Buying a Digital Camera – A Handy Guide

It's important to answer in your own mind exactly how you anticipate using the camera before you consider purchasing anything.  Are you serious about photography as a hobby or mainly keen to capture classic family moments? Do you want creative control over the result or an automated process? Do you want a lightweight body or a strong one?   The handy guide below will help you clarify different camera features and you can determine what is important to you.

Fundamentals of Pixels

The imaging sensor inside the camera is made up of tiny light collectors called pixels. The pixels act like film to record your photo. Megapixel is the term used to describe the amount of pixels in the camera’s light-collecting chip. For example, a 6 Megapixel camera has 6 Million pixels. With more pixels the camera can record more detail, and larger size prints can be made before the quality declines. Moving up to a 8 or 10 Megapixel camera means there are over 8 or 10 million pixels and so the resolution is higher, allowing you to output poster size prints (eg A2 size). With a semi-professional or professional camera 12 or over megapixel number is normal.

Pixels Vs Print Size

The larger the image size, however, the more space it takes up on a memory card. So the resolution menu gives you a range to choose from.

Most cameras give you the ability to set the quality, or ‘compression’ level. This is used to make the file size (image) smaller allowing you to put more photos on the memory card. But remember, smaller sizes reduce the quality. Setting the highest resolution and the best quality enables you to make the largest prints. A point to keep in mind is that you can always make a high-resolution image smaller, but you can’t go the other way.

Memory Cards - the new digital film

Think of memory cards as digital film. They can be removed from the camera and replaced with a new, fresh one. Unlike film, they can be used over and over. Simply delete the pictures once you have stored them on the computer or burnt them to a CD or DVD.

Memory cards come in different types and are not interchangeable. The storage capacity of the card is measured in gigabytes. The larger the capacity, the more images you can store on the card before it is full. Consider getting at least one additional card for extra shots

Entry-level cameras

At the outset, keep in mind that entry-level digital cameras are no more complex than the traditional film cameras you may be familiar with so don’t be put off by all the jargon. There are only a few settings that you need to understand to start taking good photos. The others will be useful later on.

Camera settings - the basics

One of the best features of modern cameras is that the flash is built in. No matter how poor the light, you always have a flash at your disposal.

Generally the built-in flash of the camera won’t be very effective beyond about 5 metres. This is good for close-range shots of people at a party, but won’t be very useful in larger areas such as a sports arena. Another challenge is ‘red–eye’. This occurs when the flash reflects off the back of the eye and the camera sees red. Most cameras have a setting to reduce that redness, but be aware that red-eye settings often create a short delay (shutter lag) between the moment you press the shutter release, and the photo being taken.

Flash modes are usually accessible directly from the camera’s controls. Look for a lighting bolt icon. Cycle through the options. You should see them on the LCD screen. Here are a few of the options available.

	Auto mode: The camera checks the amount of light available and if the light is low, it will automatically fire the flash. In most cases leave the camera set on this mode
	Red–Eye Reduction: Use this mode to reduce those red eyes. Usually the flash will fire at low power to help the iris of the eye become smaller, then fire again for the photo
	Fill-in Flash: The camera will fire the flash every time. This is the mode to select to use flash outside on a sunny day, and fill in those annoying shadows on people's faces.
	Flash Off: This mode turns the flash of and is useful if you want to take a long exposure shot at night.

White Balance and Other Settings

	White Balance: This new term sounds complicated however, it’s really quite simple. The auto setting works exceptionally well most of the time. Different light sources have different colours, and light quality is measured as a colour temperature. Light from the midday sun is bluish; light from a fluorescent light is green; and incandescent lamp in the hall or lounge area is reddish. Our eyes automatically compensate, but this is the job of the White Balance setting on the camera. The white balance setting will have a menu with small icons showing the various options.
	Auto: This is the one to leave it on if you are at all in doubt. It will provide the best job for most lighting conditions.
	Incandescent: If there is a lot of red/yellow in an indoor picture when you view it, then this setting will help the shot look more natural.
	Fluorescent: This helps remove the green colour cast that occurs under fluorescent tubes.
	Sunlight: This setting is for use in outdoor shots in sunshine. Auto should be fine for this.
	Cloudy: Use this setting for overcast days, or when the subject is in shade. It reduces some of the blue colour.

ISO: measures the sensor’s ability to record light. It is the same rating that is used for the sensitivity of film (commonly known in the film days as ASA). The lower numbers, 50 or 100, work best in bright light such as daylight shots. The higher numbers, 400 or 800, are more sensitive and are used in low lighting or fast-pace action shots. Your digital camera has an auto setting and the camera will select the appropriate ISO speed. So leave it set to Auto to begin with and experiment when you gain some experience.

Mode and Exposure Controls

Exposure is the amount of light that reaches the sensor. Photographers use shutter speed and aperture settings to control the amount of light for correct exposure. Digital cameras have a number of mode settings. The modes change the exposure settings without you having to make any decisions.

These may include:

 Auto: The camera makes the decision for you. You can concentrate on the photo.

 Close–up: (Flower) Takes pictures in close–up, to 10cm, or closer.

 Sports: (Running man) This selects a higher shutter speed to stop action.

 Night mode: (Stars/moon) In low light, use this setting to let in more light. 

 Video: (Movie) Makes a video sequence, and most will also record sound.

 Landscape: (Mountains) Use this for maximum sharpness to infinity.

