With the entry of digital cameras, photography has never been so exciting.

Today, there are varieties of digital cameras to choose from already. Whether you shop either at the department store or online stores, you will see lots of them. Different digital cameras offer different features and capabilities. This is the reason why choosing one is getting more and more difficult. Once you see what each have to offer, you will obviously have a hard time deciding which one to buy.

One of the usual mistakes that people commit when buying their own digital camera is to be enticed by what the advertising mediums have to say about them. By the time they own that camera, they will realize that they are not as good as they first thought it is. It would then be too late to return it and opt for another kind.

Keep in mind that getting a digital camera should take a lot of consideration. Just like buying a car, you have to consider all aspects since this is one thing that you want to work well and would want to have for a long time.

Below are some of the things that will aid you in your decision making process before buying a digital photography camera?

1. The cost.

Ok, so you wanted the latest canon digital camera out in the market. But are you ready to shed the needed amount of money for it?

Cost is a big factor when buying digital camera. It is obvious that the best camera comes with a price. And your budget may not exactly encompass its high cost.

This is not saying that cheap ones are not as good. There are those that you can get for a reasonable price and still works just as well as an expensive one. You need to shop around for the best deal first before you decide on one. Better yet, you can save up on that expensive camera that you wanted all along.

2. The purpose.

Will you be using the camera to shot your family members? Or are you planning to shoot some good photos worthy of a professional?

By knowing what use your digital camera will have, it would be easier to determine the type of digital camera to buy. If you buy a simple one that can be used at home, you will not get the capabilities that you need if you plan on taking really good photographic pictures. On the other hand, it would be a waste of your money if you have the latest digital camera only to be used for personal photos at home.

3. The durability.

Since digital camera is more expensive than the conventional film cameras, you definitely would want something that will stay durable for a long time. You want something that will last even through rough handling and seasons.

If you happen to purchase a typical digital camera you may want to buy some accessories to protect it from scratches and damage. It is best however to get one that is known to have a good quality and durability.

Get the best value out of the money that you will pay for a digital photography camera. Think hard about these important factors first so you will get it right the first time.

READ MORE - Goodbye to Films, Say Hello to Digital Cameras

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There are a lot of amateur as well as professional camera users who are shifting to digital models for much ease, convenience, and efficiency when taking initial pictures, taking more pictures after deleting some, and finally sharing photos to friends or storing them into the computer’s memory.

Camera users are normally classified as hobbyists, novice, and professionals. To whichever category you belong, it is suggested that you ponder and accommodate the following basic information about digital cameras:

1.) Categories of a camera

Cameras can be grouped into:

a. ultra compact – no flash mode

b. prosumer or compact – for hobbyists

c. digital SLR cameras – have lenses, tripod, and external flashes; for professionals

If you want to master the art of photography, it is suggested that you master using the third category. Models that fall under this category are priced for their resolution, among other things.

2.) Mega pixels

Mega pixels can be classified into:

a. 3 mega pixels – for basic snapshots

b. between 3 and 5 mega pixels – images have good print quality

c. between 5 and 7 mega pixels – images can be easily manipulated; larger print sizes can be made

3.) Zoom

A camera’s zoom is normally categorized into two:

a. optical zoom factor – what is distant appears closer by magnifying the light entering through the main lens

b. digital zoom factor – magnifies the resulting image

Quality photographs depend mostly on the optical zoom factor.

4.) Storage media

These are the some common storage formats:

a. Compact Flash (for compact and DSLRs)

b. Sony Memory Stick (compatible with other Sony appliances)

c. Smart Media

Storage sizes normally range from 64 K, which can store 3 dozen mega pixel images; 1G can store about 500 images with the same mega pixels

5.) Carrying case

You should keep the camera and its accessories in place.

6.) Tripod

Tripod can be used when setting the timer mode on and keeping the focus stable.

7.) Lenses and Filters

There are digital cameras that allow additional lenses to be attached to the main lens, or the lenses can be completely interchangeable.

