in close to faraway
  subjects. Lens doesn't usually accept
  converters for different focal lengths or
  filters. Usually lowest optical quality
  available.

31
Retractable Lenses
digitalcorner

• These zoom lenses retract into the camera body
  when the camera is off and extend when it's
  on.Best for snapshooter, budget buyer,
  undecided, trendsetter

32
Retractable Lenses
digitalcorner

• Advantages  Allows very compact, portable
  camera design. Lens is usually protected by a
  built-in cover.
• Disadvantages  Generally doesn't support lens
  converters or filters. Zoom range is often
  limited to 2X or 3X magnification. Lens
  extension may increase camera start-up time.
  Limited manual-focus controls through buttons or
  switches.

33
Fixed Zoom Lens
digitalcorner

• These zoom lenses are fixed to the camera body
  and do not retract into it when the camera is
  turned off.Best for undecided, serious
  amateur, business user, trendsetter

34
Fixed Zoom Lens
digitalcorner

• Advantages  Zoom ranges up to 12X
  magnification. Lens is usually threaded to
  accept lens converters (wide-
• angle, close-up, and so on), filters, and
  even ring flash
• units. Cameras typically offer advanced
  controls. May offer more precise zoom and
  manual focus control
• via rings on the lens instead of the
  bottoms.Disadvantages  Camera design bulkier
  than with retractable lens. Camera controls may
  be more complicated than what
• casual snapshot photographers want.

35
Interchangable Lens
digitalcorner

• Digital SLRs use interchangeable lens systems,
  which means that you can detach the entire lens
  from the camera body and replace it with any
  other compatible lens. If you already own several
  lenses for a 35mm film camera, you might want to
  find out if there's a digital SLR body available
  that's compatible with them. For more on dSLRs,
  read our Digital SLR buying guide.Best for
  serious amateur

36
Interchangable Lens
digitalcorner

• Advantages  Deliver the best quality
  optics. Provide the most flexibility to handle
  a variety of scenes. Don't have to buy a new
  camera to upgrade quality of
• lens.Disadvantages  Expensive to
  implement and buy. Lenses tend to be big and
  heavy. Focal lengths generally differ for the
  same lens mounted
• on a film camera, which can be confusing
  and cause
• vignetting.

37
Memory Cards
digitalcorner

• Definition A small electronic device that stores
  files. With digital photography, it is used to
  save images. The larger the storage capacity, the
  more images it holds.
• Examples I can save 200 images on my memory card.

How many shot can I fit on my media card How many shot can I fit on my media card How many shot can I fit on my media card How many shot can I fit on my media card How many shot can I fit on my media card How many shot can I fit on my media card
Camera type Approximate Number of Pictures per card Approximate Number of Pictures per card Approximate Number of Pictures per card Approximate Number of Pictures per card Approximate Number of Pictures per card
3 Megapixel 213 426 853 1706 3412
4 Megapixel 128 256 512 1024 2048
5 Megapixel 102 204 409 818 1636
6 Megapixel 80 160 320 640 1280
8 Megapixel 64 128 256 512 1324
12 Megapixel 40 56 128 256 512
Card Size 256MB 512MB 1GB 2GB 4GB
38
Memory Cards
digitalcorner
Compact Flash (CF) Type I II Pros Comes in
very large capacities fast competitively
priced Cons Larger than other flash memory
formats Supporting manufacturers Canon,
Fujifilm, Konica Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, and
Sigma used mainly in digital SLRs
39
Memory Cards
digitalcorner
Floppy Disk Pros Works in older PCs
inexpensive Cons Using floppy disk and drive
makes cameras relatively large and bulky very
little storage space Supporting manufacturers
Sony
40
Memory Cards
digitalcorner
Memory Sticks Pros Sony has unveiled a 8 GB
card, but according to Sony the Memory Stick Pro
has a maximum potential size of 32 GB. Cons
Preparatory to Sony products. Supporting
manufacturers Sony
41
Memory Cards
digitalcorner
MicroDrive Pros Large capacities fast Cons
Expensive CompactFlash capacities are quickly
catching up Supporting manufacturers Canon,
Fujifilm, Konica Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, and
Sigma used mainly in digital SLRs
42
Memory Cards
digitalcorner
Mini CD-R and CD-RW Pros Readable by CD and DVD
drives found on most current PCs inexpensive
reasonably large capacities Cons Using 8cm
discs and drive makes cameras relatively large
and bulky Supporting manufacturers Sony
43
Memory Cards
digitalcorner
Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard (SD/MMC) Pros
Very popular across consumer electronics devices
small fast wide range of capacities
competitively priced small size permits compact
devices Cons Not compatible with old MMC
slots Supporting manufacturers Canon, Casio,
Concord, Contax, DXG, Epson, HP, Kodak, Konica
Minolta, Kyocera, Leica, Nikon, Panasonic,
Pentax, Samsung, and Toshiba
44
Memory Cards
digitalcorner
SmartMedia Pros None Cons Old format replaced
by xD-Picture Cards slow limited
capacities Supporting manufacturers Older
models from Fujifilm, Olympus, and Samsung
45
Memory Cards
digitalcorner
xD-Picture Card Pros Smallest format means
smaller devices Cons Relatively new and still
proprietary format possibly too small hasn't
yet ramped up to the capacities of SD,
CompactFlash, or Memory Stick Supporting
manufacturers Fujifilm, Olympus
46
Image Format
digitalcorner

• 44 different formats.
• www.htmlgoodies.com
• What are the three major file format used today.
• JPEG
• RAW
• TIF

47
Image Format
digitalcorner

• Definition This is the manner in which digital
  images are stored. There are numerous ways to
  store an image, and the most popular are jpeg,
  gif, tiff, bitmap and the more complicated raw
  files. You can identify which format is used by
  looking at the end of the file name after the
  period. For example, picture.jpg is a jpeg file.
• Examples I store my images in jpeg because that
  image format is so widely used.

