Digital Camera Guide (pdf document) free file download at fliiby.com

"dIgITal caMERaS POINT & SHOOT BUYING Digital Cameras Store & Mail Order Hours: Sunday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm Friday: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm EST, 2:00 pm DST Saturday: Closed 800-947-9950 212-444-6600 420 Ninth Avenue @ 34th Street New York, NY 10001 INTRODUCTION TYPES OF CAMERA USERS ENTRY LEVEL ADVANCED PRO MEGAPIXELS 4 6 8 10 12 14 Digital Cameras bhphotovideo.com Quick searches and live support help you get everything you want and exactly what you need. Create an account, make a wish list, and sign up for our newsletter, all in our secure environment. FEATURES & ACCESSORIES 16 KEY FEATURES 22 Introduction Today’s point-and-shoot cameras are convenient, simple, and small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Stash one in your jacket pocket and you won’t miss a moment. Advances in camera technology now enable image capture at faster speeds. Some have bells and whistles specifically tailored to the needs of photographers—from built-in waterproof casings to in-camera panorama stitching. Manufacturers offer several models, from simple to sophisticated, to meet a wide variety of picture-taking needs. But with all the digital cameras out there, how do you even begin to pick the one that’s right for you? First consider budget. Point-and-shoot cameras range from $79 on upwards to $800. A lower-priced camera might have all the basic features you need. Or, you might want to invest more for a camera with beefy manual controls. Next, megapixels. The more megapixels the better, right? In most cases yes, and in some cases no. We’ll guide you through the megapixel madness. In addition, we’ll address memory cards, new camera features, accessories, and other factors to consider when buying a digital camera. Our goal is to provide a springboard to an informed decision, so you can come to our store armed with the right questions. This guide is a compilation of questions frequently asked by our customers, followed by the recommendations of our knowledgeable sales team. 4 Introduction 5 Introduction What kind of point-and-shoot photographer are you? Each camera has a personality as distinct as its owner. Basic features for quick and easy snapshots? Looking for a camera with RAW capture capabilities and a slim form factor? What do you use your camera for, and how often do you use it? Examine the photographic personalities below. Which description resembles you? Entry-Level User This is your first digital point-and-shoot camera. You take pictures occasionally—at birthday parties, weddings, on vacations. You don’t want to mess around with manual controls. You just want to take pictures. Advanced User You want more creative control and have already explored your camera’s manual functions. You’re thinking about upgrading to a digital SLR, but you want the simplicity of a point-and-shoot camera. 6 Point-and-Shoot Categories Pro User You already have a digital SLR, but don’t want to lug around a heavy body and multiple lenses. You’re looking for hefty manual controls and quick menu access. You’re seeking a compact solution for taking quick snapshots without thinking about technicalities. 7 Features to Look for in an Entry-Level Camera Entry-level cameras are by far the most popular pointand-shoot cameras. Compact and convenient, entry-level cameras are easy to use and easy to carry. Although shutter speed, aperture options, and zoom features are limited, they’re small enough to ﬁt in a jeans pocket for quick, on-the-go snapshots. If you’re considering purchasing your fi rst digital camera, the options can be overwhelming. Start by evaluating what you will be photographing most of the time. An entry-level camera is ideal for casual use—a birthday party, a family vacation to Yellowstone Park, baby’s fi rst steps, or a wedding. Face detection, Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), and red-eye reduction are now standard features of any entry-level point-and-shoot outfit. Built-In External Microphone Records audio for cameras with video capabilities. DC In / Battery Charger Connect your camera directly to a wall socket, or charge your battery in-camera. Memory Card Slot Buy the fastest, highest storage capacity within your budget. Make sure that the card format is compatible with your camera. Questions to ask: n Are you looking for an easy-to-use camera right out of the box? n How often do you use your camera? n For what purpose do you use your camera? n Are you a casual everyday photographer? 