Lenses can be categorized as follows:

a. macro lens – allows you to get closer to objects like insects and flowers

b. wide-angle lens – used for capturing landmarks, and large and wide sceneries

c. telephoto lens – allows longer zooms that let you get close to objects that are rather unsafe

Filters, on the other hand are used to:

a. soften the effect of the image

b. provide blurring on the edges for portraits that have sensitive moods

c. add light flares for the image to be more dramatic

d. to reduce glare so that pictures appear more saturated, crisp, and vivid.

Here are some basic strategies on how to capture an image:

1. Holding the camera

You should hold the camera steadily and keep your spare fingers from interfering with the lens. This skill usually takes a few practices.

2.) Focusing

To keep the camera from shuddering, it is better to half-press the camera until you are able to lock your view on the focus before completely pressing the button of the shutter.

You may also use a tripod for better focusing.

3.) Previewing

Take and retake pictures if necessary after previewing them in your LCD screen.

4.) Archiving

Keep an album of your best photographs so that you can refer to them as you keep on working your way to being great photographers.

Once you have mastered using your simple compact and especially digitals SLR cameras, you can surely capture photos using other cameras with great ease and perfection. That is a guarantee!

READ MORE - Mastering Digital SLR Cameras is Mastering Photography Itself

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While some of the least expensive digital cameras have only automatic focus, meaning the camera does all the work on bringing your subject into the best possible focus, most SLR digitals offer three different focus modes: manual, single auto focus and continuous auto focus. All three of these will be addressed here.

With manual focus, the camera stays out of the focus equation and you, the photographer, make all the decisions regarding this. This is done by setting different buttons or actually using an attached focusing ring that rotates on the camera lens. For those who like to have complete creative control of the finished product, this is the best focus mode.

In single auto focus mode, the camera automatically focuses when you press the shutter button either all the way down to shoot a photo or half way down to lock the focus. This mode is useful when shooting static objects.

In continuous auto focus the camera continuously focuses on the objects in the photo. In this mode the camera continuously corrects the focus as the objects distance from the camera changes. This mode is useful when you shoot photos of moving objects such as a race car during a race or airplanes during an air show. You can hold the shutter button half way down and continuously move the camera to follow the object. The camera will continuously keep the object in focus.

Like any other feature automatic and manual focus modes have their pros and cons. The first step to using them to your advantage is to understand how they work and what they were designed for. The next step is to experiment shoot photos using different focus modes and different types of objects and see how the camera behaves. Once you have done that you will be ready to instinctively use the best focus mode for each photo situation.

READ MORE - Focus Modes in Digital Cameras

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With your trusty digital video camera by your side you can capture all those special moments, such as your child's first steps, your birthday or wedding, or your vacation with family and friends etc.

With so many manufacturers and models available in the digital video market, you may find it confusing trying to choose the perfect one for you. Your choice will, however, depend on the features that you want and how much you are willing to spend.

The most important thing to consider is the format in which your videos will be stored, as the video format determines the video quality. Digital 8 otherwise called D8, Mini-DV, DVD and HDD are the main types of video format that digital cameras offer. Both D8 and Mini-DV are tape-based formats, with the Mini-DV currently offering the highest quality video format to consumers. The DVD format allows direct video recording onto a digital disk, while the HDD type uses internal hard drives where the video is recorded. As the tape format is slowly being phased out by major manufacturers, it is a good idea to invest in disk or hard drive based digital video cameras.

Digital video cameras also come with charged coupled device or CCD imaging sensor. Digital video cameras come with 1-CCD or 3-CCD features. Cameras with 1-CCD suffer from poor video quality, whereas 3-CCD cameras produce much better quality videos. Most professional camcorders use the 3-CCD technology, thus making them more expensive than the other models.

The optical zoom feature of the camcorder lens generally ranges from 10X to 20X. The choice of zoom depends on how close you want to get to the action. Some digital video cameras also allow still photography at various resolutions, and some camcorders offer both video and still photography features. Some digital video camcorders have in-built flash for low-light photography, while some video cameras come with a 'Night Shot' feature. Other popular options include external flashlights, external microphones and external storage devices that can be attached onto the camcorder.

