Q. What should I be most concerned with when buying a digital camera? For instance, what is the difference between optical zoom and digital zoom? Which should I be most concerned with. Is 6.0 MP good. I should mention that I am not a photography, nor rich, so do not expect the best. But I do want a good quality camera, and not just waste my money. Any advice would be great.
Answer
The 6MP (6 million pixels), is very good, near photographic quality.
Optical zoom is much better than digital zoom. It is ok that your camera has digital zoom, but be sure it has a decent optical zoom as well, as this produces a better image.
It will cost more though, and at 6MP, even if you only have digital zoom, I think you will not be too disapointed. Try to avoid using too much digital zoom. Get closer if you can, you will get better photos.
F number, Light gathering:
The size of the opening behind the lens limits the amount of light than can enter and be focused onto the sensor. Different quality lens are better or worse at limiting distortion. A larger opening ( more light gathering) is better. Higher quality lens cost more, and probably have semi conductive coatings to reduce various types of optical distortion.
F numbers, are usually represented as F/2.0 where the 2.0 is an example number you are interested in. Sometimes listed as 1:2.0
Larger openings mean smaller F numbers ( sort of confusing).
So if you see
1:4.2 or F/4.2
1:3.0 or F/3.0
1:2.0 or F/2.0
The lower number F/2.0 1:2.0 is the better lens for gathering light. It will be able to take the photograph much faster than the F/4.2 lens. This means less blurring of photographs, if you move while the photo is captured.
Batteries: Lithium rechargeable batteries are the best.
They are expensive though...
Donât get a cheap camera with disposable batteries, or disposable lithium.
Memory: The camera will come with a small memory module, the first thing you will need to do, is buy one with more storage.
Shop around, memory is cheap. You should get at least 1GB flash, but larger are available.
The camera will connect to a computer to transfer files, so be sure your PC can connect to the camera, either USB2.0 or Firewire. You can also get a flash reader for your PC.
The camera has a bunch of settings, if you have not had a digital before, you really need to study the manual.
Some useful settings you need to find.
Close up mode, this allows the camera to focus on close up objects, usually as close as 2 inches. This lets you take photos of insects, super close-ups of very small things. Get to know how to enter and return from this mode.
Lighting: There are different types of lighting, such as sun light, indoor fluorescent, and regular filament incandescent bulb lighting.
Because each type of light has a different range of colors, the camera will not produce photos of the objects as you see them.
Depending on the camera, it might assume you are in sunlight unless you set it to indoor fluorescent mode for example.
Be sure you know how to set this type of lighting condition, or everything will be dingy yellow.
Flash: You might not always want a flash, especially of you are taking a close up, it just produces a white out from the glare.
Be sure you know how to turn the flash on an off. If the flash is enabled, it drains power from your battery at a faster rate.
Power: The digital electronics draw quite a bit of power from the batteries if the camera is on. Only turn it on when you are planning a shot, to save battery life.
Transferring photos from the camera to the PC, depending on the camera, may require the camera to be on. Some can transfer power through the USB cable with the camera off, drawing power from the computer supply.
Here is more discussion about digital vs. optical zoom.
The lens focuses the image on to a Silicon chip, with 6 million CMOS transistor sensors. Near photographic quality.
Optical zoom, is the best, where the optics provide the magnification by moving the lens to refocus the magnified image onto the sensor. This type of lens has a variable focal length.
This allows the sensor to use all of its 6 million bits to store the image. And the optics do the magnification.
Digital zoom is where the lens is simple and has a fixed focal length ( "prime lens").
The lens cant change focal length, so it cant change magnification.
Digital zoom is performed by only using the inner part of the digital sensor, and discarding the rest. The small part of the sensor that is used, is scaled up to a full size photograph.
This technique only uses part of the resolution of the photo sensor, and therefore produces a photo of less quality. If you zoom in too far, you might actually be able to see the individual photo sensors. But with 6MP, even 20x zoom will probably look acceptable.
