Digital Camera Basics: How To Choose A Good Camera

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1 Copyright Dan Feildman 1

2 Digital Camera Basics How To Choose A Good Camera Brought to you by Copyright Dan Feildman 2

3 This is NOT a free report. You do NOT have the right either to sell this report or to give it free. This report is for your own use. You cannot sell or share the content herein. DISCLAIMER AND/OR LEGAL NOTICES: The information presented in this report represents the views of the publisher as of the date of publication. The publisher reserves the rights to alter and update their opinions based on new conditions. This report is for informational purposes only. The author and the publisher do not accept any responsibilities for any liabilities resulting from the use of this information. While every attempt has been made to verify the information provided here, the author and the publisher cannot assume any responsibility for errors, inaccuracies or omissions. Any similarities with people or facts are unintentional. No part of this report may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any informational storage or retrieval system without expressed written, dated and signed permission from the publisher. Copyright Dan Feildman 3

4 Table of Contents Types Of Digital Cameras... 7 Best Digital Cameras For Beginners Quality In Digital Cameras What To Look For First In A Digital Camera Bargain Shopping & Finding Package Deals After You Have Your Digital Camera Camera Lenses Resources Copyright Dan Feildman 4

5 There are a few basics you need to learn when it comes to beginning digital photography. There are a lot of benefits to using a digital camera over traditional 35MM cameras. You can see instant results of the photographs you ve taken, it s convenient, and you don t have to spend time and money going to photo-developing places when you can do it at all at your house. Plus, there are plenty of free and paid software editing programs. Digital cameras have taken over the camera market in the past five years and can take photos of the same quality, if not better, than older cameras can. While they used to be really expensive, digital cameras range from $100 to $500 for nearprofessional quality. Even less expensive cameras take pretty good images these days. Two of the most important things to examine when searching for a good digital camera are size and use. Some cameras have tons of features that may overwhelm a beginner, so a basic point-and-shoot is the best starting point. Most point-and-shoot cameras have presets like automatic focus and flash to direct the user so they can snap some foolproof shots. These days, digital cameras are everywhere: in purses, backpacks, cell phones, and even on key chains. The reasons people are leaning toward digital cameras are because they are so versatile and because of their ability to store images on memory flash cards so that people don t have to keep track of tons of rolls of 35MM film. Digital cameras are very affordable and are so user-friendly that most likely even your grandparents have one of their own digital cameras. They could probably even tell you a thing or two about taking photos because it s important to read the instruction manual before using your camera Copyright Dan Feildman 5

6 and your grandpa is more likely to do that before just jumping right in with a new camera than someone who is younger and more familiar with technology. Don t let the fear of learning how to use a digital camera deter you from buying one because, as mentioned several times in this report, most basic digital cameras are so user-friendly that they work themselves. All you have to do is power up the camera, look at your image in the LCD screen on the back of the camera or use the viewfinder like the old school cameras and snap the button to take the picture. The camera automatically focuses on your subject, sharpens the picture, and produces a quality image in just seconds. The best part is, if you don t like your photo, you can simply click the delete or trash can button and your photo will be gone forever. It doesn t take a lot of patience or skill to work the basic digital, pointand-shoot camera. They re small, easy to handle, and have auto controls that make the job easy. You may be amazed at why you waited so long to buy a digital camera when you are holding one in your hand. You can find digital camera reviews all over the Internet, or just ask your son or daughter, friend or co-worker, or brother or mom what kind of cameras they have used. You may find someone who will let you practice on his/her camera before buying one to help you determine whether you d like using a digital camera before you buy one. There are also displays in every photography section of any store that has a sample camera, which will allow you to play with each of the cameras you like: you can see the lenses, check out the battery life, press the shutter button, see how heavy or light it is, and see which accessories come with the camera. Copyright Dan Feildman 6

