The World of Digital Cameras

A digital camera is a camera that captures images on a light-sensitive sensor. It can record video or still photograph, or both. It has many features that are not available in film cameras such as displaying an image on the screen right after it was taken, the capability to save thousands of pictures, the ability to revise and delete images, and record video with sound. Nowadays, digital cameras are integrated in almost every high-tech gadget like PDA’s, notebooks, mobile phones, and even astronomical equipment.

Nearly every digital camera uses some kind of storage device to store image data. Some of the most common removable storage tools include CompactFlash (CF-I), Memory Stick, Microdrive (CF-II), MicroSD, MiniSD Card, MultiMediaCard (MMC), Secure Digital Card (SD), SmartMedia, USB flash drive, and xD-Picture Card (xD). The general data formats for digital camera images are the Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) and Joint Photography Experts Group (JPEG). Though there are a number of cameras, particularly DSLR cameras, that support a Raw format. A raw image data is an unprocessed set of pixels found from the camera’s sensor. Some manufacturers have their own formats to save raw data. Nikon has NEF type, CR2 or CRW for Canon, and MRW for Minolta. If you are planning to buy a digital camera or already have one, you may want to check the types of digital cameras listed below. The more you know about your gadget, the better you can take advantage of its potentials.

Bridge Also referred to as SLR-like cameras, bridge types are high-end cameras that are sort of the combination of DSLRs and compact cameras thus called “bridge”. Models of bridge cameras currently out in market include the Fujifilm FinePix S100fs, Canon PowerShot S5 IS, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 and Olympus SP-570UZ.

Compact Digital For informal and “snapshot” uses, compact cameras are highly recommended. They are small and very handy but the disadvantage with this type is some functionalities are compromised. Mainly all compact cameras have built-in flash typically of low power, restricted capability for motion picture, and macro capability.

Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) It is a type of digital camera that applies an automatic mirror mechanism that guides light from the lens all the way through the viewfinder eyepiece. One of the reasons why DSLR has so much popularity despite its very high cost is its ability to replace and attach specialized lenses based on one’s photographic requirements.

Digital Rangefinder A camera equipped with a rangefinder is called a rangefinder camera. It uses a focusing mechanism that permits the photographer to gauge the distance of the subject before taking the shots that are in sharp focus. This is in contrast with most digital cameras that have automatic focus. The first ever digital rangefinder camera is the Epson R-D1 which is the result of Epson and Cosina’s partnership.

Video Camera This type are used to record images in motion such as professional video cameras (used in TV and movie production); camcorders (used by beginners and includes a microphone to record sound); and webcams (for people chatting over the internet).