Tip #4502 - A Must See: New Camera Features
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A
Must See: New Camera Features
As we all know,
the speed of technology these days is lightning fast. It seems as
if what you buy today becomes obsolete the next, which is why it’s
important to update yourself on the newest features available for
digital cameras before you think of upgrading or buying a new one.
Here are some of the new features you should look out for before you
zero in on any one digicam!
Pixels Don’t Really Rule
Unlike the days
of yore when you couldn't fathom buying a camera above 3 megapixels,
because the prices were outrageous, now you can! But then again, you
need to ask yourself how high is too high? Should you go for a 5 megapixel
or an 8? Experts will tell you that any 3.2 megapixel camera will
give you crystal clear images that can be blown up to almost three
feet. If you want to blow up your pictures even more, a 5 megapixel
camera should do, because pixels are nothing more than an opportunity
to blow up your picture size. Then again, if you use compact cameras
that have small sensors, but offer many megapixels, there is a definite
loss in picture quality. It gets even worse if you take images at
a higher ISO level in low-light conditions. So, what I'm saying is,
don't let megapixels be the only criteria for you to determine which
camera to buy.
Zoom In
The zoom feature
is largely ignored, but it's very important. With a zoom function,
it saves you from having to crop things out of your pictures. Similarly,
it saves you footwork, because you don’t have to move back and
forth while taking a picture. Therefore, the higher the zoom, the
more room for angling your shot. Most cameras come with a 3X zoom,
but now, there are several cameras where the standard is a 4X zoom
and they are available at the same price. So, I say go for it! If
you love your zoom, there are super zoom lenses that can magnify up
to 25 times and more. However, just remember to use the zoom lens
only when the lighting is good. If you zoom in low-light conditions,
your pictures could be under exposed. Some cameras even come with
an optical zoom that stretches the maximum zoom range, without losing
the picture quality.
Wide,
Wide World
What was once
the preserve of a professional photographer is now within the reach
of an amateur photographer! There are several cameras that offer a
great wide angle feature, without having to buy a stand-alone wide
angle lens. This helps a great deal, because some wide angle lenses
cost as much as a camera itself. Given a choice, go for at least a
28mm wide zoom. That size is great for group photography and shooting
panorama pictures and landscapes.
Anti-blur
Feature
This comes in
handy particularly in low-light conditions and when you are taking
pictures without a tripod or any stable platform. Essentially, this
feature prevents blurring of images that result due to camera shake.
Though most brands offer the image stabilization feature, it’s
best to check them out before buying, because each brand has its own
quality measure.
ISO Levels
The ISO level
partly determines your level of success in low-light photography.
The higher the ISO level, the better your photo will turn out, without
the help of a flash. What it does is increase the sensitivity of the
lens to the existing light and it captures as much detail. Of course,
you should avoid using the highest ISO level, because it could lead
to a lot of graininess in your pictures. Technically, cameras higher
than 6 megapixels do not give better results with a higher ISO than
those under the 6 megapixel range.
Ability to Detect Faces
This comes in
handy particularly in group photos, where everyone is at a different
distance from the camera lens. Traditional cameras aren’t able
to detect all the faces in a picture and thereby, adjust their focal
length to each. But now, manufacturers, like Canon, have pioneered
face detection technology, which has led many more brands to provide
the same. This helps in getting crystal clear images of all the faces
in a picture and not just the person in the center of the frame. This
feature controls the exposure to the lens and it synchronizes the
flash accordingly for a more balanced output.
Red-eye
Removal Feature
Photoshop should
be your last resort when it comes to removing red-eye from your subject’s
eyes during night shooting. Several cameras now come with a ready-made
feature that avoids red-eye by throwing a pre-flash light at you so
that your pupil constricts before the actual flash. While some cameras
do it brilliantly, others do not. The best way to find out is to try
flash photography of a person indoors and judge it for yourself.
Candle Light Mode
Look for additional
scene modes not found in an ordinary digital camera. One of these
is the "candle light" mode, which allows you to take pictures
of anything where the lighting is nothing more than a candle light.
This works well if you use a tripod and have to make do with limited
lighting. All in all, it’s an effective mode.
In-Camera Panorama Picture Stitching
While most cameras
have a panorama mode, they don’t allow you to stitch two pictures
inside the camera itself. You have to do that in Photoshop later on.
Well, not anymore! Newer cameras can stitch together two pictures
taken in the "panorama" mode to give a seamless feel of
a rectangular photo. It looks awesome and it saves you the bother
of Photoshop!
These are only
a few of the extra features found in some of today’s digital
cameras. I advise you to ask your vendor to show you extra features
that most cameras don’t have and then be sure to test them before
you buy.
Happy shopping!
~ Zahid H. Javali
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