| If you're like most people, you don't know a | | | | may be extremely limited (maybe even less than a |
| megapixel from an f-stop, you just want a camera | | | | minute), but sometimes it's nice to be able to capture |
| that works well and takes nice pictures. But the ads | | | | something with motion and sound. |
| and websites are almost drowning you in computer | | | | The most important things to look for is the |
| jargon and mysterious numbers. | | | | maximum length of the movie - the longer the |
| The good news is that today's digital cameras are | | | | better, and unlimited is better still. Be aware that long |
| much better than even a couple years ago, and most | | | | movies can take up a lot of your camera's memory - |
| cameras from reputable brands will do a decent job. | | | | after all, a movie is really just an awful lot of still |
| So the pressure's off; don't worry about your | | | | shots, one after another. You may find that after |
| decision too much. Armed with just a little | | | | taking a long movie, you have to move it off your |
| understanding, you'll be able to find a camera that fits | | | | camera and into your computer before you have |
| your needs and won't break the bank. | | | | enough room to take many photos. |
| Here are the things you'll want to look for, and how | | | | You may also want to check the resolution of the |
| they'll affect your digital camera experience: | | | | movies (this is like megapixels, explained above, |
| 1. Megapixels | | | | except that the resolution for movies is usually much |
| I'm listing this one first not because it's really the | | | | lower than for still photos). 320x240 is a standard |
| most important, but because it's the one the camera | | | | resolution, but many cameras are now offering |
| makers harp on the most. You're going to see a | | | | 640x480 or even higher. |
| megapixel number in every camera ad and product | | | | The last thing to look for is frame rate. 15 frames |
| listing, so you might as well know what it is. | | | | per second (fps) is standard, but these movies tend |
| In a nutshell, the number of megapixels a camera can | | | | to look kind of jerky, especially if there's fast motion. |
| capture describes the level of detail and sharpness | | | | 30 frames per second is the same as television. |
| you will get. A 3-megapixel camera divides a photo | | | | 5. Screen size and quality |
| into three million individual dots and records the color | | | | You'll spend a lot of time looking at the little (or not |
| of each one of them. A 10-megapixel camera divides | | | | so little) screen on the back of your camera, so |
| it into ten million dots, so of course it is recording | | | | make sure it's a good one. It should be large, have a |
| more details. | | | | lot of pixels and be bright. |
| However, it usually stops mattering after about 6 | | | | Most current cameras have two-and-a-half inch |
| megapixels. That's because this is already enough | | | | screens, but larger ones are slowly becoming more |
| resolution for photographic-quality 8x10" prints, which | | | | common. |
| are the largest that most people ever make. | | | | The more pixels the screen has, the easier it will be |
| Having a larger number of megapixels than that does | | | | for you to check the quality of your pictures without |
| give you some extra freedom - for instance, you can | | | | having to view them on a computer monitor or print |
| crop part of your photo away and still have enough | | | | them out. 75,000 pixels is on the low end; 250,000 is |
| for a large, high quality print. | | | | currently about the best on the market. |
| But if you don't think you're going to be making | | | | The brightness is something you can only assess for |
| poster-size prints, or using photo manipulation | | | | yourself. If you get the chance, try out the camera |
| software to crop large areas out of your images | | | | in a shop during the daytime. Take it to the window, |
| before printing them, then don't worry too much | | | | so there is lots of natural light, and check whether |
| about extremely high megapixel counts. | | | | you can still see the image clearly with the sun at |
| 2. Zoom | | | | your back. It's frustrating trying to use a camera |
| Zoom comes in two flavors - optical and digital. It's | | | | when the screen is washed out and dim in daylight. |
| usually expressed as a number followed by an "x". A | | | | 6. Size and weight |
| zoom listed as "3x", for example, can make the | | | | Cameras keep getting smaller and smaller. Some of |
| subject of your photo appear three times larger. | | | | them, like the latest Exilim cameras from Casio, are |
| That's a typical zoom for pocket-sized cameras, but | | | | smaller than a pack of cigarettes and still deliver good |
| larger digital cameras may have up to 12x or more. | | | | shots. But you'll pay for the privilege; the tiniest |
| Optical zoom means lenses, just like with film | | | | cameras cost a lot more than larger models with |
| cameras. The size of the image is increased by | | | | similar features. |
| moving two lenses farther apart from each other in | | | | When you're thinking about size, probably the most |
| the camera. If the lenses are of good quality, then | | | | important threshold is whether or not you can fit it in |
| the resulting enlarged image will also be sharp and | | | | your pocket. If you can, it's likely you'll find yourself |
| clear. | | | | carrying the camera around - and using it - much |
| Digital zoom, on the other hand, is not so useful. | | | | more than you would if it required toting a bag. But |
| Using digital zoom always decreases the quality of | | | | any smaller than that, and you're probably paying |
| your image; no serious photographer would ever use | | | | extra just to be able to show off. |
| it. Camera manufacturers include it because it doesn't | | | | 7. Batteries |
| cost them anything and allows them to claim higher | | | | Some digital cameras use standard AA or AAA |
| zoom ratios than they're willing to provide with optics. | | | | batteries, like you might use for a remote control or |
| So it's very important to look separately at the | | | | a portable CD player. These have several |
| optical and digital zoom numbers, and only pay | | | | advantages. Probably the most significant one is that |
| attention to the optical zoom. | | | | if you find yourself totally out of battery power, you |
| The flip side of powerful optical zoom is that it | | | | can always nip into the closest convenience store |
| makes the camera larger and heavier. So you have | | | | and buy a new set, and be right back out taking |
| to decide how much extra weight that 10x lens is | | | | pictures again. |
| worth to you. | | | | Of course, it doesn't make sense to use disposable |
| 3. Manual features | | | | batteries all the time for these cameras. It's |
| All consumer digital cameras offer fully automatic | | | | expensive, and bad for the environment. And they |
| focus and exposure control. This means you usually | | | | don't last very long: A set of rechargeable AA |
| don't have to worry about getting your subject | | | | batteries may last up to twice as long in your digital |
| sharply focused, or think about the level of light at | | | | camera as the most expensive name-brand |
| different points in your shot and how that will affect | | | | disposables. And that's just on one charge - you can |
| the photo. | | | | keep recharging them again and again. |
| But sometimes the camera doesn't make the right | | | | Other cameras don't give you the choice; they use |
| guess. It may keep focusing on the wrong thing, or it | | | | custom batteries that are specially designed for digital |
| may get confused by bright or dark areas, and the | | | | cameras. These batteries tend to be smaller and |
| whole photo may come out too light or dark. | | | | lighter than AAs or AAAs, packing more power into |
| If your camera only has automatic mode, then you're | | | | a smaller unit. On the other hand, they're also quite |
| stuck. On the other hand, if it has manual overrides, | | | | expensive. One will be included with the camera, but |
| you can tell it exactly how to focus, or how bright to | | | | if you want to get a backup (so you can keep |
| make the photo. Most people don't care, but if you | | | | shooting photos after running through a full charge), |
| think you might want to be a perfectionist, then you | | | | you may find yourself ponying up $50 or more. Same |
| should look for a camera with manual focus and | | | | thing if you accidentally lose it. |
| manual exposure controls. | | | | Well, that's it. It's still a lot to think about, but it really |
| 4. Movie mode | | | | comes down to a few simple questions about |
| These days, digital cameras don't only take still | | | | priorities. At least now you know how to decide |
| photos - almost all of them can also make movies. | | | | whether all those features are really worth the extra |
| The movies usually aren't that great, and the length | | | | money. Good luck! |