The Basics - What every digital camera user should know!
Pixels and Pixel Count – A digital camera creates images just like a mosaic. It uses millions of small squares put together to create a full image. The pixel count refers to the number of individual pixels that are used to create a specific image, which is often between 1 million (1 Megapixels) to 14 million (14 Megapixels). A standard camera usually has between 2MP and 5MP (i.e. 1 Million Megapixels = 1 MP).
Aspect Ratio – A camera's aspect ratio refers to the ratio of the sides of the images length.
ISO – ISO refers to the camera’s ‘film’ speed. Thus, it the camera’s ability to adjust the sensor’s sensitivity to allow the shutter to operate faster as well as take better photographs in low light.
Setting your digital camera to a low ISO will result in a cleaner image. A high ISO often leads to images with a lot of ‘noise’ (grainy images).
However, high ISO settings are useful in a dark location or environment, where the risk of having a grainy photograph is better than not having an image at all (low ISO in a dark setting would make it nearly impossible to see the image.)
Zoom options – A digital camera’s zoom options refer to the optical and digital zoom. Most cameras will include both and can be used together.
Optical Zoom – Optical zoom means that the camera lens operates like a traditional film camera. The lens physically moves to capture the image of a distant object.
Digital Zoom – The camera lens does not externally move but using its built-in software, the camera crops and enlarges the photo. However, the image is often not as sharp as one taken using an optical zoom.
Memory – A digital memory card is one of the most important aspects to consider when buying a camera. (Although, one may also buy extra memory cards to supplement the one that came with the camera as well as the camera’s built-in memory.) The digital memory card is reusable and depending on the kind you buy, has can store a large number of images which can be saved, transferred or deleted.
Viewfinder – The viewfinder is where one looks through/at to frame, focus, preview and shoot an image. Some digital gadgets have viewfinders similar to old film cameras (i.e. TTL – Through The Lens) where one can view the target image through a small window. However, most digital point-and-shoot cameras use a small LCD screen (i.e. EV - Electronic Viewfinder, located at the back of the device) which allows one to also preview the image after it was shot. Some digicams have both a small viewfinder and an LCD viewfinder.
Flash – Most digital cameras come with a built-in flash. One can set the camera to trigger the flash during low light.
Shutter Speed – The shutter speed refers to the length of time that the shutter is left open, which in layman’s terms means how long the image sensor captures the target image.
Multimedia – Multimedia refers to the camera’s multimedia (i.e. still images, video, sound, etc.).