Camcorders with longer battery strength is also recommended. Digital video cameras have battery life ranging from 4 to 8 hours of continuous shooting. However, using the zoom or any external devices reduce the battery strength.

All cameras nowadays come bundled with a digital video editing software. But if you are not satisfied with the one provided, you can always buy a better and more expensive editing software from Adobe or any other reputable brand.

Video camera prices today vary from $500 to $4000, with Sony, JVC and Canon being the more popular brands.

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The magic of capture the smile of a loved one, mixing shades of a sunset, the expression on the face of a baby, sends thrill of anticipation for people of all cultures, all ages.What was considered a miracle 200 years ago now casually blows a is all activities of the day.The invention of simple black box in France began an industry that evolved as fast as the technology necessary for any product of new age.

Now cameras come in price ranges that allow you even throw them away after taking a roll of pictures.They also come in more complex computerized packages, that only the wealthier professionals consider buying. Although the original concept of the camera began to be developed around the Decade of 1830, it was not until around the early 1900 that more people could afford to buy one or have the film developed or have your photo taken professionally. By the Decade of 1930 and 1940, cameras have acquired a permanent niche in the hearts of the average person. Since then, thousands of brands and models appeared, only to be replaced with the newest technology of the day.

In order to focus more precisely, the anterior segment had a bellows, allowing the distance between the lens and the film to fit. The biggest fear of those owning the camera bellows-style was an accidental, thin pin-hole that allowed for unwanted light.Being opened and closed hundreds of times tended to create cracks in the corners where they folded. The problem has ruined many a leak bellows for the sadness of the image, photographer.

Photographers wanted and after a while the movie was received on a roll instead of having to use a plate. Then came the film stop mechanisms so that the movie to the next location of winding became more precise. Resources that are maintained a double exhibition welcomes many photographers. Add flash so that was really usable rose sale front camera.

As well as the silent films and movies were originally came only in black and white, the first still cameras used only black and white film. The two industries advanced in parallel paths. Once the color film technology existed, the other quickly adapted their products. Colored slides and slide projectors became Favorites to take the vacation pictures and showing them to friends. It wasn't long before a regular owner could make a kids color film. When sound was added to the theaters, the movie fan began to add sound to your home movies. What movie film was sent to a professional developer for processing.

Increased the speed of technological inventions. Along with computers in every home came the age of the camcorder and Digital camera. Instant photos! Flash movies. Without the need for development. Everything that happens with Instant playback!

One of the aspects of the camera industry has not changed over the years: emotion, magic, capturing a moment in time, treasure and shared with the world.Cameras have reduced the size of the planet on our mind and promoted understanding between the different cultures and races of the world. This is a camera more invaluable quality and DOM.

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Simply to capture the fantastic memories that you try, you will get fond of using underwater cameras from Canon quickly.

Underwater cameras have most of the same features that the cameras accessible we used outdoors-the only difference is that they have certain functions that are the most innovative because they are water resistant, and can be used for capturing images under the sea.

Of course, these are not only exclusively underwater cameras to take pictures under the sea, because some of them are also designed to be used in outdoor activities. In heavy rain these cameras will not be affected because of the protective device against damage from water and pressure. They come in various forms, with its price relecting the full range of normal prices.

For example, the cheapest type of underwater camera is a simple disposable underwater camera. These cameras are able to take approximately twenty to thirty photos. These cameras are waterproof enough to be used when there are storms of rain and snow. These are best use for fun diving trips and family vacations; He will surely capture the memorable parts of family fun.

Canon is one of the best known brands of underwater cameras. Has been proven effective in all forms of underwater adventures. Underwater cameras from Canon has a lot of designs that offer different features. Each of the cameras gives advantages and special features that you will really enjoy. However, as you would expect from a quality brand like Canon, these cameras can appear a little expensive because of the gadgets used in it; However, they are of better quality and you will have no regrets after seeing the resolution of images.

