Slr Cameras For Dummies

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A Beginners Guide to Digital Cameras

The world of digital cameras can be intimidating to those that have never dealt with one.  With the frequent use of buzz words like "mega pixels" and "opical zoom" it can be confusing for the new user if they're looking to buy a new camera.  So here is a quick walkthrough of the major elements of digital cameras to help you make the best judgment on which one is right for you.

The Difference Between SLRs and Automatic Cameras

An SLR looks and operates exactly like a non-digital camera, except instead of exposing film it exposes a light-sensitive sensor.  If you choose an SLR, you will be able to manually adjust things like focus, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.  Generally speaking, digital SLRs will provide the highest quality images possible.

Automatic cameras or point and shoots often have a large LCD screen on the back and usually only require a single button press for taking a picture.  Point and shoot cameras take lower quality pictures (although not by a lot) but provide a lot less customizable options. On the flip side, however, they are great because of their small portable size and ease of use.  Additionally, if you're planning on emailing or uploading images and not printing them at large sizes, the quality difference is negligible.

Mega Pixel 101

One of the first things that the manufacturer will tout about its newest model of digital camera is the megapixel value.  But what are megapixels anyway?

Mega pixels are the way manufacturers count the pixels in an image.  A one mega pixel camera means that the camera will take pictures with 1 million pixels.  You can think of them as an image's resolution.

So which megapixel value is right for you?  It really depends upon what you want to do with you pictures.  For most users, who wish only to shoot a few photographs and upload them to their website or email them to friends at smaller sizes, anything in the 2MP to 7MP range is absolutely fine.  If you're going to be blowing your work up to larger sizes, you should work with cameras that shoot at higher resolutions (10MP and above).  The larger you want your photo, the more important the mega pixel value.

Digital vs Optical Zoom Overview

Often digital cameras offer users both optical and digital zoom function.  Optical zoom is the distance the camera is capable of zooming using its lens, and the digital zoom is how far the camera can "fake" it from there.  What an optical zoom does is magnify the subject like what a zoom lens would do, while a digital zoom simply takes a part of the image and blows it up. If you've ever seen a crime show where they "zoom" in on a security camera video to find the pixilated and blurry face of a robber, that's what digital zoom does.

Generally speaking, a digital zoom is a useless feature so you're better off ignoring it when shopping for a digital camera.  Images created using digital zoom have low quality and look pretty terrible, so if you're not close enough to catch it with optical zoom it's best to either get closer or shoot with what you have.

Buying a digital camera doesn't have to be a frustrating or scary experience.  Just be honest about what you need and expect from your camera, as well as what your price range is, and go from there.  As long as you pick a camera that suits your needs, you will be happy with the results.  If you're really uncertain, start with a low-priced basic camera, then move up - there's always room to upgrade later, should it turn out that your camera isn't delivering on what you really want.

About the Author

Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames. Shop online and see our selection of gold leaf picture frames in a wide variety of styles and sizes. Visit our website and see our wooden gold leaf picture frames and lovely silver leaf picture frames or call us at 1-800-780-0699.

Digital Cameras and Photography For Dummies DVD Bundle - Zooming in on your Subject


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Cameras For Dummies

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Darkroom for Dummies Need Help in Setting Up a Darkroom and Supplies that Will be Needed and where to buy???

I am an amateur at the Nikon cameras. I have taken pictures for a long time, but now have a good professional camera. I want to develop my film at home. How does one go about setting up a dark room, what supplies are needed, where can you buy them, and how much of a price tag am I looking at? Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.

What are you shooting with? Black and white? Color? Slide? Large format?

Anyway, you will need a light tight room, preferably free of dust. Most people find the bathroom to be the best.

After that, you need chemicals. Developer(depending on either black and white or color), fixer, and photo flow. These should be for film, not paper. Except for photo flow, the developer and fixer come in powder form, so do not breath it in. Also, do not poor down the drain. Collect the used developer in a bucket. The fixer can be reused, but once it starts to change a different color, after too many uses, or too long sitting, get rid of it. If you are printing the film as well, you'll need more chemicals for paper, and serveral trays.

If you are printing the film yourself, you will also need an enlarger. This will cost around $500, but the better they are, the more expensive they will be. I always use a condenser enlarger. The type of lens it comes with will determine how much it is as well. If you're buying the enlarger used, make sure it has a lens, bulb, and make sure it is not scratched or broken.

If you are printing the film, you'll also need a amber brown light. DO NOT just go to the store and buy a red light. This will not work. A very cheap brand at Ritz Camera costs about $50. A professional light will be around $1,000 or more.

For the film, you'll need a chemical canister and film clips.

For just developing the film, the price would be around $15. If you are printing the film as well, you'll be looking more around $1,000-$3,000.

One note: I mentioned color photography. This will require temperture gauges. Color film REQUIRES a constant temperture. For film, try to stay away from C-41 process, because they do not have the best results, and have more dangerous chemicals. All chemicals whether for black and white photography are dangerous, and can kill you. So do not swallow, or get in your eyes.

How to Shoot Landscapes with Your Digital Camera For Dummies


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