Demystifying Digital Camera Jargon
Want to buy a digital camera but confused by the sales jargon? Talk of pixels, LCDs and ELVs, digital zoom verses optical zoom driving you crazy? Then stress no more, here are all the basic terms and their meanings in simple, easily understood terms.
Mega pixels:
Pixels are just the tiny dots that make up a digital picture. Each mega pixel is a million pixels so the more mega pixels a camera has the more dots will make up your picture. The more mega pixels or dots your picture has, the better quality it will be. Digital cameras can be bought with one to six mega pixels. The higher mega pixel your camera is the larger size photo you can take and the more you can enlarge and print photos without sacrificing picture quality.
LCD
LCD means Liquid Crystal Display or in simple terms, it is the display screen used in digital cameras. These screens vary in size depending on the camera. It allows you to preview what you are photographing by giving you a 'through-the-lens-view'. It can also be used to preview photos, delete unwanted photos and some will allow you to magnify your photos to look at details.
Optical Viewfinder
This is simply the viewfinder you look through to take your photos (if you aren't using the LCD screen) as you would with any camera. They will show the full area of what you are photographing but the only drawback is they won't show you if the picture is in focus. Many cameras have an ELV ?Electronic View Finder, instead of an Optical Viewfinder, which shows the same view as on your LCD screen but has the advantage of screening out the sun. You can also see your camera settings and functions in the ELV just as you would on the LCD.
Digital and Optical Zoom
Digital zoom allows you to enlarge the size of a photo by doubling the size of the pixels. The problem with this is that as the pixels are made larger they become fuzzier thus leading to a decrease in photo quality. An optical zoom however actually magnifies the subject of the photo so retains the quality.
Memory Cards/Sticks
Memory cards/sticks are just the storage device for digital cameras. Most cameras have a small amount of built in memory but if you want to be able to store a reasonable number of photos you will need to purchase some extra memory. Memory comes in a range of sizes (measured in megabytes or gigabytes) and the more memory you want, the higher the cost. Ensure the memory you buy is compatible with your camera.
Obviously there is a lot more to know about digital cameras but understanding these basic terms will go a long way toward helping you find the digital camera that is right for you without being lost in the digital dialogue spouted by salespeople.
Raelene Hall is lives in Outback Western Australia. She has written non-fiction articles for magazines, newspapers and the Net on a variety of topics, including education, Outback life, communications, nature, spirituality, families, technology, and the environment. Raelene is a regular columnist for a regional newspaper. Contact Raelene at nedscreekstn@bigpond.com or check out her website at http://www.outbackwriter.com
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
So you have this great digital camera and you've taken... Read More
There are really great advantages in digital photography:You can shoot... Read More
You've read all the "best digital camera" articles, got the... Read More
There are a few very important tasks associated with using... Read More
Like many people who've made the switch from film cameras... Read More
Purchasing a digital camera is a wise decision, particularly if... Read More
The digital camera is in reality a great possession with... Read More
Did you know that in many cases digital photos are... Read More
That's right, you go through all the trouble of making... Read More
Disposable cameras are cheap and easy to use. If you... Read More
A photo buyer calls for a picture of pigs. It... Read More
Here's the challenge. You have to photograph small items for... Read More
There are major obstacles to overcome to get into nude... Read More
What Is... Exposure BracketingExposure bracketing is a simple technique professional... Read More
So you have rushed out into the malls in a... Read More
So you have bought a camcorder and have shot some... Read More
Too many people have the idea that being paid to... Read More
Digital Imaging is a process where an electronic photograph, scanned... Read More
Reflected Light Readings for Film and Digital ImagesIn order to... Read More
Probably one of the most common problems you will be... Read More
You will need an underwater camera housing to keep your... Read More
Sony was the first company to introduce digital cameras into... Read More
Night photos can take on a somewhat magical quality you... Read More
Once you have clicked photos through your digital camera, then... Read More
Early cameras of the 16th and 17th century were able... Read More
Nude photography is the genre of art photography, whose subject... Read More
Let's get something straight right out of the box. If... Read More
The Vacation Season is fast approaching and naturally you will... Read More
Saturate yourself with your subject and the camera will all... Read More
Here are examples of two basic videos you can create... Read More
Candid photography is photography that focuses on spontaneity rather than... Read More
Photography 101 Part One Equipment: camera, meter, flash, tripod This... Read More
Being such a fascinating device as the digital camera, this... Read More
Setting up your own photography business it easy, you don't... Read More
If you have hopes of becoming a professional photographer, or... Read More
Too many people have the idea that being paid to... Read More
Digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras are excellent cameras that... Read More
Photography comes from the Greek words meaning "light writing" and... Read More
1. Pet photos - advertise a Pet Photography business where... Read More
Think about Laurel and Hardy for a moment, or Charlie... Read More
You will need an underwater camera housing to keep your... Read More
Even though Nikon entered the camera world by 1948, today... Read More
The digital camera is a wonderful device that allows a... Read More
So you have this great new camera. Now you're standing... Read More
Knowing which megapixel camera to buy can be intimidating. There... Read More
Digital cameras are available in several price ranges today. They... Read More
It was widely reported in the press (15 September 1997)... Read More
Taking pictures of your new baby is a great way... Read More
About Personalized Photo Calendars:Photo Calendars are 12-month, wall-hanging calendars that... Read More
How many of the birthday party pictures you've seen are... Read More
One technology that hasn't kept up with the rapid pace... Read More
Tight BudgetsTight budgets are common these days. But the demand... Read More
So you have rushed out into the malls in a... Read More
Some of the best images can be captured during the... Read More
Quite often I will have clients bring in old photographs... Read More
One of the major problems of the larger cities of... Read More
Almost all of us will have seen this particular photographic... Read More
There are many kinds of disposable cameras. All disposable cameras... Read More
Digital SLR Camera or Digital single-lens reflex (SLR) camera is... Read More
For years I wondered how big the bucks were that... Read More
There are major obstacles to overcome to get into nude... Read More
Sony was the first company to introduce digital cameras into... Read More
So you recently bought a digital camera or perhaps your... Read More
Being such a fascinating device as the digital camera, this... Read More
Do you like to take photos? Are you always standing... Read More
HP has started making digital cameras only recently. However, the... Read More
Photography |