8 Entry-Level USB Connection Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable connection enables image upload to your computer or printer. Light Meter Measures ambient light to properly expose photos, when the ﬂash is manually disabled. Red-Eye Reduction A series of short ﬂashes are triggered before the shot is captured to reduce the occurrence of red eyes. Built-In External Speaker Enables audio playback from video clips. Shutter Lag Time The time span between the shutter ﬁring and your being able to take another picture. Particularly important when shooting high-speed action or sports. Optical Viewﬁnder On bright, sunny days, the image on the LCD screen can sometimes be diﬃcult to view. Consider an optical viewﬁnder as a backup. Wide-Angle/Telephoto Zoom Controls Zoom out for picturesque landscapes, or zoom in for close-ups. Face Detection Identiﬁes faces in the scene. Adjusts focus and exposure so that people in your photos are in clear focus. 9 Entry-Level CMOS/CCD Sensor Captures and converts the visual image into an electronic signal. Optical Zoom Utilizes the physical optics of your camera’s lens to increase the lens’s focal length and zoom in. Features to Look for in an Advanced-Level Camera The advanced user has a well-oiled trigger finger for taking digital photographs, and is familiar with the basic features and uses of a simple point-and-shoot camera. If you’re looking for advanced features, but you’re not ready to make the leap to a digital SLR, the advanced point-and-shoot is an ideal solution for experimentation and growth. Advanced point-and-shoot cameras extend the basic feature palette with megapixel upgrades, wider zoom ranges, and variable shutter and aperture speeds. Keep in mind that advanced features must be accommodated by a larger camera body. If photo-blogging and video sharing are staples of your daily diet, built-in “shoot-to-share” capabilities facilitate quick and easy uploads to Flickr and YouTube. Built-in WiFi capabilities extend the possibilities even further, enabling instant upload to your photo blog in the vicinity of a WiFi signal. Video Capture Up to HD quality with stereo sound. 10 Adavanced-Level Questions to Ask: n Would you like to upgrade from an earlier model? n Are you not quite ready to make the leap to a digital SLR? n Do you want more megapixels, zoom control, image stabilization? n Is a larger camera body a positive factor? n Are you looking for quick and easy upload of pictures to the web? Fast Burst Rates You won’t miss another moment. Free-angle LCD Monitor Freedom to take photos from unique perspectives. Hot Shoe For external ﬂash and electronic add-ons. Built-in WiFi Short Shutter Lag Times For close-to-instant image capture. For camera-to-camera sharing, wireless printing, and wireless upload to blogs. 11 Adavanced-Level Longer Optical Zoom Capabilities Get up close and personal with a grasshopper, or capture breathtaking landscapes. Features to Look for in a Pro-Level Camera Multiple lenses are bogging you down. An overstuﬀed camera bag also includes weekly visits to the chiropractor. If this sounds familiar, consider a pro user point-and-shoot camera. The pro user already owns a digital SLR and wants a compact, lightweight camera for quick photo ops, sketches, and everyday use. These cameras offer the fullest spectrum of features available on an SLR without the extra weight and without sacrificing manual controls. You won’t miss another shot while digging frantically in your camera bag for the right lens. Superior optics capture pristine images. High-quality sensors up the resolution ante. Direct control and manipulation over aperture, shutter speed, and focus enable you to capture the scene as you see it. RAW capture capabilities extend your post-production reach for further image tweaks, offering ultimate creative ﬂexibility. Quick menu access rounds out the features, making the pro user point-andshoot the next best thing to its SLR counterparts. Full Manual Features For direct control and manipulation of aperture, shutter speed, and focus. 12 Pro-Level Questions to Ask: n Seeking a quick, compact solution to complement your digital SLR? n Are you looking for hefty manual controls in a slimmer chassis? n Do you want RAW capture capabilities for ultimate post-production tweaks? High-end sensors with extended ISO ranges For crisp resolution and sharp images. Optical Diopter Dial Enables near- and far-sighted photographers to take pictures without having to wear eyeglasses. FINDER/LCD RAW Capture 1:2 .8-4.9/6.3-2 5. For creative post-production tweaks. 2 AS PH ERICAL DISPLAY MENU OP Lens Adaptor Ring TIC AL ZOOM Quick Menu Access Easy user interfaces and quick access to essential features without hassle. 6X Extend wide-angle lens range with optional converters. 