Digital zoom produces a lower resolution image. To explain it in another way, take a close look at your computer screen. If you get really close, you can see the individual color blocks which make up the screen image. The computer screen is probably 1280x1024 pixels. ( about 1MP compared to your camera 6MP) Each one represents the a memory bit in your video card, and can be seen on your computer screen as very small blocks.
If you stand 6 feet away, a photograph on the screen looks pretty good. But if you try to zoom in, by getting closer to the image, you can see the individual blocks.
The digital zoom feature, just discards the outer part of the screen and expands the part in the center, which may reveal the small blocks, if zoomed in too far.
On the other hand, optical zoom uses the lens to focus the magnified image on the entire sensor, so no information is lost.
This produces the best photograph.
BTW: ( It is actually made of red, green and blue blocks, the white area of the screen is actually red+green+blue. You can easily prove it by sneezing onto the screen, spit or place a drop of water on it, the inherent magnification of the water droplet, will allow you to see the individual red, green and blue blocks. )
Austin Semiconductor
The 6MP (6 million pixels), is very good, near photographic quality.
Optical zoom is much better than digital zoom. It is ok that your camera has digital zoom, but be sure it has a decent optical zoom as well, as this produces a better image.
It will cost more though, and at 6MP, even if you only have digital zoom, I think you will not be too disapointed. Try to avoid using too much digital zoom. Get closer if you can, you will get better photos.
F number, Light gathering:
The size of the opening behind the lens limits the amount of light than can enter and be focused onto the sensor. Different quality lens are better or worse at limiting distortion. A larger opening ( more light gathering) is better. Higher quality lens cost more, and probably have semi conductive coatings to reduce various types of optical distortion.
F numbers, are usually represented as F/2.0 where the 2.0 is an example number you are interested in. Sometimes listed as 1:2.0
Larger openings mean smaller F numbers ( sort of confusing).
So if you see
1:4.2 or F/4.2
1:3.0 or F/3.0
1:2.0 or F/2.0
The lower number F/2.0 1:2.0 is the better lens for gathering light. It will be able to take the photograph much faster than the F/4.2 lens. This means less blurring of photographs, if you move while the photo is captured.
Batteries: Lithium rechargeable batteries are the best.
They are expensive though...
Donât get a cheap camera with disposable batteries, or disposable lithium.
Memory: The camera will come with a small memory module, the first thing you will need to do, is buy one with more storage.
Shop around, memory is cheap. You should get at least 1GB flash, but larger are available.
The camera will connect to a computer to transfer files, so be sure your PC can connect to the camera, either USB2.0 or Firewire. You can also get a flash reader for your PC.
The camera has a bunch of settings, if you have not had a digital before, you really need to study the manual.
Some useful settings you need to find.
Close up mode, this allows the camera to focus on close up objects, usually as close as 2 inches. This lets you take photos of insects, super close-ups of very small things. Get to know how to enter and return from this mode.
Lighting: There are different types of lighting, such as sun light, indoor fluorescent, and regular filament incandescent bulb lighting.
Because each type of light has a different range of colors, the camera will not produce photos of the objects as you see them.
Depending on the camera, it might assume you are in sunlight unless you set it to indoor fluorescent mode for example.
Be sure you know how to set this type of lighting condition, or everything will be dingy yellow.
Flash: You might not always want a flash, especially of you are taking a close up, it just produces a white out from the glare.
Be sure you know how to turn the flash on an off. If the flash is enabled, it drains power from your battery at a faster rate.
Power: The digital electronics draw quite a bit of power from the batteries if the camera is on. Only turn it on when you are planning a shot, to save battery life.
Transferring photos from the camera to the PC, depending on the camera, may require the camera to be on. Some can transfer power through the USB cable with the camera off, drawing power from the computer supply.
Here is more discussion about digital vs. optical zoom.
The lens focuses the image on to a Silicon chip, with 6 million CMOS transistor sensors. Near photographic quality.
Optical zoom, is the best, where the optics provide the magnification by moving the lens to refocus the magnified image onto the sensor. This type of lens has a variable focal length.
This allows the sensor to use all of its 6 million bits to store the image. And the optics do the magnification.
Digital zoom is where the lens is simple and has a fixed focal length ( "prime lens").
