For those who aren’t computer savvy, buying a digital camera can force the issue of learning a few things about computers if they wish to download, save, or print their pictures at home. Gaining knowledge about file formats is one example. Understanding a little bit about how pictures are recorded on a digital camera and then subsequently saved on a computer is critical but fairly simple even for a beginner.

Digital cameras record images as a grid of pixels. Because the data, the information about the grid of pixels, must be communicated to a computer for downloading, saving, and printing, the format used by the digital camera for storing the data must be understood by the computer as well regardless of the type of software used by the computer. Thus, there are standardized file formats used allowing this communication and transfer of data.

There are many file formats but there are only a few that are the most common used with images. Knowing which of these file formats to use when recording and saving images from a digital camera is crucial in assuring good image quality.

JPG: The JPG file format is the most commonly used for photographs. Most digital cameras are set to store images in JPG automatically. The JPG format compresses files to save storage but in the process eliminates some of the data which degrades image quality to a small extent.

Users can adjust the degree of compression/image quality on their digital camera. However, as degree of compression is reduced and image quality increases, the number of images the camera or memory card is able to store decreases. It is simply a trade off between image quality and storage capacity.

Choosing the JPG file format is often a good choice for color and grayscale photographs whether putting images on the web, viewing them on screen, or producing regular sized prints.

Users new to digital cameras need to understand that images recorded on the camera can be saved to computer in the same or a different format. However, an image originally recorded in JPEG will never have better quality than that in which it was originally recorded. Thus, if a user records an image with high compression on their digital camera, they can not reduce the compression or save as an uncompressed TIF file on their computer expecting to obtain better image quality.

Each time a JPEG file is opened, edited, and re-saved it loses data, and therefore image quality is lost as well. Thus, users should make every attempt to save original copies on their computer so that the image does not become progressively worse with repeated editing.

TIF: The TIF file format can save images without compression and therefore no loss of image quality. This format can be used with both Macintosh and Windows based computers. Choosing to use the TIF file format is wise when enlarging images as there is a greater need for high image quality in these situations.

Many digital cameras allow users the option of recording images in TIF format.
Although this allows superior image quality it drastically reduces the number of images that can be stored and is therefore used far less often by the average photographer. However if a user wants to produce large prints, setting their digital camera to record images in TIF format and saving them on computer in the same manner would be recommended.

GIF: The GIF file format is used most often for graphics and animation on the web. It has a limited color palette and is therefore, not generally a preferred choice for color photographs although it does well with black and white images. GIF format images are also somewhat preferred on the Web as their background can be made transparent and, because of the way they display, can help images load/display more quickly.

Some of the less frequently used formats in saving images include BMP which produces very large, uncompressed images such as those used with wallpapers, PICT which is the file format for Macintosh computers, PDF used by Adobe Acrobat, EPS, FlashPix, and PNG which are used primarily for graphics, and PSP which is the Photo Shop format. However, for the average person, recording and saving images from their digital camera in JPG, TIF, or GIF will meet their needs if they understand the benefits and drawbacks of each and how to adjust accordingly.

Christine Peppler shares information on home entertainment and home electronics products, including digital cameras, on her website at: http://www.homemedias.info

For the average person, digital cameras are the tool of choice to snap pictures of family and friends, to record special events, and to capture images of inspiring landscapes seen on vacations. However, for some, a love of nature, simple curiosity, or an interest in photography as a hobby guides them toward the world of close-up, or macro, photography. Close-up photography is simply a matter of taking pictures of small objects by getting very close and obtaining a magnified view. For anyone serious about macro photography an SLR camera is needed but for those interested in dabbling with their basic digital camera, a little experimentation can produce interesting close-up photographs.

Special “macro” lenses are recommended for the enthusiast but most digital cameras can accept small screw on “close-up” lenses which provide additional magnification. The digital cameras most consumers purchase are auto focus and merely require the push of a button to enter close or “macro” mode but the owner’s manual should be reviewed to discover the minimum focusing distance of the camera. When shooting at a distance of only inches there are a number of precautions to take to assure a high quality image.

1.) Focus: When photographing at close range/high magnification, images can be blurred by the slightest movements.

If the digital camera has a feature for mirror lock-up, it should be activated as the mere movement of the mirror can blur the image taken.

Use a tripod

Because slight breezes can cause movement, it is easiest to shoot subjects indoors when possible to gain control over the environment. In addition, shooting inanimate objects can also be a good starting point for a novice as the subject of the picture will not be moving.

