Megapixels and Sensors: Is Bigger Really Better? Seven Or Eight Megapixels Is the Current Standard on Most Point-And-Shoot Cameras

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Store & Mail Order Hours: Sunday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm Friday: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm EST, 2:00 pm DST Saturday: Closed Digital Cameras 4 6 8 12 14 16 10 22 PRO PRO @ 34th Street @ 34th 800-947-9950 212-444-6600 420 Ninth Avenue Ninth 420 ADVANCED ADVANCED ENTRY LEVEL LEVEL ENTRY MEGAPIXELS MEGAPIXELS New York, NY 10001 NY York, New KEY FEATURES KEY FEATURES INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION TYPES OF CAMERA USERS FEATURES & ACCESSORIES & ACCESSORIES FEATURES bhphotovideo.com support and live Quick searches help you get everything you and exactly want a wish make account, an you need. what Create our in secure all environment. list, for up our newsletter, and sign Introduction Today’s point-and-shoot cameras are convenient, simple, and small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.

Stash one in your jacket pocket and you won’t miss a moment. Advances in camera technology now enable image capture at faster speeds. Some have bells and whistles specifically tailored to the needs of photographers—from built-in waterproof casings to in-camera panorama stitching. Manufacturers offer several models, from simple to sophisticated, to meet a wide variety of picture-taking needs. But with all the digital cameras out there, how do you even begin to pick the one that’s right for you? First consider budget. Point-and-shoot cameras range from $79 on upwards to $800. A lower-priced camera might have all the basic features you need. Or, you might want to invest more for a camera with beefy manual controls. Next, megapixels. The more megapixels the better, right? In most cases yes, and in some cases no. We’ll guide you through the megapixel madness. In addition, we’ll address memory cards, new camera features, accessories, and other factors to consider when buying a digital camera.

Our goal is to provide a springboard to an informed decision, so you can come to our store armed with the right questions. This guide is a compilation 4 of questions frequently asked by our customers, followed by the recommen-

Introduction dations of our knowledgeable sales team. 5 Introduction What kind of point-and-shoot photographer are you? Each camera has a personality as distinct as its owner. Basic features for quick and easy snapshots? Looking for a camera with RAW capture capabilities and a slim form factor? What do you use your camera for, and how often do you use it? Examine the photographic personalities below. Which description resembles you?

Entry-Level User This is your first digital point-and-shoot camera. You take pictures occasion- ally—at birthday parties, weddings, on vacations. You don’t want to mess around with manual controls. You just want to take pictures.

Advanced User You want more creative control and have already explored your camera’s manual functions. You’re thinking about upgrading to a digital SLR, but you want the simplicity of a point-and-shoot camera.

6 Pro User Categories Point-and-Shoot You already have a digital SLR, but don’t want to lug around a heavy body and multiple lenses. You’re looking for hefty manual controls and quick menu access. You’re seeking a compact solution for taking quick snapshots without thinking about technicalities.

7 Features to Look for in

an Entry-Level Camera Built-In External Microphone Entry-level cameras are by far the most popular point- Records audio for cameras with video capabilities. and-shoot cameras. Compact and convenient, entry-level cameras are easy to use and easy to carry. Although shutter speed, aperture options, and zoom features are limited, they’re small enough to ﬁ t in a jeans pocket DC In / Battery Charger for quick, on-the-go snapshots. Connect your camera directly to a wall socket, or charge your battery in-camera. If you’re considering purchasing your fi rst digital camera, the options can be overwhelming. Start by evaluating what you will be photographing most of the time. An entry-level camera is ideal for casual use—a birthday party, a family vacation to Yellowstone Park, baby’s fi rst steps, or a wedding. Memory Card Slot Face detection, Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), and red-eye reduction are Buy the fastest, highest storage capacity now standard features of any entry-level point-and-shoot outfi t. within your budget. Make sure that the card format is compatible with your camera. Questions to ask: n Are you looking for an easy-to-use camera right out of the box? n How often do you use your camera? n For what purpose do you use your camera? 8 n Are you a casual everyday photographer? USB Connection

Entry-Level Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable connection enables image upload to your computer or printer. Light Meter Red-Eye Reduction Measures ambient light A series of short ﬂ ashes are triggered Built-In External Speaker to properly expose before the shot is captured to reduce Enables audio playback from video clips. photos, when the ﬂ ash is the occurrence of red eyes. manually disabled.

