How To Choose A Camera System

How To Choose A Camera System

by: Amy Howard

There are many reasons to install a camera system. If you own a business, you may want to be able to identify or avoid theft or keep vandalism from your property. Or you may just want to be able to keep an eye on things without actually being there physically. As a homeowner there are a bunch of other reasons to have a camera system. You may be having trouble with a neighbor, trespassers, vandals, or perhaps you have kids and want to be able to keep an eye on them but you can’t be there every minute of every day.

Whatever your reason for wanting a camera system if you don’t get the right kind of equipment based on your needs, you will just waste your money. So if you are thinking of getting a camera system, you will need to look at your situation in order to get the right system.

Some questions to ask yourself:

1. Is what you want to see indoors or outdoors?

2. How many areas do you want to see at your location?

3. Is there a lot of light available throughout the day and night?

4. Do you want to see a wide area, such as a parking lot, or a specific location, like the front door?

5. Is it important to see the small details or is a general idea good enough?

6. Do you need to see the picture only on sight or is off sight viewing necessary?

7. Do you need record what the camera sees?

8. Do you need to record for a long or short period of time?

Okay, now that you have an idea of what you are trying to view, we can take a closer look at the equipment.

Camera

First let’s look at the camera itself. There a hundreds of cameras to choose from. There are even fake cameras that you can use if you only want to give the illusion of having a system. Of course there are different prices ranging from cheap (poor quality) to the ridiculously expensive but does everything. If you don’t know what to ask for, you could be disappointed in what you get.

Do you want color or black/white? If you need to see the details clearly and you have good lighting throughout the time you need to keep watch, then a color camera is probably going to be the way to go. Color cameras are typically more expensive than black/white and they don’t see very will in the dark.

If you only need to have a general idea of what is going on in the area then you can go with black and white. Don’t misunderstand me, you can get a nice clear picture with a black/white camera but if you are looking to be able to identify someone and not have there be any question, then color is for you. If the lighting in the area is bad then color may not be the best camera for the job. If you only have lighting issues at night then you can get a day/night camera. That will get you a color picture in the daytime and a black/white picture at night.

Lens

Now let’s focus on the lens for a while. The type of lens you want will depend on what you want to see, how far away it is, and how wide of an area you want to see. For most applications you can get a lens that is adjustable to fit just about all your needs. There are some cases where only a very specific lens will work, but those usually only occur in high end jobs. If money is real tight, then you can get a camera that has the lens built in. I would like to caution you here and say that once you get a camera like this, you can’t just go and adjust it to get the picture you originally wanted. So, make sure you get a camera with the right lens.

Quads/Multiplexers

A quad processor will give you the ability to view more than one camera on one screen or one at a time. If you have a system with four cameras you can see all of them on one television screen or if you see something going on one camera you can choose to see only that location. Caution – the recorder you put on a quad will only record what the quad is allowing you to see.

A multiplexer is a step up from that. You can view your cameras any way you want. You can see each camera individually and multi cameras on the screen, in intervals. The playback, allows viewing the cameras in any form you like.

Recording devices

First you must decide how long you want to record. If you have a business and you are closed on the weekends and holidays, you may want to record for at least 72 hours. If it’s for your house and you go out of town for long periods of time you may want to consider a longer recording time. There is a time lapse recorder (very reasonably priced) that can record for 960 hours. That’s 40 days and a whole lot of video to watch if you are looking for something that happened a week ago.

Something that has been on the market for a while and is finally coming down in price to something that is almost reasonable is the Digital Video Recorder (DVR). The DVR comes with so many features it’s a little scary. First the picture quality is improved because you aren’t viewing it from a tape that has been recorded over again and again and again. Second, it has a built in multiplexer that will let you view more than one camera at a time on the same screen. Third, it’s easy to upgrade so that you can view your cameras remotely. So if you want to go on vacation and still keep an eye on things you can. Forth, the video is stored internally and it’s a whole lot easier to view video without having to rewind and fast forward. Plus there is no need for a tape library. There are probably a few more things a DVR can do but these would be the most popular.

Monitors

What do you want to see the picture on? Monitors can vary in size and picture quality depending on your budget and how much space you have. You can view cameras on your existing television or you can view them on your computer screen or over the Internet.

Wireless Systems

A word about wireless systems. Wireless technology has come a long way. It’s more reliable and the picture quality has improved greatly. I also like the idea that you can easily move the system. There is a system that just came out that has an awesome price. I have no idea how long the system will last, what the range is or if there are some environmental factors that can interfere with the picture. But if you are on a serious budget, this could be the answer for you.

