Digital Camera Jargons Explained

June 19, 2009

A digital camera is a device that creates photos and videos using an electronic sensor and records them digitally. Usually known as Digicams, they are of various types depending upon their physical features, technique or the type of image recording.

For example, a compact digital camera is a “snap and shoot camera”; the name given because it is small and sleek and easy to carry with oneself and can create images and videos of the same quality as other digicams.

Similarly, a Bridge camera (or SLR-like camera) resembles the DSLR cameras in its built. Now naturally you may question yourself what the hell SLR and DSLR cameras are. The Single Lens-Reflex (SLR) cameras are normal film or non digital whereas the other one are Digital Single Lens-Reflex (DSLR) cameras; both have one mirror assisted with a reflex system for image capturing. The Bridge camera may have the option of live preview for framing of photos and small sized sensors just like compact digicams but they also have advanced features. One distinctive feature of these Bridge cameras is the super zoom option; up to 10:1 to 18:1 of wide range provided by the lens. The Bridge camera, due to physical resemblance may be confused with DSLR’s but they lack the single-lens reflex system.

Looking back at history of digital cameras, the attempt at digitizing image dates back to the time of Eugene.F.Lally, who worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He published the way to produce images digitally using a mosaic photo sensor in 1961. After a number of tries in the 1970’s by a number of engineers, the first an actual digital camera the Fuji DS-IP produced in 1988. Having an internal memory of 16 MB, it could record images digitally and was powered by batteries, but it was not marketed. The first commercial digicam was the Dycam model 1 also called as Logitech Fotoman, in 1990 that had a CCD image sensor and could be connected to a computer for image transferring.

Coming back to the present day, such amazing properties does these digital cameras posses! Their best feature is the high resolution they offer. In these cameras the sensors (CCD or CMOS sensor clip) take the responsibility of film in conventional photography. These sensors turn light signals into electronic signals thus producing sharp and crisp photos and videos. This sensor is able to literally count the number of photons it is struck with. The larger the number of photons, larger is the pixel count. Usually these digicams have a pixel count of up to 12.1 mega pixels that may be more in some cameras. But the resolution of a sensor is not governed by the pixel count only. It is also affected by the size of the sensor, the lens quality and whether the camera is monochrome without a Bayer filter mosaic or it is a color camera.

What makes digicams so popular is not only the quality of the image it offers but also the various features that has enabled all and sundry to be a photographer. The smile shutter, Auto Red Eye reduction and Face detection options ensure beautiful and clearly focused pictures whereas the Auto scene modes available in these cameras allow you to adjust camera settings according to light and contrast. A varying price range and advanced features are available in the market for digital cameras. Also, a variety of color and sizes provide you the freedom to choose the one that suits your style best.

The advantages of these modern cameras over the conventional ones include the ability of these cameras to show the result you will obtain even before you take the snap plus the option to delete or edit a picture is also helpful. These cameras can be easily connected to a USB port, computer or printers so that the pictures you have taken can be transferred and shared with all and the best ones can be taken out in print. Moreover, you don’t have to wait for the film to develop to view the pictures like used to happen with the old cameras. These cameras have lush LCD screens so that you can have a quick preview of your videos and snaps.

Keeping in mind the usability and customer convenience, these cameras are so made that they are light weight, tough in nature to bear hardships of weather, usually water, dust and shock proof so they can be taken to hiking trips and camping. They are powered by rechargeable batteries and are accompanied by adopters and accessories for your convenience. Not only this, most of the digital cameras also support Memory cards to boost up the camera memory so that you can make non stop movies and pictures. Smart, intelligent and efficient, the digital cameras are the best inventions of the 21st century.

Written by admin · Filed Under Digital Camera Buying Advice