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How to choose a camera thats right for you

In 1999, a digital camera with a 1.3 Mega pixel sensor would have cost the same as a mid range car but today a 4 mega pixel camera will set you back only a fraction of that amount. Digital camera and computers have come a long way in the past few years. Even the entry levels camera can now produce good quality results. As well as improving and quality and sizes of their sensors, manufactures have also been dropping their prices in this very competitive market. The quality and price of 5 or 6 mega pixels cameras is now so good , you can now rely on them for years to come without worrying whether the next model may be better, cheaper or faster.
Understanding Features
A- Mega pixels
One of the most important thing when choosing a digital camera is resolution, measured in mega pixels (1 Mega pixel is equal to 1,000,000 pixels on CCD sensor). So the higher the mega pixel, the higher the quality will be , up to certain point.
A 2 Mega pixel camera is capable of taking the same picture a 4 mega pixel can take as long as they are both printed 6”X4”, but if you enlarge the two pictures to an 8”X10” size print, the 2 Mp picture will become pixilated where as the 4 Mp wont as it hold twice the information

Camera Resolution
Maximun Print Size
0.3 Mega pixels (some camera phones)
2.2X3
1.3 Mega Pixels
4X6
2.0 Mega pixels
5X7
3.0 Mega pixels
8X12
6.0 Mega pixels
24x36

B - Zoom

Optical Vs Digital
Optical Zoom is the only one to care about as it is the actual zoom, when you zoom in to take a picture “3X optical zoom is equal to 35mm-110mm on a film camera. When you zoom in, your picture is still being taken at the cameras highest resolution,
Whereas Digital zoom is only cutting around your original image after it has been taken, therefore cutting the quality.
Most camera boxes will display the digital zoom in big fancy writing , but ignore it and look for the optical zoom.
C - Memory
All digital cameras need memory to store your pictures, some cameras have internal memory built in (which is always very small), for most cameras you will need to buy additional memory card(s). Most shops will offer free memory with the camera to get you started.
Depending on the size of sensor in the camera, it will determine the size of memory you need ( A 6 MP picture holds twice as much information as a 3MP picture therefore one 6MP picture will use twice as much space a 3MP

Camera Resolution
2
MegaPixels
3
MegaPixels
4
MegaPixels
5
MegaPixels
6
MegaPixels
Card Size
How Many Pictures (app. Average)
64MB
70
52
35
25
17
128MB
140
105
70
50
35
256MB
280
210
140
100
70
512MB
560
420
280
200
140
1GB(1024MB)
1120
840
560
400
280
2GB(2048MB)
2240
1680
1120
800
560

D - Power

Digital cameras run through batteries very quickly, this is caused by the LCD screen at the back of the cameras it uses 90% of the power. Expensive cameras will have both an LCD screen and a viewfinder (as in your 35mm camera). So you can switch of the screen of to save power and use the viewfinder instead
(i)Researchable Lithium ion
These batteries last wayward from 300 shots to 5 hundred shots depending how often the flash is used and are the better battery
(ii)AA batteries
A lot of cameras would use either 2 or 4 of these, they don’t last as long as a lithion but if you are abroad and you run out of power , you can pop into any shop to buy new ones
E - (Image Stabilizer (vibration reduction))
This is the new hot feature fpr 2006/2007. This feature improves your photos clarity by ironing out your unsteady hands.
- It is an enormous help in 3 situations
- When you’re using maximum zoom
- In low light
- When you don’t have viewfinder so you are holding your camera at arms length
Any questions or comments about this page, please dont hesitate to contact us at declan@mcgees.ie