Many conventional digital and film cameras have waterproof boxes. Put your camera in enable transform existing camera in an underwater camera. However, if you want excellent photographic quality underwater, always we advise buying a dedicated underwater camera.

Canon underwater cameras come in several models. The higher the resolution of photo that he has, generally the more expensive the price is. many of the photographers I know prefer to use underworld underwater cameras from Canon because they offer a "one of a kind quality". The company Canon is one of the pioneering companies that launched underwater cameras on the market and you know you'll get quality when you buy Canon.

READ MORE - Canon underwater cameras-what you need to know

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What is small than a credit card, takes up to eighty quality digital photos, can be used as a web cam and carries your keys, as well? This is simply one of the best body worn cameras available on the market today. It is a keychain digital camera. When you leave the house, do you ever go anywhere without your keys?

Probably not, so why not take along a great little body worn camera with you and use it to catch all of the action and memories that you would have lost had you not had this digital camera keychain with you? It has sixteen megabytes of memory and operates on a “AAA” battery. Then when you are ready, just download your photos and you are ready to roll.

Want to know about another great little digital body worn camera? This little gem looks just like a cigarette lighter, a great innovation for all of you smokers. But not only does it take great digital photos, it can also be used to send live video across the Internet. Imagine using a lighter to talk face to face with your friends while you are online.

And it works with most windows based programs. You will get great pictures every time with this camera’s automatic exposure and white balance features. So that regardless if you are a professional photographer or a rank novice, you will get the kinds of photos that you desire. These are perfect body worn cameras for private investigators, too. The lighter camera is capable of take up to 104 VGA pictures or 30 SXGA pictures.

READ MORE - Digital Body Worn Cameras

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Sales of digital cameras seem to be exploding. This is not surprising as the quality of images from digital cameras improves and they become more affordable. In addition, consumers are becoming more comfortable with the idea of digital photography.

There are so many different types of digital cameras available choosing one which is best for your needs can become a very confusing decision. There are several things to consider when choosing a digital camera.

Types of Digital Camera.

There are basically three types of cameras whether you care shooting film or digital. Point and Shoot cameras, Prosumer cameras and professional quality cameras.

1. Point and Shoot cameras are fully automatic. They do everything for you. The camera choosing the correct exposure and whether a flash is needed. The photographer only needs to point and shoot.

2. Prosumer Cameras. These cameras are a step up from point and shoot cameras and allow the user to either shoot in fully automatic mode or to have some control over the exposure by using specific exposure modes. For example, there might be a portrait mode, an action mode, and a close up mode.

3. Professional Cameras. These cameras allow the photographer to actually look through the lens. This means that what you see is what you get. These cameras also provide complete control over the exposure. They have fully automatic mode, specific exposure modes as well as a fully manual mode.

Resolution

Regardless of what type of camera you decide to get you will also have to make the decision about the resolution of the camera.

If you have shopped at one of those electronics superstores you will be lead to believe that the most important thing to consider when purchasing digital cameras is the number of pixels. Although it is important there is much more to deciding on a digital camera than pixels. Pixels are tiny squares, and in new models other shapes, that make up the image. Obviously the more pixels the sharper the image. The more pixels there are the more detailed the image.

Almost all of the digital cameras on the market today produce images with at least 4 million pixels. With this resolution you can print images up to 8x10 which will look very good. Since most people do not print images larger than this a camera with 4 million pixels or more should meet all of your needs.

Try Different Cameras Before you Buy

Different cameras can have very different image qualities even though they may have the same number of pixels. This is due to different types and sizes of sensors on which the images are recorded and the various qualities of lens used. It is recommended that you purchase a memory card and take it in with you to the camera store. Then you can try out various cameras by taking photographs on your memory card. You can then take the pictures home and view them on your computer or better yet have them printed at a local lab to compare the results. Make sure to take notes so that you remember which image was taken on which camera.

Digital cameras are constantly changing and being improved upon. Every few months it seems there is a new model out with more pixels and better features at a more affordable price. Do not let this bother you. Take the time to choose a good digital camera which makes quality photographs and enjoy the benefits of digital photography for years to come.

