Ask Cameras

Capturing moments was never so easy before digital cameras came into the photography world. Ever since, there has been a big international market dealing with digital cameras. Japan, South Korea and China have been the main players in manufacturing new digital cameras since its inception. Today, no media house can run without digital cameras. Forget media agencies, in our day-to-day life, we have started considering digital camera as a handbag’s must-keep item. It has truly given a new definition to the world of photography.

Many kinds of digital cameras with different features are hovering around the market today. And you need to decide on your choices and pick up the right one that fits your clicking needs. You must have already heard a lot about the top brands such as Kodak, Nikon, Canon, Minolta, Sony, Panasonic, Polaroid, Olympus, Fujifilm, HP, Samsung, etc. This article discusses features of famous brands and models of digital cameras to help you select the right one for yourself.

To start your selection process, you must consider whether you are looking for small and compact pocket camera, an advanced camera, a high zoom capability camera, or an SLR camera. These can range from USD 100 to USD 2,000. You will need to take your pick based on your budget and requirements.

What are the features that you should compare between brands while selecting a digital camera? The most important feature is its resolution in mega pixel. In simple language, this figure tells you how much you can expand your picture without parting with its quality. The higher the resolution, the better. But this doesn’t mean that you have to go for the highest available model in the market. Usually people print photos that are sized 4×6 in or 5×7 in – for this any camera above 4 mega pixels will deliver great results.

Other feature that you should evaluate is zoom-in capability. Optical zoom and digital zoom are different terms. Optical zoom means actual zoom done by the lenses, while digital zoom simply increases the size of the picture display without increasing any details. In simple terms 3x optical zoom means you can get three times closer picture of the image you see with your eyes. For this reason, optical zoom is better.

The third important feature is compatibility with other devices. Find out if the camera you are going to buy is compatible with your computer, printer, memory card, USB drive, etc. Cameras have inbuilt flash memory but the space is limited, so you would have to buy external memory cards, popularly known as Secure Digital Card (SDC) and Multi Media Card (MMC).

The next important feature is the size of the screen that provides digital display of the image instantly. These screens were the major reason that digital cameras replaced conventional cameras so fast. The screen gives you the ability to review the image and delete the ones you do not like. The LCD digital camera screens are up to 3 inches in width.

The other features that make your camera more convenient include automatic light adjustment, automatic flash, red-eye reduction, file format (TIFF, RAW or JPEG), audio and video capability, image stabilizer, manual controls for aperture and exposure, camera speed, weight and size, body type, battery type (lithium of normal), battery life, picture modes for morning light, day light, cloudy day, etc.

The varieties and features of digital cameras are so many that it becomes really difficult for a first-timer to select one. This is worsened by everyday technological advancements. But all the features mentioned above impart a whole new dimension to photography and they make it easier for even an amateur to click great quality pictures.

If you have been using your digital camera for quite a while, you can easily view dark silhouette of the camera’s sensor grime. This is due to the impact of dust as well as detritus that have settled inside the body of the camera. The presence of dust particles can be easily evident by having a close look at the captured images along with permanent fuzzing. However, some of the latest digital cameras offer auto-cleansing modes to help your camera overcome this situation.

How can you clean your digital camera sensor?

You can buy any good brand DSLR product to identify and remove the debris. If you are unsure of a DSLR, you can also start with a normal swab-and-fluid kit before moving on to the other gadgets. A digital survival kit can prove to be handy as it comes with a no-frills approach and is economical. However you need to be completely sure to use the right kit as some of the fluids often react in a hostile manner to some of the sensors.

If you are unsure about the right kind of products to be used with your digital camera then you must visit the website of the camera manufacturer to find the right kit. If the lenses are not delivering the results then there is no point in cleaning the sensor. You can use a blower to puff the debris followed with a nonabrasive cloth cleaning process.

Do not use the liquid cleansers or an off-the-shelf household cleaner as they tend to damage the lens coatings. Always look for the thin lines and translucent droplets on the sensor. You can also manually clean the camera but make sure to fully charge it or use an AC adapter. Any dust particle or swab on the sensor can be easily cleaned off by using a squeeze-bulb blow. If you feel any difficulty in cleaning, please stop immediately and get it repaired from an expert.

Now that we have learnt some valuable lessons to clean our digital camera, let us now proceed to some of the eminent names in the world of digital camera technology followed by some of the advanced camera models.

Canon, Nikon and Sony are some of the most reputed names in the digital camera market. If you are looking for a high quality yet cheap digital camera, you can go for the Canon Digital Cameras such as the Canon PowerShot A570IS, Canon Digital IXUS70 and Canon Digital IXUS 850IS. These Canon digital cameras deliver seamless, advanced and smart solutions with complete ease and total perfection.

Get smart, act now and bring how a smart and cheap digital camera.