Because of the close range, blurriness in all but a very small area of the picture frequently occurs. To get more area in focus, reduce the aperture and increase lighting. In some instances, increasing distance from the subject may be necessary.

Be sure the subject is parallel to the lens as items which are perpendicular have portions which are further away and therefore tend to blur.

2.) Getting the view you want: What is seen through the viewfinder of the digital camera is different than what the lens sees. This is particularly evident when photographing at close range.

Use the LCD instead of the viewfinder to see what is being photographed.

Or, use the correction marks (lines) that can be seen through the viewfinder which approximate the border of the image being taken to visualize what the lens is truly seeing. Then adjust the shot as necessary.

3.) Lighting: True macro photography commonly makes use of specialized flash units but care should be taken when using the flash unit with a digital camera to avoid over exposure and to obtain a natural looking background. Beginners can try a couple of things to obtain the best outcome

Diffuse the light by using very thin tissue in front of the flash

Place plain poster board (biege or gray is often used) behind the subject if the background is blackened. This will lighten the background and if placed far enough away, blur to look more natural.

Use natural diffuse light when possible. As in most photography, avoid direct, overhead sunlight.

Although basic digital cameras have limitations related to macro photography, beginners can certainly obtain images with a level of detail and beauty seldom seen with the naked eye when giving necessary attention to the special needs of close up photography.

Christine Peppler shares information on home entertainment and home electronics products, including digital cameras, on her website at: http://www.homemedias.info

The digital camera market today offers buyers a large number of choices, with products in widely differing price ranges, sizes and degree of operational complexity. From miniatures the size of a credit card, to fully functional professional SLR (Single Lens reflex) systems, you can buy a digital camera from manufacturers including traditional camera brands such as Canon, Olympus, Nikon, film companies such as Kodak and Fuji, and consumer electronic companies like Sony. Then there are other options that include the mobile phone manufacturers, and webcam suppliers.

The advantages of digital photography are numerous. Topmost is the fact that there is no film processing: expensive both in cost and time. But there is also the advantage of smaller sized equipment, portable media and instant picture viewing. And if you don’t like what you see, you simply delete it and shoot again: no wastage.

If you like to take pictures, being a digital photographer makes a lot of sense. But which camera is the best one for you? In a field of excess abundance, how do you narrow down what you need? How much to pay? How many megapixels? (What are they anyway?) Which brand? How much memory?

Digital CamerasEvery shopper is different.

At MyShopping.com.au we recognise this fact, and so we list practically all brands and models from hundreds of suppliers. These listings include the cold hard digital data facts about each camera and a range of comparative pricings offered by different suppliers. But just as every shopper is different, every photographer is different too. And just having the facts may not make you feel any more knowledgeable about which camera is right for you.

You could begin with the question: What sort of pictures will you take with your new digital camera? This is a valid starting point because from here you can begin to qualify your requirements in terms of technical capability and price. What sort of pictures will you take with your new digital camera?

Is it simply for happy snaps whenever you get together with friends and family at weekends and holidays? Or are you a serious bird watcher and you want to capture nature at its finest? Perhaps you want a camera for work to record your inventory, or recording information from a client. Maybe you’re a PI on a mission. The point is, you need to begin by recognising that your reason for buying a digital camera may not be the same as that of your best friend who is recommending the model she bought.

Once you’ve figured out the sort of pictures you are going to take, you can then set about deciding on the type of camera that will meet your needs. If you need something highly portable that fits in your shirt pocket or your handbag and lets you take it anywhere you go, make size a big consideration. If you want to take seriously good photographs, and you want to pursue an artistic endeavour, make image flexibility your main concern.

It might also be worthwhile considering your own position in the digital photography experience. Are you a novice about to buy your first camera, do you have some intermediate experience, or are you an advanced user?

Someone new to the market will likely not want to spend a lot of money, nor have a lot of mind-boggling features that leave you confused. There are cameras ideal for beginning users that have basic ‘point and shoot’ features including optical and digital zoom lens, flexible storage media and built in flash. There is a huge range of cameras available with simple features at low cost.

If you consider yourself an intermediate user with some operational knowledge of digital camera technology, you may want to consider more advanced features that give you more control over the pictures you take. These features usually come in a range of automatic settings and manual settings for capturing the image and different storage options in terms of resolution and picture type (raw data, jpeg, tiff). Naturally there is some cost attached to additional features when compared to more basic cameras.