7 Types Of Digital Cameras Many people who buy a digital camera go toward the point-and-shoot first. This type of digital camera is normally small and compact, easy to fit in your pocket or bag, and is especially easy to use. Most pointand-shoots have automatic settings so that the digital camera user can shoot photos without much direction or experience at all. These cameras, ideal for those who value simplicity, produce high-quality images with barely any effort at all. It is really a digital camera made for someone who has no need for manual settings to change the lighting, shadows, or perform lengthy, in-depth editing with their photos. Point-and-shoot digital cameras aren t made just for beginners, though; they have features made for anyone, like digital and optical zoom, that will satisfy both professionals and newbie photographers. Most also have a movie mode with audio so you can record videos and play them back on your computer later or upload them to your favorite websites, like Facebook, MySpace, and other video-sharing websites. The next step up from point-and-shoot cameras are more advanced versions that are similar to point-and-shoots, but offer more flexibility. With some of these, you can change the camera settings to achieve more from your digital camera. Most have digital zoom capabilities, which are decent for snapshots, but ultimately lower your photo s resolution. Copyright Dan Feildman 7

8 Your next step up would be advanced digital cameras like the Canon PowerShot. This type of camera is aimed at presumes, or users who are between professional and the average consumer to the photography world. Advanced digital cameras also have better quality lenses attached with optical zoom and the ability to control your camera settings, like aperture, shutter speed, and white balance. Some even have wide-angle capabilities for shooting horizontal long shots of scenery or subjects. DSLR cameras are another series of camera above prosumer digital cameras. There can be two levels to these cameras; for example, the Canon Rebel Series is the entry-grade professional camera and is also perfect for a serious hobbyist. With a DSLR, you have the option of taking higher-quality pictures with more control. You also have lots of extras to add to your camera, like lenses, filters, and flashes. A telezoom lens allows you to magnify hundreds of yard, while a macro lens is good for taking pictures up close, like detailed images of flowers and such. DSLRs can range dramatically in price depending on the brand and the functions you would like in your camera. For the serious photographer, another step up would be Canon s Mark series because it has higher quality sensors and lenses, as well as more megapixels to allow for larger images. There are so many different brands of digital cameras, including Belkin, Canon, Epson, Compaq, Fujitsu, HP, IBM, Kodak, Lexmark, Minolta, Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba, and more. Each brand has its own reputation and can be researched for reviews when searching for your personal digital camera. Copyright Dan Feildman 8

9 There are also different types of cameras, like compact digital cameras. As of December 2008, the following brands produce digital SLRs and offer full lines of compact digital cameras: Canon, Fujifilm, Leica, Mamiya, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, Samsung, Sigma, and Sony. Canon offers the Ixus and PowerShot compact cameras and Digital EOS/Digital Rebel DSLRs; Fujifilm has FinePix compacts and FinePix Pro in collaboration with Nikon; Leica has Digilux compacts and S-series DSLRs, including the Leica S3 based on the Four Thirds System. Mamiya offers compacts and ZD-series; Nikon has Coolpix compacts and D-series DSLRs. Olympus has the C-, D-, and FE-series and Stylus compacts; Pentax has Optio compacts; Sigma offers a DP1 high-end compact; and Sony s Cyber-shot compact is rather popular. Aigo, Casio, Kodak, Ricoh, and Vivitar also make digital cameras the DV series digital cameras, Exilim, EasyShare, and Capilio, respectively. Vivitar has been bought out by Sakar International. As far as brands go, Canon and Nikon are profound leaders in the photography industry. Their technology has yet to be outdone by anyone. Some people are partial to Canons, but both are equally exceptional in ratings. Sony, Pentax, and Olympus are the only other contenders worth mentioning in the DSLR race. A good starter digital camera choice is a point-and-shoot, a compact camera with a small attached lens that gives you the choice to shoot wide or zoom into your subject. It has automatic focus, buttons to turn flash off and on, correct red-eye, and a screen on the back to view the Copyright Dan Feildman 9