13 Pro-Level Extended ISO Sensitivity For fast, clean image capture in lowlight situations. Megapixels and Sensors: is bigger really better? Seven or eight megapixels is the current standard on most point-and-shoot cameras. For an 8x10” print, 7 megapixels should suﬃce. However, if you’re blowing up an image up to poster size or larger, the image will appear “pixellated” (individual color pixel squares will be very visible on your print.) First, consider what your output size will be most of the time. You won’t necessarily need more megapixels for general use (4x6", 8x10") unless you frequently make poster-sized prints. Usually, the greater the number of megapixels, the higher the price. Second, consider the physical sensor size of the camera. Sensor size is analogous to 35mm, medium, or large format fi lm cameras. Generally, larger sensors have larger pixels that produce lower image noise and have a higher dynamic range. Cameras with larger sensors also have a larger chassis to accommodate the sensor size. Ultimately, your trade-off is camera size, price, and image noise. 14 Megapixels & Sensors Questions to Ask: n What will my final output be (web, 4x6", 8x10", poster size, or billboard)? n How large is the digital sensor? n Am I concerned with image noise? n Is a smaller camera body a concern? n What is my budget? 2 Megapixels = 4 x 6" maximum print size 3 Megapixels = 5 x 7" maximum print size 4 Megapixels = 6 x 8" maximum print size 5 Megapixels = 8.5 x 11" maximum print size 7 Megapixels = 11 x 17" maximum print size 8 Megapixels = 13 x 19" maximum print size 15 Megapixels & Sensors 12 Megapixels = 16 x 20" maximum print size Optical or Digital Zoom? Optical zoom utilizes the physical optics of your camera’s lens to zoom in and bring your subject closer, similar to a traditional fi lm camera. Alternatively, digital zoom attempts to extend the physical capabilities of the optical zoom digitally, usually resulting in a loss of image quality. Don’t forget that your feet are the best zoom lenses out there. Walk toward or away from your subject to take full advantage of your camera’s optical zoom without sacrificing image quality. If you want to get up close and personal with your subjects, explore the macro capabilities of your potential camera. Some camera’s macro settings enable you to get as close as 1 cm to your subject while maintaining sharp focus. Shutter Lag Shutter lag is the time span between the shutter fi ring and the time required to be able to take another picture. Th is feature is important if you’re shooting high-speed action or sports, where timing is critical. Lag times have improved significantly, and depend primarily on camera type and brand. Test out different cameras to get a feel for their lag times. If shutter speeds are still too slow, consider an upgrade to an entry-level digital SLR. 16 Zoom & Shutter Lag Questions to Ask: n Do I take photos from far away where a higher zoom rating is necessary? n How much am I willing to spend in order to get a higher zoom rating? n What are the macro capabilities of this camera? Questions to Ask n Will I be shooting high-speed scenes or sports? n Is timing a critical element in my photography? Video Almost all point-andshoot cameras nowadays have a “movie mode” that captures video in addition to still pictures. Some cameras even capture images optimized for web video applications like YouTube or AOL Video, for easy web output. Optical zoom capabilities are usually fixed during capture, meaning that you cannot zoom in and out at will. But that’s changing. Some cameras now have optical zoom capabilities while in movie mode. Make sure that the zoom in movie mode is optical, not digital. Wide-Angle Lenses When focusing on a camera’s zoom capabilities, don’t neglect your camera’s wide-angle capabilities. Wide angles are important for landscape photography, panoramas, or group shots in tight spaces. Alternatively, adaptors for auxiliary wide-angle lenses are available, if you want to extend your wide-angle range. Or take advantage of the in-camera panorama-stitching capabilities available on some cameras. Take three shots of your panorama from left to right, and the camera software conveniently finds their edges and “stitches” them together. Questions to Ask n Do I frequently take pictures of landscapes or group shots? STANDARD LENS WIDE ANGLE LENS Questions to Ask n Do I want to capture moving images in addition to still photos? n Does this camera zoom during video capture? Does it zoom optically or digitally in movie mode? 17 Wide Angle & Video LoW- LIGhT ImAGE WITh “NoISE” LoW- LIGhT ImAGE WIThouT “NoISE” ISO and Image Noise 18 ISO & Image Noise High ISO numbers (originally a rating for film speed) are ideal for low-light situations. The higher the ISO, the greater the film’s sensitivity to light. In traditional 35mm photography, this was achieved with physically larger film grains, which captured light faster. In digital photography, ISO is manipulated electronically, amplifying each pixel’s overall sensitivity to light. Light “spillover” can thus occur to each neighboring pixel when boosting the ISO, resulting in image “noise.” If you’re trying to capture a sunset at high ISO, for example, other color speckles may contaminate or degrade the sharpness of the image. With larger sensors, pixels are physically further apart, reducing the potential for light spillover and image contamination. That is why a digital camera with 6 megapixels crammed onto a smaller