Digital Camera

Q. What are the pros and cons of digital versus film photography?
A. Instant Review -- Take a digital photo, review it on the camera's built-in screen. Don't like it? No problem. Erase it, and take it again. With film, you won't know if the subject has their eyes closed until the film is processed. The instant feedback and the "you got the shot" or not is a big plus for digital.

Price
Although digital camera prices are falling rapidly, feature-for-feature you still can't beat film cameras. A higher-end consumer 35mm SLR (single lens reflex) film camera, around $500, is easily half the cost of its digital counterpart, even with the previously mentioned zero film cost of the digital. Although you can get a lot of digital camera for $500, you won't find all the features of a film camera.
Flexibility
With personal computers, the Internet, and low-cost, high quality scanners and photo printers, photographers have many more options for manipulating and distributing their work. When you have your film processed, you can have it put onto a Photo CD or you can buy a scanner and scan the prints or the negatives yourself. Either way, more time, money and effort is spent. If you photograph an event digitally, you simply plug the camera into the computer, push a few keys, and folks around the world can see it within moments. If you shoot on film, you'll get good prints and spend extra time and money "going digital". If you shoot digital, you'll spend extra time and money getting good prints. It's a trade-off, and the direction you go is based upon your level of "digital-ness".
Storage
Unless you are diligent about filing your negatives, how are you going to find a negative strip five years after you took the picture? This is a drawback of film photography and an advantage of digital. When transferring a digital photo from the camera to the computer, your photo editing software has the means to record the date you shot them and what camera settings you used, improve the appearance, crop and resize them, remove unsightly blemishes, and even record them onto CDs for safekeeping.

Q. What camera is right for me?
A. It really comes down to assessing your needs. One starting point is the amount of megapixel resolution. You may not always use the larger files, but it is nice to have the capability if it is needed. Cameras can always be set at a lower resolution when large file sizes aren't needed. Generally, manufacturers will put better lenses in their higher end cameras, so an image from a more advanced camera may look better than an image of similar size from a much less expensive camera.
What other features are important to you? What do you need your camera to do? If you're interested in close-up photography, then select a camera that has a macro mode. If sports, candids or wildlife photography interests you, a camera with a more powerful zoom lens to bring distant objects close is important. Will you want advanced flash features for studio lighting? If so, look for a camera that has a hot shoe or PC cord connection. Is it important to be able to change your exposure? If so, then look for one with manual exposure capabilities. Is the ability to put filters on the front of your camera important? Most low end cameras do not have the ability to add filters to them. Once you decide what camera is right for you, make sure you protect your investment by purchasing a case, extra batteries, a higher capacity memory card and a card reader.

Q. Do digital cameras have better quality than film cameras?
A. Newer high-resolution digital cameras (6+ MP) approach and exceed the quality of the 35mm film cameras. The price-to-quality ratio is still better for film cameras but digital cameras offer many benefits such as instant previews, no film and processing cost, computer photo editing, and a variety of printing options that film cameras cannot match.

Q. What does "megapixel" mean?
A. A pixel is a "picture element," or a dot on your screen or in your picture. A pixel is a contraction if the term PICture ELement. Digital images are made up of small squares, just like a tile mosaic on a bathroom wall. Though a digital photograph looks smooth and continuous just like a regular photograph, it's actually composed of millions of tiny squares.
One megapixel is 1 million pixels, 2 megapixel is 2 million pixels and so on. All other things being equal (such as the lens, the sensor and the electronics in the camera), the more pixels you have, the better your pictures will look. Enlargements are richer looking and more detailed from a camera with a high pixel count, and larger sizes of prints can be made than from those cameras with a lower pixel count.
One of the main ways that manufacturers categorize their digital cameras is in terms of pixel count. Today this number varies between 1 megapixel (MP) to around 14 MP. Sometimes two numbers are given, total pixels and effective pixels. Total pixels count every pixel on the sensor surface. Usually the very edge pixels are masked off. Effective pixels are the number of pixels actually used in the image after the edge pixels have been dropped.

Q. How many megapixels do I need?
A. The number of pixels is the key to the quality of your pictures. 1- and 2-megapixel (1 megapixel equals 1,000,000 pixels) cameras take photos that are good for e-mailing and for printing up to about 4x6 inches. 3-megapixel cameras are good if you want to make prints up to 8x10 inches. For larger prints or for more cropping capability without a loss of quality, you'll need at least a 4-megapixel camera.