For advanced users, there are a lot of professional options you can consider; such as SLR view finding and lens interchange ability. Cameras in this range provide much greater control over the image, both before and once it is captured. These options include shutter speed and aperture adjustment, and many cameras offer the ability to manipulate images ‘in camera’, such as cropping, and brightness and contrast adjustments.

After the picture is taken

A further main consideration is what are you going to do with your images once you have them? The great beauty of digital photography is the simple fact that you can store them on digital media such as CDs and media cards, and view them on computer screens and in many cases, your television. You need print only when and those you want to see, or show to others. Digital photography also gives fantastic opportunities to manipulate your images using popular image manipulation programs, resizing them, altering brightness and contrast characteristics, and correcting problems such as red eye, or removing skin blemishes.

Most digital cameras are computer ready, able to plug directly into your PC or Mac using USB connectors. They usually include proprietary software allowing you to easily and instantly manage your image files in photo albums or slide shows. Many digital cameras also include a video capture facility enabling you to take short motion pictures.

What you want to do with your images after you have them can have an impact on your choice of camera. If you want to make enlarged prints for example, you will want a high megapixel capacity (also talked about as ‘resolution’). If you want images for website use, you will want to get the best quality images that can be reduced in resolution without severe degradation.

Beauty is in the “I”

Great pictures usually come from great conditions. You capture a great moment, the light is just right, the subject is at the perfect distance, the image is perfectly framed. But not every digital camera offers the flexibility to make the best of existing light conditions, or position. Most digital cameras (certainly at the budget end) come with a built in automatic flash, which is terrific for happy snaps in darkened environments. And the automatic flash automatically does not ‘go off’ in bright sunny conditions. But in those times when you want to use the existing light, you need a camera that gives you manual control over the operation or not, of the flash.

Moreover, most digital cameras in the lower and medium price ranges are highly automated. If you are moving from a traditional SLR film camera where you have maximum control over shutter speed, aperture and ISO speeds, it may be frustrating to not have easy access to the same range of tools to take advantage of existing light conditions.

In the more advanced (and therefore more expensive) range of digital cameras, most lens and aperture functions are available in exactly the same way as other SLR systems. What differs is how the colours and light of the image is translated through pixel capture compared to the chemical processing systems.

You may want a wide range of focus options. Most digital cameras have two different types of image magnification, lens magnification (zoom) that may be equivalent of a 35mm to 150 mm lens, and a digital magnification that may be to ten-fold (expressed as x10). This provides you with zoom lens capability, which may be limited in its depth of field control and is subject to soft focus and movement if the conditions aren’t just right, and a digital magnification of the pixel image. If being able to capture magnified distant images is important to you, you need more megapixels, and a lens system that gives you some control over its focus and aperture management.

A final word on accessory

Digital cameras are electronic equipment. That means they run on batteries, and if you use your camera a lot, you will find that you will be frequently replacing batteries. Some cameras have rechargeable batteries; others simply use dry cells (AA), which you can of course load with rechargeable ones. It pays to have spare batteries so that you always have a charged power source. Some cameras have docking stations to help manage the connection with computers. Many digital SLR cameras have interchangeable lens systems, some of which may be compatible with traditional film SLRs.

You can also print your own pictures at home with special printers that handle standard photograph paper, and connect directly to your camera. Although it may be less expensive to simply take your camera’s card, or a CD to your local camera store, and now many supermarkets and department stores, and use the automatic printing machines to print the images you want.

There is a lot you can do with a digital camera, and you can pay les than $200, or more than $10,000. It all depends on how you see yourself as a photographer, what you’re shooting, and what you want to do with your pictures. At Myshopping.com.au you can very quickly compare specifications and prices.

Andrew Gates is a writer for comparison online shopping site MyShopping.com.au. MyShopping.com.au helps you compare digital cameras and buy online from top-rated online stores. You can also read digital cameras reviews and specifications.

A digital camera battery is probably the most important digital camera accessory. Some digital cameras can consume power at an alarming rate, providing no more than a few hours of continuous shooting time before the battery is drained. Other cameras are renowned for the long life of their digital camera battery which allows users to snap away with barely a thought to power consumption. It is important to know how you intend to use your camera and what type of battery it needs.

There are two types of digital camera battery. The most widely available digital camera battery is a standard AA-size battery. The other type of digital camera battery is a rechargeable battery that is made by the manufacturer, otherwise known as a proprietary battery.