The lens cant change focal length, so it cant change magnification.
Digital zoom is performed by only using the inner part of the digital sensor, and discarding the rest. The small part of the sensor that is used, is scaled up to a full size photograph.
This technique only uses part of the resolution of the photo sensor, and therefore produces a photo of less quality. If you zoom in too far, you might actually be able to see the individual photo sensors. But with 6MP, even 20x zoom will probably look acceptable.
Digital zoom produces a lower resolution image. To explain it in another way, take a close look at your computer screen. If you get really close, you can see the individual color blocks which make up the screen image. The computer screen is probably 1280x1024 pixels. ( about 1MP compared to your camera 6MP) Each one represents the a memory bit in your video card, and can be seen on your computer screen as very small blocks.
If you stand 6 feet away, a photograph on the screen looks pretty good. But if you try to zoom in, by getting closer to the image, you can see the individual blocks.
The digital zoom feature, just discards the outer part of the screen and expands the part in the center, which may reveal the small blocks, if zoomed in too far.
On the other hand, optical zoom uses the lens to focus the magnified image on the entire sensor, so no information is lost.
This produces the best photograph.
BTW: ( It is actually made of red, green and blue blocks, the white area of the screen is actually red+green+blue. You can easily prove it by sneezing onto the screen, spit or place a drop of water on it, the inherent magnification of the water droplet, will allow you to see the individual red, green and blue blocks. )
Austin Semiconductor
Which method for pictures gets me the highest quality, my camcorder's 5 MP Digital Camera...?
Chonsie
...or a 1080P video still shot?
The 1080P video has the following specs:
1440 x 1080 H.264 Video @30fps
Answer
the digital camera is going to be better, but it has a tiny sensor so the image will not be as sharp as per say a good normal point and shoot digital camera, or even the much better quality of a dslr.
The video still is a very small image. About 1.5mp max! So the 5mp will be better but again keep in mind that a camcorder is mainly designed to record video. Not to take still frame shots so thus the quality will be lower.
Hope this helps. If you are going ot be taking many still frame shots, then I would suggest getting a simple point and shoot for that purpose. I prefer the Canon line and last I looked, Canon had some sweet deals on thier website. You dont need anything fancy. But beware. I have seen many cameras that say they are 8-12 MP but that is after software editing, so the acutal image is only 4-5 mp. Beware of those, as they are going to give a very poor quality image. Most are off brands, but still be safe.
I was just looking at Amazon, and the Canon Sd1100IS 8mp camera in blue is $149. Its also really small and can fit easy in the pocket and allow for quick candid shots of friends, family and the kids being kids...
For about $110 you can get an A590IS with 8mp also. So keep these in mind. For about $200 you can get the wonderful SX110IS with its 10x zoom and 9mp. Otherwise if you want a top of the line Point and shoot get the G10 or the Sx10IS
Good Luck and happy shooting
the digital camera is going to be better, but it has a tiny sensor so the image will not be as sharp as per say a good normal point and shoot digital camera, or even the much better quality of a dslr.
The video still is a very small image. About 1.5mp max! So the 5mp will be better but again keep in mind that a camcorder is mainly designed to record video. Not to take still frame shots so thus the quality will be lower.
Hope this helps. If you are going ot be taking many still frame shots, then I would suggest getting a simple point and shoot for that purpose. I prefer the Canon line and last I looked, Canon had some sweet deals on thier website. You dont need anything fancy. But beware. I have seen many cameras that say they are 8-12 MP but that is after software editing, so the acutal image is only 4-5 mp. Beware of those, as they are going to give a very poor quality image. Most are off brands, but still be safe.
I was just looking at Amazon, and the Canon Sd1100IS 8mp camera in blue is $149. Its also really small and can fit easy in the pocket and allow for quick candid shots of friends, family and the kids being kids...
For about $110 you can get an A590IS with 8mp also. So keep these in mind. For about $200 you can get the wonderful SX110IS with its 10x zoom and 9mp. Otherwise if you want a top of the line Point and shoot get the G10 or the Sx10IS
Good Luck and happy shooting
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