Shutter Lag Time The time span between the shutter ﬁ ring and your being able to take another picture. Particularly important when shooting high-speed action or sports.

Optical Viewfi nder On bright, sunny days, the image on the LCD screen can sometimes be diffi cult to view. Consider an optical viewfi nder as a backup.

Wide-Angle/Telephoto Face Detection Zoom Controls Identiﬁ es faces in the scene. Adjusts 9 Zoom out for picturesque land- focus and exposure so that people in scapes, or zoom in for close-ups. your photos are in clear focus. Entry-Level Optical Zoom CMOS/CCD Sensor Utilizes the physical optics of your Captures and converts the visual camera’s lens to increase the lens’s image into an electronic signal. focal length and zoom in. Features to Look for in an Advanced-Level Camera

Th e advanced user has a well-oiled trigger fi nger for taking Video Capture digital photographs, and is familiar with the basic features Up to HD quality with stereo sound. and uses of a simple point-and-shoot camera. If you’re looking for advanced features, but you’re not ready to make the leap to a digital SLR, the advanced point-and-shoot is an ideal solution for experimentation and growth.

Advanced point-and-shoot cameras extend the basic feature palette with megapixel upgrades, wider zoom ranges, and variable shutter and aperture speeds. Keep in mind that advanced features must be accommodated by a larger camera body. If photo-blogging and video sharing are staples of your daily diet, built-in “shoot-to-share” capabilities facilitate quick and easy uploads to Flickr and YouTube. Built-in WiFi capabilities extend the possibilities even further, en- abling instant upload to your photo blog in the vicinity of a WiFi signal.

Questions to Ask: 10 n Would you like to upgrade from an earlier model? Adavanced-Level n Are you not quite ready to make the leap to a digital SLR? n Do you want more megapixels, zoom control, image stabilization? Fast Burst Rates n Is a larger camera body a positive factor? You won’t miss another moment. n Are you looking for quick and easy upload of pictures to the web? Free-angle LCD Monitor Freedom to take photos from unique perspectives. Hot Shoe For external ﬂ ash and electronic add-ons.

Built-in WiFi For camera-to-camera sharing, wireless printing, and wireless upload to blogs. Short Shutter Lag Times For close-to-instant image capture. 11 Adavanced-Level Longer Optical Zoom Capabilities Get up close and personal with a grasshopper, or capture breathtaking landscapes. Features to Look for

in a Pro-Level Camera Full Manual Features FINDER/LCD For direct control and manipulation of Multiple lenses are bogging you down. An overstuﬀ ed aperture, shutter speed, and focus. camera bag also includes weekly visits to the chiropractor. If this sounds familiar, consider a pro user point-and-shoot camera.

Th e pro user already owns a digital SLR and wants a compact, lightweight camera for quick photo ops, sketches, and everyday use. Th ese cameras off er the fullest spectrum of features available on an SLR without the extra weight and without sacrifi cing manual controls. You won’t miss another shot while digging frantically in your camera bag for the right lens. Superior optics capture pristine images. High-quality sensors up the resolu- -4.9/ : 2 .8 6.3- 1 25 tion ante. Direct control and manipulation over aperture, shutter speed, and .2 A S focus enable you to capture the scene as you see it. RAW capture capabilities P H E extend your post-production reach for further image tweaks, off ering ulti- R I

A mate creative ﬂ exibility. L DISPLAY MENU Quick menu access rounds out the features, making the pro user point-and- shoot the next best thing to its SLR counterparts.

6 X

O P T I C 12 Questions to Ask: A L Z O O M

Pro-Level n Seeking a quick, compact solution to complement your digital SLR? n Are you looking for hefty manual controls in a slimmer chassis? High-end sensors with n Do you want RAW capture capabilities for ultimate post-production tweaks? extended ISO ranges For crisp resolution and sharp images. Optical Diopter Dial Enables near- and far-sighted photographers to take pictures without having to wear eyeglasses.