A proprietary digital camera battery offers the advantage of being lighter and more compact, but they are substantially more expensive, making the prospect of buying one or two backup sets much less appealing.

The alkaline AA-size digital camera battery usually has a very short life - less than an hour in extreme cases - when used in a digital camera. This type of battery makes an acceptable emergency backup, especially if you are travelling with your camera. However, the Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) digital camera battery can be used instead of the alkaline ones with a charger and this rechargeable NiMH digital camera battery has a substantially longer life at an affordable price.

Another type of AA-size battery is the non-rechargeable Lithium batteries and rechargeable Nickel Cadmium (NiCD) batteries. The lithium digital camera battery has a superior life to alkaline AA’s and offers good cold-weather performance but their price and non-rechargeable nature make them less useful than rechargeable NiMH batteries. It is also important to ensure that your camera can take a lithium digital camera battery. On the other hand the NiCD digital camera battery offers the advantage of retaining their charge while unused, unlike NiMH cells, but have shorter lives and need to be discharged completely before recharging which can be extremely inconvenient.

The LCD screen of a digital camera is responsible for consuming the most power from a digital camera battery so it is worth only using the LCD when necessary to help conserve the battery life. Always try to carry at least one backup set of batteries, especially if you plan on being away from power outlets for an extended period of time. The universally-available alkaline AA-size battery can make a convenient emergency backup if your regular digital camera battery fails.

About The Author
Steve Gargin is the administrator of http://digital-camera-reviews.helper-guru.com/dsc717/index.html which is a great website dedicated to giving free advice on Digital Cameras.

Taking photographs of the people in your life is simple with a digital camera. We all have collections of images which represent the important people and events in our lives. Some of the pictures are great, but some leave our subjects stiffly posed, lost in the sea of a cluttered background, and often lacking personality as they stare back with the same “posed” face as in every other photograph. So how do we capture the detail and the personality so that the image saves for us a more meaningful record of a moment or a person?

Obviously, professional photographers take control of the background and lighting, direct the pose of their subjects, and use a great deal of creativity with props and camera controls to assure the highest quality image. For the average person however, candid shots are more effective in capturing the true meaning or personality at a given moment. For these individuals, following just a few basic tips can go a long way in obtaining photographs that will become a treasure for many years to come.

The subject should be the focus of the picture. Avoid a cluttered background so that it does not distract from the subject. Using the viewfinder allows the photographer to determine how the shot will look. If the background is too cluttered the subject can be moved, but in more candid shots of individuals, holding the digital camera in a vertical position sometimes helps to eliminate some of the background.

Step in close to capture more detail. For an image that captures the true personality and emotions of the subject, a photographer must get facial detail. When taking a candid shot and stepping in closer would disrupt the moment, use of the digital camera’s optical zoom or telephoto can have the same effect.

Some shots don’t require posing. Many of the most meaningful shots are taken as subjects interact or are engaged in an activity. From images of children at play, a spouse reading the morning paper, a parent and child talking, or grandma gardening these are the moments that reflect the true personality of subjects.

Happy is good, but there are other emotions worth capturing. It adds depth to a subject when images reflect other feelings such as humor, concentration, relaxation, or even boredom.

A relaxed subject makes for a better photograph. When posing subjects, many photographers suggest talking to them to get them to relax and reveal more of what they are feeling or thinking. A natural, relaxed posture will provide a better image than that of a person standing rigidly with their arms crossed. A subject may be seated with their head resting on their hands or standing with their head at an angle and hands in their pockets; posture varies in real life and should be varied in photographs as well as it reflects the subjects mood.

It is sometimes acceptable for a subject to be looking away from the camera. Just as with expressions on the face and posture, variations in where a subject is looking can work well in capturing a more meaningful image. Whether it is a child daydreaming as they gaze out of a window or simply an attempt to catch the profile of an adult as they drink their morning coffee these images which most accurately capture a subjects personality don’t always require that they face the camera directly.

Use the portrait setting on the digital camera for individual shots. The portrait setting will set the depth of field to focus on the subject.

Focus on the subject can also be enhanced by framing them. For instance, a subject may pose in a window, an arbor, a doorway, sitting on a swing, or something similar to focus attention in the image on them.

