September 23, 2006
Digital Camera Buying Guide
Buying Digital Cameras
Major technological breakthroughs opened new doors in getting analog data turned into digital information. The digital age ushered in more inventions, developed existing products, and opened more potential for the multi-media industry. Popular consumer electronics have gone digital, and have become permanent fixtures of everyone’s home, office, or business establishment. The fast-paced change in technology has greatly determined and presented unlimited possibilities on how consumers deal with visual and audio data.
The Shift to Digital Cameras
One of the best examples of the shift to digital data are digital cameras. Digital cameras are different from conventional cameras because the latter highly depend on chemical and mechanical processes while digital cameras capture images electronically which are processed in computers. While digital cameras have increasingly become more saleable because of its more functional and flexible features, image taken by conventional cameras are superior in quality. That is why the exploding popularity of digital cameras have not yet rendered obsolete those handy conventional cameras. Interestingly, recent announcement by a major camera company to phase-out film cameras are met with intense opposition from some film aficionados.
Tips for Buying Digital Cameras
Know the basics - Simply put, a digital camera is an electronic device that records and stores images electronically, unlike conventional film-cameras that stores images in photographic film. There are two major types of digital cameras: digital still cameras and digital video cameras. A digital still camera captures images and turns it into digital data. A basic model basically has a flash memory, universal serial bus (USB) or FireWire for transfer or storage, while the latest models have incorporated a video function. A digital video camera, on the other hand, captures moving images electronically. Those made for television and movies are commonly called professional digital video cameras. For amateur video enthusiasts, camcorders work for them. Camcorders basically have built-in microphone and a small LCD to watch video while recording or for playback. Identify your needs.
Know what you need your digital camera for - This is the best way to start off if you want to buy a camera with particular features in mind. If you are going to use if for video business purposes, check out the latest models with the best resolution, storage devices, power source and other features. Look out for the important specifications such as resolution, compression, memory and image capacity, power source, LCD viewfinders, lens, optical vs. digital zoom, focus and exposure, movie mode, TV and computer connectivity, and other features.
Work around your budget, but be prepared to be flexible. The price range for digital cameras varies according to the camera’s resolution and features. The newest releases are always more expensive, while older ones are sure to fetch bargain price. But do shop around wisely, and do not yield to the common misconception that the latest releases are the choice. Again, do your research. Surf the Internet, go over product catalogues, call up seller companies, or consult your friends. That is the only way to get the digital camera that you want, at your money’s worth.
