Digital Photo Tips by Duane Brovan

 

Components of a Digital Camera! (Part 1 of 2)

All digital cameras have a few main components. They are: Digital Sensor Chip, Lens, View Finder/LCD Screen, Shutter Button and Flash. There are basically three markets digital cameras are targeting: Consumer/Amateur ($100-$499); Advanced Amateur/Pro-Consumer ($599-$999); Professional ($1,500-$8,000 lenses not included). As the price and experience level increases so do the features and flexibility of the camera. Here is a brief explanation of the first two components (Digital Sensor Chip and Camera Lens):

Digital Sensor Chip:

The digital sensor chip captures light (subject) and turns it into digital information, which is then stored on a memory card. Currently, there are two types of sensors Chips (CCD and CMOS). At this time CMOS seems to be the favored sensor chip, I believe this is due to its lower cost, lower noise-cleaner photos, and reduced energy consumption as compared to the CCD. The most popular measure for the Sensor Chip is Pixels Per Inch (PPI) (i.e. 3.3 Megapixels, 4 Megapixels, etc.) and can range from 1.3-22 Megapixels. The more pixels and larger the pixel size the bigger the photo can be enlarged and stay clear and sharp.  To accommodate more pixels and larger pixel size a larger sensor chip is needed which increases the cost of the camera. 3.3-4 Megapixels are fine for the average Consumer/Amateur, produce a good 8” x10” print and still be in the lower cost range ($100-$499). Because of the smaller file size one can store more photos on a memory card, download and record faster, and manage photos easier on an average computer. 5-8 Megapixels are satisfactory for a Pro-Consumer/Advanced Amateur and can produce a good 16”x20” print. 8-22 Megapixels works well for the Professional creating good prints from 16”x20” to 30”x40”. The cost of these larger cameras usually prohibits most persons from purchasing this type equipment.

Camera Lens:

The second main component is the power and type of the cameras lens. Most digital cameras come with a built-in lens with the exception of the Professional DSLR cameras. Lens are rated by power (x) and can range from 1x to 10x. The higher the lens power (x) is the more expensive the camera. One of the most typical and cost effective powers is 3x (approx. 35mm equivalent 39-117mm). Lenses are also rated for optical and digital zoom capability. Most digital zooms do not work well and should not be used. So don’t be concerned about digital zoom ratings, be concerned with optical zoom power ratings. Some lenses have superior optics and quality, which increases cost (i.e. Carl Zeiss, Canon “L” Series, etc.) but gives a person a sharper and clear print. A new feature being offered is Image Stabilization. This reduces the shake of your camera’s lens as you take a shot, thus, giving you a sharper photo. When cameras are used at 4x power or higher a tripod is advised to keep the camera still and subject in focus.

There are many choices for a person to make when picking out a digital camera. It would be advisable to get good competent advise from a person knowledgeable in digital cameras prior to the purchase of a digital camera. Next tip will cover more main components (View Finder/LCD Screen, Shutter Button, Flash, and Memory Card Slot).

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