Cybershot [Sony Camera Brands] - Enjoy Picture Perfect Images
by Sharon Albright
0
plugs
plug itCybershot is a modern brand of Sony that offers digital still camera experience to all. Sony being the world's second largest producer of digital cameras now uses the popular brand of Cyber-shot to market its product. It gives a photo quality unparallel to any photos offered by other cameras. The fame and name of Cybershot depends on usage of new technology discovered by Sony, to improve picture quality.
Types included in Cybershot brands
It is specially helpful for people who are interested to take digital photographs instead of white and black photos. This brand offers a new digital Sony camera that has the world's smallest 7-mega pixel digital camera. This is one of the best digital cameras that promise unique picture, clear images and high-resolution sharpness.
Cybershot [Sony camera brands] can be classified into several groups:
- Camcorders - mostly used by the amateurs. It includes a combination of camera and VCR to create a multiple production unit. Ranging from microphone to recording sound, they feature a small LCD that offers you to watch video during filming and playback.
- Professional video cameras - these are mostly used in movie production and television. They have multiple image sensors that are used to increase resolution and color gamut.
- Web cams - they are digital cameras that are attached to the computers and are used for video conferencing and other purposes. They capture full-motion video and also include microphones or zoom abilities.
Benefits of Cybershot [Sony camera brand]
When you want a Cybershot [Sony camera brand], you can visit eBay to make online purchases. The further you search for a brand, the more range of products you will get that will help you to purchase the best brand.
Following are the advantageous features of Cybershot [Sony camera brand]:
- 1/1.8" 7.2 Mega pixel Super HAD [Hole Accumulation Diode] CCD - they provide excellent image quality by allowing light to filter through each pixel, thereby increasing sensitivity and reducing noise effectively.
- 3X Optical/2X Digital/6X Total Zoom - it helps you to fill the frame with subjects for better pictures. They even help to bring the subject closer with an extra 2X magnification.
- Selectable Focus mode - monitoring AF [Auto Focus] offers you to anticipate the action by focusing even before pressing the shutter release.
- Pre-Flash Metering - with a momentary pre-flash, the camera illuminates the subject and sets exposure through the lens for accurate flash metering.
- Scene Selective Mode - with 9 scene modes available, the parameters can touch the shooting conditions like soft snap, twilight portrait, snow, candle, beach, high speed shutter, landscape and Fireworks.
- Memory stick Media - digital, powerful, compact and rugged with a variety of hardware and software applications
- Multi-burst mode - captures 16 320X240 frames as part of a single 1280X960 image that plays back sequentially in the camera.
- Rechargeable Info Lithium Battery - provides a reliable and permanent power for continuous shooting ability. The charger provides stable power for USB transfer.
Use Cybershot and enjoy taking digital picture perfect images.
2008-03-21
Sony Video Camera Review Will Help You Make a Smart Choice : Sony camera photo store shopping sale online
Sony Video Camera Review Will Help You Make a Smart Choice
by james_s
plug itIf you are determined to buy a video camera, it becomes vital to know what model and brand will suit your needs and budget best. Choosing a video camera by Sony, you are sure to get the best buy; however, you still want to know what kind of Sony camera you need. The latest Sony video camera review is what will guide you through Sony's different camera models and help you make your best choice.
Sony Video Camera Review is About Strengths, Weaknesses and a Rating System
The Sony digital camera review will usually highlight three or more popular brands of Sony video cameras and will let you know which models live to up the hype. Each Sony video camera review will normally list the physical specifications of the products such as size and weight, will provide a list of the camera's strengths and weaknesses and will even rate the cameras so that you can be sure that your purchase is a smart one.
Buying a Sony video camera you know that you are investing in the brand you can trust. However, different video cameras do different things and you want to know that your money is going towards a camera that you actually want. Thanks to the Sony video camera review you will be able to avoid disappointment of finding out that the camera you purchased is not as good as you thought it was. The Sony video camera review allows you to make an educated purchase.
Search online to find the latest Sony video camera review. Chances are you will find several websites that offer different versions of the Sony video camera review. It works to your advantage, as a consumer. By seeing the results of several Sony video camera reviews, you can bet that if they all agree, the model they highlight is worth every penny.
The writers of the Sony video camera review know what to look for and know what you intend to do with your video camera. They want you to make the best purchase and they will not hold back. They don't work for Sony so you can bet that they will be honest with the information they provide.