I would like to thank you for reading this report. I hope this report has helped you learn a little more about camera systems. It’s not easy to make an informed decision when you know very little about the subject. I hope now that you have read this report you have gained some insight into what kind of system would work best for you. If your system is driven only by cost, then please don’t expect to get a great quality picture. If your system is driven only by features, then you had better open you wallet a little. I would highly recommend that whatever you are looking for, that you talk to a security consultant and discuss what is available for you in your price range.

Listen I have only scratched the surface when it comes to cameras. There are so many varieties available today it can be a little overwhelming for someone who doesn’t know what they are doing. There are cameras that can PanTiltZoom. There are covert cameras that would make James Bond proud. You just have to know what you want and how much you can spend. I’m sure you wouldn’t go shopping for a car or a house and not know what your budget is or have an idea of what you wanted. Take this information and use it wisely

About The Author

Amy Howard has been in the security industry for more than 13 years. She understands the frustrations that people can go through when trying to find a camera system that will fit their needs and not break the bank in the process. She has created a website for people to get more information on camera systems and camera equipment. You can visit her website at www.cctvhomeonline.com.

[email protected]

This article was posted on August 31

by Amy Howard

Guide To Buying A Digital Camera

Guide To Buying A Digital Camera

by: Maui Reyes

If you’re one of those people who have never owned a digital camera in their life, go to a corner and cry for ten minutes. Then get back to this list before hopping into your car to purchase one.

• Find out what you’ll be using it for. Walking into a camera store can be quite overwhelming—hundreds of cameras ranging from the size of a credit card to as wide as a computer manual. It may be cute to carry around a sleek little red digicam, but you will have to consider what you’re actually going to use it for.

Do you need a compact one to store in your handbag? Are you planning to take professional photos for work? Does the number of features matter to you? Do you want a camera with manual functions? You don’t want to bring home a camera that doesn’t satisfy your needs, or purchase one with so many features that you won’t be able to use.

• Be familiar with camera specs. All those fancy words on the box might make it look like your wallet sized camera will turn you into a professional shutterbug. Mega Pixel is the maximum resolution per photothe higher the MP, the bigger the prints you can get without it looking blurry. If you’re only planning to exchange photos on the internet, then a 2MP camera is fine. Optical Zoom and Digital Zoom are two different things—most pros snub Digital Zoom, since this is actually a software function that crops the image, which makes it lose its quality.

• Budget. We’re not going to lie: digital cameras don’t exactly come cheap. When budgeting on which camera to take home, consider the features, its size, its Mega Pixel count, and the brand.

Most photographers swear by one brand over the other—if you’re particularly loyal to just one brand, then you can shun the others and bask in just one aisle. But if you’re a little bit more openminded, then you’ve got a bigger playground to frolic in.

You’ll also need to see what kind of memory card (which is sort of like the ขfilmข of the camera) the camera needs, and what kind of batteries fuel it. Most digital cameras use AA batteries, so investing in a bunch of rechargeable ones is key.

• Try it out. Most people make the mistake of reading the box, swiping their credit card, and coming home to find out that they’re not comfortable with their latest purchase. While in the store, try taking a bunch of photos. Make sure it fits well in your hand, and it’s easy to use. The most userfriendly cameras out there are Canon, Casio, and Kodak—but you might want to try out others. Take your time in familiarizing yourself with the possible units you’ll be taking pictures with.

About The Author

Maui Reyes has written various articles of different topics. She has a clever writing skills that isnt just good for marketing strategies but also in reviews of products, news, technological innovations, health problems, legality issues and many more. Another factor that made her land into this job is her flexibility in her writing just about everything under the sun.

For comments and inquiries about the article visit http://www.ucreative.com

[email protected]

This article was posted on February 10

by Maui Reyes

Top of the Line Digital Cameras

Top of the Line Digital Cameras

by: Warren Lynch

If you think that digital cameras are for snapshots only, then you obviously haven’t heard about SLR (Single Lens Reflex) digital cameras. SLR is a type of camera which has one lens for composing the frame and capturing the image. SLR cameras are also known as TTL (throughthelens) cameras.

An SLR camera displays an image through the viewfinder that is exactly the same image as the camera sees and is exactly the same image that the camera is going to record when you release the shutter.

An SLR camera provides a much more accurate image through the viewfinder than a digital camera produces on its LCD because the LCD does not faithfully reproduce the colors and light intensity that is actually entering the camera.

The top of the line SLR digital cameras rival the best filmbased SLR cameras and are designed for serious hobbyists and professional photographers. Digital SLR cameras are much larger, bulkier, and heavier than traditional digital cameras.