FINDER/LCD

RAW Capture -4.9/ For creative post-production tweaks. : 2 .8 6.3- 1 25 .2 A S P H E R

A L DISPLAY MENU

Quick Menu Access

6 Easy user interfaces and quick access X Lens Adaptor Ring

O P to essential features without hassle. T I Extend wide-angle lens range C A L Z O O M with optional converters. 13 Pro-Level

Extended ISO Sensitivity For fast, clean image capture in low- light situations. Megapixels and Sensors: is bigger really better? Seven or eight megapixels is the current standard on most point-and-shoot cameras. For an 8x10” print, 7 megapixels should suﬃ ce. However, if you’re blowing up an image up to poster size or larger, the image will appear “pixellated” (individual color pixel squares will be very visible on your print.)

First, consider what your output size will be most of the time. You won’t nec- essarily need more megapixels for general use (4x6", 8x10") unless you frequently make poster-sized prints. Usually, the greater the number of megapixels, the higher the price. Second, consider the physical sensor size of the camera. Sensor size is analogous to 35mm, medium, or large format fi lm cameras. Generally, larger sensors have larger pixels that produce lower image noise and have a higher dynamic range. Cameras with larger sensors also have a larger chassis to ac- commodate the sensor size. Ultimately, your trade-off is camera size, price, and image noise.

14 Questions to Ask:

& Sensors Megapixels n What will my fi nal output be (web, 4x6", 8x10", poster size, or billboard)? n How large is the digital sensor? n Am I concerned with image noise? n Is a smaller camera body a concern? n What is my budget? 2 Megapixels = 4 x 6" maximum print size

3 Megapixels = 5 x 7" maximum print size

4 Megapixels = 6 x 8" maximum print size

5 Megapixels = 8.5 x 11" maximum print size

7 Megapixels = 11 x 17" maximum print size

8 Megapixels = 13 x 19" maximum print size 15 & Sensors Megapixels

12 Megapixels = 16 x 20" maximum print size Will I be shooting high-speed scenes or sports? timingIs a critical element photography? in my Questions to Ask n n Shutter Lag Lag Shutter Shutter Shutter lag is the time span between ringthe andfi shutterthe time required to be able to take another picture. is Th feature is importantshooting if high-speed you’re action or sports, where tim- ing is critical. Lag times cantly, and have depend primarily improved on camera type - signifi and brand. erentTest out camerasdiff to geta feel for their lag times. If shutter speeds are still too slow, consider an upgrade to an entry-level digital SLR. physical capabilities of zoom digitally, the usually optical resulting in forgetthatimage quality.of loss Don’t a your feet are the best zoom lenses out there. Walk toward or away from your subject to take full advantage of your digital zoom attempts to extend the camera’s optical zoom without sacri- traditional lm camera.fi Alternatively, cing image quality.fi bring your subject closer, similar to a If you want to get up close and personal with your subjects, explore the macro ca- of of your camera’s lens to zoom in and pabilities pabilities of your potential camera. Some Optical zoom utilizes the physical optics camera’s macro settingsmacro as as to get close you 1 cm to enable camera’s DotakeI photos from far away where highera zoom rating necessary? is How much am I willing spend to in order get to a higher zoom rating? What are the macro capabilities of this camera? Questions to Ask: n n n Optical or Digital Zoom? maintainingwhile sharpfocus. subject your

