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The Sony NEX 5KB is a very versatile Digital, aimed at the more serious photographer who is looking for quality linked to spontaneity. The new Sony is a revolutionary piece of equipment for a compact, and comes with interchangeable lenses which increases your photographic options and maintains creative flexibility. This camera is the world's lightest and most compact interchangeable and includes some unique features which combines with some new technology to take it to the forefront when comparing it to other cameras in its class; or so the Sony Publicity department says. Let's take a look for ourselves shall we. The camera comes equipped with the following.
Kit Lens E 18-55mm
Lens Hood
Lens Cap.
Flash.
Case for Flash
Battery Charger
Power Cord
Rechargeable Battery
Shoulder Strap.
USB Cable.
CD-Rom
Users of the Sony Cybershot who want to take the plunge and step up in class will feel at home with the overall feel and controls, and will definitely see the difference in delivered quality. For the rest who don't already own a Sony, you will be amazed at just how small this camera is; the body is barely 24 mm thick and inside there is so much technology. The interchangeable lens compact type cameras is a whole new world apart and on the surface it looks like Sony have surpassed their rivals. But is it as good as it looks?
I must admit I liked and found very useful, the "sweep Panorama" mode, which is a bit noisy but enables you to take snap shots of a Panoramic view, and seamlessly stitch them together. The handheld twilight feature is another great mode that combines a series of pictures into one sharp image.
The movie mode is a vast improvement on the Cybershot, but for the difference in price should be. One drawback though is that it doesn't have any manual exposure controls so there are still problems for Sony here. My opinion on using this type of camera for taking videos though is a definite no. Get yourself a video camera and keep this one for stills.
For me the interface of the camera is a bit small and complicated, and takes time to get used to; If you want to make lots of adjustments then it could turn out to be a bit tedious.
My conclusion? This camera is for someone who want to step up from the average low-cost digital, and start to take professional quality pictures. The picture quality really is in a different league to other compacts. The more experienced photographer will probable give this one a miss for no other reason than it is a Sony. Marks out of 10. A sublime 9.5.
The Sony NEX 5KB Alpha Compact Camera - A Product Review
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The Sony Alpha NEX-3 is one of the more impressive digital cameras best buys on the market. It is small and very compact, but the size is not reflective of the vast capability and technology of this camera. This camera delivers 14.2 megapixels with an APS-C image sensor that is actually thirteen times the strength of normal sensors in most digital cameras. This great function optimizes photographs giving them a polished look. Featuring 16mm interchangeable lens, as of 2010, this camera was considered to be the smallest and lightest digital camera with an interchangeable lens.
There are many capabilities packaged into the Sony Alpha NEX-3. It has several modes including Sweep Panorama, Handheld Twilight and Anti Motion Blur modes to enhance photographs. The Handheld Twilight mode allows consumers to shoot up to six photos very quickly once the shutter is released. This is accomplished by lining up and combining six shots into one.
This camera also features video recording capability in high definition by pressing only one button that is just for recording. It does not use ordinary buttons but features a turn and click style wheel and soft keys. Sony makes it easy to use this camera by incorporating on screen tips and an on screen help guide.
Another impressive digital camera on the market is the Olympus Stylus Tough. Featuring 14 megapixels this camera delivers vibrant photographs with great clarity. The 5x wide angle zoom gives consumers the ability to shoot pictures from a distance all while maintaining picture integrity. The 2.7 inch LCD has an anti-glare feature allowing glare free viewing.
This camera is capable of handling rough situations. Immerse this camera in up to 33 feet of water without worrying because it has waterproof technology. The shockproof technology keeps this camera safe up to a 6.6 foot drop.
The Olympus Stylus Tough 8010 is safe in cold weather due to freeze proof technology up to 14 degrees F (-10 degrees C). This camera is also crushproof giving it the ability to withstand 220 pounds of weight. Consumers are able to record video in 720p high definition by using one button that is dedicated to recording. Advance Face Detection will automatically detect up to 12 faces while automatically focusing to ensure the best picture possible. AF tracking is quite sophisticated and is able to keep up with fast moving targets without blurriness.
These cameras are impressive digital cameras best buys on the market.
Impressive Digital Cameras Best Buys On The Market
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Abstract
Looking for a digital camcorder for use in performing surveillance? Well, technology improvements in CCD and CMOS image sensors as well as the introduction of new high definition display and recording formats have certainly resulted in the introduction of lots of different digital camcorder models. Because of the wide variation in features and price points, it's more difficult than ever to select the optimal digital camcorder. Certainly, some models will be better than others in consideration of the specific application for which the camcorder is intended and the features that are required. Because there are so many factors involved in making a selection and since new models are frequently introduced, it's best to provide guidelines useful when evaluating models intended for a specific application. Then, as new models become available, they can be compared to existing models based on the same guidelines.