The SLR uses a mirror that is located behind the lens as well as an optical device known as a pentaprism to channel the light that enters the cameraกs lens to the optical finder. When you release the shutter the mirror moves out of the way and the image is captured in the same way as any digital camera.

The better digital SLR cameras let you mount different lenses just like their filmbased counterparts do. Many of your existing 35mm lens may be compatible with a digital SLR. If you have a large lens collection then you should definitely look for a digital SLR that is compatible with them.

Because the digital SLR cameras are more professional, they come with a hefty price tag. A 6megapixel Nikon D100 runs around $2,000 and the 11megapixel Canon 1D runs near $8,000. This is for the camera body only and does not include a lens! This is why I mentioned earlier that you should look for a digital camera that will mount your existing lens collection. Just a good quality zoom lens can run you at least $3,000 and can climb as high as $10,000 depending upon the features!

Of course, there are also starterpriced digital SLR cameras available. The Olympus E20N, a 5.0megapixel SLR camera, which includes a nonreplaceable lens that is capable of duplicating a 35 mm to 140 mm lens, runs around $3500.

These prices are not out of line if you make your living shooting pictures. You can actually create additional revenue streams when you shoot digital pictures, instead of filmbased ones, by offering image enhancement options and all sorts of digital FX options for thee prospective bride and groomกs on their treasured wedding album.

If all of this sounds a bit too expensive for your blood, then youกll probably find all of the digital camera that youกll ever need way down in the $99 to $500 price range and youกll never have to worry about buying extra lenses. Digital SLR cameras aren’t for everyone but, if they’re for you, then there are plenty of models to look at. SOme of the best are made by Canon, Olympus and Nikon which are familiar names in the photography world.

Warren Lynch has been shooting commercial photography since 1979. Clients include Makers Mark Bourbon, Heaven Hill, Yum Brands, GE, Fruit of The Loom and many more highly recognizable brands. Have him make your product more recognizable too. Visit his website at www.wlynch.com or just him a call at 15025877722 to quote on your next project.

กSignup for his syndicated Digital Photography newsletter at

http://www.photopheed.com The Digital Doseก

About The Author

Warren Lynch is a Professional Commercial Photographer located in Louisville, Ky. Sign up for ‘the Digital Doseก and receive Digital Photography tips every other week absolutely FREE! http://www.photopheed.com.

[email protected]

This article was posted on April 25

by Warren Lynch

Light and Depth of Field

Light and Depth of Field

by: Jakob Jelling

With such a fantastic device as the digital camera for the recreation of magic in arts, a lot of care needs to be taken so as to maintain the perfection of the end product. This perfection is not only obtained by the artistic feeling of the photographer but also with the intricate knowledge of every minute aspect of the medium of creation of art (in this case the digital camera). And these minute aspects play a vast role in defining the ultimate perfection. The digital camera, light and depth of field are one such factor that would come into light in this subsequent discussion. Basically, the depth of field is a measurement of the acceptable sharpness. Yet this is very strictly a personal preference, and varies from person to person. Thus to be more formal, the depth of field can be defined as the area inside an image that demonstrates an ample sharpness that can be considered more or less in focus. So the depth of field is the range of distance, measured along the lens axis, as per which the image is caused to be sufficiently well and sharp in the photograph. The rest is as follows!

The depth of field defines the zone where all elements show clearly from foreground to background. Three factors control the depth of field in an image, they are the distance of the subject, the focal length, and the aperture used to capture the photograph. For people using compact digital cameras, one of the subjects of out of the ordinary interest is the depth of field because depth of field is more easily said than done to control with a compact digital camera than with earlier conventional analog film cameras. The minute imaging sensors of compact cameras need the use of short focal lengths, and this in sequence gives these compact digital cameras an extraordinarily long depth of field when compared to other cameras. Thereby, with intent obtaining a shallow depth of field is more complicated.

Considering a general acceptable fact, the depth of field decreases, as the image gets nearer to the camera. This means that as the focal point reaches closer to the lens, the achievable scope of the depth of field ebbs. On the other side, if the image is far enough distant from the camera, and for digital cameras, this must not be very far, the depth of field approaches out to infinity. Another important point to be noted is that the depth of field is proportional to the lens opening.

Having discussed the above important aspects of the light and depth of field of a digital camera, it is clear that the minute details make such great subjects whose knowledge becomes equally important for making appropriate use of the fantastic device, the digital camera! And the digital camera, light and depth of field comes out to be such important factors that can make all the difference if a photographer remains oblivious about this knowledge. A small factor thus can meal a big divergence!