 Portrait: (Head) Places your subject in sharp focus, the background is blurry.

 PAS: (Manual: Program/Aperture/Shutter) Allows you to change shutter and aperture to suit the conditions.

Some cameras have more mode or scene settings. Choose the one that suits the type of picture you are taking: snow, sunset, fireworks or party, for example.

Exposure Correction, Exposure Compensation, or EV or Exposure Value.

Under difficult lighting, or with contrasty subjects, the automatic system may make a picture too light or too dark. You can easily take control using Exposure Value Settings. Take a picture, review it on the LCD screen, and then make some corrections before taking another shot. EV is located on a menu, and will either be a sliding scale from –2.0 to +2.0 or a dial that you turn up or down –2.0 to +2.0. It lets in more or less light to match the scene. If your picture is too dark, then simply move the setting to the + side. If the picture is too light, then reduce the amount of exposure by moving to the – side.

Shutter Lag & Zoom

When you press the shutter, the camera needs a brief moment to prepare to take the shot. This is called shutter lag and can be the difference between a great shot and an average one. It only takes a split second for a baby to change from smiling to crying. You press the shutter, and after a small delay the picture is taken: the subject might have moved by then. To avoid shutter lag, point at the subject, and hold the shutter down part-way. You will hear the camera prepare itself. Then, at precisely the right moment, press all the way and that smiling baby will be captured. Remember that using the red-eye setting will add an extra moment to the shutter lag time.

Zoom

Digital cameras offer two types of zoom that let you get closer to your subject without moving nearer.

Pressing the zoom lever on the camera will move from wide angle (a landscape scene) to telephoto (a head and shoulders portrait).

• Optical zoom uses the glass in the lens to get closer to your subject and gives the best quality result.
• Digital zoom uses a portion of the camera’s image sensor to enlarge the image but this comes at a cost of quality. It takes a small part of the image and enlarges it, reducing the resolution of the image. It is a useful tool and should be used when you want to move closer, and don’t mind a little loss of quality.

Your Photos - the viewing options

Taking the picture and seeing the result instantly is one of the best things about owning a digital camera. With the LCD screen on the back of the camera you can review and manage your photos on the spot. When you want to review all the pictures you have taken (or a single shot), put the camera into the Review Mode. This might be a button marked Display, or it might be a position of the toggle switch. Then you will be able to:

Review pictures: by scrolling though the images on the card one at a time.

Thumbnails: A screen full of little images. You can select one you want to view in detail.

Zoom in: When you have selected an image, it is possible to zoom in to see the detail, and check sharpness and exposure. The zoom lever on the camera is usually the way to activate this feature.

Video: Will play back your video sequences. Usually the mode dial will control the starting and stopping of the playback.

Picture Information: Many cameras will have a Function button or a way of pushing a toggle switch to cycle through information about the picture, its size, settings and other photographic detail.

Deleting pictures & the format function

Most times you will delete pictures as you go. (That’s the beauty of digital cameras.) Obviously, there is no point in keeping shots that are unsuitable or unusable. When reviewing the picture, if you tap the delete or waste bin icon, the camera will ask for confirmation and you can select ‘yes’. The picture will be deleted.

After you have transferred your pictures to the computer or saved them to a CD/DVD, use the ‘delete all’ option to remove them all. Then the card will be clean and ready to take more pictures. This can also be done as you transfer the images to the computer. Simply check the software option; ‘delete images from camera when transferred’.

Format

Be careful of this option. It will delete all the pictures on your card, even ones you might have set for printing. It completely removes all your photos. Use it occasionally to clean up the file structure on the card. Just ensure, first of all, that all the images have been transferred from the card to storage.

Enjoying your photos

Viewing on your Television: this is a fantastic way for friends and family to view your shots on a much larger format. Most cameras have a video-out feature and will have supplied a video cable in the box. This cable has a yellow end to connect to either your computer monitor or television video-in connector. Simply connect the other end to the camera video-out and then turn on the camera. Be sure to set the video display mode on the camera to PAL for Australian TV settings. Set the camera to the Review mode and if necessary set the television to the correct channel (usually AV1 or AV2). The pictures on the card are then displayed on the TV screen and you can control them with the usual camera playback features, or show them as a slideshow. With the advent of high definition TV's most cameras thees days come with a HDMI (high definition) cable so you can enjoy pictures and video in the comfort of your lounge room. Not all cameras come supplied with a HDMI cable so you may need to purchase one from Ted's when you by your camera. Please note the are a couple of different sizes of HDMI cable that will connect to modern didital cameras - ensure you purchase the correct size with your camera. As with the standard video cable you'll need to change the input on your TV to 'HDMI' to start viewing.

Making prints

While you can share your pictures easily using the camera viewer or TV, at some stage you will want to have some prints made. And it couldn’t be simpler, especially at Ted’s.

You’ll find Ted’s offer a digital printing service that makes printing your pictures easy, fun and inexpensive. All you need to do is take your memory card (or CD) to Ted’s and using our Picture Kiosk  you can quickly make prints to share around. You can also printing your pictures online at Ted's PhotoLounge. Here you can print your images onto almost anything, ranging from Photo Books and calendars to canvases.

Ted’s offers a range of print sizes, everything from small postcard pictures all the way up to poster-sized prints you can hang on your living room wall. A range of surfaces is also available including matte and gloss. You can even have your super-size posters printed on a canvas finish to give an amazing artistic effect.