The goal of this paper is to provide guidelines that should be considered when evaluating camcorders for use in surveillance applications. These applications are those that would be used by military, law enforcement and special investigative personnel for gathering evidence or performing electronic news gathering and usually include viewing at a distance. While these are useful guidelines for understanding important camcorder specs, prior to making your own camcorder purchase decision, we suggest that you perform your own research of available models and, based on these guidelines, select those models that are expected to deliver the best performance and perform your own tests under real-life situations. You may learn that other factors may be important to your specific application and that your final decision is a compromise of those other factors.
For surveillance, optical image quality is of highest importance. Camcorder resolution and sensitivity are the primary factors to consider, with a variety of related factors such as image and pixel fields-of-view, the pixel size, as well as the frame rate, image stabilization, alternative lens options and lens interchangeability, integration mode, digital zoom and display resolution, user interface, video formats, recording media, manual gain, infrared mode, video compression, external audio inputs, viewfinder, robustness, and video compression.
Camcorder Resolution
Video resolution is affected by a variety of different camcorder specifications. It is well known that high definition camcorders deliver higher resolution than standard definition formats. However, it is important to realize that if the camcorder is used to record image sequences that are later to be viewed (rather than using the camcorder just to view the video output in real time), both the optical resolution and the recording format must be considered in determining the ultimate video resolution. Considered separately, the optical resolution depends not only on the detector array size but also the image and pixel field-of-view. HD recording format also affects resolution. Finally, there are other resolution factors that may warrant consideration in order to determine the ultimate camcorder resolution.
Detector Array Size:
It seems that every camcorder uses a slightly different imaging detector. While the HD recording format can be 1280x720, 1440x1080 or 1920x1080, the imaging detectors may vary quite a bit. As shown in the table, for a selection of mid-range camcorders, detector array sizes can vary from single chip cameras having arrays as large as 1920x1080 (Canon HF-10 and Sony HDRSR11) to three-chip blocks having detectors as large as 1440x1080. The physical size of the imaging detector also varies from camcorder to camcorder.
Image and Pixel Field-of-View:
As shown in the accompanying chart (reference at link below) the combination of the physical size of the camcorder's imaging detector (for example 1/3") and the focal length of its objective lens (for example 50mm) result in an image field-of-view (FOV) that is defined as the angle of view from which image information is received. There are separate angles corresponding to the horizontal and vertical directions depending on the aspect ratio of the image. For wide screen video formats, the vertical FOV is 9/16 of the horizontal FOV. All camcorders have zoom lenses where the focal length varies from a wide angle position (with the largest angular FOV) to a telephoto position (with the smallest angular FOV). A smaller field-of-view results in a higher image magnification as would be required to view small objects at a distance.
Smaller imaging detectors create narrower angles of view when used on the same focal length lens. For example, a 50 mm lens delivers a horizontal FOV of 5.5° and 3.7° when used with a 1/2" and 1/3" format detector, respectively. Based on the variation of detector sizes and lens focal lengths, the angular field of view for different camcorders varies accordingly. The image FOV can be determined for any camcorder based on a simple formula.
The pixel FOV (also known as the instantaneous field of view, or IFOV) is a measure of the resolution of an imaging system. Though related, image FOV and pixel FOV are distinct and a camcorder having the narrow image FOV does not necessarily have a corresponding narrow pixel FOV. As shown in the table (reference at link below), while the Canon camcorders have the smallest image and pixel FOV values, the Sony HDR-SR11 has a small pixel FOV despite an image FOV that is nearly twice as wide as those for Canon.
A handy FOV calculator can be used to determine the FOV values for certain candidate camcorders. Pixel FOV is also calculated as are detection, identification and recognition range values for certain specified object sizes at a specified distance.
Recording Format:
The difference between the different HD recording formats is beyond the scope of this white paper. However, the impact of recording format on resolution is critical to imaging performance for surveillance applications and is described here.
As shown in the figure (reference at the link below), standard definition camcorders (with a 4:3 aspect ratio) recorded video with 480 horizontal rows per frame giving a resolution of 640 x 480. (This is for NTSC formats. PAL formats recorded with 576 rows per frame giving a resolution of 640x576). Wide screen versions of these standard definition camcorders with a 16:9 aspect ratio were also available and recorded with slightly larger resolution of 720 x 480 (720x576 for PAL versions). Because of the limitations of the recording format, it would not have been useful to have a high resolution CCD/CMOS detector larger than 720x480 pixels in a standard definition NTSC camcorder except under certain circumstances (like zooming in to view central pixels). However, with the introduction of higher resolution recording formats, higher resolution detectors make sense.