Q. What is resolution?
A. Your camera will allow you to adjust your image quality, so your memory card can contain both high-resolution and low-resolution images. Use the high-resolution setting when you know you will want to make large prints, and you do not plan to take many photos. Use the lower resolution setting when you want to take a lot of pictures, and will probably only want 4x6 inch prints, or simply to e-mail the photos to friends.

Q. What is compression?
A. Digital cameras will compress the pictures you take so more can fit on your memory card. The higher the compression you use, the lower the picture quality of the image. You can change the level of compression depending upon how you are using the photos. If you are taking pictures to e-mail, you may want to use the highest level of compression, while you will probably want to use the lowest level of compression when shooting to make prints. A good general rule of thumb when shooting pictures you plan to make into prints is to set your camera at the highest resolution setting and the lowest compression setting.

Q. What is the difference between digital and optical zoom?
A. An optical zoom lens adjusts so you can control the angle of view and how the image is cropped. Digital zooms are not zoom lenses. Rather, they magnify (enlarge) the center of the camera's sensor frame for a larger image. In doing so, grain (actually called "noise" in a digital camera) is increased. Low-end digital cameras come with either a fixed lens or an optical zoom lens with a limited range, usually around 2X. Those cameras are fine for around-the-house and similar snapshots. For sports and travel photography, you'll probably want a digital camera with at least a 4X optical zoom range. Many digital cameras also offer a digital zoom in addition to an optical zoom lens.

Q. What is zoom lens conversion factor with digital SLRs?
A. Many digital SLR cameras (such as Nikon and Canon models) take 35mm camera lenses. With most, there is a conversion factor. Because the size in area of the CCD or CMOS digital sensor is usually smaller than the 24x36mm size of 35mm film, the effective focal length of a lens increases. The factor ranges from 1.3X to 1.6X, depending on sensor size. A 28-300mm lens for a 35mm film SLR will be the equivalent to a 45-480mm on a digital SLR that has a 1.6X factor. This characteristic increases the power of telephoto lenses, but reduces the effectiveness of wide-angle lenses. Very short focal length wide-angle lenses are needed with digital SLRs to compensate for the conversion factor. A few digital SLRs have a 24x36mm sensor, so there is no conversion factor.

Q. How long do the batteries last?
A. Digital cameras require a lot of battery power, especially when the LCD screen on the back of the camera is used. Rechargeable batteries are a must. Some cameras include a rechargeable battery pack, while others use AA-size disposable or rechargeable batteries. Either way, you will want to make sure you have at least two sets of batteries.
There are several different rechargeable batteries on the market. NiMH (nickel metal hydride) batteries are available in AA and other common sizes. They replace disposable batteries and perform well, allowing you to recharge the batteries at any time while still holding their capacity. Lithium ion batteries are the most common type used in proprietary battery packs. They are compact and lightweight and hold their capacity well. Both lithium ion and NiMH batteries are memory-free, so their capacity doesn't deteriorate with use.
Cold weather reduces all battery performance. If you will be out in sub-freezing temperatures for any length of time, keep the spare battery in an inner pocket so your body warmth will keep the battery in peak condition.

Q. How can I conserve battery power?
A.
• Avoid using the LCD monitor. The LCD is the single biggest power guzzler in your camera.
• Avoid running the zoom lens motor. Turning a zoom camera on and off forces the zoom lens to extend and retract with each power cycle. If your zoom camera has a sleep mode, leaving it on between shots may well be a better power conservation strategy.
• Avoid using the onboard flash.
• Use your camera and batteries near room temperature if possible. Cold conditions reduce battery power.
• Store charged spare batteries in the coolest place you can find at or above freezing, but be sure to bring cold batteries back up to room temperature before using them.
• Use an external card reader whenever possible, so the camera and its batteries aren't used to transfer images to the computer.
• Use an AC adapter to power studio, surveillance or TV review sessions and any unavoidable serial cable transfers.
• Be aware of any modes in your camera that activate the LCD monitor and keep it on for an extended time. Avoid using these modes when battery power is nearly gone.

Q. How many pictures can I get on the camera memory card?
A.

These ranges are only estimates of how many images will fit onto the given size memory card. This will vary depending on the compression setting of the camera, which is usually adjustable. We recommend that you set your camera at the highest resolution and lowest compression for the best digital camera experience.