Buying a video camera is always a considerable investment - make sure that yours will be wise. Don't ignore the latest Sony video camera review, as it will help you make the right choice and spend your money on a great item totally worth it. For more information on Sony Digital Camera Review check out www.digitalcameraworld.org. You'll find loads of tips and techniques plus you'll find answers to questions many others in your situation have asked before. But Hurry! For a limited time you can get your very own copy of our award winning Digital Camera Software at absolutely no cost.
by james_s
plug itIf you are determined to buy a video camera, it becomes vital to know what model and brand will suit your needs and budget best. Choosing a video camera by Sony, you are sure to get the best buy; however, you still want to know what kind of Sony camera you need. The latest Sony video camera review is what will guide you through Sony's different camera models and help you make your best choice.
Sony Video Camera Review is About Strengths, Weaknesses and a Rating System
The Sony digital camera review will usually highlight three or more popular brands of Sony video cameras and will let you know which models live to up the hype. Each Sony video camera review will normally list the physical specifications of the products such as size and weight, will provide a list of the camera's strengths and weaknesses and will even rate the cameras so that you can be sure that your purchase is a smart one.
Buying a Sony video camera you know that you are investing in the brand you can trust. However, different video cameras do different things and you want to know that your money is going towards a camera that you actually want. Thanks to the Sony video camera review you will be able to avoid disappointment of finding out that the camera you purchased is not as good as you thought it was. The Sony video camera review allows you to make an educated purchase.
Search online to find the latest Sony video camera review. Chances are you will find several websites that offer different versions of the Sony video camera review. It works to your advantage, as a consumer. By seeing the results of several Sony video camera reviews, you can bet that if they all agree, the model they highlight is worth every penny.
The writers of the Sony video camera review know what to look for and know what you intend to do with your video camera. They want you to make the best purchase and they will not hold back. They don't work for Sony so you can bet that they will be honest with the information they provide.
Buying a video camera is always a considerable investment - make sure that yours will be wise. Don't ignore the latest Sony video camera review, as it will help you make the right choice and spend your money on a great item totally worth it. For more information on Sony Digital Camera Review check out www.digitalcameraworld.org. You'll find loads of tips and techniques plus you'll find answers to questions many others in your situation have asked before. But Hurry! For a limited time you can get your very own copy of our award winning Digital Camera Software at absolutely no cost.
Learn the ropes of Digital Photography : sony camera photo store shopping sale online
Learn the ropes of Digital Photography
by David Peters
plug itThe camera has one small, slow chip and very little memory to do that interpolation. Your computer has a big, powerful processor and lots of memory, not to mention, no particular need to compromise their software routines to fit into a small amount of memory or trade quality for speed to avoid long delays after taking a picture. In short, your computer will do a vastly better job at interpolating the picture than your camera will, and to top that off you can choose different algorithms (often named after the mathematicians or programmers who created them, like Lanczos or Mitchell) and experiment with how well they work on a particular image. You can even save different versions of the file, including the original, which you can't if the camera is doing the work. There's nothing to be gained by compromising image quality, which is exactly what you're doing if you don't use the best filter you can get your hands on. The interpolated image even takes up more space on your camera's memory card, but it doesn't hold any more information than the original. Finally, as I mentioned above, it adds time between shots, as the camera has to grind away at reshaping your picture before you can take another one.
Exchangeable Image File (EXIF) data, saved by modern digital cameras in each picture file, is a powerful tool for both keeping track of your work and learning more about how to use your camera and how to take advantage of its capabilities. Created by the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association, this standard is now used by almost all digital cameras. EXIF data stores, as part of the picture file, information such as the date, time, camera model, and settings such as focus mode, flash mode, ISO sensitivity setting, white balance, and many more facts about the state of the camera when the picture was taken. The EXIF data actually envelops the picture data, be it compressed (usually JPEG format) or uncompressed (RAW or TIFF format) data. The data does add anywhere from 100 bytes to 64 kilobytes to the size of the file, but it is invaluable for anything from keeping track of work, indexing large numbers of photographs, or learning more about how your camera's settings affect the quality of the final product.