By Jakob Jelling

http://www.snapjunky.com

About The Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.

This article was posted on October 20, 2004

by Jakob Jelling

Who Had The Better Brushes Leonardo or Michelangel

Who Had The Better Brushes Leonardo or Michelangelo?

by: Robert Hartness

Ordinary photos of dull subjects do actually sell, but the dramatic shots generally have an unusual element that makes them stand out from the crowd. They are wellcomposed and they carry no excess baggage.

One of the best photos Iกve seen was taken many years ago in New York Central Station (1928) Itกs quite famous and youกve probably seen it. Sunlight streams in through the windows dominating the scene, while people mill about the expansive floor in a hustlebustle atmosphere.

Photographers of yesteryear were past masters of judging the best exposure for a dramatic shot, without the benefit of modern gadgetry. I just wonder about that when I hear the death knell being tolled on the use of film.

We’re told that 60% of the income of Kodak UK came from digital cameras last year, as Kodak announced big job cuts. Immediately, the media produced a kneejerk reaction that claimed film is dead. True the public are totally won over by the shortterm gains of the digital camera, but what about the professionals?

Many studio photographers may well switch to fitting a digital back on to their Mamiyas, but what about fieldwork? Big shots with view cameras and 6ก9กs, not to mention the use of long lenses for wildlife and sport, will still be dominated by film rather than digital.

Digital cameras are great for the mass market, where shots are generally taken with the subject a close range. Some of the photos of flowers that Iกve seen for example, are quite exceptional. In many cases, using film for these shots would be beyond most average users because judging the best exposure would be too difficult.

The public are happiest when they can they can just point and shoot. The modern digital camera allows them to do this and produce exceptional pictures of family events, so they’re happy. However, put these same cameras to a stiffer test and film wins hands down. Even the latest, best and most expensive cameras still fall short of the best that film can produce, especially where the subject is at a fair distance e.g. most landscapes.

Coming back to oldtime photographers, I just can’t see anyone producing, or rather reproducing the same quality shots of say, Ansell Adams, using a digital camera instead of film. For Ansell Adams, substitute Man Ray, or a host of other cult photographers and youกll soon catch my drift.

Regarding photos that sell, the type of camera used is irrelevant when the client looks at the final result. Iกm sure that Michelangelo never crossed swords with Leonardo about who had the better brushes. Itกs the masterpiece that counts, not the tools used to produce it.

And yet this epic battle between digital and film cameras is important, because a lot of time and effort can be wasted, trying to produce shots that sell with equipment that just isn’t up to the job.

Without being prescriptive or dogmatic, it seems to me that any prospective Freelance photographer must weigh up the pros and cons of digital versus film carefully. It is the nature of the photograph being attempted that should decide the matter rather than personal prejudice.

Another key factor is, of course, the preference of the client. Where the customer is happy with small digital images then convenience may suggest using digital. So, for someone who shoots a range of photos it seems sensible to become conversant with both. Digital and film cameras are totally different beasts, especially with regard to exposure ก rules of thumbก.

After excellent composition, shots that sell need perfect lighting so the modern freelance photographer should use the best tools, digital or film to achieve the perfect shot of his chosen subject. Thatกs the kernel of truth Iกve yanked out of the splinters of this hoary old chestnut for you.

About The Author

Robert Hartness

One of a series of articles by Robert Hartness, successful freelance and author of an hotlinked, flipover, ebook, published on the web in October 2004. It offers a stepbystep guide to those on the threshold of freelance photography and is illustrated with 40+ published photographs. Acclaimed as a great reference source for serious freelancers. More information and order link http://www.cashfromyourcamera.com

This article was posted on October 19, 2004

by Robert Hartness

Beginning in Videography

Beginning in Videography

by: Jim Wagner

If you’re looking to get into videography and video editing as a hobby, the options can be daunting. Here is a small question and response that may help you get started in this fun and rewarding hobby.

What type of camera do you recommend?

Response: For a beginner, a Canon single CCD camera will suit you well. It has a cost range of $500 to $700. Canon is well respected at all levels of video camera quality and has probably the best quality for the price at the low end.

If you want to start out with something more professional, you may want to look into the Canon GL2 which is a low end 3 CCD (1/4ก each) camera running about $1500. This camera is great for an enthusiastic hobbyist or a beginning special events videographer.

