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If you’d like to be able to take your own professional-looking photos, edit and print them in the comfort of your own home, then you need a digital camera.
This is one area of technology that has really advanced in recent years. There are so many makes and models available that it pays to know what you’re looking for.
As with any camera, the lens is the most important part. Make sure you ask what kind of lens is included and get the best quality lens you can afford. After that you need to consider picture quality. This is measured in mega pixels, and the more the better. Between three and five mega pixels are pretty standard and should give you crisp, clear photos you can be proud of.
Most digital cameras have pre-set shooting modes you can select at the push of a button. These include the usual for portraits, close-ups, shooting at night and taking pictures indoors or out. Many have auto-focus and zooming facilities, and most include a built-in microphone with options to shoot video. The video clips tend to be short (due to the amount of memory video takes up) and of dubious quality, more of a gimmick than a bonus.
Connections are normally USB, but different manufacturers use different methods to download pictures from the camera. Usually this is a one-button operation and the photos load into your computer via the camera’s software, where you can manage, edit, save, delete or even e-mail them directly.
Photos are stored on memory cards which also vary between models. These are measured in mega bytes (Mb) and the more mega bytes you have, the more pictures your camera will hold before you have to download. Most digital cameras are battery operated. Some use rechargeable batteries while others use regular AA batteries.
Accessories include a lens cap to keep the lens clean and free of dust and dirt, a strap so you can carry the camera round your neck if needed and usually there’s an AV lead so you can view your photos on your television set. If you plan on taking pictures in situations that require a tripod, make sure the camera has a slot in its bottom to attach it to one.
At the higher end of the market are the digital SLR (single lens reflex) cameras. These are generally more expensive, but they offer the facility to interchange lenses. They’re perfect for the professional who wants to move into the world of digital photography.
There is a great web site called Camera Shopping which has lots more information about digital cameras which makes buying digital cameras online very easy and for cheap digital cameras see Cheap Digital Cameras.
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