Learning Digital Camera Basics

by Barry Craft

The first thing you should understand before you buy a camera is megapixels. Why do megapixels matter? Megapixels matter because the number of megapixels determines the resolution and size of the image. The more megapixels, the larger a print of the image can be.

Most current model digital cameras usually start around 5 megapixels and go up from there. You will be able to get excellent quality 4×6 prints and even good quality 8×10 prints with that amount of resolution.

The next important thing when buying a camera is which type to get. An SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera is expensive, but if you are looking for a high-resolution camera with excellent picture quality, SLR cameras are the way to go. This would be the digital equivalent of a 35 mm film camera.

if you have experience with 35mm cameras, you will recognize many of the same features and more. A very popular feature of the digital SLR camera is the ability to change lenses.

If you are not as particular with your photography and want a simpler camera to use, you may want to consider a point and shoot camera which generally will cost much less. In addition, point and shoot cameras are smaller and easier to use. Another advantage of this type of camera is they usually have many automated features and preset shooting programs which allow you to shoot beautiful photographs even if you don’t have much experience.

After you get a camera, you must choose a good memory card for your camera. The most popular types of memory cards for digital cameras are Multi Media Card (MMC), Memory Stick (MS), Smartmedia (SM), Secure Digital (SD), xD-Picture Card (xD), and CompactFlash (CF). Certain cameras require certain memory card types, so make sure you ask an expert which memory card is right for the camera you have.

One of the most important things to consider with memory cards is how many pictures you plan on taking it at one time before downloading them to your computer. Also if you plan to use the higher resolution settings on your camera, you will able to take fewer pictures so you may want to invest in a memory card that has a larger storage capacity.

You have to learn how to transfer the pictures from your camera when she take them since you can only sender and the pictures once they are on your computer. Your camera most likely came with the USB cable as an option. You can also purchase a USB card reader that plugs into your computer.

A memory card reader is a piece of hardware that plugs into your computer and then you remove the memory card from your camera and insert it into the card reader. Memory card readers are also usually faster to download your pictures than a USB cable. Using a memory card reader also allows you to save the batteries on your camera because the camera does not have to be on during the transfer.

It depends on what type of computer system you have but usually a message will pop up a telling you that your camera is connected. Depending on what type of software you have installed there would usually be some type of message where they would ask you if you wanted to transfer the pictures or edit them. If you’re using a Mac computer especially a newer Mac, iPhoto would pop open and a help tab would instruct you on how to download the pictures.

Once you have completed the download process and the pictures are on your computer, you can delete the pictures from your memory card which will free up additional space. That way you can take many more pictures. Is a very good idea to regularly make a backup copy of the pictures on the computer neither burn them to an external hard drive or perhaps any CD or DVD you invested a lot of time and effort in taking those beautiful pictures and you would not want to lose them.

About the Author:

Related posts:

  1. Key Benefits Of Using A Digital Camera
  2. Purchasing the Perfect Digital Camera
  3. Camera Resolution Basics
  4. Digital Camera For Kids
  5. Digital Photography for Newbies

Filed under Digital Camera by Barry Craft

Permalink Print Comment