If you’re looking to make some money on the side (or as a career) with your camera doing special events such as wedding videography, you may want to look into the Sony VX2100, a highend consumer 3 CCD (1/3ก each) camcorder, running at a price between $2100 and $3000, check out prices here. The high definition capable version of the same camera is called the Sony HDR / Fx1 and goes for $3700 at all major retailers.

What is CCD?

CCDs are imaging chips. CCD stands for chargecoupled device and is a light sensative circuit which stores an electrical charge representing each tiny part of an image. The difference between low and high end video cameras is usually determined by the number of CCDs (one or three), and the size of the CCD. In video cameras the number of CCDs determines the clarity of the picture in low lighting (most indoor) situations. The size of the CCD is directly linked to the amount of กcolor bleedingก present in the video.

It is also interesting to note that for video cameras, unlike photography cameras, the size of the pixels is far more important than the number of pixels. Fewer pixels that are larger make a better video camera. It is also interesting to note that as you go from lowend to highend cameras, you will be getting fewer กextrasก on your camera such as the ability to take กstill photographyก.

Next question: What video editing software would you recommend?

Response: Pinnacle Studio 9 has many great features for beginning in photoediting. It runs between $70 and $90 at major retail stores. It gives many options and is very user friendly. If you’re looking for some more advanced options in lighting, transitions, and sound editing, you may want to consider the more professional editing software Pinacle Liquid Editions for around $600.

This article may also be found at http://www.researchtechs.com/videoediting.htm

About The Author

Jim Wagner

Contributor to www.ResearchTechs.com

Enjoys anything Tech.

Majoring in Computer Science.

[email protected]

This article was posted on December 04, 2004

by Jim Wagner

The Beginner Buyerกs Guide To Digital Cameras, Or

The Beginner Buyerกs Guide To Digital Cameras, Or The Ins And Outs Of Megapixels.

by: Warren Lynch

The most important part of buying a digital camera is making sure that the one you select meets all of your needs.

Digital Camera 101

Better digital cameras uses a chip called a กCharged Coupled Deviceก (CCD) instead of film. Light enters the camera, through the open shutter, and strikes the CCD where it is converted to digital data before being stored in the cameraกs memory.

While that is the simple description, things can get pretty complicated from there.

Megapixels & Resolution

Resolution is a measure of how many pixels are used to make a digital copy of an image. Pixels are tiny dots of light that make up a digital image.

The quality of a digital cameraกs image is usually measured in กMegapixelsก where each megapixel represents one million pixels.

Hereกs how to determine how many megapixels youกll need depending upon the type of photos you will be taking and what you intend to do with them.

1 megapixel

Almost obsolete, you might still find these in cell phones, PDAs, and desktop กwebก cameras. They’re OK if you only intend to email pictures to other people and those people aren’t going to be printing them.

1.1 to 2 megapixels

Only slightly better than the 1.0, this resolution is OK for an average 4×6 snapshot, but it isn’t going to be a production quality image.

2.1 to 3 megapixels

This is the beginning of the decent camera range. You get very good 4×6 images and reasonably good 5×7 images. These cameras are low cost and provide a good platform for beginners.

3.1 to 4 megapixels

You are qualified to say that you have a กpretty goodก camera. You get professional quality 4×6 images, real good 5×7 and 6×9 shots, and somewhat decent, but not great 8×10 images.

4.1 to 5 megapixels and up

People will be saying กHey, great pictures!ก. You can count on professional images all the way up to 8×10กs. Of course, as the megapixel count goes up, so does the price.

If you are only going to be viewing your pictures online, such as posting them at a photo site or using them on your web pages, keep your money in your pocket and pick yourself up something in the 1.5 megapixel range.

If you will be shooting pictures that will be printed at a print house, such as for brochures, postcards, etc, then you will need at least a 5 megapixel camera if not higher. Of course, youกll also need to have a fat wallet or a lot of open to buy on your credit card because, even thought prices are steadily falling, these puppies aren’t cheap!

Once youกve solved the megapixel puzzle, the rest of a digital cameraกs features, such as lens types, storage capacity and shutter speed are pretty routine and easy to understand. You shouldn’t have a problem deciding on those features.

Join Photopheedกs Daily Digital Dose and see Warrenกs Tips. Warren Lynch has been shooting commercial photography since 1979 in Louisville, Kentucky. Clients include Makers Mark Bourbon, Heaven Hill, Yum Brands, GE, Fruit of The Loom and many more highly recognizable brands. Have him make your product more recognizable too. Visit his website at www.wlynch.com or just him a call at 15025877722.