48
Image Format
digitalcorner

• JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group
• Small and fast for capture but has file
  compression that may introduce artifacts that
  degrade image quality.

1 compression 23KB
50 compression 8.33KB
99 compression 1.22KB
49
Image Format
digitalcorner

• RAW Raw files are so named because they are not
  yet processed
• Small than TIFFs and more flexible for post
  capture retouching
• Not offered on all cameras, and special software
  is required to read them

50
Image Format
digitalcorner

• TIFF Tag Information Format
• Large files that can slow down you shooting and
  fill up your media but have no compression
  artifacts
• Best way to preserver you digital photos

51
LCD Screen
digitalcorner

• Definition This is a feature included on most
  cameras, which allows the user to preview images
  immediately after a photo is taken. It is this
  single feature that persuades many to switch the
  digital cameras. These preview windows, however,
  can be vulnerable to cracking or malfunctioning.
• Examples Look on my camera's LCD screen, and you
  can see this picture I just took of you.

52
White Balance
digitalcorner

• A (Auto White Balance) automatically adjusts the
  white balance between 4,200 and 7,000k.
• Incandescent The color temperature of this
  setting is basically fixed at 3,000k.
• Fluorescent The setting is fixed at
  approximately 4,200k.
• Direct Sun Color temperature is fixed at
  approximately 5,200k (even though basic sunlight
  is 5,500k).
• Flash Its color temperature is set at
  approximately 5,400k (even though flash is
  5,500k).
• Cloudy This setting is obviously for overcast
  light. Its color temperature is set at
  approximately 6,000 K.
• Shade The color temperature is set at
  approximately 7,000k in the D1 and 8,000k in the
  X/H.

53
White Balance
digitalcorner
Preset WB Tungsten
AWB
The indoor lighting is by two ordinary
incandescent (tungsten) bulbs from the ceiling.
It's not bad, but the fan should really be white.
By dialing in a preset Tungsten WB, the image
gives a truer representation of the scene.
54
New Trends
digitalcorner

• New WiFi Camera!
• Devices can now communicate over the air,
  without long tangles of cumbersome wires
• Nikon P1 and P2
• Canon PowerShot SD430

55
Recycle Time
digitalcorner

• Definition The time it takes for a camera to
  reset between flashing for one photo and the
  next. This can be crucial, as lengthy recycling
  times can make it hard to capture fast-moving
  moments like action or even a fast-moving pet or
  child.
• Examples My camera has a short recycling time,
  which is nice for taking action shots that
  require a flash.

56
Battery
digitalcorner

• Definition These are used to power various
  devices, including digital cameras. Digital
  cameras use a variety of types, depending on the
  manufacturer.
• Examples Man, my digital camera blows through
  batteries.

57
File Transfer
digitalcorner

• USB Serial Cable
• Slow
• Consumes (EATS) battery power
• Card Reader

58
Card Reader
digitalcorner
59
Digital Camera Tips
digitalcorner

• Digital Photography Composition 101
• Night and Low Light Digital Photography Tips
• Macro Digital Photography Tips
• Depth of Field Tips
• How to Choose a Digital Camera
• Histogram Tips
• Program Modes

60
Accessories
digitalcorner

• Tripod
• Hotshoe Flash
• LCD Hood
• Extra Batteries

61
Editing Software
digitalcorner
Free Download
62
Resources
digitalcorner

• PC Photo Magazine
• www.pcphotomag.com
• ePhoto Magazine
• www.ephotozine.com
• Digital Photography Preview
• http//www.dpreview.com
• Web Photo School
• www.webphotoschool.com
• Steves Digicam
• www.steves-digicams.com
• Photoshop Elemtnts Users
• www.photoshopelementsuser.com

63
Resources
digitalcorner

• Digital Camera Resources Pages
• www.dcresources.com
• Digital Camera HQ
• www.digitalcamera-hq

64
Resources
digitalcorner
Complete Idiot's Guide to Digital PhotographyBy
Steven Greenberg -- This book features the
latest version of Adobe Photoshop Elements to
demonstrate image editing concepts and
techniques.-- This newly revised edition with
fresh content will have a clear advantage over
the woefully outdated...
65
Resources
digitalcorner
Curtin's Guide to Digital CamerasAnd Other
Photographic Equipment 126 page bw book, book
and full-color eBook package at a special price,
or eBook alone.
66
Where to buy
digitalcorner

• Best Buy
• Circuit City
• Office Max
• Office Depot
• Amazon.com

67
Digital cameras 101
digitalcorner

• Thank you

www.lcace.org/digital_corner.htm