| Don't get confusedIf you have made your mind | | | | discard it and take it again. There are no |
| up to start using a digital camera, or | | | | costs involved in this.Don't worry about |
| perhaps upgrading from an existing one, then | | | | "megapixels"....There is a lot of fuss made |
| you can be forgiven for being confused. There | | | | about megapixels. This can be confusing for |
| are thousands of digital cameras available | | | | the majority of us. Rest assured that most |
| and they all display a confusing array of | | | | cameras have at least 3 megapixels these days |
| specifications. And digital photography was | | | | and will produce more than excellent results |
| supposed to make photography easy, wasn't | | | | at normal sizes. Only when you enlarge to |
| it?Luckily, many of the functions that | | | | 10x8 ins or more will you find the need to |
| digital cameras have are common to all so it | | | | invest in greater megapixels. But think back |
| is often down to personal choice as to which | | | | - when was the last time you EVER did |
| one is for you. How do you plan to use your | | | | that?.... or lensesIn respect of lenses, you |
| camera? When? How much can you afford to | | | | should consider buying a camera with a lens |
| spend?Don't worry about terminologyThe | | | | that will "zoom" - that is get closer to the |
| easiest mistake to make is to go for the | | | | action, or further away. If you never felt |
| greatest megapixels when choosing a camera. | | | | the need before, than trust me, go for a zoom |
| But this won't get you the best camera or the | | | | lens now. You won't regret it. Luckily almost |
| best shots. Then there is the zoom of the | | | | all compact cameras and all prosumer models |
| lens to think about - optical or digital? And | | | | have a zoom lens built in and of course you |
| what type of memory cards are used? SLR, | | | | can buy your own zoom lenses if you have a |
| prosumer or compact? It can be very | | | | digital SLR.Shutter delay is normal on |
| confusing.Decide what you want from a | | | | compact camerasOne of the annoyances you |
| cameraThink what you are expecting from a | | | | might find with compact digital cameras is |
| digital camera? Will you be using it for | | | | that of shutter lag. This is the delay |
| family and travel type shots or will you be | | | | between pressing the shutter button and the |
| delving into more complex areas such as | | | | picture actually being taken. It is normal. |
| nature. Sports, portrait or landscape | | | | When you press the shutter button the camera |
| photography? Buying a digital camera won't | | | | goes through a sequence of checks and |
| make you a superstar photographer or get you | | | | adjustments to calculate the best |
| noticed by the rich and famous but it can | | | | circumstances for correct exposure. This can |
| simplify your photography and make you think | | | | create a delay before the shutter actually |
| about what you are doing a bit more. To be a | | | | triggers and the picture is taken. You won't |
| top class photographer takes years of | | | | miss many shots but you might miss a few |
| experience.But, there have been remarkable | | | | especially where fast action is concerned. |
| advances in digital photography in recent | | | | You can minimise this problem by pressing the |
| years and the very least you can expect is an | | | | shutter button halfway and allowing the |
| affordable camera that will produce images as | | | | camera to pre-calculate conditions for |
| good as you were used to on 35mm film. You | | | | exposure. In any event, the problem is a |
| will get a state of the art camera that will | | | | minor annoyance and is overshadowed by the |
| fulfil most of your expected | | | | tremendous benefits digital photography has |
| requirements.What is different about | | | | to offer.Flash is easyMost compact cameras, |
| digital?The big difference between digital | | | | prosumers and many SLRs have built in flash. |
| and film cameras is the ability to see your | | | | This is handy if you want to get that |
| shot on the inbuilt LCD screen either before | | | | otherwise elusive shot indoors or in the |
| you shoot or after (sometimes both). This can | | | | dark. But don't expect quality - external |
| allow you to see any glaring mistakes, | | | | flashguns will give the best results but the |
| improve composition and retake shots that | | | | sheer convenience of a built in flash makes |
| weren't up to scratch.Cost is a big factor. | | | | it worth the effort.What are "memory |
| Don't be put off by the cost of digital | | | | cards"?People often get confused by memory |
| cameras in the stores. They may look | | | | cards. There is no need. Simply put, a memory |
| expensive (although prices are coming down | | | | card is the equivalent to film in the older |
| all the time) but you will save a fortune on | | | | film cameras. The images you take are stored |
| processing. All images you make with your | | | | on these. The main differences are that you |
| digital can be downloaded from your camera | | | | can store many more than you would have been |
| onto your computer and the memory card in the | | | | able to on film and that you can download |
| camera wiped clean ready to start again. No | | | | them to a computer or print images out at the |
| more buying film, no more developing and | | | | local store or at home and then delete all |
| printing costs - unless you want to!And a | | | | the images on the card ready to start all |
| digital camera will allow you to view your | | | | over again!The camera you buy will usually |
| images on your computer, on your TV or send | | | | take only one type of memory card. Other |
| then to friends and family around the world | | | | types won't fit. They are easily and cheaply |
| or even upload them to free websites and | | | | available both in the shops and online. The |
| galleries. The limits are endless!Types of | | | | come on different capacities (just like film) |
| digital camerasCameras come in various types. | | | | but typically a 256Mb sized card will be able |
| Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras come with | | | | to store around about 150 images taken on a 3 |
| the ability to change lenses depending o the | | | | megapixel camera.Batteries are requiredYour |
| conditions. They can be complex for the | | | | camera will need power and these days it |
| casual user and the results are not | | | | comes from batteries. Not so long ago, |
| necessarily better than those of good compact | | | | battery life was very short and consequently, |
| cameras. They are for the avid enthusiast who | | | | costs were relatively high. Now things are |
| knows what spending lots of cash on a new | | | | better and most cameras give longer battery |
| lens really means.Another type of camera is | | | | life. Of course you can use rechargeable |
| the "prosumer" model. These look and feel | | | | batteries and these will last you for years |
| like SLRs but they don't have interchangeable | | | | if looked after. Many cameras allow you to |
| lenses. They are, however, of a high | | | | recharge batteries either with a specific |
| specification and produce results that can be | | | | charger (often included in the package) or |
| indistinguishable from more expensive | | | | via an optional "dock" in which the camera is |
| models.Compact cameras do not have | | | | placed when not being used - this gives a |
| interchangeable lenses - but often have | | | | continuous charge and means your camera is |
| additional components that can be attached to | | | | read for action at all times.Viewing your |
| make them function in this way. They are | | | | picturesWhen you have finished taking your |
| usually smaller and easier to carry and | | | | pictures you can usually review them on your |
| handle. The have powerful functions and most | | | | camera's built-in screen. Or, better still, |
| have both programme mode (fully automatic) | | | | you can download them easily to your computer |
| and the ability to override to a more | | | | for ease of viewing and can even watch slide |
| creative mode when required. They often have | | | | shows on your TV or send them via email to |
| between 3 and 6x optical zoom - more then | | | | your friends. Many people are setting up free |
| enough for the avid snapper.Enjoy | | | | galleries online to store their images or |
| digital!Digital cameras are fun! You can see | | | | developing user-friendly "blogs". With |
| what photograph you have taken without having | | | | digital, the possibilities are endless! And, |
| to wait days or weeks to finish a film or | | | | all the software and cables you need are |
| await processing. The images you take can be | | | | usually supplied with the camera when you buy |
| shared and enjoyed by everyone around you | | | | it.Now get your camera!Digital cameras are |
| either instantly at the time of taking the | | | | the way to go. They are relatively cheap to |
| picture or very quickly afterwards by email | | | | run, produce fantastic results and will give |
| or other medium. You get instant results and | | | | years of pleasure. |
| if you don't like what you see then you can | | | | |