Digital Camera Tips
Last update Tuesday, January 01, 2008 19:53:54
What is the purpose? What are you going to do with the camera?
Digital Point and Shoot $150-$350 (NOTE: This is old info. Most point and shoot camera today provide decent quality photographs) - For happy snaps or just sending pictures via the internet then any digital camera you can afford is the right one. Most entry level digital cameras have sufficient pixels (1 million+, mega pixel, etc) to meet this entry level requirement. This camera will print a decent 5x7 picture on a good printer.
Digital SLR's - $400-$6000. These cameras are just like a 35mm camera and accept newer AF (auto-focus) lenses. Digital cameras deliver quality equal to and most times exceeds 35 mm film. Newer Pro or high end DSLRs (such as Nikon's D2x and D3) rival medium format quality. Excellent quality 13x19 color prints can be obtained on my Epson 2200 and 1270 printers. Digital SLR's create huge RAW format type pictures that contain all of the cameras settings at time of exposure to allow for detailed manipulation in software programs such as Photoshop. If you need a larger print and better quality print for design work, office work, portraits, landscapes, or close-ups, then a 6 Meg pixel + camera, is a must. Large digital memory cards (film) is a must. Suggest a minimum of 2 GB.
Do your home work and know what you want and are about to buy. Look around online before you purchase. Go to a good web portal such as Google or Yahoo and look under the shopping area for digital cameras. Look for the price range you want to spend and features available. Check local electronics store chains such as Best Buy for prices. Be sure and check to see if your local camera store and dealers have a website. Many time they do and offer lower prices than the walk in price. Happened to me!!!! Most important thing to look for: Is it a "gray market" camera, meaning it will/could not have a warranty that will be honored here in the USA. Gray market items sometimes are illegal but mainly they are cameras or items sold in different parts of the world to help identify sales and distribution. Many local authorized dealers will not warranty a camera that didn't come through the proper import distributors. I highly recommend B&H Photo.
Get to know the controls. The faster you do this, the better your pictures will be. Digital photography is a little easier than 35mm only if you know how to use the camera and it's controls. Many digital cameras let you adjust the film sensitivity, shutter speed and other standard 35mm controls. Being able to adjust your camera without looking up the directions will result in much better photos and less missed opportunities. Experiment!!! Digital photography is the cheapest way to really experiment and learn photography.... Don't like the shot? Look at it on your camera or computer and delete. You don't spend any money on processing. Just batteries!
Don't forget the old rules. Most of the old rules of photography apply to digital photography. In reality, you need to know more proper photography rules due to the fact that digital cameras are unforgiving in the extremes (highlights and deep shadows). You must decide on what you want to record and capture with the lens and meter/compose for that. Proper composition, steady hands and exposure still need to be respected and done right.
If your digital camera is designed for filters then consider purchasing them. Filters are very important. They provide protection, enhance color and exposure to help achieve the same results as they do for regular film photography. The standard UV filter is good at reducing UV light and providing a protective cover for the camera lens. A polarizing filter is one of my favorites. Besides reducing the reflected light in the sky it enhances the saturation of color. Neutral density and other filters provide a range of enhancement and effects. If your camera will allow you to use a graduated neutral density filer, I recommend purchasing. This filter allows you to adjust for extreme light conditions during times like sunsets or high contrast situations such as bright snows and dark trees and details in the shadows.
A good tripod is essential for low light photography. Along with a cable (shutter) release (if your camera will accept one), makes low light photography possible with digital cameras. Anytime you try to hold a camera at shutter speeds less than 1/30th of a second, a tripod should be used. Price for a good tripod is around $50 for the point and shoot cameras to $125-$300 for the digital SLR's. Buy a sturdy tripod if using a digital SLR due to their weight combined with the lenses. Wind will be less noticeable with a heavy, sturdy tripod.