Lighting does matter. Although natural light outdoors is generally the best lighting for photographs, direct sunlight must be used carefully as it causes harsh shadows. Using the fill flash on a digital camera can help to reduce such shadows. Otherwise, taking shots in the shade, on an overcast day, or in the morning or evening when the sun is less harsh can help alleviate this problem.

For images that truly capture the personality of people that matter to us, photographs taken by family members can offer a dimension that is very difficult to capture in a studio. A willingness to experiment with more relaxed and natural poses or to avoid posing completely will provide a collection of photographs that reflect and record our lives more accurately.

Christine Peppler shares information on home entertainment and home electronics products, including digital cameras, on her website at: http://www.homemedias.info.

Disposable Cameras (also called single-use cameras) first came on the market as film cameras. You would take the entire camera back where you bought it and they would crack it open, take out the film and process it, resulting in photos that were virtually indistinguishable from photos taken with a more conventional camera. Now, following the trends in conventional cameras, there is a choice between using film or digital disposable cameras.

Some people think digital cameras are too hard to use; the disposable digital cameras offer a solution. Disposable digital cameras still have all of the great features that attract people to digital cameras such viewing your pictures before printing and photo manipulation. With a disposable digital camera, you get a flash, a timer, and a viewing monitor (depending on the model you buy). This means that you can see whether you want to take the picture over or not, as you also have the ability to delete an unwanted photo, and retake it if you have the opportunity. Additionally, a free picture CD is usually included with your prints in a disposable digital camera package.

Does a disposable digital camera offer the same features as a regular digital camera? It does offer the most frequently used features, but you will not get zoom or night shots, or most of the other bells and whistles that come with a $400.00 camera. But disposable digital cameras do not cost anywhere near $400, and they do allow you to leave your valuable cameras safe at home and still have the technology that you may crave in a camera for between $10.00 and $20.00, and sometimes even cheaper.

However, you cannot connect your disposable digital camera to your PC or Mac. The photos must be developed at a retailer that provides the proper equipment for your particular brand of disposable digital camera. This may actually be a plus for the technologically challenged, though, since you don’t have to hook up the wire, crop, fix the color — no need to waste hours in front of a computer, as it’s all done for you. Your time is valuable.

Disposable Cameras Info provides detailed information about digital, wedding, and underwater disposable cameras, as well as cheap and wholesale disposable cameras. Disposable Cameras Info is the sister site of Underwater Cameras Web.

A great photograph depends on a lot of things. A great view, a good camera, good light and of course, aperture
settings and shutter speeds. What exactly does the aperture do? It is, basically, an aperture or an opening. The
size determines how much light enters the camera through this opening and falls on the image sensor to form the
digital photograph. Did too much light get through? Your photograph could be a washout. Was it too little? You’ll
get a dark picture.

Apertures come in different sizes - all classified as ‘f’ numbers. Each number lets in double the amount of light as
the previous one. The standard is between f/1.8 and f/16. The smaller the aperture, the less light that will be let in.
So an f/16 lens will let in half the amount of light as an f/8 lens. The aperture works in conjunction with the shutter as well when it comes to the amount of light let in. The speed at which the shutter opens and shuts is also a factor that determines the amount of light. When it comes to fast-paced action, a fast shutter speed is essential to capture the motion. For a landscape or a posed photograph a slower shutter speed is fine.

A photographer who is extremely particular will adjust both the aperture as well as the shutter speed. A perfect balance between the two could very often bring about that one perfect picture. It needs a trained eye in order to judge perfectly exactly what the settings should be. What he would also take into account is the depth of field, that is, how much of the image remains in focus. In larger apertures, there is just a short range that is in focus, whereas smaller apertures have a much deeper range, going from the foreground close by to way back, deep into the background. It would all depend on the kind of shot to determine what the settings should be.

For those of us who do not have the inclination, the understanding or the patience, we can always resort to the automatic setting. It’s simple, the camera does all the work of adjusting for you and you get a good photograph. It might not be a work of art as might a photograph that a true professional photographer might have taken, but most cameras today give you a very acceptable quality.

Why do we need aperture settings at all? The simple, old cameras didn’t have any. If you choose a camera with aperture settings like a telephoto, wide-angle and maximum aperture features, you know that even in an automatic setting, you will get different kinds of pictures, not the same, flat look. It gives you the freedom to take any kind of shot, anywhere, in any light. Otherwise you might find yourself restricted to typical, posed cheesy pictures without too much character or depth.

For more helpful digital photography information, visit Digital-Photgraphy-Help.com at www.digital-photography-help.com