Camcorder Sensitivity
High definition refers to video having higher resolution than standard definition and most commonly refers to resolutions based on either 720 rows/frame or 1080 rows/frame. Recording formats can either be 1920x1080, 1440x1080 and 1280x720. Consequently, are available with either 720 or 1080 rows per frame recording formats having a resolution of 1280x720 and 1920x1080 respectively. It is important to understand the recording format for any camcorder under consideration. If the full sensor resolution is necessary to perform the surveillance function, then make sure that the camcorder records in sufficient resolution.
Had this whitepaper been about digital still cameras, the above discussion of recording format would've been sufficient to describe the effects on image quality. However, since video incorporates motion, the fact that some camcorders record "interlaced" video while others record "progressive" video has some relevance, particularly when motion is important to the type of surveillance being performed. If not, then the relevance of interlace vs. progressive scan is less important.
Other Resolution Factors:
It's worth mentioning that in those camcorders that utilize three sensors, pixel shift technology has been employed in the horizontal axis to make incremental improvements to the sensor resolution by using interpolation. This complicates the calculation of optical resolution somewhat, but may not be a primary factor.
Camcorder low-light sensitivity is usually of primary importance for surveillance applications, particularly when imaging at dusk or dawn, but also when attaching a night vision module that intensifies ambient light. The guidelines for camcorder evaluation are listed below. We recommend a review of the following factors: the Recommended Minimum Illumination Specification, Objective Lens F-number, Detector Pixel Size, Night Vision Module availability.
As such, but criteria enabling the comparison of these including: objective lens F-number, pixel size, electronic noise reduction, It is apparent that low-light performance as detailed on the list of the camcorders specifications because different cameras can produce varying results, even though the specifications may be similar.
Consequently, once you've identified a few different camcorders that have the features of interest and the performance that you require, it is important to test the camcorder's low-light capabilities.
Recommended Minimum Illumination Specification:
Quite often, low-light performance specifications are provided on a camcorder's specification sheet. These are usually described as either "low light sensitivity" or "minimum illumination" and the result is given in lux. The lower the lux rating, the better the camcorder performs in low light. However, because the details describing how these low-light measurements are made is not often provided, it is extremely difficult to compare these figures when comparing different camcorder models from different manufacturers. (What's the assumed reflectivity of the objects being viewed? What's the signal-to-noise ratio? Image brightness? etc.). As such, use of these specifications is complicated and not often satisfying. It is obviously best to test the camcorders yourself. Some websites (such as camcorderinfo.com) perform their own very rigorous tests.
Detector Pixel Size:
Not only is the detector array size important, but the physical size of the detector is also important for a number of reasons. Most often, small detector physical sizes (such as 1/6" format) are found in less expensive camcorders while larger detectors (e.g. 1/3" format) are found in higher performance camcorders. Physically small detectors require small, less expensive lenses and result in compact, lower cost camcorders. For surveillance applications, an important consideration is that light sensitivity decreases with pixel size. While larger pixels in general have more light sensitivity and are superior when imaging in low light or at night, larger pixels also result in a decrease in resolution (in consideration of a particular focal length lens). Also, larger pixels with large array sizes result in large arrays and large lenses. So, smaller pixels are often preferable. One should compare the sensitivity of camcorders with the smallest pixels with other camcorders being considered. Pixel sizes for a variety of digital camcorders are shown in the accompanying chart (reference at link below).
Objective Lens F-Number:
As with SLR cameras, lens F-number is extremely important to a camcorder's low light sensitivity. All other things being equal, a lens with a low f-number (such as F1.4) focuses much of the light from the scene onto the camcorder's sensitive imaging detector. A lens with an F-number that is twice as high (F2.8) will pass only 25% of the light through it, making the camcorder 25% as sensitive. That's a lot! For compact camcorders with integral lenses, sometimes the objective lens must be designed with a relatively high F-number in order to retain the compact design yet deliver the desirable zoom range. In particular, one finds that the F-number at the longer focal length values increases slightly. F-numbers at the maximum zoom setting for a variety of digital camcorders are shown in the accompanying chart (reference at link below).
Night Vision Module Availability:
For camcorders to be used for surveillance applications, the availability of a night vision module can be quite important, particularly for imaging at a distance and at night. Camcorders simply do not have sufficient light sensitivity to enable imaging in these environments. However, by attaching a night vision module such as those shown on our site at http://www.electrophysics.com/night-vision, the light sensitivity of the camcorder can be increased by up to ten F-stops. As is well known, the resulting night vision images will be green, absent of all color. But, reasonable images can be produced in starlight and moonlight. Some of these night vision modules can be seen by clicking on the link below.
Other Factors To Consider
In evaluating camcorders for surveillance applications, resolution and sensitivity are usually the primary considerations, other factors may deserve attention. Some of these are listed below.