Q. How do I transfer the pictures on my computer? Do I need anything else to get the pictures from the camera to the computer?
A. There are several ways to do this. Virtually every digital camera allows you to download the photos to your computer with a cable that connects your camera to the computer. Another way to transfer photos is with a card reader. The memory card is removed from the digital camera and inserted into the reader, which is plugged into the computer. Your computer sees a card reader as an external drive that will allow you to access the images on your memory card, just as you would with a floppy disk. This is one of the easiest ways to get the images from your memory card to your computer, and it helps save battery power. Docking stations are another option. A docking station is an accessory made for certain cameras that is plugged into the computer. Resting the camera on the docking station recharges the battery and transfers the images to the computer.

Q. Why is there a delay after I push the camera shutter release?
A. Before taking the actual picture, a camera needs to focus, adjust white balance, determine the exposure and do many other things to be ready to record the image. The time it takes from pressing the shutter release to taking the picture is called shutter lag. The way to minimize this with any camera is pre-focusing. When you press the shutter release half way, the camera will focus, set exposure and if needed charge the flash, indicating in the display or viewfinder when it is ready. Keep the shutter depressed half way until the best moment and then press it fully; your camera should now take the picture almost instantly.

Q. How can I improve flash pictures with a digital camera?
A. All digital cameras have a built-in flash, but size and the maximum flash range is limited to perhaps 15 feet or less. An accessory or external flash may mount on the camera's hot shoe (if it has one), or connect to the camera with a bracket.
Most point & shoot style digital cameras lack hot shoes and any means to fire a second flash unit. But a bracket-type flash that has a built-in slave sensor can be used to fire in sync with the camera's flash. Since digital cameras usually fire a series to flash bursts (to set focus, white balance, etc.) prior to the main burst of light, this slave flash should have a "smart" sensor. This type of sensor will ignore the pre-flashes and fire in sync with the primary burst of light.
More advanced cameras will have a hot shoe to accept companion flashes made by the camera manufacturer or independent brands. A fully dedicated flash will interface with the camera's autofocus and auto-exposure system, while producing considerably more light for greater range and with more creative control than the built-in flash.
A studio flash system with multiple flashes on light stands can be used with digital cameras. The primary issues are synchronizing the camera with the flashes and controlling exposure. Ideally, the camera will have a PC flash cord terminal or a hot shoe with a cord adapter to fire the flash system. Otherwise the built-in flash can be used to trigger the slave-equipped studio flash. The camera will need to have a flash mode that doesn't use pre-flashes, or a "smart" slave that ignores pre-flashes will need to be used. The camera will need to have manual exposure control so the exposure and light output from the studio flash can be balanced.

Q. How do I e-mail digital photos?
A. There are two things to keep in mind. First, if you e-mail an image taken at normal resolution settings, the file size often exceeds the maximum that your e-mail service allows you to send. Second, if you do manage to send the file, the picture is too large to see on the recipient's computer monitor.
For example, a 4-megapixel camera that is set to the highest resolution creates an image that measures 2272 x 1704 pixels. Since an average computer monitor displays 800 x 600 pixels or 1024 x 768 pixels, it's easy to see that the 4-megapixel image is larger than the screen can display. Even at higher screen resolutions of 1280 x 1024, for example, the picture, viewed at full size is still larger than the screen can display.
In addition to screen size, an e-mail image should be a lower resolution than an image you print on a photo printer. An e-mail image can be compressed as a JPEG to reduce file size, while images you print should not be saved using lossy compression formats.
For example, monitors display either 72 or 96 pixels per inch (ppi). By contrast, a picture that you print should be set to 200 to 300 pixels per inch (ppi). Note that ppi and dot per inch (dpi) are different measurements. PPI measures image resolution, and dpi measures printer resolution. While a monitor can display many colors, photo printers can print far fewer colors. You can resize photos for viewing in e-mail in your image-editing program, or have the program do it for you.
As a result, printers must print many more dots per inch than pixels per inch to achieve color accuracy. While the differences between the two measurements can be confusing, remember that lower resolution settings and medium JPEG compression settings are preferable for photos you e-mail because they reduce the file size of the image without noticeably affecting the onscreen quality of the photo.
To see the entire picture on a computer monitor, the image must be resized in your image editing program so that it fits within or is smaller than the dimensions of the monitor. In addition, the image file size cannot exceed the maximum that the e-mail service allows. To get a properly sized, lower resolution (smaller file size) image, you have several choices.
Many digital cameras offer the option of creating a small duplicate of a picture, sized specifically for sending in an e-mail or posting to a Web site. On most cameras, you can choose from among several different "small picture" sizes ranging from 96 x 72 pixels to 640 x 480 pixels. Small pictures are saved with a high rate of compression, typically at a 1:16 ratio to reduce the file size for use in e-mail messages or on a Web site. It's a good idea to read the manual that came with your camera to learn more about using this option.
To help you find the "small" pictures when images are downloaded to your computer, most cameras use a designation in the file name. For example, the Nikon Coolpix 4300 designates small picture files by adding a "SS" prefix on the file name. To send the small picture in e-mail, you create an e-mail message and insert one or more small picture files as attachments. The advantages of the small picture option include convenience and time savings. If your camera takes pictures that don't need image editing on the computer, then using your camera's small-picture option is a convenient and quick way to create images for e-mail messages. The disadvantage of having the camera create a small picture is that small pictures consume additional space on the memory card, and, if the card is near capacity, the camera will not be able to create the small picture. You can edit the small picture on the computer just as you would any image file. However, if you edit both the small picture and the original large picture, then the time-saving advantage vanishes. In this case, it makes more sense to save space on the memory card and create a smaller e-mail version after you edit the large picture using your image-editing program.
If you're using Microsoft Outlook: *Create a new e-mail message. Click INSERT, click FILE, and then click BROWSE. Navigate to the folder that contains the small picture you want to attach and click the file name you want. Click INSERT.
If the file is attached to the e-mail message, type the recipient's e-mail address, the subject, the text of the message. Click SEND.