10 picture you re taking. A good option for beginner digital camera users is a Kodak EasyShare. A Nikon D40 or Nikon D70 is also a popular, but more expensive, choice for a digital camera. If you can find a good deal, you may be able to get the camera, lens, tripod and tripod table, 4GB storage card, card reader, batteries, charters, filters, wide angle lenses and soft and hard carrying cases for storage. Some places only offer the camera and one lens, which typically costs around $600. Copyright Dan Feildman 10

11 Best Digital Cameras For Beginners Wize.com lists highly recommended products after pouring over thousands of reviews for over 500 products. More than 2,000 people recommended these cameras as the top 10 best digital cameras for beginners: 1. Canon Digital Rebel XSi 2. Canon EOS 450D 3. Canon PowerShot A Canon Ixus 80 IS 5. Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS 6. Nikon D60 7. Canon Fujitsu MBA3147RC 8. Nikon D60 9. Nikon D Canon Ixus 75 While the Canon Digital Rebel XSi, Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS, Canon PowerShot A590, Canon IXUS 80 IS, and Canon Fujitsu MBA3147R are covered in the following subsection, we will cover the others here: the Nikon D60 and Nikon D90. The Nikon D60 is best known for its compactness. It has 10.2 megapixels and is said to take breathtaking pictures with the versatility of a DSLR. Features include an AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-15MM f/ g VR (vibration reduction) image stabilization lens that is famous for its vibrant color and incredible sharpness. You don t have to worry about your pictures blurring like you would with the regular Copyright Dan Feildman 11

12 hand-held camera because it has accurate autofocus and VR image stabilization technology built into the camera. There is no lag between the time you push the shutter button and when you capture the image, due to the D60 s split-second shutter response. Additionally, you can use this digital camera to shoot sports, capture expressions, and catch other quick moments at up to three frames per second. It holds as many as 100 JPEG images. The Nikon D60 is lightweight at just over 16 ounces and has intuitive controls, as well as an onboard help menu to assist with any problems you may encounter while shooting photos with your Nikon. There are eight Digital-Vari Program Automatic Shooting Modes that each adjusts automatically for the best results in everyday shooting scenarios: landscape, sports, night, portraits, close-up, landscape, auto, auto flash off, and children. It s a powerful package in a small camera that does all the work you need it to do in order to take beautiful photographs. Reviewed by New York Times technology columnist David Pogue, the Nikon D90 received great praise for its imaging capabilities. The Nikon D90 is the world s first DSLR with a DH movie mode so you can record movie-quality clips with sound up to 720p HF and 1280 by 720 pixels in motion JPEG format. This camera has continuous shooting speed as fast as 4.5 frames per second and also powers up in a super quick.15 milliseconds so you ll never miss that spur-of-the-moment photo opportunity. Its features include a built-in sensor that cleans itself and removes dust particles from the sensor s optical low pass filter; an 11- point autofocus system that delivers razor-sharp images; a three-inch Copyright Dan Feildman 12

13 LCD monitor with high resolution and a 170-degree wide-angle view even at the highest ISO setting; and low noise sensitivity. Copyright Dan Feildman 13

14 Quality In Digital Cameras When it comes to digital cameras, one thing you can count on is that you will have to spend more money to find a quality digital camera. A compact point-and-shoot is good for close-up pictures, but when you are looking to take action photos of your son s soccer game outside or to capture the special lighting on your newborn baby girl at home with semi-professional shots, you re going to need a camera with better quality. The Web rated the top ten best digital cameras for image quality to be: 1. Canon IXUS 80 IS: It has nice durability, is newly released, and is lightweight, which means it s easy to carry. People recommend it for low light, party photos, everyday use, vacation, sports photography, panoramic views, action shots, indoor use, and outdoor use. Its best features are the storage capacity, uploading capability, durability, and that it is inexpensive. The price ranges in the area of $135 to $150 at places like Amazon and Buy.com. 2. Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS: It has good image stabilization and great digital zoom, many optional settings, and is compact and easy to use. Users think its highlights are everyday use, vacations, party photos, indoor and outdoor use, and low light. It has a built-in flash, interchangeable lens, and white balance to change the settings to auto, manual, sunlight, cloudy, Copyright Dan Feildman 14