Media: "Media" refers to where the video will be stored. Many camcorders utilize several different media types. The following are the common types of media and some considerations for surveillance applications:
MiniDV Tape - These have been used for many years. The downside is the need to fast forward and rewind rather than direct access. However, they are known to be quite reliable, they are widely available and rugged. In addition, it is often convenient to have physical media with surveillance footage rather than a soft copy only which could more easily be misplaced or mislabeled.
MiniDVD - Though a familiar media, it may not be as convenient as one expects since the DVD often cannot be directly inserted into DVD players. Also, recording in the highest quality sometimes results in significantly lower capacity.
Hard Disk Drive (HDD) - These are generally high capacity media (e.g. 120 gigabytes) with long record times. Backup is obviously important and necessary. Also note carefully if compressed video is being used for storage in order to increase the available capacity.
Flash Memory - Flash memory (such as solid state memory and memory cards) is very attractive since there are no moving parts resulting in a compact and efficient design. Capacities are increasing every year.
Image stabilization:
Image stabilization is a camcorder feature that helps improve image quality during hand-held video recordings, reducing blur due to camcorder motion. The stabilizer instantly corrects camcorder shake so that hand held shots at full telephoto (such as video taken from a moving car) are smooth and steady. These image stabilizers can be either optical or digital in design. Optical image stabilizers usually manipulate a prism in the lens to stabilize the image when projected on the camcorder detector. Digital image stabilizers usually sense the camcorder motion and, taking advantage of extra rows and columns on the perimeter of the detector, shift the image an appropriate amount to stabilize certain types of motion. Normally, the optical image stabilizers, though more expensive, are preferable since they better remove the blur component of the motion.
Lens interchangeability:
Many lower cost camcorders have non-removable objective lenses. These lenses are compact and highly integrated into the camcorder's housing, have a very wide zoom range and even macro capability. Normally, the field-of-view of the integrated zoom lens is selected to achieve the FOV range desired for most applications. However, for increased versatility, higher-end camcorders offer a removable lens and a lens mount so that a series of lenses can be offered for a wider variation of applications, including wider angle and more telephoto viewing. (See a list of mid-range camcorders having removable lenses here). For non-removable lens camcorders, if wider angle or more telephoto FOV values are required, adapters are sometimes offered to change the magnification as desired. But the result is a reduction in optical quality. For the surveillance videographer, interchangeable lenses can be a great benefit if the magnification offered by fixed lens camcorders isn't sufficient for the desired application. In addition, night vision modules that are designed for removable lens camcorders fit between the lens and camcorder and retain all that objective lens' functions including motorized zoom, auto-iris and image stabilization.
Digital zoom:
Digital zoom is an important feature for any camcorder. Because it is not possible to appreciate all the imaging detector's resolution on the camcorder's viewfinder or display panel, digital zoom enables the operator to view details on the viewfinder that would otherwise go unnoticed until digital images were later analyzed. In addition, it's useful to note that a detector having a larger pixel array enables the operator to perform more digital zoom than with a camcorder having a smaller detector without the effects of pixelization.
User interface:
Any camcorder operator will confirm that accessibility to features is of some importance. Drilling down through sub-menu after sub-menu to access routine functions is not a desirable thing to do while in the field.
Infrared mode:
Some camcorders feature a sensitivity to near infrared light permitting the use of an infrared illuminator to brighten scenes. For a variety of reasons, these illuminators are not applicable for many surveillance situations. For one thing, normally the illuminators included with the camcorders do not project sufficient illumination at the distances of interest. In addition, they can be detected by others with most camcorders and CCD cameras.
Manual Gain:
For low-light situations, some camcorders offer a manual gain mode that permits the user to manually adjust the gain in the video image, usually increases up to +18dB. Though grainy, for surveillance applications, the video images are normally a significant improvement over non-gained or even auto-gained versions.
Shutter Speed:
If maintaining the standard frame rate (for example 60Hz) is not necessary because the objects under observation are not moving quickly, the frame rate and detector shutter speed can be reduced (for example to 1/3 sec) so that each of the sensor's pixels will integrate light over a longer time that they are exposed. In darkened environments, selecting the longest acceptable integration time may be sufficient to provide a usable image at dusk or dawn.
External Audio inputs:
In order to prevent the appearance of sounding like a pure optics geek, it is important to mention that audio quality and access to external audio inputs is important for the surveillance videographer. The built-in microphone doesn't always work well when shooting images far away or when you need something more directional to filter out ambient noise.
Viewfinder:
When performing covert surveillance, having a viewfinder on the camcorder is sometimes important in order to prevent the illumination from the bright LCD panel.
Robustness:
Another serious compromise is the lack of robustness in camera hardware - the flimsy switches and controls that cause videographers stress. When you're out in the field under possibly dangerous conditions, you don't want to be playing around with little controls and LCD panels that easily come apart.