Extra Memory or film. As soon as you can afford it, by additional memory. 256 Mb is a good all purpose size that allows for the equivalent of a 5-6 rolls of 36 exposure film.. Price is around $70-$100. After purchasing an IBM 1 GB Microdrive, (around $250), I'd feel lost in not having the capability of 250 to 300 high resolutions photographs. If you are into backpacking or activities that leave you not close to a computer to download to, I recommend the 1 GB cards. Well worth the hassle of lugging a laptop all over the place.
Batteries. The most important purchase after the initial camera purchase will be good rechargeable batteries. Spend a little more for the nickel metal hydride type. They will last longer and recharge better. They don't seem to develop a "memory"...meaning you can recharge them at anytime without damaging....
Cleaning of Digital SLR's: NOTE: THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS ON CLEANING ARE JUST THAT: SUGGESTIONS. YOU COULD VOID THE WARRANTY ON YOUR CAMERA. DO NOT USE CANNED AIR. Contains chemical propellants that will ruin the CCD.
With that said, there will come a time when you will need to clean the CCD (digital film plane). Dust loves electrical parts. When the mirror lifts to expose the CCD, dust can and will get on this electronic film plane. I've found that the best procedure to clean requires a small vacuum cleaner, with a hose attachment, sable paint brush, tripod, and cable release. Set camera to Manual mode, BULB shutter setting. Mount the camera on the tripod and tilt with the lens point down. Raise the tripod high enough to allow you to sit/lie on floor directly under camera. If you have help, have someone turn the vacuum cleaner on and hold next to the lens opening. Remove lens and use the cable release to lock open the shutter. Carefully, observe the CCD area and with the vacuum running, gently brush the CCD's surface. 15-30 seconds of this should be enough to remove any dust. With the vacuum still running, unlock the cable release to close the shutter/mirror. Remount the lens, then turn off vacuum. This procedure is not recommended by any manufacturer or this website. I had to find a way to clean my D1 on my last trip. After trying the cheap air brush bulb, Q-tips (DO NOT USE, leaves more specks than removes), blowing into the camera, crying, etc., I went to a Wal-Mart, bought a Dust Devil hand vacuum with hose attachment and along with one of my wife's paint brushes, achieve fairly good results. I'm looking for a product that is made for cleaning sensors. I'll update if I find or learn of a better way to clean the camera short of sending to the manufacturer.
NOTE: THE ABOVE SUGGESTIONS ON CLEANING ARE JUST THAT: SUGGESTIONS. YOU COULD VOID THE WARRANTY ON YOUR CAMERA.
DO NOT USE CANNED AIR. Contains chemical propellants that will ruin the CCD.
Cold Weather Tips: After our recent trip to Yellowstone in January 2004, I experimented on how to keep my Nikon D1 warm. Cold weather, especially sub-zero weather, will drain a camera's batteries very rapidly. Some cameras, both digital and film, could freeze up and not operate at all. I didn't want to take a chance since the temperatures were ranging from -15 below to + 32. I decided to try some of the new disposable heat wraps such as ThermaCare. Even though, no where on the instructions for use on the heat wraps package, does it say for use on cameras. The heat wraps have adhesive tape that allows you to attach it around the bottom of the camera, out of the way of all controls. I used a smaller size heat wrap and wrapped it around the bottom back of my camera. Then I took a neck warmer, such as a Turtle Fur, and slipped over the base of the camera. I was able to keep the camera and battery warm, even though reported temperatures were -10 to -15 below freezing. The D1's battery lasted somewhere around 125 shots, approximately 8 hours. Even used another heat wrap to keep my laptop computer warm while in transit from West Yellowstone to the Snow Lodge. Each heat wrap will stay warm for around eight hours if covered with something like a neck warmer. At times, I unzipped my ski suit top and kept the camera inside my suit. However, you risk the chance of inducing the humidity from your body. Be careful and make sure the camera and lens don't fog up, then freeze.
Always more to come
CameraView
email: cameraview@airosurf.com