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Digital Photography Resources News, blogs, reviews, forums, buying guides, and more. Before purchasing your first or next digital camera make sure you know the latest review. Use the glossary below to become familiar with common digital imaging terminology. So many different models and manufacturers to choose from ...wondering where to begin? Cameras, Lenses, Storage, Accessories, and Photo Software reviews & recommendations.
This site is for informational purposes and does express recommendations for any specific camera manufacturer.
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Digital Cameras - Digital Photography Provided as a courtesy by So you're ready to make the leap into the world of digital photography. From mega-pixels to file types and media storage... ...it can all become a little overwhelming to the novice shopper. Digital Camera Reviews & Recommendations Searching for information or a review on a particular camera model...? Results based on their own review testing and product comparisons. They arrange their findings by assigning one of six categories... Highly Recommended - Recommended - Above Average Average - Below Average - Not Rated www.pcphotoreview.com/reviewscrx.aspx Offers multiple review categories including cameras, lenses, accessories, printers, software, scanners and more. Has added a new section featuring reviews by working professionals. www.imaging-resource.com/DIGCAM01.HTM The latest digital camera reviews, with standard test photos, sample photo galleries, detailed measurements of shutter lag, cycle time, and battery life, and complete descriptions of the top cameras on the market. Digital Camera everything. Digital Camera articles, reviews, ratings, buying guides, and comparisons. Most of us are familiar with this site for its consumer based reviews. Their motto is "Unbiased Reviews by Real People" There are many digital photography resources available...with just a search term and a click the wealth of information is unlimited. |
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Digital photography and camera technology has its own language, but you do not need a degree in rocket science to understand the many new terms. Here is a list of commonly used words and phrases.
The first thing to realize is that all digital technology is not created equally. Unlike film cameras (a quality camera body, film, and the best lens possible), there are many more variables involved in the design and execution of producing an image with a digital camera.
Digital camera A camera that captures the image not on film, but in an electronic imaging sensor that takes the place of film. Just about every digital camera on the market today uses one of two methods of reading the information you see in the camera display (or view finder). The debate about which sensor performs better is ongoing but in most consumer digital cameras available, the differences in performance are inconsequential.
CCD Charge Coupled Device: one of the two main types of image sensors used in digital cameras. When an image is captured, the CCD is struck by light coming through the camera's lens. Each of the thousands or millions of pixels that make up the CCD converts this light into electrons. The number of electrons, usually described as the pixel's accumulated charge, is measured and then converted to a digital value. This last step occurs outside the CCD, in a camera component called an analog-to-digital converter.
CMOS Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor: one of the two main types of image sensors used in digital cameras. Its basic function is the same as that of a CCD.
Application A computer program, such as an image editor or image browser.
Buffer Memory in the camera that stores digital photos before they are written to the memory card.
DPI Dots per inch: A measurement of the resolution of a digital photo or digital device, including digital cameras and printers. The higher the number, the greater the resolution but this does not always translate in producing a better image.
EXIF Exchangeable Image File: the file format used by most digital cameras. For example, when a typical camera is set to record a JPEG, it's actually recording an EXIF file that uses JPEG compression to compress the photo data within the file.
Fire Wire A type of technology (cable) used to transfer data from a digital device at a high rate of speed. Some professional digital cameras and memory card readers connect to the computer over Fire Wire. Fire Wire card readers are typically faster than those that connect via USB. Also known as IEEE 1394, Fire Wire was invented by Apple Computer but is now commonly used with Windows-based PCs as well.
Histogram A graphic representation of the range of tones from dark to light in a image. Some digital cameras include a histogram feature that enables a precise check on the exposure of the photo.
Image browser An application that enables you to view digital photos. Some browsers also allow you to rename files, convert photos from one file format to another, add text descriptions, and more.
Image editor A computer program that enables you to adjust a photo to improve its appearance. With image editing software, you can darken or lighten a photo, rotate it, adjust its contrast, crop out extraneous detail, remove red-eye and more.
Image resolution - The number of pixels in a digital photo is commonly referred to as its image resolution.
ISO speed A rating of a film's sensitivity to light. Though digital cameras don't use film, they have adopted the same rating system for describing the sensitivity of the camera's imaging sensor. Digital cameras often include a control for adjusting the ISO speed; some will adjust it automatically depending on the lighting conditions, adjusting it upwards as the available light dims. Generally, as ISO speed climbs, image quality drops.
JPEG A standard for compressing image data developed by the Joint Photographic Experts Group, hence the name JPEG. Strictly speaking, JPEG is not a file format; it's a compression method that is used within a file format, such as the EXIF-JPEG format common to digital cameras. It is referred to as a lossy format, which means some quality is lost in achieving JPEG's high compression rates. Usually, if a high-quality, low-compression JPEG setting is chosen on a digital camera, the loss of quality is not detectable to the eye.
LCD Liquid Crystal Display: a low-power monitor often used on the top and/or rear of a digital camera to display the image, settings and menu options.
Media Material that information is written to and stored on. Digital photography storage media is available in many options. Most cameras accept more than one type of storage media but are not universal. Card readers are available today for almost every form of media transferable via USB cable. Depending on speed, capacity, convenience and cost this should be an important factor in determining what camera would suit your personal needs best.
Megabyte (MB) A measurement of data storage equal to 1024 kilobytes (KB).
Mega pixel Equal to one million pixels.
Pixel Picture Element: digital photographs are comprised of thousands or millions of them; they are the building blocks of a digital photo.
RAW The RAW image format is the data as it comes directly off the CCD, with no in-camera processing is performed.
RGB Red, Green, Blue: the three colors to which the human visual system, digital cameras and many other devices are sensitive.
Sensitivity See ISO speed.
Serial A method for connecting an external device such as a printer, scanner, or camera, to a computer. It has been all but replaced by USB and Fire Wire in modern computers.
Sharpness The clarity of detail in a photo.
Shutter speed The camera's shutter speed is a measurement of how long its shutter remains open as the picture is taken. The slower the shutter speed, the longer the exposure time. When the shutter speed is set to 1/125 or simply 125, this means that the shutter will be open for exactly 1/125th of one second. The shutter speed and aperture together control the total amount of light reaching the sensor. Some digital cameras have a shutter priority mode that allows you to set the shutter speed to your liking. See also aperture.
Thumbnail A small version of a photo. Image browsers commonly display thumbnails of photos several or even dozens at a time. In Windows XP's My Pictures, you can view thumbnails of photos in both the Thumbnails and Filmstrip view modes.
USB Universal Serial Bus: a protocol for transferring data to and from digital devices. Many digital cameras and memory card readers connect to the USB port on a computer. USB card readers are typically faster than cameras or readers that connect to the serial port, but slower than those that connect via Fire Wire.
White balance A function on the camera to compensate for different colors of light being emitted by different light sources. This area of digital photography is where more attention should be given. Many cameras today automatically compensate the white balance for different lighting situations. The ability of the camera sensor to interpret the light it receives is directly proportional to its rendering of color.
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