Price:
Of course, price is always a consideration when evaluating the many many camcorders models available today. But, what these guidelines should show is that very often, the most expensive camcorder may not be the best for a specific application. Understand what features are most beneficial for your application in consideration of camcorder price range.
Conclusion
Technology improvements in CCD and CMOS image sensors as well as the introduction of new high definition display and recording formats have resulted in the introduction of lots of different digital camcorder models. Guidelines have been provided when evaluating camcorders for use in surveillance applications.
For surveillance, optical image quality is of highest importance. Camcorder resolution and sensitivity are the primary factors to consider, with a variety of related factors such as image and pixel fields-of-view, the pixel size, as well as the frame rate, image stabilization, alternative lens options and lens interchangeability, integration mode, digital zoom and display resolution, user interface, video formats, recording media, manual gain, infrared mode, video compression, external audio inputs, viewfinder, robustness, and video compression.
While these are useful guidelines for understanding important camcorder specs, prior to making your own camcorder purchase decision, we suggest that you perform your own research of available models and, based on these guidelines, select those models that are expected to deliver the best performance and perform your own tests under real-life situations. You may learn that other factors may be important to your specific application and that your final decision is a compromise of those other factors.
To View all figures and illustrations referenced in this article, CLICK HERE
DISCLAIMER: We have made every attempt to provide accurate information. However, we cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies. Should you identify errors or require assistance, please contact us directly. Thank you.
Which Camcorder is Best For Surveillance?
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Photography is an art which fascinated the humankind for the last 170 years. It plays a very important role in the socio-economic lives of the people. Cameras underwent substantial changes both in their forms and in the basic technologies. Color and shape of film also changed. Later films were replaced in the digital camera. In the early stages, only skilled persons could handle cameras and take photographs, but today the job has become a child's play. However there are specialized areas of photography which can be successfully handled only by skilled and talented photographers. Of course, the camera plays a vital role in the process. The new generation is overawed by the magical mechanism behind the camera. More and more young people are getting attracted to the device and making the theme either their hobby or profession. Most of such people often find it difficult to decide about the type of camera they can choose. The brand names like Canon, Nikon, Sony and Pentax are well known but which one is most suited and what model is the apt one for a beginner are puzzling questions for them.
There are websites which can offer positive suggestions to those who want answers for such questions. It will be better to start with a film camera in order to learn the intricacies of the art of photography. But an amateur need not go for an expensive camera to begin with. Second hand or used cameras are available in the markets. There are online dealers who offer used cameras in good conditions at reasonable prices. Then there are cameras with both auto focus system as well as manual focus facility. Affordable cameras with interchangeable viewfinders and lenses with image stabilization technology. Weight of the camera is an important factor for the beginners and therefore to be considered while choosing one. Light weight Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras are available, but the product requires skill to handle it. It will have only one lens for both view finding and taking photos. 35mm film cameras are better for beginners to start with. Both SLRs and Point-And-Shoot cameras use 35mm films.
Amateurs can progressively change over to digital cameras in the course of time. More and more companies are suspending the production of film cameras and shifting to the manufacture of digital cameras as the later is becoming popular. Digital cameras are convenient to use. Even though initially expensive, they will prove cost effective in the long run. The process is easier with digital cameras as there is no need for developing and printing of the films. The image is visible on the LCD screen and the photographer will be at liberty to discard a particular shot if it is not up to the mark. It is a very cost effective method when large numbers of photos are to be shot.
Many brands and models of digital cameras are now available in the markets. They are more convenient to use as mentioned earlier. Further memory cards enable the photographer to store large number of photos. Pixels in the digital camera is an important factor when it comes to taking large size printouts. However the number of pixels has no relevance to the picture quality. Zoom capability, stabilization, optical and digital zooms are some of the factors to be considered while choosing a digital camera. Rechargeable batteries and LCD screens are features that contribute towards better photography. Experience is the best teacher as far as photography is concerned.
Advantages of Digital CamerasThe camera industry has certainly advanced throughout time, from images on silver chloride paper to the invention of digital. With so many different choices available, choosing a suitable appears to be as difficult as rocket science. There's no denying that digital reviews are helpful but only to a certain extent. Digital reviews are normally divided into 5 sections, point and shoot, DLSRs, compact interchangeable-lens, super zoom and tough rugged.
Choosing between these 5 classes can be hard enough but here's my advice, if you're not a professional photographer or a nature explorer, the most ideal type of would be the point and shoot. Based on digital reviews, the ultimate point and shoot for the year 2011 is the Canon PowerShot S95. This 10.0 Mp CCD Sensor has a 3 inch screen and weighs 195 grams. This will set you back about USD 400.00.