About The Author

Warren Lynch http://www.wlynch.com

Signup for Photopheedกs Daily Syndicated Newsletter, the Daily Digital Dose and also receive BiWeekly Digital Photography Tips and Techniques from Warren Lynch an awardwinning commercial photographer . http://www.photopheed.com

This article was posted on October 08, 2004

by Warren Lynch

Getting Good Picture Results

Getting Good Picture Results

by: Gem Tullao

There was this guy who owns a stateoftheart, highend digital SLR. Since it was my first time to meet him, I initially thought that he could be a photographer, hobbyist or by profession, when he brandished the hitech gear. This initial impression only lasted until I saw one of his shots – man, there was no composition! What waste of money – unless of course, he manages to get acquainted with photography, even the basics at the least. Otherwise, the digicam ends up as the display instead of it churning out images for display.

Before you can even jump to tinkering with digital photography techniques, it would be good to learn basic composition skills to produce goodlooking photographs. By composition, we mean that the elements in the captured image are interacting with each other in harmonious relationship. There is a focal point and overall balance. Framing the subject matter helps improve the appearance of your photograph. You can try canopies of trees, arbors, or rows of trees for such effect. Weeping willows are just one example of elements effective for framing, with their drooping branches that can form into a dramatic frame for the composition. Your focal point does not necessarily have to be always at the center, but make sure that you still achieve a visual balance. Also, your finished product will turn out better if you keep looking for the best vantage point to create your desired composition.

To yield better picture results, it is imperative that you learn the tricks of your camera by reading the user’s manual carefully. Some people would waste time wondering why their pictures turn out bad with their digital camera, when all they needed to do was read the manual to know that they have to press halfway first to lock into focus. This attitude is perhaps influenced by the false assumption that digital cameras are supposed to make perfectlooking pictures with the least effort, and without the hassles associated with conventional cameras. It would also help to check out the website of your camera’s manufacturer to gain information, tricks and techniques that may not have been discussed in the manual.

The most common mistake in digital photography has got to be blurs. Pictures turn out blurred when the photographer does not keep a steady hand while shooting. It will help if you hold the camera closer to your body, bringing your elbows as near to your chest as possible, so long as you can still view the LCD. Another sure way of ensuring the camera is steady is with the use of a tripod. Tripods are useful when creating special effects, which you can do using special effects features already built inside your camera or by switching to the manual mode.

Once you feel you have outgrown the auto mode function, it would be interesting to experiment with the manual mode, so you can create more interesting photos. For instance, by slowing down the shutter, you can create impressive pictures of flowing water, or create interesting photos of moving objects. It is advisable that you use a tripod if you are going to expose the subject for longer than one second. You can also experiment on the use of the flash. Do not be too dependent on the auto mode to decide when it is appropriate to turn on the flash. Most digital cameras offer excellent close up functionality through the macro mode, so you might want to take advantage of this and experiment on your own. You can use the macro mode to get really close to a minute subject matter, as close as the camera will allow.

With digital imagery, it becomes easier to enhance and alter photos with the use of computer software. Here, you will not need worry about red eye, and you can even remove blemishes like magic. However, software can only go so far, and it is still best to perfect the picture at the point of capture – it will save you a huge amount of time editing.

Digital cameras offer broad possibilities for creating great images. Unfortunately, a lot of people do not take full advantage of these possibilities and end up with mediocre photographs. Do not assume that the digital camera will do the magic for you. A lot of the work will have to rely on the user, so you should exert some effort to learn some tricks and techniques to see the full potential of your gadget.

About The Author

Gem Tullao

Versatile and hardworking. Two words that clearly describe Gemกs work attitude. She can just write and talk about everything. Her green thumb for writing can turn seeds of ideas into excellent writing pieces. She loves to read books especial novels that are set back into the Medieval Period.

For comments and inquiries about the article visit http://www.ucreative.com

[email protected]

This article was posted on February 18

by Gem Tullao

How to use Hidden Cameras

How to use Hidden Cameras

by: Joe Gooden

Hidden cameras come in many different kinds of sizes and price ranges. These cameras are one of the most popular surveillance tools used by investigators. Hidden cameras are incredibly reliable to help catch someone in the act of a crime or theft.

Hidden cameras are used by many different law enforcement agencies. Most hidden cameras are miniature cameras that allow you to watch someone’s actions behind closed doors without being in the room. The size of the cameras allows them to be hidden in many different places like hats or cell phones just to name a few.

Watching someone perform a crime can give investigators the evidence that they need to solve a crime. Visual evidence is a valuable piece used to convince juries that someone is guilty. These devices are hidden in the room within a discrete place. When someone is unsuspecting of a watchful eye they will say and do things that they do not want people to see or know. This unknowing admission can lead to trouble for the person that commits these acts.