15 fluorescent, or tungsten. You can take about 250 pictures before the battery needs to be recharged, which is a bonus. 3. Canon PowerShot A590: It has good image stabilization, is newer on the market, and has large storage capacity. Users love its easy-to-use features, long battery life, and excellent picture quality, not to mention the $150 price. This camera is recommended for portraits, its rechargeable battery, and action shots, among others. Some websites have bargains for this digital camera at $90 when it s in stock. 4. Canon Fujitsu MBA3147RC 147 GB: This camera runs for about $150 to $250 and receives praises for its small size, long battery life, easy usage, and stable images. It s a nice camera for beginners and works outside, inside, in daylight and on cloudy days, and has automatic and manual settings. The flash is built-in so there is no need to buy a lens to accompany this camera. This digital camera has also received many praises for a pocket-sized camera that takes excellent pictures and has a lot of extra features. 5. Canon Digital Rebel XSi: Coming in at a more expensive price of about $625, this digital camera with fast shutter speed and excellent picture quality is easy to learn to use. In fact, it s recommended for beginners because it is so easy to use that even your grandchildren can snap photos with it. It will capture any kind of images you d like, from arts and hobbies up close, to sports photography outdoors, to wildlife photography. The Digital Rebel XSi has a built-in and manual flash to let you choose which Copyright Dan Feildman 15

16 one you want to use for each photograph you take. It is different from point-and-shoot cameras because it is sturdier and comes with interchangeable lenses. Like all of the digital cameras listed above, it has an LCD screen on the back of the camera to allow you to see the images you re taking. 6. Canon EOS 450D: This camera is rated in the top ten because of its affordability for such a high quality camera: about $450 to $800. You can use interchangeable lenses with this camera as well as buy your own additional lenses to take some fantastic photos. The SLR/Professional type camera is highly recommended for beginners and has a fast shutter speed. It is fairly lightweight at 1.12 lbs. and is in the Canon EOS family line. People like it because you can use it right out of the box with its automatic settings, just like a regular point-and-shoot, but with even better results. 7. Canon Ixus 75: The Canon Ixus 75 is loved because of its great image resolution, as it has a 7.4-megapixel resolution, a fourtime zoom lense, 32MBs of built-in memory, and an aperture range of f2.8/f4.9 (w/t). It is praised because it is easy to use; although it has many different modes, most find it the easiest to use and love the image quality on the manual settings. It takes a crisp and clear close-up photo and is exceptionally nice for macro photos. The price averages about $ Canon PowerShot SD770 IS: This camera, compact and durable, is reasonably priced for a point-and-shoot camera at about $170. One user raved about the image quality of the photos she had Copyright Dan Feildman 16

17 taken in the low light of fireworks, which normally are hard to capture on a lesser expensive camera. The Canon PowerShot SD771 IS is similar to the Ixus 85 and received many of the same praises: its durability, size, battery life, and excellent image quality. The flash and LCD panel are both built into the camera, which works with Apple Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows XP, and Microsoft Windows Vista. 9. Canon Digital IXUS 860 IS: Priced at about $280, this camera is fairly new on the market and has 10.3 megapixels, a 35MM zoom lense of MM, and an aperture range of f2.8/f5.8 (w/t). The size and weight of this digital camera make it easy to carry around, and the image stability is excellent meaning, when you hold the camera to take a picture, it remains still instead of shaking, resulting in good photo quality. It is rated five stars for beginners who only know how to use automatic settings and not the manual features like long shutter shots and exposure controls. 10. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28: This easy-to-use point-and-shoot resembles a sturdy 35MM camera, but has all the perks of a digital camera: great battery life, digital zoom, and more features for a price of around $279. Some really useful software accompanies this camera, like Studio and SilkyPix Developer Studio for processing raw images. One user raves that this camera is the best for RAW capability, a sharp zoom lense, and excellent wide range; this user has used it for portraits, sports, landscapes, wildlife, and others. Note: This is what is considered Copyright Dan Feildman 17

18 a prosumer camera somewhere between the regular consumer, or beginner, and the professional photographer. Copyright Dan Feildman 18

19 What To Look For First In A Digital Camera Before buying a digital camera, you first need to know what you want to do with your camera. For example, you will want to know if you are going to print your images off or just use them on the computer. That might help you decide on how many megapixels you are looking for. Of course, the higher the quality image, the higher the megapixels. Digital cameras are basically categorized by its megapixel rating, which determines the image quality of a picture. Basically, the higher the megapixel rating, the better the quality your image will be. Cameras with higher megapixel ratings take more detailed photos, so they look better when they re printed in larger sizes. Most $100 digital cameras come with 5 megapixels, which is usually the first choice for beginning camera users. They are great for most people who want to have an easy-to-use point-and-shoot camera and who want to take pictures like family or holiday photos. Higher model cameras in the range of $400 to $600 come with 8 to 12 megapixels these cameras are excellent for taking artistic photos you d like to print in large sizes and display on your walls or sell as prints. The majority of digital cameras have automatic settings that are already set, and you can easily take nice photos on full automatic mode. However, if you want to learn more about digital photography than just using the automatic mode, you ll want to pay attention here. When changing the settings on your camera, you need to familiarize yourself with the lighting conditions and the subject so you can try to Copyright Dan Feildman 19

20 find the proper exposure, or the amount of light that hits the camera s lens, when you take your picture. Play with different exposures to try different effects and to determine when using the automatic mode would result in better-quality pictures. Aperture and shutter speed (aperture) adjust exposure. Aperture, which is measured in f-stops (to adjust exposure), affects how much light the image sensor is exposed to, so if the f-stop is more open, your image will be brighter or higher contrast. If the f-stop is closed, or a smaller aperture, the image will end up darker. Smaller apertures allows more depth of field, whereas larger apertures result in a shallow depth of field that is better for close-up shots. Shutter speed is the time the shutter is open to allow light to pass through it when you re taking your photo. Practice is the only way to figure out which shutter speed you ll like best for the different kind of photos you plan on taking, so try a slow shutter (1/2000 of a second) or a fast shutter. Leaving your shutter open longer can create special effects, and leaving the camera pointed at the sky with the shutter open can create an amazing shot but you ll have to try this for yourself. Most cameras have a setting that allows you to set on the shutter speed to allow the camera to calculate the correct setting so that it can adapt to the lighting selections and surroundings. Other cameras have sports settings or outdoor settings that will change your shutter speed. Copyright Dan Feildman 20

21 Bargain Shopping & Finding Package Deals There are tons of bargains and package deals available if you know where to look; this way, you don t have to spend top price on the camera you want or pay for accessories you may not be interested in using. EBay, Amazon, Google shopping results, and other sites will allow you to pull up the different kinds of cameras you are interested in to compare them, and once you have your digital camera of choice in mind, you can use the same sites to compare prices or to search for the best deals. With ebay, where you are normally buying used or new equipment from an unknown person, be sure to check his/her seller ratings and feedback. Also, don t forget to read the small print the camera could be missing an essential part or need repairing. But there are definitely deals to be found there. Also, B&H and Adorama are also popular and reputable digital camera hubs to find good deals. They offer new and refurbished cameras with guarantees for those who are leery of ebay and Amazon. Another tip is to always read reviews on the camera that you are interested in to see what others thought of it, as well as check out any photography forums that you can on the Web. The site is an awesome site for beginners and professionals. You can get lots of advice straight from the professionals themselves. Copyright Dan Feildman 21

