Digital Cameras Barb Smith Community Education October 2006

Buying a Digital Camera What are you going to use it for? What are you going to use it for? Megapixels Megapixels 1 megapixel is made of one million pixels/dots. 1 megapixel is made of one million pixels/dots. ResolutionInternet/ 2x3”4x6”5x7”8x10”11x14”16x20” < 1 MP CDFFFFF 1-2 MP BCDFFFF 2-3 MP A+BCCDFF 3-4 MP OverkillA+A+BBCF 4-5 MP OverkillA+A+A+BBC 5-6 MP OverkillA+A+A+A+BB > 6 MP OverkillA+A+A+A+A+A+

Buying a Digital Camera Canon 10 MP $800 HP 6MP 3xOpt $125 Kodak 7MP 3xOpt $170 Nikon 8MP 10xOpt $500

Things to Consider Optical Zoom (forget digital zoom) Optical Zoom (forget digital zoom) Memory Memory Compact Flash (CF) Compact Flash (CF) Secure Digital (SD) Secure Digital (SD) Multimedia (MMC) Multimedia (MMC) SmartMedia SmartMedia Memory Stick Memory Stick Batteries Batteries

Batteries AA AA Cheap Cheap Standardized Standardized Widely Available Widely Available Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH, rechargeable) Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH, rechargeable) Lithium (non-rechargeable) Lithium (non-rechargeable) Nickel-cadmium (NiCd, rechargeable) Nickel-cadmium (NiCd, rechargeable) Alkaline (non-rechargeable) Alkaline (non-rechargeable)

Batteries Proprietary Batteries Proprietary Batteries Non AA Non AA Made for a specific camera Made for a specific camera Must use a specific charger Must use a specific charger Battery life is longer than AA Battery life is longer than AA Used mostly in higher end cameras Used mostly in higher end cameras Expensive Expensive Not readily available Not readily available

Other Things to Consider Movies & Sound Movies & Sound Uses large amounts of memory (1 minute video = 10 MB) Uses large amounts of memory (1 minute video = 10 MB) Some do not record audio Some do not record audio Menus Menus Be sure you can use them Be sure you can use them

Menus Flash modes Flash modes Auto Flash – camera decides if flash is needed Auto Flash – camera decides if flash is needed Fill Flash – flash is always on Fill Flash – flash is always on Red-eye Reduction – Flashes a light before the picture is taken; reduces pupil size (especially good for nighttime pictures) Red-eye Reduction – Flashes a light before the picture is taken; reduces pupil size (especially good for nighttime pictures) No Flash – flash is off No Flash – flash is off

Menus Mountain – for taking pictures of landscapes Mountain – for taking pictures of landscapes Lady – Head and shoulders portrait photo Lady – Head and shoulders portrait photo Night Scene – shutter stays open longer, tripod is suggested Night Scene – shutter stays open longer, tripod is suggested Macro Mode – Very close-up shots within inches of the subject (choose the tulip) Macro Mode – Very close-up shots within inches of the subject (choose the tulip) Movie Mode – Record movies; not sharp enough for DVD; good for Movie Mode – Record movies; not sharp enough for DVD; good for Action (sport) – Fastest shutter speed for moving objects (digital cameras are terrible at action) Action (sport) – Fastest shutter speed for moving objects (digital cameras are terrible at action)

Other Terms White Balance – makes sure white is white White Balance – makes sure white is white LCD – Liquid Crystal Display LCD – Liquid Crystal Display Really is liquid inside Really is liquid inside Use lint-free cleaning cloth Use lint-free cleaning cloth Card Reader Card Reader

Picture Taking Tips Take pictures at eye level when photographing a person Take pictures at eye level when photographing a person Use plain and simple backgrounds Use plain and simple backgrounds Use a flash outside, especially if the sun is bright so shadows aren’t so deep (use w/in feet) Use a flash outside, especially if the sun is bright so shadows aren’t so deep (use w/in feet) Zoom in on the subject matter (should fill the frame) Zoom in on the subject matter (should fill the frame) Make sure light source isn’t behind the subject unless you want a silhouette effect Make sure light source isn’t behind the subject unless you want a silhouette effect

Picture Taking Tips Rule of Thirds Rule of Thirds

Publishing Google Picasa Google Picasa Adobe Photoshop Adobe Photoshop Windows XP PhotoStory Windows XP PhotoStory

The End Thanks to Janet C. Taylor Technology in Motion Specialist