What is it that is actually capturing the image? Where film cameras have a roll of film exposed behind the aperture, digital cameras have a sensor. Most digital cameras use an array of photo sensors under a filter matrix which results in the sensors each recording red (8-12 bit), green (8-12 bit) or blue (8-12 bit) light intensities. These separate sensors or channels create what is often referred to as the Bayer matrix pattern where every other sensor records green with the alternating cells recording in red or blue. Each pixel in a conventional sensor only captures one color. This data is typically 10 or 12 bits per pixel, with 12 bits per pixel currently being most common. Most cameras now provide the option to instantaneously store the captured material in a RAW file while alternatively the camera's processor can weave the RAW data using all three color channels to provide an instant 24 bit full-color JPEG or TIFF display image. RAW is not an abbreviation but literally means "raw" or "unprocessed". A RAW data file contains the original image information as it comes off the sensor before in-camera processing so you have a variety of choices in processing the data on your PC using one of many editing software programs available.
When discussing image quality for digital photographs image noise is the equivalent of film grain for analogue cameras. Despite the fact that we are working in a visual instead of an audio medium, it is called noise, which is analogous to the subtle background hiss when a television channel has no broadcast or your audio system is turned up at full volume without a record or disk. In digital images, noise refers to random specks on the surface of a photo, which can degrade the quality of the image. While noise is often seen as a distraction and detriment to a photograph, it can be a desirable condition for certain artistic effects. Noise varies with sensitivity settings, length of exposure, temperature, and different camera models. The signal to noise ratio (SNR) is a useful and universal way of comparing the relative amounts of signal and noise for any electronic system. ISO setting or ISO speed are the standards, which describe a camera's sensitivity to light. A camera's relative sensitivity to light is represented by the ratio of the two ISO numbers. In terms of practical application, a photo taken at ISO 200 will take half as long to reach the same level of exposure as a photo taken at ISO 100 where all other settings are the same.
For the photographer that has a tight budget, it's good to know that there are free resources out there! If you take digital photos, then you can use some great editing software that is absolutely free, made available by Windows. Editing your pictures is a very important step in the photographic process, and can end up costing a pretty good amount of money by the time you are done. Anyone that needs to save money can take advantage of some great editing programs that are free and easy to use! Almost all digital cameras purchased today have a photo editing software program that comes as part of the purchase. These can provide simple cropping and picture modification. One of the many free photo editors offered by Windows is Paint.net. It is offered by Washington State University. You can freely download this freeware and use it to edit your own digital photos. The software has a ton of really cool features, including special effects! It is easy to use and you can even log onto a user forum, if you should need any help or want to see how others are using this great freeware! Another user-friendly freeware program that you can download to edit your photos is VCW VicMan's Photo Editor. This freeware is similar to Adobe's Photoshop. This software has a limited free version, but you can purchase the software for a great price. If you take a little time, you can find it offered at many online merchant websites and can even stumble across some great discounts!
Most experts will tell you what the automatic flash built into many digital cameras can't do - change light angle, redirect off surfaces to soften the effect but what is such a flash good at? As it turns out, there are a few times when such a feature is quite handy. While it can be handy to have dedicated lighting, or even a slave flash unit linked to your camera, there are good reasons why such items do not come standard with most cameras. Fill flash (also known as "forced on" or "anytime" flash) is a feature found on most digital cameras that allows the user to trigger the built-in flash whenever a picture is taken - no matter the light level. This is handy when natural light is behind the subject, but also to fill in shadows anywhere in the frame. While your eye can see the detail in these shaded areas, often the camera cannot. Many outdoor pictures are spoiled by excessive shadow or loss of detail when natural light seems adequate to the eye.
Memory Sticks are used only in Sony products, and Sony is serious about keeping the technology in use. Unfortunately it seems like no one else is. They're available up to 4 Gigabytes in capacity, have good speed, but if you're using a Memory stick, it's probably because you're using a Sony camera and you don't have a choice. The newest common storage media are xD-Picture cards. Developed by Olympus and Fuji as a replacement for the older Smart Media cards, xD cards are compact and durable, with a heftier shell than older designs. They are stable in the market and likely to be around for a while, but they are gaining neither market share nor size rapidly - currently the largest xD cards are 1 Gigabyte. This is probably because only Olympus and Fuji now use this standard. Wide and wafer-thin, Smart Media cards define "legacy technology." Available only as large as 128 Megabytes, this is one technology I would have expected to have been "voted off the island" by now. Alas, they were used in tens if not hundreds of millions of cameras and smart phones, so they are still being made and will be available for some time. You won't find them in any new cameras, however.