22 After You Have Your Digital Camera Photo-related media information is available in the report Photo- Related Media: Storage Cards, Memory Sticks, CDs For Archiving and More. A few of the items that come with or accompany digital cameras are memory cards, storage memory sticks, batteries, battery chargers, a cord to transfer images from your camera to your computer, some kind of case, a shutter lens to keep your shutter safe, and a handle cord or strap to attach to your camera for easy carrying around your neck or wrist. Beyond those items, you will probably want to invest in a storage card reader, which will allow you to plug in many different kinds of photo memory cards to transfer images and movies to your computer so they can be saved in a folder on your hard drive. You can also purchase photo-editing software like Adobe Photoshop Elements or Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite and sign up for accounts on photoediting websites that are free, like Gimp or Photobucket. Both will allow you to crop your images, edit things like red eye and lines or creases, erase unwanted objects, and resize your photos for the Web or for printing. Photo-sharing websites are great for sharing pictures with friends and family or using the HTML tags to post pictures or videos on websites or blogs. Copyright Dan Feildman 22

23 Camera Lenses When you are looking at digital camera lenses, there are a few options to try first. A good camera lens is like an eye: it sees the photos clearly and crisply. There are several types of lenses, but you have to make sure that the one you buy works with your camera. You have wide angle, normal, and telephoto lenses; the type of lens is determined by the amount the lens focuses. Also, a zoom lens can go from wide angle to telephoto. Wide angle lenses allow you to take photos of landscapes and other long wide angles, and are 20MM to 35MM. Traditional lenses are normal magnification with a 50MM lens, and a zoom lens can change its length to zoom from 50MM to 150MM. Camera lenses are also defined by their speed, which is determined in f-stops and is like the f-stop aperture on your digital camera. Normally, the best lenses are heavy, faster, and more expensive than lower-quality lenses. With DSLRs, there are tons of lenses available on the market. Your typical kit lens that comes with most packages is around 18 millimeters to 55 millimeters and normally has both autofocus and manual focus. Users say that they are excellent lenses for beginners that stretch into professional photography. Lenses for shooting further away zoom lenses are anywhere from 55 to 200 millimeters or 70 to 300 millimeters and are perfect for shooting wildlife shots or sporting events while still producing crystal clear images. The standard 50MM lense is excellent when using it for portrait work. All of these numbers in millimeters are the focal length. Another thing Copyright Dan Feildman 23

24 you may want to look at is the aperture or f-stop, as it is also called. Each lense has a set f-stop that will tell you how far the shutter will open on the lense. This allows control over the amount of light coming in. The lower the f-stop, the wider the shutter will open and the more light will come through, which allows for crisper pictures in dimmer situations. However, with this also comes a higher price tag. The average f-stop you will see can range from around 3.5 to 5.6 and higher. These digital cameras are perfectly acceptable for beginners with DSLR cameras. Dan Feildman Copyright Dan Feildman 24

25 Resources Computer And Internet Basics For Digital Photographers - A Simple Guide That Shows Digital Photographers How To Use Their Computer, And The Internet, To Get The Most Out Of Their Camera This fantastic guide covers all the basics like how to get photos off your camera, how to make simple edits to them, how to store them securely for safekeeping, how to them to friends and family, how to share and store photos online, how to set up your own family photo blog, even how to use Youtube to share simple videos with friends... plus much more like how to keep your computer running quickly, securely and virus free etc. This highly acclaimed guide is ideal for anyone who wants to learn all the simple (yet often confusing) tasks that really help you get the most out of your computer the Internet and your digital camera. Learn Digitial Photography Now - How To Quickly And Easily Take Better Digital Photos And Create Beautiful, Lasting Memories Turn Your Photos Into Cash - How To Make Money With Digital Photography By Following A Simple Step-By-Step System Anyone Can Do Learn Elements Now - Master The Basics Of Adobe Elements In Just 2 Hours With These Instantly Accessible Copyright Dan Feildman 25

26 Online Video Tutorials Learn Photoshop Now - Master The Basics Of Photoshop In Just 2 Hours With These Instantly Accessible Online Video Tutorials Edit Your Digital Photos - How To Use Adobe Photoshop To Quickly And Easily Edit Your Digital Photos Like The Professionals Copyright Dan Feildman 26