The Nikon Coolpix S 9100 ranks second in the rating's list. This 12.1 megapixel has a 18x optical zoom capability. This 2.5 x 4.2 x 1.4 inch comes in three different colours, black, red and silver. The market price for this is USD 330.00. The third best on the list is the Nikon Coolpix P300 which costs about USD 300.00. This 12 megapixel camera has a 3 inch screen weighs about 6.7 ounces.
Occupying the fourth place is the one and only Canon PowerShot SD 4000. This is a 10 megapixel camera has a 4x optical zoom capability and uses a SD memory card. This camera has a 3 inch screen weighs about 6.1 ounces. After the Canon PowerShot SD 4000 comes the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX10. This 16 Mp CMOS sensor camera is worth USD 280.00 and has a 2.8 inch LCD screen. It has a 7x optical zoom lens and weighs 5.8 ounces.
The sixth place goes to Canon PowerShot Elph 500 HS which has a market price of USD 300.00. Similar to the camera before, this camera has a CMOs sensor. This 12 Mp camera has a 3.2 inch camera screen and the screen is touch sensitive. Next in line would be the Fujifilm FinePix Z800EXR, a 12 megapixel camera with a Super CCD sensor. It can zoom up to five times, has a 3.5 inch LCD screen and weighs about 5.6 ounces.
The Casio Tryx Digital Camera ranks 8th on the list and will set you back around USD 280.00. It has a CMOS sensor and a 12 megapixel lens. Its 3 inch screen is touch sensitive and weighs 5.5 ounces. The 9th camera in the digital camera reviews for the point and shoot class would be the Canon PowerShot A3300 IS digital camera. This camera weighs 5.3 ounce and is 3.7 x 2.2 x 0.9 inches big. This 16 megapixel camera has a 3 inch LCD screen and can zoom up to 5 times.
The last camera to be on the rating's list is the Samsung SH 100. This camera has a 14 megapixel lens and uses a CCD image sensor. This 3.6 x 2.1 x 0.7inch will come with a 1 year warranty.
Digital Camera Reviews: Ideal Point and ShootNot too long ago cameras came in two basic colors - black or silver. Today we can choose from a rainbow of colors for our compact cameras but larger digital interchangeable lens cameras (DSLR's) for the most part still come in black or silver.
Granted, Pentax has tried to break with this tradition on their K-x and K-r cameras by offering them with brightly colored bodies but they are still the exception and not the rule.
So where do photographers turn if they wish to make a style statement while they carry and shoot a DSLR? They turn to their camera bags and neck straps. In fact whole product lines have been developed as alternatives to the traditional black, gray or red camera bag. Color and style can be found to fit almost any taste and we really don't have to look very far.
Crumpler is one of the top tradition breakers in the camera bag game. Crumpler brings style, bright colors and in many cases re-imagined design to the camera bag sector. Lime greens mix with grays and browns. Bright orange accented with red piping plus a bright yellow interior. These are examples of Crumpler's take on camera bag styling.
Jill-e goes beyond color and borrows from the world of women's handbag construction for its line of camera bags. Aimed at the female photographer, Jill-e offers bags made of leather, faux alligator or ostrich and of course canvas. Camera bags in several configurations can be found in pinks, soft yellows and even polka-dots. Jill-e also offers a line designed for men called Jack. The bags in the Jack line are topped by a leather series that looks like it is made from old bomber jackets.
Camera neck straps have actually weathered a fashion trend or two over the years. The 60's and 70's saw heavy use of woven 'guitar strap' materials. The introduction of neoprene as a neck strap material launched a whole gaggle of bright, solid colored straps from almost every manufacturer. But the introduction of the MOD strap a few years ago really changed our minds about what a strap should look like.
MOD features wild patterns, bright colors and contrasting fur-lined undersides. From hippie patterns last seen in the Mod 60's to seemingly lingerie inspired red brocade on black the MOD neck strap line will always draw notice when worn.
It's all about choices; we no longer are required to accept a monochrome world of camera bags and accessories. Today any photographer can carry and protect their photo gear with security as well as style. For me, today I think I'll be using my bright red back pack with the silver trim.
Fashion for Photography - Inspired Camera Bags and Neck StrapsMost people have or want a digital camera and so there is a lot of competition from manufacturers which means lots of choice. Choice is good but when the market place becomes really crowded it can be difficult to know what to buy. On top of this the camera models are constantly updated by manufacturers meaning new and improved models every 6 months. Many of the features that are marketed by sellers are not that important and those that are important, you probably won't find on the box and many sales assistants may not be able to tell you about these because they are taught to market specifications such as megapixels etc. This guide has been written to try to help you become familiar with some of the jargon and to hopefully assist you in making a more informed choice. You are reading this guide and so I am assuming that you are in the market to buy a new camera or at least want to understand a bit more about different cameras and specifications. Remember there are thousands of cameras to choose from and so hopefully you will be able to make your shopping more focused (excuse the pun)! I have reduced the choice a bit for you and if you would prefer to look at a smaller number of great cameras for sale check out my store. Do read this guide first though.