by David Peters
plug itThe camera has one small, slow chip and very little memory to do that interpolation. Your computer has a big, powerful processor and lots of memory, not to mention, no particular need to compromise their software routines to fit into a small amount of memory or trade quality for speed to avoid long delays after taking a picture. In short, your computer will do a vastly better job at interpolating the picture than your camera will, and to top that off you can choose different algorithms (often named after the mathematicians or programmers who created them, like Lanczos or Mitchell) and experiment with how well they work on a particular image. You can even save different versions of the file, including the original, which you can't if the camera is doing the work. There's nothing to be gained by compromising image quality, which is exactly what you're doing if you don't use the best filter you can get your hands on. The interpolated image even takes up more space on your camera's memory card, but it doesn't hold any more information than the original. Finally, as I mentioned above, it adds time between shots, as the camera has to grind away at reshaping your picture before you can take another one.
Exchangeable Image File (EXIF) data, saved by modern digital cameras in each picture file, is a powerful tool for both keeping track of your work and learning more about how to use your camera and how to take advantage of its capabilities. Created by the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association, this standard is now used by almost all digital cameras. EXIF data stores, as part of the picture file, information such as the date, time, camera model, and settings such as focus mode, flash mode, ISO sensitivity setting, white balance, and many more facts about the state of the camera when the picture was taken. The EXIF data actually envelops the picture data, be it compressed (usually JPEG format) or uncompressed (RAW or TIFF format) data. The data does add anywhere from 100 bytes to 64 kilobytes to the size of the file, but it is invaluable for anything from keeping track of work, indexing large numbers of photographs, or learning more about how your camera's settings affect the quality of the final product.
What is it that is actually capturing the image? Where film cameras have a roll of film exposed behind the aperture, digital cameras have a sensor. Most digital cameras use an array of photo sensors under a filter matrix which results in the sensors each recording red (8-12 bit), green (8-12 bit) or blue (8-12 bit) light intensities. These separate sensors or channels create what is often referred to as the Bayer matrix pattern where every other sensor records green with the alternating cells recording in red or blue. Each pixel in a conventional sensor only captures one color. This data is typically 10 or 12 bits per pixel, with 12 bits per pixel currently being most common. Most cameras now provide the option to instantaneously store the captured material in a RAW file while alternatively the camera's processor can weave the RAW data using all three color channels to provide an instant 24 bit full-color JPEG or TIFF display image. RAW is not an abbreviation but literally means "raw" or "unprocessed". A RAW data file contains the original image information as it comes off the sensor before in-camera processing so you have a variety of choices in processing the data on your PC using one of many editing software programs available.
When discussing image quality for digital photographs image noise is the equivalent of film grain for analogue cameras. Despite the fact that we are working in a visual instead of an audio medium, it is called noise, which is analogous to the subtle background hiss when a television channel has no broadcast or your audio system is turned up at full volume without a record or disk. In digital images, noise refers to random specks on the surface of a photo, which can degrade the quality of the image. While noise is often seen as a distraction and detriment to a photograph, it can be a desirable condition for certain artistic effects. Noise varies with sensitivity settings, length of exposure, temperature, and different camera models. The signal to noise ratio (SNR) is a useful and universal way of comparing the relative amounts of signal and noise for any electronic system. ISO setting or ISO speed are the standards, which describe a camera's sensitivity to light. A camera's relative sensitivity to light is represented by the ratio of the two ISO numbers. In terms of practical application, a photo taken at ISO 200 will take half as long to reach the same level of exposure as a photo taken at ISO 100 where all other settings are the same.
For the photographer that has a tight budget, it's good to know that there are free resources out there! If you take digital photos, then you can use some great editing software that is absolutely free, made available by Windows. Editing your pictures is a very important step in the photographic process, and can end up costing a pretty good amount of money by the time you are done. Anyone that needs to save money can take advantage of some great editing programs that are free and easy to use! Almost all digital cameras purchased today have a photo editing software program that comes as part of the purchase. These can provide simple cropping and picture modification. One of the many free photo editors offered by Windows is Paint.net. It is offered by Washington State University. You can freely download this freeware and use it to edit your own digital photos. The software has a ton of really cool features, including special effects! It is easy to use and you can even log onto a user forum, if you should need any help or want to see how others are using this great freeware! Another user-friendly freeware program that you can download to edit your photos is VCW VicMan's Photo Editor. This freeware is similar to Adobe's Photoshop. This software has a limited free version, but you can purchase the software for a great price. If you take a little time, you can find it offered at many online merchant websites and can even stumble across some great discounts!