Q. What does LCD stand for?
A. Liquid Crystal Display, used in flat screen monitors and laptop computer screens, digital cameras and many other electronic devices.

Q. How should I clean an LCD screen?
A. Use a soft cotton cloth, a microfiber cloth or computer wipes made specifically for cleaning LCD panels. Apply a cleaning fluid that is safe for LCD panels onto the cloth, not directly onto the LCD. Water, diluted vinegar or diluted isopropyl alcohol will be safe. Do not use ammonia. Wipe gently, in one direction.

Q. Should I have any concerns about putting my digital camera through the X-Ray machines at the airport?
A. No, there is no evidence that putting your camera through those machines causes any harm

Q. Can I get my digital photos printed on real photo paper?
A. Yes, companies such as Porter's will print your digital images on real photo paper. You can send them to us through e-mail or send/bring them to us on a photo CD, DVD, memory card or other media. Prices vary depending on the size of the print you needed. Porter's will send your photos directly to you via US Mail or you can pick them up personally.

Q. What about MPEG movie modes in digital still cameras?
A. Many digital cameras offer the ability to shoot short movies that are saved in the MPEG formats. Unfortunately, the quality of these movies doesn't come close to the movies shot with a camcorder. They are often severely limited in terms of length, may fill up only a small portion of the screen or have jerky motion due to capturing a small number of frames-per-second. Some cameras also don't record sound. To get the best quality digital video, use a digital camcorder

Q. How do I get the best quality from my digital camera?
A. No matter what sort of digital camera you have, we recommend you set the camera at its highest resolution most of the time. If you have a 4-megapixel camera, for instance, stick with the 4-megapixel mode unless you're absolutely sure that your pictures won't have to be cropped, and you'll only need low resolution images. If you might want to print your pictures, it's safest to use top resolution--or you can end up with a picture that's too small to make a quality print.
Most digital cameras let you choose an image quality setting. Image quality refers to how much compression the camera uses to save your images as JPEG files. High image quality means low compression, and thus bigger files--so not as many will fit on your camera's memory card. If you plan on printing your photos, it is best to save your images with high image quality and purchase larger memory cards. You can then save your images on CD's and other storage devices.

Q. What should I worry about when buying from a lowest-cost online dealer?
A. You should be prepared for a strong sales pitch from such a dealer for extended warranties or accessories, usually at much higher prices than you could buy them for elsewhere. How much is the shipping charge? When ordering online, this may not show up until the final checkout screen, and it may be much higher than at most dealers such as Porter's. There is also the possibility that a camera is a gray-market one or refurbished. There might be a longer wait if the dealer doesn't keep the camera in stock. A gray market camera may not have English language controls and screen commands. Porter's sells no gray market equipment and has most all items in stock to be sent out that day.