Simple and pocket Cameras
This type of camera is easy to use, the design is simple in most cases and the costs are between 40 and 80, pocket-sized may be more expensive. The camera can be kept in a pocket, handbag etc and therefore can be carried everywhere. This means that when the photo opportunity arises, the camera is at the ready. They usually have between 5 and 12 megapixels and the sales pitch will concentrate on this. They will take decent pictures in good light situations but because of their price there will be some downsides. For the majority of situations these cameras are adequate and give good results and produce good photos. For the other situations, about a quarter of the time you may have problems with the limitations outlined below
Low Light Problems
These cameras struggle in low light and this means that indoor and dull day photos end up slightly blurred and out of focus. The other problem is that the photos end up looking grainy due to 'noise', a photo term you will become familiar with. Mobile phone pictures tend to have a lot of noise. This is because sensors are small. Sensors are one of the most important features in a camera as they sense the amount of light, the smaller the sensor the less light. One of the ways smaller cameras compensate is by using flash but this tends to be too bright and the results could be used in Sci Fi movies! You get the picture?
Shutter Lag
This is the delay between the time you press the shutter and the time the picture is taken. The reason for the delay is that the camera is calculating focus and exposure and inexpensive cameras tend to have problems in this area by nature of the technology required to speed it up. Shutter lag can mean the photo opportunity is missed e.g. a bird has left the tree, the child has crossed the finishing line, the goal has been scored! If you want to take a lot of sports shots these cameras are not for you but if the camera is for everyday use these are mostly ok.
Zoom Quality
Many small cameras have limited zoom even though they advertise and market the 3 to 8 times zoom. One important thing you need to know is that there are major differences between digital and optical zoom and that 3 to 4 times zoom will not give you enough magnification for any real distances such as school plays, sports days, celebrities etc. As I have already said, when you look at buying a camera, in addition to megapixels the other marketing feature that sellers and manufacturers use is the zoom. When it comes to digital zoom it is almost worthless how much digital zoom it has. If it has 20 times digital zoom the actual image will be blown up 20 times and this tends to reduce the quality of the picture and you get lots of camera shake. I personally do not rate digital zoom and wouldn't buy a camera without optical zoom. Optical zoom will magnify the image because the lens zooms in by the amount stated on the box. The higher the optical zoom the further away you can be when taking the photo but this adds to the cost of the camera and also the size.
Movie Mode
The most basic digital cameras tend to produce poor quality movies. Some of them have no sound and many have very limited recording time. For decent quality recordings a resolution of 640 x 480 is required with at least 30 frames per second. Cameras will probably take over the camcorder market by improving in this area year on year so if you are interested in movies buy a higher specification camera and use the money you would have spent on a camcorder.
No Viewfinder
The viewfinder is something that some people haven't come across because of living in the digital age. It is the small eyepiece, usually on top of a camera. Many digital cameras have no viewfinder and only provide an LCD screen; the smaller cameras tend to have smaller LCD screens although these are getting bigger all the time. Be aware that shooting without a viewfinder will always create problems if there is bright light shining on the viewfinder as it is difficult to see what it is you are shooting. By the time you have shaded your viewfinder to take the photo the opportunity may have gone! It is also difficult to take photos of moving objects such as a bird in flight because of the time taken to get the bird in the LCD screen! Again, this will only be a problem occasionally and the larger LCD screens are helping to resolve the issues. Try 2.5" and above but if you have the option of a viewfinder as well, take it!
Batteries
Digital cameras are a lot better than they were with batteries but make sure that if you do buy a camera with batteries you will need rechargeable (NiMH) batteries, these will last longer than the normal (AA) batteries which usually last for half an hour if you're lucky. One tip to remember is that the more time you spend looking at the photos you have shot on the LCD, the quicker the batteries die whatever type. So review the screen to check the photos rather than showing the photos off when you want to take a lot of snaps while out for the day. The battery-pack or built-in manufacturers rechargeable battery usually lasts longer but you cannot pop into the shop and buy another in an emergency. I prefer these batteries because they generally last longer but I buy a spare and keep it charged so that if I am on holiday taking lots of photos I will not run out. The last time I ran out of battery from a battery pack I was on a dolphin watch and I was really upset. This has never happened since as I always carry my spare fully charged when away. For examples of cameras that fit the category, see my website where I have tried to narrow down the choice for you a little.
Medium Range Digital Cameras
These cameras are a step up from the smaller pocket-sized cameras and come with some better features than the simpler models. They will offer extra controls such as manual exposure and possibly shutter and aperture priority modes. Manual exposure helps you to control the settings so that you can take the photo you want to rather than the one the camera tells you to take. Megapixels will range from 6 to 15 in this category. The optical zoom will be much stronger and they often include a viewfinder so that the problems with LCD screens can be overcome.