Most experts will tell you what the automatic flash built into many digital cameras can't do - change light angle, redirect off surfaces to soften the effect but what is such a flash good at? As it turns out, there are a few times when such a feature is quite handy. While it can be handy to have dedicated lighting, or even a slave flash unit linked to your camera, there are good reasons why such items do not come standard with most cameras. Fill flash (also known as "forced on" or "anytime" flash) is a feature found on most digital cameras that allows the user to trigger the built-in flash whenever a picture is taken - no matter the light level. This is handy when natural light is behind the subject, but also to fill in shadows anywhere in the frame. While your eye can see the detail in these shaded areas, often the camera cannot. Many outdoor pictures are spoiled by excessive shadow or loss of detail when natural light seems adequate to the eye.
Memory Sticks are used only in Sony products, and Sony is serious about keeping the technology in use. Unfortunately it seems like no one else is. They're available up to 4 Gigabytes in capacity, have good speed, but if you're using a Memory stick, it's probably because you're using a Sony camera and you don't have a choice. The newest common storage media are xD-Picture cards. Developed by Olympus and Fuji as a replacement for the older Smart Media cards, xD cards are compact and durable, with a heftier shell than older designs. They are stable in the market and likely to be around for a while, but they are gaining neither market share nor size rapidly - currently the largest xD cards are 1 Gigabyte. This is probably because only Olympus and Fuji now use this standard. Wide and wafer-thin, Smart Media cards define "legacy technology." Available only as large as 128 Megabytes, this is one technology I would have expected to have been "voted off the island" by now. Alas, they were used in tens if not hundreds of millions of cameras and smart phones, so they are still being made and will be available for some time. You won't find them in any new cameras, however.
Digital Cameras - The stuff they should have told you. : Sony camera photo store shopping sale online
Digital Cameras - The stuff they should have told you.
by Tony Wiethoff
plug itWe now live in an age where nearly everyone owns a digital camera. There are a few important things that all camera owners should understand about digital cameras, camera technology, and the market today.
1. Your Camera Life is about 4-5 years.
In 2000 I found myself for the first time ever in the colorful electronics district in Tokyo. The streets bustled with hundreds of people running into the red, blue, and yellow shops where vendors demonstrated the cutting edge of technology. The sparkle of a digital camera caught my eye: A fantastic looking Sony camera with English instructions! The camera featured a bank for 4 AA batteries (which was standard of cameras at that time), and a whopping 1 Megapixel sensor. I practically stole it for the amazing price of $550 dollars US.
Just 7 years later, a 7 Megapixel sensor camera now sells for under $100 dollars. While the average cost of a camera will likely not drop way below $100, the amount of features you can expect from that camera will likely continuously increase as the technology is improved. In our previous generation a 35mm camera might have held value and taken great pictures for a couple of decades; a Digital camera becomes technologically obsolete in 4-5 years and consumers should weigh this as they buy newer camera models.
2. In 2008 consumers win in the memory price wars.
Digital camera memory prices have dropped and will continue to drop in time similarly to Camera prices, so it doesn't make sense to buy camera memory as an investment. However, memory has in fact dropped faster than expected in the past decade due to the worldwide competitive manufacturing. While price wars are bad for flash memory semiconductor companies trying to turn a profit, it means money in the pockets of the consumer. Camera owners can buy enough memory to store hundreds or even thousands of pictures in memory before they need to be downloaded or printed. As a general rule consumers should buy the cheapest "cost per byte" when purchasing camera memory. If you see a 2 Gigabyte Memory Card for $75 and a 1 Gigabyte Memory Card for $40 dollars, buy the 2 Gigabyte card. Consumers should generally avoid smaller than 1 Gigabyte cards in 2008 and beyond.
3. Camera batteries can make all the difference in the world.
Inexpensive, bargain alkaline batteries may cause your camera to stop working entirely. Recently my Sister-in-law claimed that the camera I bought 3 months ago no longer worked. The camera would turn on and open the lens and immediately shut off again, even with brand new batteries. It turned out that the generic alkaline batteries she was using could not power the camera. Similarly Ni-Cd batteries should not be used in digital cameras because they don't have the rapid amperage requirements of a digital camera.