And one last piece of advice. Digital photography has created a new problem. People are not printing their photos anymore. They download them to their computer and then they eventually get lost or deleted. Print those special photographs. Your children will thank you.

READ MORE - Digital Cameras

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Digital camera sales are going through the roof. As the quality of images from digital cameras improve they are becoming much more affordable and the sales are simply not surprising. Consumers are also becoming more comfortable with the whole idea of taking of photographs digitally.

In choosing a digital camera take into account your basic needs and what you plan to use the camera for.

Digital camera types

It doesn’t matter whether you're shooting film or digital images there are basically three types of cameras. There are point and shoot cameras, prosumer cameras and professional quality cameras.

1. Point and shoot cameras operate automatically. They do everything for you except for framing the subject. Exposure is decided by the camera as well as whether a flash is needed or not. All you need to do is to point and shoot.

2. Prosumer Cameras. This camera is a step up from your typical point and shoot because it allows the photographer not only to shoot in a fully automatic mode but also to have control over various aspects of the exposure. They typically have various modes including portrait mode, a close-up mode, action mode, and landscape mode.

Resolution

It doesn't matter what sort of camera you decide to get you will have several decisions to make regarding resolution of the camera.

The salespeople of most electronics superstores are quick to tell you that the most important thing to consider when buying a digital camera is how many pixels there are. Now while it is important it is not the end all of digital image quality. Pixels are tiny squares and in some new models they're starting to use other shapes as well. The more pixels you have in your image the sharper the detail of the image will be.

Most current digital cameras on the market today will produce an image with more than 4 million pixels. That's enough resolution to easily print images up to 8 x 10 with good image quality. Is not likely that you will print images larger than 8 x 10 and so most of these camera should meet your needs.

Try various digital cameras before you purchase

There is a wide selection of digital cameras on the market with various image qualities even though they may have the same number of pixels. There are different kinds and sizes of image sensors, which is the chip that actually records the picture. It is recommended that you take a memory card into the store with you so that you can put it in each camera and take sample photographs that you can then take home to view on your computer to compare.

The technology is constantly improving and digital cameras will be constantly changing. Don’t be surprised if several months after you purchase one there is one that is new and better with more pixels. If you take the time to choose a good quality digital camera which makes good photographs you'll be able to enjoy digital photography for a long time in the future.

If you do make the move into digital photography remember this. Many people using digital cameras simply put their photos on their computers and never actually make prints anymore. It is easy for these photos to get lost and therefore it's recommended that you print special photographs for generations to enjoy.

READ MORE - Digital Cameras - A Guide To Buying

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When looking to purchase a new digital camera there is always the debate between size and quality within the range of your budget. No matter what the budget, the choice will have to be made between a smaller size, more portable camera and a higher resolution camera with more features. Making the choice between the two is simply a matter off considering what the camera’s purpose.

Digital camera users who plan to use a camera for simple point-and-shoot purposes will want to focus their budget on a small, portable camera. These individuals are most likely using their camera to document travels, family events, and personal experiences for their own memory. The photos don’t need to be or a super high resolution because they will not be blown up to poster size, but will remain 4 x 6 or 5 x 7 in a frame on the mantel. It is important to consider that when size is traded for quality, while the photos will be higher quality, users may be less inclined to take photos as the size of the camera becomes a hindrance to taking it along for the fun.

Photographers who are more interested in the end product will want to sacrifice size for a higher resolution camera or one with more features and/or accessories. The bulkier high-resolution cameras or digital SLRs will be the better choice for users who are taking artistic or professional photographs. Even the amateur artist, will want to invest in quality over size to produce the kind of photos that can be enlarged to show detail. Cameras used for professional shots, whether to be displayed in a portfolio, brochure or website, will also need to be of higher quality, and it will be worth hefting the extra weight to get the higher-end photos.

Knowing the type of photographer you are, will help you make the right choice in cameras. When you have an idea of what characteristics are most important to you, take the time to shop, read the reviews, and compare the various cameras in your price range.

