A-Z Digital Imaging and Photography.
Digital Cameras - Technical Features.
Digital Photography and Digital Cameras. Chapters
Types of Digital Cameras
Camera Features
Camera Batteries
How works a Digital Camera?
What is a Digital Photograph?
Camera File Formats and File Compression
Camera Resolutions and Print Sizes
Camera Storage Media Types
Links to Photography
Glossary
Digital Photography A-Z

Preview Screens & Viewfinders

Item Comment
Preview screen, size LCD preview screens are used to compose or review pictures.
Optical viewfinder An optical viewfinder is used to compose images. It requires no power. This design has a separate viewfinder window slightly offset from the lens.
Thru-the-lens (TTL) viewing This design shows you the view through the lens when you look into the viewfinder.

 Lenses

Item Comment
Focal length Determines the lens' angle of coverage.
Zoom lens Optical zooms are better than digital zooms
Macro mode A lens mode that lets you get very close to small objects to show them greatly enlarged.
Interchangeable lenses Interchangeable lenses let you change focal lengths.
Lens accessories Some cameras make it easy to attach lens accessories such as filters or adapters, other make it hard.
Maximum aperture Larger apertures are better in low light or when capturing fast action.
Detachable/rotatable lenses Allow you to position the camera body and lens independently to shoot over crowds or around corners.
Glass or plastic? Glass lens are generally better than plastic lenses.

 Creative Controls

Item Comment
Automatic mode Camera sets both aperture and shutter speed.
Exposure compensation You can adjust exposure one or two stops in either direction to lighten or darken scenes.
Shutter priority mode You set the shutter speed to control motion and the camera selects the best matching aperture.
Aperture priority mode You set the aperture to control depth of field and the camera selects the best matching shutter speed.
Manual mode You set bot aperture and shutter speed.
Focus, fixed Unadjustable focus is preset.
Focus, automatic Camera focuses on subject in the middle of the viewfinder.
Focus, manual You focus the camera so you can determine what's in focus and what isn't.
Focus range, minimum focus distance How close you can get to a subject.
Exposure/focus lock You point to anything and hold down the shutter button halfway to lock in exposure and focus settings.
White balance Adjusts the image sensor for the type of light under which you are photographing. Can be automatic or manual.

 Automatic Flash

Item Comment
Flash range The maximum range at which the flash illuminates a subject.
Flash mode, auto The flash fires when their isn't enough natural or artificial light to get a good exposure.
Flash mode, off The flash won't fire so you can use natural light even when the light is low.
Flash mode, fill or forced The flash fires even when there is enough light for a good exposure. Good for filling shadows on sunny days.
Flash mode, slow sync Let's you adjust the relative brightness of the foreground subject illuminated by the flash and background subjects illuminated by natural light.
Red-eye reduction Fires a first flash to close the subjects iris before firing the second flash used to take the picture.
Hot shoe, sync connector Allows you to remove the flash from the camera.

Batteries etc

Item Comment
Alkaline batteries Inexpensive but don't last long and aren't rechargeable.
NiCad batteries Suffers memory problems if not charged properly.
NiMH batteries The current first choice for digital camera batteries. Rechargeable and no memory problems.
LiOn batteries Longest lasting batteries but the most expensive. Rechargeable and no memory problems.
Battery charger/conditioner Recharges batteries.
AC adapter Plugs the camera into a wall socket so you can keep shooting when your batteries are dead.

Other Features

Item Comment
Look and feel Try it, see if you like it.
Size and weight The smaller and lighter it is, the more likely you are to take it with you.
Orientation sensor Rotates portrait mode images so they are turned sideways on the preview screen, TV and, computer screen.
Burst mode Shoots a series of pictures one after another at a high rate.
Time-lapse mode Shoots a series of pictures at preset intervals.
Video mode Shoots a few seconds of minutes of video with sound.
Panoramic, single image Takes one image using just the center band of the image sensor.
Panoramic, multiple image Guides you through a series of images which you then stitch together into a single image on the computer.
Multiple exposures Let's you take multiple images so they overlap one another.
Tripod mount Provides a place into which you can screw a tripod.
Self-timer The camera fires at the end of a preset period of time.
Remote control You can fire the camera from a distance with a wireless remote control.
Date/time indicators Images are date and time stamped.
Written annotation The preview screen you can write on to annotate pictures.
Sound recording The camera contains a microphone so you can record comments about your pictures.
Software This varies widely from camera to camera but usually includes download software and a photo-editing program
Operating system Most operating systems are unique to a specific line of cameras. The only exception is Digita that allows you to write scripts to automate camera functions.

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