As a matter of savings, consumers should only use Ni-Mh batteries in digital cameras. These batteries are perfectly suited to digital camera type usage because of the rapid charge and discharge requirements. The cost may be up to 3 times greater than Alkaline batteries up front, however a typical rechargeable battery can be recharged over a hundred times. Recently battery manufacturers have started making specialty Alkaline batteries that are designed to work in digital cameras. While they indeed do work, they are not cost effective. When buying rechargeable batteries, pay attention to the amount of charge a battery can hold (mAh) and its voltage. Its important to also note that a Ni-Mh battery has one key drawback, it losses several percent of its stored power per day. This means that storing charged batteries doesn't really work. You need to pull them right off the charger before you go. Ni-Mh batteries rated as (LSD) or low self discharge are nice if you need to store charged batteries, but the drawback is they may have a lower storage capacity (mAh).
4. Your Camera Battery Charger can save you.
The most overlooked component might be the one that can save you the most headache. Digital camera users who use Ni-Mh rechargable batteries require a charger. A good battery charger will not only help the batteries last longer by charging them in a precise measured cycle, but will also notify you if it detects a bad battery that is not correctly holding a charge. This is useful prior to being out and ready to take a picture to realize the batteries (or just one) don't seem to be working even though you just pulled them off the charger.
A great battery charger will have several key features including Voltage monitoring, temperature monitoring, and it will offer discharge cycles to efficiently detect battery problems. It will also charge and monitor each battery individually (instead of pairs). Unfortunately a high number of battery chargers sold today lack some or most of these features. If the packaging fails to mention these features, most likely it does not have them.
5. Expect the worst to be safe.
In the 90s did you store all of your film negatives on a string hovering over your fish aquarium? Of course not, but storing your digital photos only on your home computer hard drive is risky. Digital pictures can easily be duplicated and stored as perfect copies. A wise investment around $100 for any digital photographer is a USB Hard drive which can be used to periodically back up pictures on the computer (and store separately from your computer should your computer break or get stolen). If you want a more automatic but pricey alternative of $200 to $400 dollars, you can buy a network storage device that allows you to automatically back up your computer without the manual process. There are also several services on the internet that will back up your files to internet servers should your home computer fail. Users who back up pictures on Burned CD or DVDs should note that a burned media device has a limited lifetime as well. Depending on the quality of the blanks, users should expect the burned media to last about 4 years.
As with all digital devices, cameras and camera memory fail occasionally as well. This may be due to user error, or component failure, or a wide spectrum of other causes. If a camera memory is suddenly unreadable in the digital camera or computer, users should be aware that the pictures or media may still be recovered. The user should NOT continue to use the media, or reformat it. There are several good yet inexpensive camera memory recovery software packages available, and there are also professional services available on the internet that can recover the pictures for a nominal fee.
Professional photographers often take hundreds or even thousands of photos to capture an event. They expect a large amount of the pictures taken to be not exactly perfect, and the more selection to choose from the better. Digital cameras allow consumers to take on a similar practice at little or no extra cost. You don't have to print every picture you take, and you can always delete the duplicates later!
by Tony Wiethoff
plug itWe now live in an age where nearly everyone owns a digital camera. There are a few important things that all camera owners should understand about digital cameras, camera technology, and the market today.
1. Your Camera Life is about 4-5 years.
In 2000 I found myself for the first time ever in the colorful electronics district in Tokyo. The streets bustled with hundreds of people running into the red, blue, and yellow shops where vendors demonstrated the cutting edge of technology. The sparkle of a digital camera caught my eye: A fantastic looking Sony camera with English instructions! The camera featured a bank for 4 AA batteries (which was standard of cameras at that time), and a whopping 1 Megapixel sensor. I practically stole it for the amazing price of $550 dollars US.
Just 7 years later, a 7 Megapixel sensor camera now sells for under $100 dollars. While the average cost of a camera will likely not drop way below $100, the amount of features you can expect from that camera will likely continuously increase as the technology is improved. In our previous generation a 35mm camera might have held value and taken great pictures for a couple of decades; a Digital camera becomes technologically obsolete in 4-5 years and consumers should weigh this as they buy newer camera models.