Zoom &

16 Shutter Lag Video Almost all point-and- shoot cameras nowadays have a “movie mode” that captures video in addition to still pictures. Some cameras even capture im- Wide-Angle Lenses ages optimized for web When focusing on a camera’s zoom capabilities, don’t neglect your camera’s wide-angle capabilities. Wide angles are video applications like important for landscape photography, panoramas, or group shots in tight spaces. Alternatively, adaptors for auxiliary YouTube or AOL Video, for wide-angle lenses are available, if you want to extend your wide-angle range. Or take advantage of the in-camera easy web output. Optical panorama-stitching capabilities available on some cameras. Take three shots of your panorama from left to right, and zoom capabilities are usu- the camera software conveniently finds their edges and “stitches” them together. ally fixed during capture, meaning that you cannot Questions to Ask zoom in and out at will. But that’s changing. n Do I frequently take pictures of landscapes or group shots? Some cameras now have optical zoom capabilities STANDARD LENS WIDE ANGLE LENS while in movie mode. Make sure that the zoom in movie mode is optical, not digital. Questions to Ask n Do I want to capture 17

moving images in addi- & Video Wide Angle tion to still photos? n Does this camera zoom during video capture? Does it zoom optically or

digitally in movie mode? low-light image with “Noise” low-light image without “Noise” ISO and Image Noise High ISO numbers (originally a rating for film speed) are ideal for low-light situ- With larger sensors, pixels are physically further apart, reducing the poten- ations. The higher the ISO, the greater the film’s sensitivity to light. In tra- tial for light spillover and image contamination. That is why a digital camera ditional 35mm photography, this was achieved with physically larger film with 6 megapixels crammed onto a smaller digital image sensor can poten- 18 grains, which captured light faster. In digital photography, ISO is manipu- tially produce more noise at a higher ISO than 6 megapixels on a larger image

ISO & Image Noise & Image ISO lated electronically, amplifying each pixel’s overall sensitivity to light. sensor. The caveat—the larger the image sensor, the higher the price. Light “spillover” can thus occur to each neighboring pixel when boosting the ISO, resulting in image “noise.” If you’re trying to capture a sunset at Questions to Ask: high ISO, for example, other color speckles may contaminate or degrade the n Will I be shooting in low-light situations often? sharpness of the image. n Is image noise a concern? Memory Cards & Readers A lot of people ask questions about internal memory. Th e bad news is that your camera’s brain operates on short-term memory. At its highest resolution you can take, at most, 5 to 10 photos. Th e good news is that you can extend your camera’s long-term memory with auxiliary memory cards. Card capacity depends on you. If you have a compulsive trigger fi nger and want a camera with a super brain, then go for the card with the fastest, highest storage capacity. If you’re more moderate, no need to shell out for the largest, leanest 16GB card. Buy the card that’s right for your needs and picture-taking capacity. Card speed is a rating of how fast (megabits per second) a digital image can be written to or read from the card. With point-and-shoot cameras, card speed is less of a concern than with digital SLR’s. When a fast-speed card is coupled with a USB 2.0 card reader, faster uploads to your computer are possible. Multiple-format card readers are also ideal for photographers who own memory cards with various formats and sizes. An external card reader facilitates and transfers photos to your computer faster. If speed is a non- issue, then you can upload images directly from your camera to the computer.

Questions to Ask: n Do you have an itchy trigger fi nger when it comes to picture taking? n What will your fi nal output format be (web, print)? n Is quick image upload important for your needs? n Do you have cameras with multiple-format memory cards?

19 Memory CardsMemory Batteries AA batteries are convenient and can be purchased at any local store. They don’t hold a charge very long, especially if you’re using your LCD monitor and flash often. You might consider rechargeable NiMH AA batteries for longer life. NiMH batteries are compact and last three times as long as AA’s. An extra set of batteries is a worthwhile investment, especially if you’re in a remote location and access to battery charges is limited. Questions to Ask: Lens Care, Smudges, and Scratches n Is the convenience and ubiquity of AA batteries Lens tissues, liquids, and micro-fiber cloths are standard. You’ll want to keep your optics clean and smudge-free. important to me? So before you inevitably smack a thumbprint on the lens, invest in a simple lens-cleaning kit. To keep your LCD 20 n Are rechargeable AA screen scratch-free, purchase a screen protector. Definitely buy a case to prevent wear on the camera body.

