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Recommendation: Get Extra BatteriesYou’ll want an extra battery pack or a set of batteries to prevent frustration caused by loss of power. Check the price of this accessory. The rechargeable Ni-MH AA batteries are quite affordable, but some of the proprietary battery packs are very expensive. If you shoot a great deal and will often need to change batteries, you’ll probably want a camera that accepts rechargeable Ni-MH AA batteries. Buy several packs. In a pinch, you may also be able to use universally available alkaline AAs, although they may not last for many shots, especially when using the camera’s LCD monitor for framing your images. |
Digital cameras store images on removable, solid-state flash memory cards (see Figure 1.13). Several formats are available: CompactFlash, SmartMedia, xD-Picture Card, Memory Stick, SecureData (SD), and the very similar Multi-Media (MMC) cards are the most common today. (Cameras that accept SD cards are generally compatible with MMC cards too.)
Figure 1.13: Several types of memory cards are available, varying in size, thickness, and shape. You can also find memory card readers (discussed later in this chapter) that accept one or more types of cards; these accessories offer great convenience in downloading images taken with a digital camera.
Courtesy SanDisk Corporation
Each type of card is different in size and shape, and with a few exceptions, cameras accept only one type of card. With compact digicams, there is really little advantage to one type of medium over another. All are available in maximum capacities of at least 256MB. Some cards are more expensive than others, however, so you might want to do a quick search on the Internet for current prices of various types of cards. Especially if you plan to buy several extra cards, use this information before deciding to buy a specific camera.
Other CompactFlash IssuesSome high capacity CompactFlash cards are designated as Type II, indicating that they are thicker than the conventional Type I card. Before buying one of these, check your camera owner’s manual to make sure that it’s compatible with Type II cards. CompactFlash cards with more than 2GB capacity are not only thicker (Type II) but use a new type of file system called FAT32; most current digital cameras support only the FAT16 file system. Check the card manufacturer’s website for compatibility information about your camera before buying a card with a capacity of 2GB or more. Some cameras also accept Microdrive media. These resemble a thick, Type II CompactFlash card, but contain a miniature hard drive, with moving parts, instead of solid-state flash memory. Only certain cameras—generally those that accept Type II CompactFlash cards—are compatible with Microdrives. Frankly, I recommend using CompactFlash cards in any event; they generally record data more quickly and are more rugged because they have no moving parts. |
When reviewing the specifications for any camera, check to see whether it accepts filters, so you can use filters such as a polarizer to reduce glare and to enrich blue skies. (Some cameras require an accessory tube for mounting filters.) Check whether batteries and charger are included in the kit.
Connectivity information can be important too when it comes time to hook up the camera to your computer to download images. If your computer includes a USB 2.0 port, for ultrahigh-speed data transfer, look for a camera that is fully USB 2.0 compatible. It will also support the earlier USB 1.1 connection that is more common on many computers, but the images will download at a much slower rate. Another high-speed option is a FireWire connection, which is standard on new Macintosh computers but not common on Windows-based computers.
| Because it can be a hassle to hook up the camera whenever you want to transfer images, you will probably want to buy a memory card reader accessory. These cost $20 and up, and some models accept several types of memory cards. You can leave this accessory plugged in to one of your computer’s USB or FireWire ports. Whenever you are ready to download images, simply insert the memory card into the card reader’s slot. In that case, the accessory’s connectivity information (not the camera’s) will be the relevant factor. |
Recommendation: Most Important Compact Digicam FeaturesUnless you need some additional capabilities for specific reasons, I suggest considering a 4+ megapixel camera with the following features: Aperture Priority and some program modes, the essential flash options (always on and off and red-eye reduction), JPEG recording mode, evaluative (multizone) light metering, the best possible LCD monitor, at least 4 White Balance and ISO options, wide-area autofocus with a single sensor option, a 3x or 4x zoom lens, and an optical viewfinder. Nice-to-have features include compatibility with filters and accessory flash units, Continuous Autofocus, and a RAW capture mode. |
Digital SLR cameras—resembling 35mm SLR cameras—are available in two ranges: professional and consumer. In this book, I will only briefly mention the pro cameras and will concentrate on the models that target consumers (see Figure 1.14). These are quite rugged and include all the features that the majority of photo enthusiasts require. They accept numerous lenses that allow for automatic or manual focusing, are compatible with accessory flash units, and are powered by high-capacity battery packs or (less commonly) by rechargeable AA batteries.
Figure 1.14: Digital SLR cameras resemble 35mm SLR cameras and include most of the same features, but they are more complex because they include the additional components required for digital imaging.
Courtesy Canon Canada
At the time of this writing, most are 5 or 6 megapixel cameras, although, the Sigma SD-9 and SD-10 incorporate a unique Foveon brand 3.43 megapixel sensor with 10.29 million “color photodetectors,” discussed earlier. (For more information on this technology, visit the Foveon site at www.foveon.com.)
The professional SLR cameras (see Figure 1.15) are even more rugged, built like a tank to withstand pro caliber abuse. They include additional capabilities of interest to working professionals, such as news and sports photographers. Two types are available: models that produce ultrahigh resolution (more than 10 megapixels) and models that offer ultrahigh framing rates (such as 8 frames per second). A few pro cameras incorporate a full-frame sensor (the same size as a 35mm film frame) and do not produce the focal length magnification factor discussed earlier.
Figure 1.15: Professional digital SLR cameras are heavier, larger, more expensive, and more rugged than consumer cameras. They are also faster, with a very high framing rate that makes them competitive with 35mm SLR cameras.
Courtesy Nikon Inc.
The pro cameras are also substantially more pricey than the consumer models; they cost double, triple, and even five times more, depending on the models compared. Although it’s worth checking out the pro cameras on the Nikon, Canon, and Kodak websites as a matter of interest, I suspect that 95% of you will buy one of the consumer-oriented SLR cameras that I will discuss. (www.nikonusa.com, www.usa.canon.com, www.kodak.com).
| By the time you read this, cameras that were current at the time of writing may have been discontinued and replaced with new models with different feature sets. That’s why I rarely discuss specific models in this book. You may find more advanced cameras, with higher resolution or higher speed, as well as more affordable models with fewer features and lower resolution. Still, the basic features will probably be similar. |
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