2. In 2008 consumers win in the memory price wars.
Digital camera memory prices have dropped and will continue to drop in time similarly to Camera prices, so it doesn't make sense to buy camera memory as an investment. However, memory has in fact dropped faster than expected in the past decade due to the worldwide competitive manufacturing. While price wars are bad for flash memory semiconductor companies trying to turn a profit, it means money in the pockets of the consumer. Camera owners can buy enough memory to store hundreds or even thousands of pictures in memory before they need to be downloaded or printed. As a general rule consumers should buy the cheapest "cost per byte" when purchasing camera memory. If you see a 2 Gigabyte Memory Card for $75 and a 1 Gigabyte Memory Card for $40 dollars, buy the 2 Gigabyte card. Consumers should generally avoid smaller than 1 Gigabyte cards in 2008 and beyond.
3. Camera batteries can make all the difference in the world.
Inexpensive, bargain alkaline batteries may cause your camera to stop working entirely. Recently my Sister-in-law claimed that the camera I bought 3 months ago no longer worked. The camera would turn on and open the lens and immediately shut off again, even with brand new batteries. It turned out that the generic alkaline batteries she was using could not power the camera. Similarly Ni-Cd batteries should not be used in digital cameras because they don't have the rapid amperage requirements of a digital camera.
As a matter of savings, consumers should only use Ni-Mh batteries in digital cameras. These batteries are perfectly suited to digital camera type usage because of the rapid charge and discharge requirements. The cost may be up to 3 times greater than Alkaline batteries up front, however a typical rechargeable battery can be recharged over a hundred times. Recently battery manufacturers have started making specialty Alkaline batteries that are designed to work in digital cameras. While they indeed do work, they are not cost effective. When buying rechargeable batteries, pay attention to the amount of charge a battery can hold (mAh) and its voltage. Its important to also note that a Ni-Mh battery has one key drawback, it losses several percent of its stored power per day. This means that storing charged batteries doesn't really work. You need to pull them right off the charger before you go. Ni-Mh batteries rated as (LSD) or low self discharge are nice if you need to store charged batteries, but the drawback is they may have a lower storage capacity (mAh).
4. Your Camera Battery Charger can save you.
The most overlooked component might be the one that can save you the most headache. Digital camera users who use Ni-Mh rechargable batteries require a charger. A good battery charger will not only help the batteries last longer by charging them in a precise measured cycle, but will also notify you if it detects a bad battery that is not correctly holding a charge. This is useful prior to being out and ready to take a picture to realize the batteries (or just one) don't seem to be working even though you just pulled them off the charger.
A great battery charger will have several key features including Voltage monitoring, temperature monitoring, and it will offer discharge cycles to efficiently detect battery problems. It will also charge and monitor each battery individually (instead of pairs). Unfortunately a high number of battery chargers sold today lack some or most of these features. If the packaging fails to mention these features, most likely it does not have them.
5. Expect the worst to be safe.
In the 90s did you store all of your film negatives on a string hovering over your fish aquarium? Of course not, but storing your digital photos only on your home computer hard drive is risky. Digital pictures can easily be duplicated and stored as perfect copies. A wise investment around $100 for any digital photographer is a USB Hard drive which can be used to periodically back up pictures on the computer (and store separately from your computer should your computer break or get stolen). If you want a more automatic but pricey alternative of $200 to $400 dollars, you can buy a network storage device that allows you to automatically back up your computer without the manual process. There are also several services on the internet that will back up your files to internet servers should your home computer fail. Users who back up pictures on Burned CD or DVDs should note that a burned media device has a limited lifetime as well. Depending on the quality of the blanks, users should expect the burned media to last about 4 years.
As with all digital devices, cameras and camera memory fail occasionally as well. This may be due to user error, or component failure, or a wide spectrum of other causes. If a camera memory is suddenly unreadable in the digital camera or computer, users should be aware that the pictures or media may still be recovered. The user should NOT continue to use the media, or reformat it. There are several good yet inexpensive camera memory recovery software packages available, and there are also professional services available on the internet that can recover the pictures for a nominal fee.
Professional photographers often take hundreds or even thousands of photos to capture an event. They expect a large amount of the pictures taken to be not exactly perfect, and the more selection to choose from the better. Digital cameras allow consumers to take on a similar practice at little or no extra cost. You don't have to print every picture you take, and you can always delete the duplicates later!
2008-03-11
How to choose a digital Camera : Sony camera photo store shopping sale online
How to choose a digital Camera
by Simon Small
There are many, many digital cameras available in today's market and seemingly more appearing monthly so which digital camera is the right camera for you?
Firstly set yourself a budget, it is going to help determine your choice of camera and target the appropriate models. Then you won't spend time investigating models that are beyond your budget.