& Lens Care & Lens Batteries NiMH batteries a pos- sibility? Warranty n Slim form factor and Protect your investment with a 2- or 3-year SageMax Warranty. Valid from date of purchase, the warranty covers repair, replace-

longer battery life of ment, or refund, excluding loss or theft. The SageMax Warranty is valid worldwide, with an approximate 10 business-day turn- NiMH? around. Ask your sales associate for details. Bells and Whistles Do your “say-cheeeese” moments go sour? A new feature called smile detection takes face detection one step further. After the camera “sees” a face, it then “looks” for a smile, and takes a picture, so you get a perfect smile every time. For extreme weather conditions, consider industrial-strength, shockproof, crushproof, sand-proof, waterproof cameras. These cameras go anywhere, and are basically blow-up proof, withstanding even the bombast of a firecracker within 10 feet unscathed. Underwater casings aren’t necessary, either. Water- proofing is built-in so you can take this camera on a jet ski or shallow 33-ft. dive without worry about waterlog. A whole niche has formed around the web-savvy tech enthusiast or teenyblogger. Don’t let the designer wasabi-green casing fool you. Behind the lens you have web-ready, “shoot-to-share” features for quick online posting to popular web sites. Some cameras capture optimal video for posting to online video sites like YouTube, complete with a software interface for quick upload and meta-tag- ging. Is Flickr your addiction? In-camera WiFi capabilities enable direct upload to your Flickr account when you’re within range of a WiFi connection. Other cameras have web-ready features that enable the simultaneous capture of a high-res image and web-ready image for quick posting to a blog or e-mail.

Questions to Ask: 21 n Research and evaluate the extended features on your prospective camera. Which extra features are essential? Which features can you do without? & Whistles Bells n Will you take pictures underwater or under extreme conditions? n Are you a web-savvy tech enthusiast? Do you own a teenyblogger? n Do you use popular web platforms such as YouTube, Ebay, and Flickr for image and video delivery? Key Features Explained

Viewfi nders Digital Viewfi nder Th e viewfi nder mimics Sensor Stabilization Sensor stabilization utilizes exactly what is seen through the camera’s lens or gyroscopes in the camera body or lens to detect LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) A LCD monitor. shake. Th e image sensor moves mechanically to thin, fl at display used to monitor compensate for motion. captured images. Th e LCD is Lens Controls composed of large numbers of Digital Stabilization Digital image stabilization red, blue, and green color pixels arrayed in front Wide-Angle Lens A lens with a shorter focal utilizes high ISO sensitivity in tandem with fast of a light source or refl ector. length than usual. Appropriate when shooting shutter speed to capture blur-free images. landscapes, architecture, panoramas, or interi- Viewfi nder ors at close range. Face Detection Mode Th e camera detects faces in a scene and then automatically focuses (AF) and opti- mizes exposure and fl ash output for the person or people in the scene. Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) Compensates for shaking and vibrating while recording a ▲ digital image. OIS is built into either the digital Macro Get up-close and personal with small Sensor sensor or lens to off set shaky hands and avoid subjects. Macro mode allows the lens to focus much closer than normal. ▲ Optical Viewfi nder Th e viewfi nder and lens image blur. 22 have slightly diff erent angles of view. At close