READ MORE - Digital Cameras – Quality Vs. Size

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Digital cameras have come a long ways in the past few years. They are now more affordable and feature rich than ever. A comprehensive list of features and advice for choosing a digital camera is beyond the scope of this article, but this article will highlight one of the most popular features, video capture capability.

With a video capture feature on your camera, you can take low to medium quality video footage using your digital camera. All cameras with video capture are not created equal, though. Here are some things to check on before buying a camera with video capture:

1 – Sound

Does the camera support sound? If so, does it capture it through a built in microphone, or does it have an input for you to plug in an external microphone?

2- Video Quality

There are two main factors that determine video quality – resolution and frames per second. The higher the resolution, and the higher the number of frames per second, the higher quality the video.

3- Video format

What format is the video in? Ideally, it will be in a standard, easy to edit format, such as MPEG. Some cameras use proprietary video formats, which means that you can't edit your videos with most editors. Windows Movie Maker, which comes free with Windows, is a great editor to use for most generic video formats.

4- Video length

Some cameras limit the length of video clips you can take, often to 30 seconds. This can be a great aggravation. The better cameras allow you to take as long of a video clip as your camera's memory can hold. Of course, you can add a larger memory stick to take a longer video clip. You can now get memory sticks up to 2 GB or larger.

5- Zoom

On most digital cameras, you can use the zoom when taking video footage. However, you can generally only use your optical zoom, not your digital zoom.

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There seems to be a relatively large population of Canon owners who are affected by the E18 error. In this article I will teach you a few simple methods you can try to repair the error yourself.

This article is intended for people whose cameras are out of warranty. If your camera is still under warranty, go to your nearest Canon repair shop and let them fix it. If it’s not, you can either choose to pay around 150$ for the repair or try one of these simple techniques.

First I should explain what exactly an E18 is. According to Canon’s web site, it is an error that involves the lens unit or lens cover. The lens gets stuck in the extended position, and refuses to move either to focus the lens or to retract when powered off. It can happen if you apply pressure to the area surrounding the lens while it is in the recording mode (this includes dropping the camera), or if sand or dirt get into the lens area. The lens gets stuck, you get a black screen with a small "E18" sign in the lower-left corner, the camera beeps a few times and turns off.

Lately, I noticed a number of people online who are having troubles with this error. It happened to my Power Shot A520 as well a couple of weeks ago, but fortunately, the camera was still under warranty so Canon fixed it free of charge. In order to help the unlucky ones whose cameras are out of warranty, I decided to write this article.

Basically, there are a couple of simple things you can try. I can’t guarantee they will work for you, but I know these methods have helped some people get rid of their E18 problems:

1) One method is to tap the padded USB cover part on a hard surface, for example, a desk. I know it sounds to simple to work, but this can get some of the dirt out of the lens.

2) Try compressed air. With a fine tip blow off gun and dry compressed air set the tip between the lens turret and the camera body and turn on the air while moving the tip around the lens. It should remove all of the dust and sand. Turn the camera on and it should function fine.

3) Another solution is to try and push the lens back into place. This is the least preferable method. Try it only if the camera is out of warranty and DON’T apply too much pressure! If the lens can be set back into place with a light push, great! If not, don’t force it!

4) If nothing else works, there are a couple of online guides in different languages for dismantling the camera and cleaning the lens thoroughly. Try this only if your camera is out of warranty! Some of them are:

- http://www.ixus-world.de/tips/repair_guide/e18_01en.htm - a guide in English
- http://menthol.hit.bg/E18.html - a guide in Bulgarian
- http://www.artecdesign.ee/~jan/Kaamerad/PowerShotA70/index.html - Estonian guide

The last two are not in English, but they have a lot of pictures which should help with the whole process.

So you’ve learned how you can try and rescue your camera. Try out the methods for yourself, and contact me with good news.

If you want more information about the E18 error, or would like to read other people’s experiences with it, stop by my site at http://www.e18error.com. Feel free to drop me an email.

READ MORE - How to repair the E18 error on Canon digital cameras

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