It's important to consider what you want to take photographs of. This may seem obvious but nothing is more disappointing than spending good money and find it doesn't live up to your expectations. Do you want a camera that slips into your pocket and take casual photographs of holidays, family and friends or do you want to be more creative and develop photography as a hobby? If it is the former then there are many Compact Cameras with increasing pixel resolution and quality performance. If you want flexibility of zooming in to make your subject look bigger then opt for Optical zoom, not digital.
If you are looking to develop your photography more seriously as a hobby taking
Photographs of Landscapes, Sports, Portraits or other similar subjects then there are two types of cameras; Bridge cameras and SLR cameras. Bridge Cameras offer good built in optical zoom lenses, many megapixels, built in flash, easy of use operation but with the option of being creative with many manual operation modes. Digital Single Lens Reflex or Digital SLR cameras have moved into wider usage with their lower price tag and high performance. As the choice of professionals SLR cameras offer great flexibility with high performance both in picture quality and speed. Their interchangeable lenses mean you can capture just about anything whether it be close or far away.
Another consideration is that you've taken some great shots, now how do you want to view them? The number of pixels will determine what size photo you can print out, so do you want to print on 6 x 4 paper or larger?
There's one main additional area to think about, that of accessories. When you're buying you camera then you may need to factor these into your budget. Things to consider are Batteries, Memory cards, a bag and maybe even a tripod.
So what next? Start researching. The web is a mine of useful information, so are magazines. From your key needs for using the camera try to identify two or three possible models that you may want to purchase. I would then recommend visiting local stores to try them, even if you're likely to purchase on the web. There's nothing better than getting the camera in you hands to see if you find it easy to use, check it's not too big or small, etc. If you pick a dedicated camera store then you may well find a sales person who knows the cameras well so ask their advice as well.
When you've made your choice then it's a matter of cost. Web prices are always keen as are large retailers but don't be afraid to ask your local camera specialist if they will match prices,
Now, go out and enjoy using your camera!
Whatever its complexity there's probably more creative and interesting photos you can take with it and more you can learn.
by Simon Small
There are many, many digital cameras available in today's market and seemingly more appearing monthly so which digital camera is the right camera for you?
Firstly set yourself a budget, it is going to help determine your choice of camera and target the appropriate models. Then you won't spend time investigating models that are beyond your budget.
It's important to consider what you want to take photographs of. This may seem obvious but nothing is more disappointing than spending good money and find it doesn't live up to your expectations. Do you want a camera that slips into your pocket and take casual photographs of holidays, family and friends or do you want to be more creative and develop photography as a hobby? If it is the former then there are many Compact Cameras with increasing pixel resolution and quality performance. If you want flexibility of zooming in to make your subject look bigger then opt for Optical zoom, not digital.
If you are looking to develop your photography more seriously as a hobby taking
Photographs of Landscapes, Sports, Portraits or other similar subjects then there are two types of cameras; Bridge cameras and SLR cameras. Bridge Cameras offer good built in optical zoom lenses, many megapixels, built in flash, easy of use operation but with the option of being creative with many manual operation modes. Digital Single Lens Reflex or Digital SLR cameras have moved into wider usage with their lower price tag and high performance. As the choice of professionals SLR cameras offer great flexibility with high performance both in picture quality and speed. Their interchangeable lenses mean you can capture just about anything whether it be close or far away.
Another consideration is that you've taken some great shots, now how do you want to view them? The number of pixels will determine what size photo you can print out, so do you want to print on 6 x 4 paper or larger?
There's one main additional area to think about, that of accessories. When you're buying you camera then you may need to factor these into your budget. Things to consider are Batteries, Memory cards, a bag and maybe even a tripod.
So what next? Start researching. The web is a mine of useful information, so are magazines. From your key needs for using the camera try to identify two or three possible models that you may want to purchase. I would then recommend visiting local stores to try them, even if you're likely to purchase on the web. There's nothing better than getting the camera in you hands to see if you find it easy to use, check it's not too big or small, etc. If you pick a dedicated camera store then you may well find a sales person who knows the cameras well so ask their advice as well.
When you've made your choice then it's a matter of cost. Web prices are always keen as are large retailers but don't be afraid to ask your local camera specialist if they will match prices,
Now, go out and enjoy using your camera!
Whatever its complexity there's probably more creative and interesting photos you can take with it and more you can learn.
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