Explained Key Features shooting distances, this may mean that the sub- Focus Controls ject becomes inaccurately framed. A slight dif- Auto Focus In-camera sensors electronically ference, or parallax error, results between what detect the subject-to-camera distance, then is seen in the viewfi nder and what is recorded on automatically adjust the lens focus to produce the image sensor. sharp pictures. Manual Exposure Allows the photographer ISO (International Organization for Standard- Lag Time Time delay between firing the shutter to override the camera’s auto features. More ization) Analogous to traditional film ASA, ISO is and the actual exposure of the image sensor. creative control can be achieved by manually the standard used to describe the image sensor’s Delays in auto-focus speed, exposure setting, manipulating shutter speed and aperture. sensitivity to light. The higher the ISO number, and processor activity all contribute to time lag. the higher the image sensor’s sensitivity to light. To minimize lag, depress the shutter half way to Manual Lens Focus Enables control of images in Typical ISO settings of 100, 200, and 400 cover lock the focus and exposure. Then press the shut- difficult auto-focus situations—dimly lit scenes, normal photo situations. Some cameras feature ter fully to capture the image. low contrast scenes, or subjects behind glass. sensitivities of 1600 and higher to allow shooting in low-light situations, or for night photography. Exposure Controls Manual Controls Exposure The total amount of light used to cre- Histogram The Depth of Field ate an image. An accurate exposure depends histogram is an Range of how upon the shutter speed and aperture size for a in-camera graphical much of a picture balanced scene. tool that evaluates is in focus and out exposure, brightness, Shutter Speed Determines the length of time of focus. Depth of tonal range, and it takes for light to reach the image sensor. The field is dependent contrast of a scene. camera shutter can vary from many seconds to upon aperture, Using data derived as short as 1/8000th of a second. focal distance, and from the histogram, lighting and exposure can focal length. Aperture (F-stop) The opening in be adjusted to control shadow and highlight a lens through which light reaches detail. the image-sensing device. The size 23 of the opening controls the Explained Key Features amount of light that reaches the image sensor. Aperture plays an important role in exposure and depth of field.

Key Features Explained

CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) Resolution An image sensor used in digital cameras containing an array of millions of coupled capacitors that are sensitive to light. When exposed, each capacitor transfers its charge to one of its neighbors in “bucket-brigade” fashion. The image data is transferred is processed in the ▲ White Balance A system that adjusts the color camera’s microprocessor. response of the image sensor to the color of the Noise Noise is mani- ▲ light source illuminating the subject. The result- Resolution The term resolution in digital cam- fested in the digital ing exposure appears to be taken in daylight. eras usually refers to the pixel count of the image image as inaccurate sensor, in megapixels. The greater the megapixel pixel data. Noise usu- count, the greater the resolution. Sensors ally results from low- Pixel (Picture Element) A pixel is the smallest Image Sensor The device that captures and con- light conditions. It is individual sensor element in an array of sensors verts the visual image to an electronic signal— also manifested in that captures the photographic image. A 7-mega- usually a CCD or CMOS chip. long exposures and pixel sensor, for example, means that there are 7 photographs taken at CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semicon- million individual pixels on the sensor to record high ISO sensitivity ductor) CMOS light sensors include micropro- the final image. settings. Noise is minimized by shooting within cessor, micro controller, static RAM, and other the camera’s specified operating exposure range. Megapixel The unit of measure used to describe 24 digital logic circuits on one chip. CMOS devices

Explained Key Features memory storage capacity. 1 Byte=8bits, 1 kilo- use little power and do much of the image pro- byte (kb) =1,000 bytes, 1 megabyte (MB) = 1 mil- cessing directly on board. lion bytes, and 1 gigabyte (GB) = 1 billion bytes

File Formats Memory Card Removable cards containing ﬂ ash memory to store Compression Th e application of programs to recorded images taken by a digital reduce redundancy of the image data in order to camera. Cards are quite small and be able to store or transmit the image fi le rapidly come in a variety of storage capacities and effi ciently with minimal image quality loss. and data-transfer speeds. Storage capacity is mea- JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts sured in megabytes or gigabytes. Compact Flash, Group) Th e compression standard used SD, Memory Stick, and xD are common formats. in most modern digital cameras today. JPEG compression keeps fi le sizes low, Wireless Capabilities and takes care of color correction, white-balance, WiFi WiFi is the colloquial name for the tint, and exposure, so you don’t have to. 802.11b/g/n data protocol used to transmit data RAW Uncompressed digital capture format that wirelessly over short distances. Some cameras off ers ﬂ exibility and control of how an image is have built-in WiFi capabilities for camera-to- processed. RAW photos are also unprocessed. camera sharing, or instant uploads to popular Computer software is essential to “developing” photo-blogging websites. the RAW “negative” for ultimate control of white balance, hue, and exposure.

25 ▲ Wireless IrSimple Th is technology uses an Explained Key Features infared signal to send images to another IrSim- ple-enabled camera, printer, computer, or kiosk. IrSimple has a shorter range than Bluetooth, making it more secure. Notes:

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