digital image sensor can potentially produce more noise at a higher ISO than 6 megapixels on a larger image sensor. The caveat—the larger the image sensor, the higher the price. Questions to Ask: n Will I be shooting in low-light situations often? n Is image noise a concern? Memory Cards & Readers A lot of people ask questions about internal memory. The bad news is that your camera’s brain operates on short-term memory. At its highest resolution you can take, at most, 5 to 10 photos. The good news is that you can extend your camera’s long-term memory with auxiliary memory cards. Card capacity depends on you. If you have a compulsive trigger fi nger and want a camera with a super brain, then go for the card with the fastest, highest storage capacity. If you’re more moderate, no need to shell out for the largest, leanest 16GB card. Buy the card that’s right for your needs and picture-taking capacity. Card speed is a rating of how fast (megabits per second) a digital image can be written to or read from the card. With point-and-shoot cameras, card speed is less of a concern than with digital SLR’s. When a fast-speed card is coupled with a USB 2.0 card reader, faster uploads to your computer are possible. Multiple-format card readers are also ideal for photographers who own memory cards with various formats and sizes. An external card reader facilitates and transfers photos to your computer faster. If speed is a nonissue, then you can upload images directly from your camera to the computer. Questions to Ask: n Do you have an itchy trigger finger when it comes to picture taking? n What will your final output format be (web, print)? n Is quick image upload important for your needs? n Do you have cameras with multiple-format memory cards? 19 Memory Cards Batteries AA batteries are convenient and can be purchased at any local store. They don’t hold a charge very long, especially if you’re using your LCD monitor and flash often. You might consider rechargeable NiMH AA batteries for longer life. NiMH batteries are compact and last three times as long as AA’s. An extra set of batteries is a worthwhile investment, especially if you’re in a remote location and access to battery charges is limited. Questions to Ask: n Is the convenience and Lens Care, Smudges, and Scratches Lens tissues, liquids, and micro-fiber cloths are standard. You’ll want to keep your optics clean and smudge-free. So before you inevitably smack a thumbprint on the lens, invest in a simple lens-cleaning kit. To keep your LCD screen scratch-free, purchase a screen protector. Definitely buy a case to prevent wear on the camera body. 20 Batteries & Lens Care ubiquity of AA batteries important to me? n Are rechargeable AA NiMH batteries a possibility? n Slim form factor and longer battery life of NiMH? Warranty Protect your investment with a 2- or 3-year SageMax Warranty. Valid from date of purchase, the warranty covers repair, replacement, or refund, excluding loss or theft. The SageMax Warranty is valid worldwide, with an approximate 10 business-day turnaround. Ask your sales associate for details. Bells and Whistles Do your “say-cheeeese” moments go sour? A new feature called smile detection takes face detection one step further. After the camera “sees” a face, it then “looks” for a smile, and takes a picture, so you get a perfect smile every time. For extreme weather conditions, consider industrial-strength, shockproof, crushproof, sand-proof, waterproof cameras. These cameras go anywhere, and are basically blow-up proof, withstanding even the bombast of a firecracker within 10 feet unscathed. Underwater casings aren’t necessary, either. Waterproofing is built-in so you can take this camera on a jet ski or shallow 33-ft. dive without worry about waterlog. A whole niche has formed around the web-savvy tech enthusiast or teenyblogger. Don’t let the designer wasabi-green casing fool you. Behind the lens you have web-ready, “shoot-to-share” features for quick online posting to popular web sites. Some cameras capture optimal video for posting to online video sites like YouTube, complete with a software interface for quick upload and meta-tagging. Is Flickr your addiction? In-camera WiFi capabilities enable direct upload to your Flickr account when you’re within range of a WiFi connection. Other cameras have web-ready features that enable the simultaneous capture of a high-res image and web-ready image for quick posting to a blog or e-mail. Questions to Ask: n Research and evaluate the extended features on your prospective camera. Which extra 21 Bells & Whistles features are essential? Which features can you do without? n Will you take pictures underwater or under extreme conditions? n Are you a web-savvy tech enthusiast? Do you own a teenyblogger? n Do you use popular web platforms such as YouTube, Ebay, and Flickr for image and video delivery? Key Features Explained Viewﬁnders L..."

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