Originally published August 28 2005
Tips for choosing and using digital cameras
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The Washington Post tells readers how to choose and use digital cameras.
Where the big number in computers is processor speed, in digital cameras it's megapixels -- millions of picture elements of resolution.
Stepping up to four megapixels increases your odds of getting a quality 8-by-10; five adds the option of still larger blowups.
But don't buy more than that unless you crop your photos with an ax instead of a scalpel or routinely order massive blowups; the larger files generated by six- or seven-megapixel cameras will only fill up your storage card faster and slow down transfers of pictures to a computer.
That, in turn, undercuts one of the primary advantages of digital cameras -- the ability to take one to as many places as possible.
That's also why I don't recommend D-SLRs -- "digital single-lens reflex" models that, like their film equivalents, let you frame a shot through the same lens used by the image sensor.
Getting a smaller camera doesn't have to mean giving up on picture quality, thanks to effective miniaturization of things like image sensors and lenses.
That's not necessarily bad -- if you're disciplined enough to remember to recharge your camera's battery and take its charger, or a spare, on trips.
With analog cameras, film is film, but with digital cameras you need to choose between different, incompatible types of removable memory.
So far, seven major types have been put on the market -- floppy disks, recordable CDs, Compact Flash cards, Memory Sticks (which themselves come in two shapes), SmartMedia cards, SD Cards, and xD-Picture Cards -- and only one has disappeared (the SmartMedia).
SD Cards have the advantage of compact size, low cost and wide support -- you can find SD Card slots in most desktops, many laptops and almost all handheld organizers.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml