Posts Tagged ‘Camera Buying’

Top 10 FAQs In Buying A Waterproof or Underwater Digital Camera Answered!

A rugged, waterproof, underwater-capable digital camera opens a whole new world of photography opportunities to any shutterbug regardless of skill level. Having the luxury of shooting in rain, snow, high altitude, and underwater without worrying about camera damage is not only fun and addicting, but also allow you a shoot in unfamiliar environment every single time.

Here are a set of 10 frequently asked questions for first-time underwater or waterproof digital camera buyers worry about and my advice for each.

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Q1 – Why Should I Consider A Waterproof Camera? There Are Plastic Waterproof Cases For Regular Digital Cameras Anyway!

A1 – A rugged, waterproof, underwater digital camera allows you to take pictures no matter where you are in whatever the condition. Think of all the fun and memorable images you can capture on the beach, or during a ski trip. How about when you spent days climbing a mountain to reach that epic peak? Having a small, rugged, always-ready camera with you all the time is just priceless.

While there are products such as waterproof pouches for small digital cameras, these are merely ‘thick plastic bags’ to prevent water from touching your camera. The quality and thickness of the plastics often deteriorates image quality considerably, they’re not that cheap either.

There are dedicated underwater hard cases for certain camera models, but these cases often cost more than the cameras they’re protecting and are catered towards serious underwater photographers. Lastly, underwater cameras have thick, durable casing that not only protects the camera internals, but also makes underwater shooting easier because the cameras stay submerged during use. It’s very annoying to shoot with a floating camera!

Q2 – There Are So Many To Choose From, How Do I Choose?

A2 – You can start narrowing down your options by setting a budget and identifying where you’ll use the camera.

Setting the budget is obvious, oftentimes, a budget limit will remove quite a bit of products from your option list. If you don’t have a set budget, read the next point.

Identify where you’ll be using the camera. If you’re going to use it only to photograph your kids in a swimming pool or beach, you won’t need specs designed for snorkelers, for example.

If you’re into cold-temperature, high altitude environments, then maybe you should buy one that has better atmospheric and temperature tolerances rather than underwater capabilities. If you’re planning to use the camera for serious scuba-diving, then make sure the model has enough accessories and cases as your needs expand.

Q3 – OK, I’ve Narrowed Down My Choices, Which Features Are Critical?

A3 – Great! Generally, look for these critical specifications and features:

Waterproof Depth – Naturally, you’ll need to know how deep you can bring your camera underwater. Normally, underwater digital cameras can go as deep as 8-10 feet without the need of a dedicated underwater case. Some higher-end models are rated up to 33 feet.Does higher mean better? In general, yes as it means the camera’s seals are more robust. However, remember your intended purpose, if you’re only using the camera for treks, skiing, backyard pools and such, then the standard 8-10 feet specification is more than enough!
Image Stabilization – You’ve decided to buy a rugged camera, so expect to use the camera in less-than-stable conditions! Having in-camera, lens-based stabilization helps TREMENDOUSLY when you’re shooting underwater or in motion.
Battery Life – Odds are high that your new waterproof camera will be a frequent companion in your outdoor activities, and being outdoors mean you won’t have access to electric outlets for charging. When shooting underwater, odds are high that you’ll be using your in-camera flash often, which drains your battery even faster, so make sure you choose a camera that has a battery life of at least 150-200 shots per charge. The higher, the better.
Focal Length (Zoom Range) and Macro – The key spec here to check is how wide the lens can go and how close you can focus. It’s best to get a camera that has a wide angle focal length of 24mm or 28mm at its wide end, no more than 35mm at its widest. In terms of macro, the closer it can focus, the better, but a closest focus distance between 3cm to 10cm (1 to 4 inches) is sufficient.
Temperature Limit – Choose a camera that can withstand AT LEAST freezing temperature (0 degrees Centigrade), ideally, -8 degrees Centigrade or lower is ideal.
Impact Resistance – This shouldn’t be a big issue as almost all cameras in this category are very rugged. The camera bodies are often made of metal with suitable rubber padding and impact-resistant features inside the camera anyway. Just make sure the overall size and weight are acceptable to you.

Q4 – When and Where Should I Buy An Underwater Camera?

A4 – The ideal time to purchase an underwater camera in most countries is during spring, just before summer.

Normally, new models come out just before summer and you can purchase the current model at a discount as manufacturers promote their newer (usually just a minor update of the current) model.

In my experience, these specialty cameras aren’t has heavily promoted in physical camera stores and they offer less appealing offers compared to online purchases. Online has the advantage as their prices are updated in real-time and face greater competition and attention than physical stores therefore, greater discounts.

Q5 – Yey! I Bought My First Waterproof Camera, Now What?

A5 – Now You take pictures! You must go through the user manual and study what each of those buttons do and which features you’ll be using most of the time. There’s nothing worse than trying to fiddle with camera controls when a once-in-a-lifetime scene or moment is right in front of you. You might be interested to read my simple tips in taking great photographs with pocket cameras post.

Q6 – The Image Quality of My Waterproof Camera Seems Poorer Than My Other Digital Camera, Is My Camera Defective?

A7 – In many cases, this is true. Because of the protection required for the sensitive electronics and optics, these underwater digital cameras have to shoot through a layer of protective glass all the time.

The images may not be as sharp or contrasty as your normal digital camera, but they’re more than acceptable unless you’re sending the photos to National Graphic. Keep in mind that your normal camera can’t even take a single photo underwater!

Q7 – I’m Still Uneasy About Using An Electronic Device Underwater, How Do I Test If My Underwater Camera For Defects and Leaks?

A7 – Just use your camera as you intended to use it! Bring the camera underwater, drop it in the snow, leave it in your bathtub, flush it down the toilet (NOT ADVISABLE!), the important thing to remember is test your camera BEFORE your exchange and warranty period lapses.

As long as your camera is still under warranty, you can have your camera replaced or exchanged, so it’s important to find out if there’s a defect with the camera’s seals before your warranty runs out.

Q8 – Why Do Waterproof Cameras Have Depth Rating and How Long Can I Use The Camera Underwater?

A8 – Your underwater camera has rubber seals and metal locks that seal off water and debris, however, as you go deeper underwater, the pressure builds and the pressure can push these seals out-of-place and destroy the camera, so it’s critical that you stay above the depth limit of your camera at all times.

In terms of how long you can use the camera underwater, each model has a different specification, so check your user manual to be sure.

The main reason is pressure. While your camera can withstand 10 feet of water depth, for example, the constant pressure at 10 feet is different to the pressure at 5 inches of water, the stress on the camera’s seals are higher in deeper water so you have to be mindful of how long the camera has been submerged.

Q9 – Woohoo! It’s Still Working! What Must I Do To Keep This Wonderful Waterproof Camera Working Perfectly?

A10 – Alright! Now just because the camera’s rugged and waterproof, it doesn’t mean that you can leave it uncared for all the time.

Remember that sea water, ice, swimming pool water, mud, and dirt all have different corrosive stuff in them, so make sure you give your camera a good rinse under clean water and dry it before storage.

Oh, do not put your camera in a dishwasher, for crying out loud!

Q10 – I Heard That Underwater Photography Is Different From “Dry Land” Photography, Any Simple Underwater Photography Tips?

A10- It is, mainly because of how light waves are altered by the rippling water and the distortion water creates on images.

Here are some easy tips in shooting underwater.

All things being equal, there’s considerably less light underwater, so expect to use a longer exposure or use flash, but be careful with flash usage (see below).
Get close to your subject. Due to the physical characteristics of water, the smaller the distance between the lens and your subject, the better the details. You’ll get less distortion due to water movement, less stray light from reflective waves, you’ll capture less contaminants floating in water in your photos as well.
When using flash underwater, particularly in deeper, darker waters, you’ll see a lot of white floating dots in your photos as the light reflects off underwater particles like sand and dust. Minimize this by shooting in better light or close proximity to your subject.
Try to position yourself LOWER than your subject, meaning, you shoot towards the surface. This usually creates an ethereal backdrop for your subject as the surface of the water will always be brighter.

Top 10 FAQs In Buying A Waterproof or Underwater Digital Camera Answered!

Before Buying a Digital Camera Read This

Most people have or want a digital camera and so there is a lot of competition from manufacturers which means lots of choice. Choice is good but when the market place becomes really crowded it can be difficult to know what to buy. On top of this the camera models are constantly updated by manufacturers meaning new and improved models every 6 months. Many of the features that are marketed by sellers are not that important and those that are important, you probably won’t find on the box and many sales assistants may not be able to tell you about these because they are taught to market specifications such as megapixels etc. This guide has been written to try to help you become familiar with some of the jargon and to hopefully assist you in making a more informed choice. You are reading this guide and so I am assuming that you are in the market to buy a new camera or at least want to understand a bit more about different cameras and specifications. Remember there are thousands of cameras to choose from and so hopefully you will be able to make your shopping more focused (excuse the pun)! I have reduced the choice a bit for you and if you would prefer to look at a smaller number of great cameras for sale check out my store. Do read this guide first though.

Simple and pocket Cameras

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This type of camera is easy to use, the design is simple in most cases and the costs are between 40 and 80, pocket-sized may be more expensive. The camera can be kept in a pocket, handbag etc and therefore can be carried everywhere. This means that when the photo opportunity arises, the camera is at the ready. They usually have between 5 and 12 megapixels and the sales pitch will concentrate on this. They will take decent pictures in good light situations but because of their price there will be some downsides. For the majority of situations these cameras are adequate and give good results and produce good photos. For the other situations, about a quarter of the time you may have problems with the limitations outlined below

Low Light Problems

These cameras struggle in low light and this means that indoor and dull day photos end up slightly blurred and out of focus. The other problem is that the photos end up looking grainy due to ‘noise’, a photo term you will become familiar with. Mobile phone pictures tend to have a lot of noise. This is because sensors are small. Sensors are one of the most important features in a camera as they sense the amount of light, the smaller the sensor the less light. One of the ways smaller cameras compensate is by using flash but this tends to be too bright and the results could be used in Sci Fi movies! You get the picture?

Shutter Lag

This is the delay between the time you press the shutter and the time the picture is taken. The reason for the delay is that the camera is calculating focus and exposure and inexpensive cameras tend to have problems in this area by nature of the technology required to speed it up. Shutter lag can mean the photo opportunity is missed e.g. a bird has left the tree, the child has crossed the finishing line, the goal has been scored! If you want to take a lot of sports shots these cameras are not for you but if the camera is for everyday use these are mostly ok.

Zoom Quality

Many small cameras have limited zoom even though they advertise and market the 3 to 8 times zoom. One important thing you need to know is that there are major differences between digital and optical zoom and that 3 to 4 times zoom will not give you enough magnification for any real distances such as school plays, sports days, celebrities etc. As I have already said, when you look at buying a camera, in addition to megapixels the other marketing feature that sellers and manufacturers use is the zoom. When it comes to digital zoom it is almost worthless how much digital zoom it has. If it has 20 times digital zoom the actual image will be blown up 20 times and this tends to reduce the quality of the picture and you get lots of camera shake. I personally do not rate digital zoom and wouldn’t buy a camera without optical zoom. Optical zoom will magnify the image because the lens zooms in by the amount stated on the box. The higher the optical zoom the further away you can be when taking the photo but this adds to the cost of the camera and also the size.

Movie Mode

The most basic digital cameras tend to produce poor quality movies. Some of them have no sound and many have very limited recording time. For decent quality recordings a resolution of 640 x 480 is required with at least 30 frames per second. Cameras will probably take over the camcorder market by improving in this area year on year so if you are interested in movies buy a higher specification camera and use the money you would have spent on a camcorder.

No Viewfinder

The viewfinder is something that some people haven’t come across because of living in the digital age. It is the small eyepiece, usually on top of a camera. Many digital cameras have no viewfinder and only provide an LCD screen; the smaller cameras tend to have smaller LCD screens although these are getting bigger all the time. Be aware that shooting without a viewfinder will always create problems if there is bright light shining on the viewfinder as it is difficult to see what it is you are shooting. By the time you have shaded your viewfinder to take the photo the opportunity may have gone! It is also difficult to take photos of moving objects such as a bird in flight because of the time taken to get the bird in the LCD screen! Again, this will only be a problem occasionally and the larger LCD screens are helping to resolve the issues. Try 2.5″ and above but if you have the option of a viewfinder as well, take it!

Batteries

Digital cameras are a lot better than they were with batteries but make sure that if you do buy a camera with batteries you will need rechargeable (NiMH) batteries, these will last longer than the normal (AA) batteries which usually last for half an hour if you’re lucky. One tip to remember is that the more time you spend looking at the photos you have shot on the LCD, the quicker the batteries die whatever type. So review the screen to check the photos rather than showing the photos off when you want to take a lot of snaps while out for the day. The battery-pack or built-in manufacturers rechargeable battery usually lasts longer but you cannot pop into the shop and buy another in an emergency. I prefer these batteries because they generally last longer but I buy a spare and keep it charged so that if I am on holiday taking lots of photos I will not run out. The last time I ran out of battery from a battery pack I was on a dolphin watch and I was really upset. This has never happened since as I always carry my spare fully charged when away. For examples of cameras that fit the category, see my website where I have tried to narrow down the choice for you a little.

Medium Range Digital Cameras

These cameras are a step up from the smaller pocket-sized cameras and come with some better features than the simpler models. They will offer extra controls such as manual exposure and possibly shutter and aperture priority modes. Manual exposure helps you to control the settings so that you can take the photo you want to rather than the one the camera tells you to take. Megapixels will range from 6 to 15 in this category. The optical zoom will be much stronger and they often include a viewfinder so that the problems with LCD screens can be overcome.

Costs tend to range from 90 to 300. Zoom lenses can be up to 20x in this category and therefore make it easier for you to take pictures at the school sports day, wedding, sports event, concert etc. Some of the cameras also include macro settings which enable you to take photos really close up for insects, flowers and such like. The colour photos taken with some of these cameras are really quite remarkable. Other features include control over ISO ratings and flash for improved photos in low light situations.

Face recognition and smile detection are becoming a popular features so that your people shots are better. Many of them will have flash that pops up which offers better flash photography results by not burning out the picture with too much white light. Some of them have twisting LCD screens so that you can take photos around corners or from a difficult angle.

Movie quality is likely to be at the recommended rate and they should allow you to zoom in and record sound. These cameras are for people who want to do a little bit more with their photography and create good photos and films in the majority of situations. You can experiment with manual settings and still have a camera that is small enough to have about your person most of the time and at a reasonable cost. Remember if you buy this type of camera with reasonable long recording time you may not need a camcorder. Cameras at the lower end of the price range may have fewer of the features but also be aware that you may be paying more for the brand name at the higher end.

For examples of these cameras I have selected some popular camera brands.

Single Lens Reflex (SLR) Cameras

If you love photography and want to see it as a hobby then an SLR is for you. If you just want good photos and decent movies choose a camera from the above selections. Personally I have both, I have a Sony Cyber-shot which is always with me and produces excellent quality photos and my faithful Canon SLR. Don’t be swayed by me, camera choice is personal preference and I have been very happy with Pentax, Olympus and other makes in the past.

SLR cameras are for the camera enthusiast and I bought my first film SLR when many years ago and even then is was a hefty 350, it was a high street store’s own make and had no automatic settings whatsoever. When digital SLR cameras first came on the market they were incredibly expensive at around 1000 or more. Now they are much more affordable and you can buy a very decent one for between 350 and 800. I bought my Canon EOS for around 850 GBP a few years ago and the newest Canon model is now only around 620. SLR cameras tend to have megapixels of around 10 to 12. The major features of photography with this type of camera are the controls and the interchangeable lenses.

This article is not a photography lesson, for that you will need to get a good book or purchase some of my photography guides but suffice it to say that the photos taken with a digital SLR should always be superior to those taken with any other type of digital camera. The lenses tend to be the most important and most expensive items so you can keep your lenses and upgrade your camera body in the future but to do this you need to stick to the same manufacturer. Even with today’s prices it can be an expensive hobby but once you have had a digital SLR you will probably be hooked.

Advantages include the speed at which they take high quality photos, there is no shutter lag, they can give you total manual control where this is required. They will run for days and weeks on a single battery charge. The feel of the camera is that of quality and they fit into the hand the way a camera should. Lenses include zoom and telephoto (distance shots), macro (close up shots of insects etc) and wide-angle lenses (fit in a wide building when you are only a few feet away). I have sat in what appears to be the Outer Hebrides and taken photos of Dolly Parton, Shirley Bassey, Cliff Richard and Roger Federer which are as sharp as if I was only 10 foot away with a Zoom lens. I have taken photos of some historic landmarks from across the street and managed to get the whole building in with the use of a wide-angle lens. I have photos of bees feeding on pollen that would look fine in a magazine taken with a macro lens. Please remember though, as good as these cameras are you still need to know how to use them and how to take good photos. See some of the guides on my website for pointers.

The only downsides of these cameras are the costs which are improving and their size. No way on earth will you ever fit one in a pocket but mine goes in my handbag! Again, I have picked out some SLR Cameras to buy.

Mobile Phone Cameras

I don’t even know why I’m mentioning these! Most of them tend to produce poor quality photos but they are a useful substitute if there is nothing else to use but please do not think that they take the place of a camera! In good light you might get a decent shot if you follow the tips in my photography guides or in any photo book but if you want photos that last, please buy a camera.

Megapixels

Most marketing is based on the number of megapixels a camera has. A general rule of thumb is that if you are going to print up to size ‘A4′, a 3 megapixel camera will do. I know this sounds tiny because the blurb out there says you need at least 5, 10 etc but it is not true. If you want poster prints then you may want a higher megapixel camera, particularly if you are going to crop the image. The higher the megapixel the more memory the pictures take on your memory card and your computer but don’t worry too much and don’t get too hung up about it, most computers and cards can now take the strain. Most cameras tend to have more than enough megapixels for every type of photo but don’t spend a fortune based on megapixels alone or you will be wasting your money, check out the other features mentioned in this article.

Copyright Dawn Brookes, DAB Photography

Before Buying a Digital Camera Read This

Tips For Buying a Digital Camera

Family and friends can be pretty far flung these days, so how do you keep in touch? Snail mail and phoning are good options, but it’s fun to be able to share pictures. With the advent of digital cameras, it’s easy to post pictures on a blog or website, or send pictures via email.

Of course, film cameras will work, as you can scan and convert pictures to digital files, but the easiest way to send pictures quickly and cheaply is to use a digital camera.

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How To Find What’s Best For YOU When Buying A Digital Camera

There are all kinds of digital cameras available these days, so the trick is to find the one that suits your needs and budget. If you are buying your first digital camera, the lingo and technology are a bit different than for film cameras, so before shopping take time to learn a little and figure out what you’d like to buy.

First, what kind of photographer are you? Do you like total control over the picture taking process, or would you rather just aim the camera and push the shutter button? Then it’s also helpful to decide what you want to do with your pictures. Do you just want to put them online or send them via email, or do you want to be able to print them, and if so, how large do you want your prints?

If photography isn’t your passion, and you just want to have pictures to share, buying a simple point-and-shoot digital camera is probably best. It has automatic settings, so all you have to do is aim the camera, press the shutter and viola! Instant picture!

However, if you prefer more control over the picture taking process, try buying a mid-range digital camera. There is a wide range in both price and features. For the more serious hobby photographer, there are “prosumer” cameras midway between point-and-shoot cameras and digital SLR cameras. They offer better lens quality and usually more features than a point-and-shoot, though those little cameras can come pretty loaded these days!

Digital SLR cameras are top of the line and more expensive. These work more like traditional cameras, having a body with detachable lens. This gives you more options with being able to change lens, but it’s also much more expensive. Just one lens can cost as much as a point-and-shoot digital camera! There’s also usually a steeper learning curve to figure out how to use all the options on a digital SLR camera.

However, if you’re buying your first digital camera, intermediate, “prosumer” and digital SLR cameras probably aren’t the best choice. All the settings and features can be a little overwhelming for the beginner, and your expensive camera may end up collecting dust somewhere. Try a low to midrange camera first and get a feel for digital cameras and what features are most important to you. Then when you’re ready to move up and buy a Digital SLR, you’ll have a better idea of what to look for before you lay out your hard earned cash!

What To Look For When You’re Ready To Buy A Digital Camera

You can buy digital cameras in all sorts of places these days, from fancy department stores to discount stores, photography/camera shops and many stores online. While you can sometimes find great deals on-line, if this is your first digital camera, go to shops and look at different cameras if at all possible. It helps to pick it up and get the feel of the camera in your hand to see if it’s comfortable and the controls are easy to use, and you can check out what features it has and how they work.

But what exactly are you looking for?

A pixel makes your picture….

One of the first things to check out when buying a digital camera is the MEGAPIXELS. A pixel is a single dot in a graphics image. A megapixel is equivalent to one million pixels. A 1-megapixel camera would produce an image roughly 1200 pixels wide by 900 pixels high, a 3 megapixel would be 2048 x 1536 megapixels, and so on. Higher megapixels mean better resolution, but aren’t the whole picture. The main thing to keep in mind is the more megapixels, the bigger image you can print.

Approximate Megapixels vs. Print Size

-2 Megapixels prints well up to 4×6 inches

-3 Megapixels prints well up to 5×7 inches

-4 Megapixels prints well up to 6×8 inches

-6 Megapixels prints well up to 7×10 inches

-8 Megapixels prints well up to 10×14 inches

-12 Megapixels prints well up to 16×24 inches

For email, websites and printing snapshots, a 3 to 5-megapixel camera is a good choice. If you want to make high quality 8×10 prints or larger, you need more megapixels. Higher megapixels also allow you to crop down to a smaller portion of the picture while still retaining sharpness in prints.

One other thing to keep in mind when considering megapixels and resolution, be sure you are getting optical resolution. This is the actual number of megapixels the camera records. Some cameras offer interpolated resolution to get bigger pictures from the same number of megapixels by using software algorithms to determine what color pixels to add, so the picture becomes bigger at the expense of clarity.

Opt for optical…

Digital cameras have two kinds of zoom, optical and digital. In this case, focus on the optical zoom. It’s the one that actually uses the lens’ optics to bring the subject closer. The higher the number, the further away you can “pull in” your subject. The digital zoom merely takes the original information and makes it bigger, and once again, clarity is sacrificed. Most serious photographers turn off digital zoom. Stick to optical!

For Your Viewing Pleasure…

Digital cameras commonly use an LCD screen instead of a viewfinder to focus on your subject, though some come equipped with both. Check the size of the screen when buying a digital camera to be sure you can comfortably see your subject. It’s also really handy to have a flip screen that allows you to hold your camera low or high, and still be able to see what’s on the screen.

Fun features…

Many digital cameras offer settings for such things as burst shooting mode, which is handy if you want to take pictures of moving subjects. The camera shoots a series of pictures without pause, then writes the files to memory. Other features allow for manually changing settings, special effects, short digital movie files, using an external flash, and much more. Look over several different cameras, decide what features you just have to have, and which are on the “nice to have but not vital” list. No one camera will do everything well.

Get the Picture…

You’ve got to get the pictures out of the camera to share them. Usually the files are downloaded to your computer through a USB port, so make sure your computer has one. Also, keep in mind when choosing a camera, the more megapixels, the bigger the files. You’ve got to store those files somewhere, so how much memory is available on your computer? Does it have a CD burner?

However, you can still buy a digital camera even if you don’t have a computer. Many photo labs, even in places like Walmart or Kmart, have machines with the capability of making prints and/or photo CD’s from memory cards, and will make a disk of the files, sort of like digital negatives. There’s also the option of buying a photo printer with a docking station for your camera. Just plug the camera into the docking station, and bypass the need for a computer to print.

Cash After Camera

When buying your digital camera, keep some cash in reserve, because there are two more important purchases you need to make.

1. Memory – The digital camera’s equivalent of film, the amount of memory determines how many pictures you can take. Different cameras use different types of memory, so the first step is to find out what your camera uses. The most popular types are: Secure Digital (SD), CompactFlash (CF), SmartMedia (SM), Memory Stick (MS), MultiMediaCard (MMC), and xD-Picture Card (xD).

Cameras are usually packaged with a small MB-sized card. A second card of 64 MB is good, but of course the more MB and the more cards, the more pictures you can take before having to download and erase the images. The different cards are NOT interchangeable, so be sure to buy the right kind for your camera!

2. Battery – There’s nothing more frustrating than being in the middle of snapping pictures and the battery dies. Get extras. It’s worth the expense to have a second battery charged and waiting should the one in your camera lose power. The rechargeable ones are more expensive, but the ability to use them over and over makes them worth the initial outlay of cash.

That’s The Total Package!

There you have the basics for choosing a digital camera. Decide what kind of pictures you are likely to take, what size prints you want to make, how much zoom, and are there any extras you can’t live without? Look for the camera that most closely matches your list in your price range, buy a bigger memory card and an extra battery set, and you’re good to go!

Have fun sharing those pictures with friends and family!

Tips For Buying a Digital Camera