Costs tend to range from 90 to 300. Zoom lenses can be up to 20x in this category and therefore make it easier for you to take pictures at the school sports day, wedding, sports event, concert etc. Some of the cameras also include macro settings which enable you to take photos really close up for insects, flowers and such like. The colour photos taken with some of these cameras are really quite remarkable. Other features include control over ISO ratings and flash for improved photos in low light situations.
Face recognition and smile detection are becoming a popular features so that your people shots are better. Many of them will have flash that pops up which offers better flash photography results by not burning out the picture with too much white light. Some of them have twisting LCD screens so that you can take photos around corners or from a difficult angle.
Movie quality is likely to be at the recommended rate and they should allow you to zoom in and record sound. These cameras are for people who want to do a little bit more with their photography and create good photos and films in the majority of situations. You can experiment with manual settings and still have a camera that is small enough to have about your person most of the time and at a reasonable cost. Remember if you buy this type of camera with reasonable long recording time you may not need a camcorder. Cameras at the lower end of the price range may have fewer of the features but also be aware that you may be paying more for the brand name at the higher end.
For examples of these cameras I have selected some popular camera brands.
Single Lens Reflex (SLR) Cameras
If you love photography and want to see it as a hobby then an SLR is for you. If you just want good photos and decent movies choose a camera from the above selections. Personally I have both, I have a Sony Cyber-shot which is always with me and produces excellent quality photos and my faithful Canon SLR. Don't be swayed by me, camera choice is personal preference and I have been very happy with Pentax, Olympus and other makes in the past.
SLR cameras are for the camera enthusiast and I bought my first film SLR when many years ago and even then is was a hefty 350, it was a high street store's own make and had no automatic settings whatsoever. When digital SLR cameras first came on the market they were incredibly expensive at around 1000 or more. Now they are much more affordable and you can buy a very decent one for between 350 and 800. I bought my Canon EOS for around 850 GBP a few years ago and the newest Canon model is now only around 620. SLR cameras tend to have megapixels of around 10 to 12. The major features of photography with this type of camera are the controls and the interchangeable lenses.
This article is not a photography lesson, for that you will need to get a good book or purchase some of my photography guides but suffice it to say that the photos taken with a digital SLR should always be superior to those taken with any other type of digital camera. The lenses tend to be the most important and most expensive items so you can keep your lenses and upgrade your camera body in the future but to do this you need to stick to the same manufacturer. Even with today's prices it can be an expensive hobby but once you have had a digital SLR you will probably be hooked.
Advantages include the speed at which they take high quality photos, there is no shutter lag, they can give you total manual control where this is required. They will run for days and weeks on a single battery charge. The feel of the camera is that of quality and they fit into the hand the way a camera should. Lenses include zoom and telephoto (distance shots), macro (close up shots of insects etc) and wide-angle lenses (fit in a wide building when you are only a few feet away). I have sat in what appears to be the Outer Hebrides and taken photos of Dolly Parton, Shirley Bassey, Cliff Richard and Roger Federer which are as sharp as if I was only 10 foot away with a Zoom lens. I have taken photos of some historic landmarks from across the street and managed to get the whole building in with the use of a wide-angle lens. I have photos of bees feeding on pollen that would look fine in a magazine taken with a macro lens. Please remember though, as good as these cameras are you still need to know how to use them and how to take good photos. See some of the guides on my website for pointers.
The only downsides of these cameras are the costs which are improving and their size. No way on earth will you ever fit one in a pocket but mine goes in my handbag! Again, I have picked out some SLR Cameras to buy.
Mobile Phone Cameras
I don't even know why I'm mentioning these! Most of them tend to produce poor quality photos but they are a useful substitute if there is nothing else to use but please do not think that they take the place of a camera! In good light you might get a decent shot if you follow the tips in my photography guides or in any photo book but if you want photos that last, please buy a camera.
Megapixels
Most marketing is based on the number of megapixels a camera has. A general rule of thumb is that if you are going to print up to size 'A4', a 3 megapixel camera will do. I know this sounds tiny because the blurb out there says you need at least 5, 10 etc but it is not true. If you want poster prints then you may want a higher megapixel camera, particularly if you are going to crop the image. The higher the megapixel the more memory the pictures take on your memory card and your computer but don't worry too much and don't get too hung up about it, most computers and cards can now take the strain. Most cameras tend to have more than enough megapixels for every type of photo but don't spend a fortune based on megapixels alone or you will be wasting your money, check out the other features mentioned in this article.
Copyright Dawn Brookes, DAB Photography
Before Buying a Digital Camera Read This