Hidden cameras are small enough to be undetectable by someone not aware. These covert cameras are virtually undetectable. Suspects would never find them, unless accidentally stumbled upon, which is highly unlikely under most circumstances. It is not as simple as using a detector like it is with listening devices. Law enforcement uses many other tools besides hidden cameras but hidden cameras may be the most crucial. Numerous types of hidden cameras along with many other products to get the job done or solve the case are available at spyassociates.com.

© 2005 Copyright www.spyassociates.com.

About The Author

Joe Gooden

To learn more about Spy and Surveillance Products visit http://www.spyassociates.com. Read other related articles at http://spyassociates.blogspot.com/.

This article was posted on September 08

by Joe Gooden

How to Buy a Digital Camera

How to Buy a Digital Camera

by: Gary Hendricks

Are buying your first digital camera? Well, you must be confused by the bewildering range of models out there. How do you know which model will suit your needs? To make things worse, digital cameras do not come cheap. Choosing a bad camera will easily cost you a few hundred dollars.

In fact, buying a digital camera need not be a difficult task. Iกll highlight the key considerations you need to think through before making that purchase decision. Always, always remember to consider these factors when buying a digital camera:

Battery Life

Number of Megapixels

Zoom Lens

Exposure Control

User Controls

Battery Life

This has got to be one of the most overlooked features in digital cameras. I know many people who go for the latest and greatest digital cameras which are short in the battery life department. If you want to take good photos, your camera needs to powered for extended periods of time. Iกve found that cost and battery life don’t go together many cheap cameras have good battery life, while some highend models drain your battery really fast. Make sure you choose a camera that has good battery life.

Number of Megapixels

The megapixel rating of a digital camera determines how much fine detail you can capture in your shots. Typically, the number of megapixels can range around from 2 megapixels to 8 megapixels. How do you decide how many megapixels you need? As a rule of thumb, if you’re only interested in taking small snapshots to send via email or for posting on the Web, you won’t need more than 2megapixels. If you want large print outs of your gorgeous photographs, then youกll probably want to get 5megapixel cameras and above.

Zoom Lens

Youกll definitely want a camera with decent optical zoom. Now the keyword here is optical zoom (as opposed to digital zoom). Optical zoom physically moves the camera lenses to zoom in on a subject. Digital zoom, however, digitally averages and magnifies the image within the cameraกs microchip resulting in poor picture quality. Many manufacturersก advertisements talk about digital zoom instead of optical zoom so do be careful when choosing. Iกd recommend getting at least 3x optical zoom in any camera you buy.

Exposure Control

The ability to control exposure settings such as shutter speed and lens opening is critical to professional photographers. Cheaper digital cameras only allow you to shoot photos in automatic mode just press the shutter release and voila, your picture is taken. More advanced users prefer to tweak the shutter speed and aperture to capture fast moving objects or blur the image background. Choose a camera with good exposure control if you foresee yourself taking on photography as a serious hobby.

User Controls

If you are getting a pointandshoot camera, make sure you find one thatกs easy to use. User controls to set resolution, macro mode, flash and exposure should be within easy reach. Of course, if you’re a serious photography buff who wants to take the time to tweak all sorts of manual settings, then this many not be so critical. I prefer to try out the camera first in the store play with the controls and get comfortable with them. Only then will you know whether itกs comfortable enough for you.

Conclusion

Well, I do hope this article has helped you understand what factors to consider when buying a digital camera. A general piece of advice I can give is if you’re a total newbie, don’t go for the latest digital SLR. It may be tempting to get that Nikon D70 right from the start, but Iกd reckon its much better to start off with a cheaper camera first. Learn, experiment and build up your digital photography skills. Once you’re more skilled, then proceed to upgrade to a better camera. Good luck and happy shopping!

About The Author

Gary Hendricks runs a hobby site on digital photography. Visit his website at http://www.basicdigitalphotography.com for tips and tricks on buying digital cameras, as well as shooting great photos.

[email protected]

This article was posted on February 09

by Gary Hendricks

Digital Camera Disc Formats

Digital Camera Disc Formats

by: Jakob Jelling

As it is a fact that digital cameras are comprised of miniature computers that have storage discs for retrieving the images as digital information, so a certain amount of knowledge is necessary regarding the digital camera disc formats. A proper understanding of the disc formats of the digital camera memory can help the photographer or user make efficient use of the device in a correct and useful fashion. This discussion is aimed at revealing these little details!

At present in among the common users of digital cameras there are two main types of storage medium available nowadays. Some cameras use 1.44MB floppy disks, which are available almost everywhere in the present market trends, and some digital cameras use assorted forms of flash memory having a range of capacities covering from several megabytes to a gigabyte. The difference lies between these two types of disc formats in their capacity. Floppy disks have a fixed memory capacity that cannot be altered, and the flash memory devices have capacities that keep increasing everyday. This is a kind of boon because of the fact that picturesizes are also increasing constantly with the invention of higher resolution cameras that become available in the markets with daily technical advancements.

The major and the most popular file format available for digital cameras are TIFF and JPEG formats respectively. Looking in a little detail into these two formats, the TIFF format is an uncompressed format without any alteration of image sizes and JPEG is a compressed format that does alter the image size for economic use of memory for storage. Certainly, from common sense, majority of the digital cameras use the JPEG file format for storing images and photographs, and they even offer quality settings such as medium or high and accordingly the size is altered thus providing both memory management as well as quality management of the pictures.

Again looking at the disc formats from a different angle, it is apparent that a 1.44MB disk cannot clutch many photographs or images. Sometimes, in fact, they can’t even fit one picture on one disk, due to high quality and subsequent seize and memory requirements. However, the floppy disks have their own advantages. In todayกs world of Internet publishing and email a picture size larger than 640×480 is hardly required, and more or less always they are saved in JPEG formats. During such times it is possible to accommodate about 15 pictures on every disk. Thus making situations more economic and flexible for the users. However for storing bigger and greater quality pictures higher capacity media are required such as a 128MB flash memory card that can store more than 1,500 small compressed images or 20 of the uncompressed 1600×1200 images.

Thus so far a handsome amount of information regarding the disc formats has come into light from the above discussion. It is a humble effort to bring out the rudimentary knowledge for such a wide field of study as digital camera disc formats, which includes photography as well as computers all in one. What a fantastic combination!

By Jakob Jelling

http://www.snapjunky.com

About The Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.

This article was posted on October 20, 2004

by Jakob Jelling

How a Digital Camera Works

How a Digital Camera Works

by: Jakob Jelling

The digital camera is not something of a magic box that came out of the blue and made wonders! The digital camera is very much like the conventional analog camera, but the technology has been altered. It also contains most of the associated components that the conventional camera contains, like lens and a shutter for letting in light, however instead of reaching a photosensitive film, the light is made to fall upon array of image sensors or photosensitive cells. Much of the differences are like this, yet most of it still remains in oblivion for the ordinary people. And it order that the digital camera gets its true respect, it is necessary to explore these areas of truth and reveal them in light.

Looking a bit more in details about the working of the fantastic device, the digital camera. As a continuation of the above lines, it can be further investigated that the sensor array is basically a microchip about 10 mm across. Every image sensor is a chargedcouple device (CCD) converting light into electric charges, and is essentially a silicon chip used to measure light. These charges are stored as analog data that are then converted to digital via a device called an analog to digital converter (ADC). Over the chip are present a collection of very small lightsensitive diodes, named photosites, or pixels that convert light (or more scientifically, photons) into electrical charges called electrons. The pixels are very much light sensitive, therefore with brighter light striking them, produces greater build up of electrical charges. Each 1000 array receptor creates 1 pixel, and every pixel corresponds to some information stored. The light enters the digital camera via the lens, which is the same mechanism as the conventional analog camera. And this light hits the CCD when the photographer presses the shutter button. The shutter opens and thereby illuminates every pixel, however with various intensities.

Taking a look apart, it can be observed that quite a few digital cameras use CMOS (meaning complementary metal oxide semiconductor, a technology of manufacturing these microchips) technology based microchips as image sensors. The basic advantage is that the CMOS sensors are appreciably cheaper and simpler to fabricate than CCDs. Another great advantage from CMOS sensors is that these take very less power compared to other technology, which adds up to the fact as to their extensive use, and can thus even support the implementation of additional circuitry on the same chip like ADC, some control units etc. Thus it can be stated that CMOS technology based cameras are small, light, cheap and also energy efficient, yet at the cost of some amount of image quality.

However the common trend remains that all cameras of the mega pixel range and higher up use CCD chips instead of CMOS. This is because of the fact of picture quality only, leaving aside the price differences.

This is basically the fact about how digital cameras work! Having known this much difference would not come in the photographing expertise of the users, but it always feels a kind of satisfaction on understanding the inner depths of a device that is so close to the eyes!

By Jakob Jelling

http://www.snapjunky.com

About The Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.

This article was posted on October 20, 2004

by Jakob Jelling