How to Choose the Right Camera Choosing the Best Camera Could Be Difficult As There Are Numerous Options Available in the Market with a Slew of Features
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
C O V E r S t O r Y How to Choose the Right Camera Choosing the best camera could be difficult as there are numerous options available in the market with a slew of features. Usually, people look for long zoom and high megapixels, but there are many other key specs that you should look for - Ashok Pandey rom sensors to focal length, light sensitivity to shortest and longest focal lengths. Thus, when the spec is types of view-finders, there’s a lot of to check listed as 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 that means the widest aperture in cameras than mega-pixels. Here we decipher is f3.5 at 18mm and f5.6 at 55mm. As aperture size Fsome of the features in digital cameras and how increases, the area of sharpness in front of and behind the to determine what’s right for you. subject increases. The area of sharpness is called depth of Sensor size - This refers to the dimensions of the array the field. Since wider apertures let in more light and give of photo-receptors that create the pixels that become an you more control over depth of field, wider is better. image. Bigger sensors produce better photo quality. The Resolution - Typically referred as megapixels, the bigger the sensor, the bigger the camera, larger lens and MP number tells you how many pixels the camera uses more space for supporting electronics. Larger sensors are to produce an image. Every modern camera has more also more expensive to make, so the cameras are pricier. than enough for any need. That’s why it’s not important (Refer August 2014 Issue for more information). as a spec. In fact, watch out for cheap cameras with high Sensor type - We have already talked about sensors in resolutions - they usually lack the processing power to deal our previous issue, so without going deep, you have only with the large images, which can slow them down. Yet, 16 two choices - CCD and CMOS. Here, the latter is a better MP camera is more than enough for detailed images. choice if you are looking for a detailed high-quality image Zoom - A longer focal length lens lets you get closer production at an affordable rate. (Refer August 2014 Issue without moving. In order to accommodate both wide-angle for more information). shots of an entire scene as well as long-distance close-ups, Lens - The camera lens is a combination of several lens with the bigger zoom ranges is the right choice. If you elements. There are two important specs related to all love to capture close-ups then choose more than 15X zoom lenses: aperture and focal length(s). camera. Focal length - The lens’ focal length, measured in Light sensitivity - A camera’s sensitivity to light is millimeters, conveys the magnification of the image and specified as ISO sensitivity; the higher the number, the the amount of the scene covered by the lens (called the better the camera’s ability to shoot in low light. However, a angle of view). A lens that covers multiple focal lengths is a camera with up to 6400 ISO sensitivity is the perfect choice zoom lens, and the zoom spec is the ratio of the longest to to click detailed images even in night. Another factor - as the shortest focal length: a 20-100mm lens, therefore, has sensitivity rises, so does the amount of noise increases a 5x zoom. A lens of a single focal length is called a prime (those colored speckles you see in night shots). lens, and very flat ones are usually referred to as pancake Viewfinder - While most consumer cameras these days primes. have eliminated a viewfinder altogether, more advanced • Ultra wide angle (less than 18mm) is good for very large models still have them. They’re useful when it’s hard to scenes where lens distortion adds rather than detracts read an LCD in sunlight, and holding the camera up to from the appeal. your eye forces you into a more stable body position for • Wide-angle (around 18mm to 30mm) is good for group shooting. shots, landscapes, and street photography • Normal (about 30mm to 70mm) is good for portraits Types of viewfinders and snapshots • Through-The-Lens (TTL) - Used to be found on film • Telephoto (about 70mm to 300mm) is good for point-and-shoots portraits and sports • Electronic ViewFinder (EVF) - EVFs have an advantage • Super Telephoto (greater than 300mm) is good for while shooting videos, as you can’t simultaneously view sports, wildlife and stalking and record video using a TTL viewfinder, plus they can The aperture - The aperture is the size of the opening simulate what the photo will look like. that lets in light, alternatively referred to as an f-stop or f Image stabilization (IS) - This is what keeps your photos number. The lower the number, the larger the aperture. from displaying camera shake. There are two physical The largest aperture usually, varies over the zoom range. types: in-camera sensor shift and in-lens optical. While Lens specs generally list the maximum aperture at the they perform similarly, optical IS seems to work a little 46 PCQUEST OCTOBER 2014 pcquest.com twitter.com/pcquest facebook.com/pcquest linkd.in/pcquest [email protected] better while shooting videos, but sensor-shift means that thick, but lack the manual controls that you’d use to tweak for interchangeable-lens models you don’t have to wait settings such as ISO and white balance. for the manufacturer to put IS in the lens and the lenses is 25mm wide-angle lens - The wide-angle lens likely to cost less and be a little smaller. measurement dictates how much you can fit in a fully Battery life and type - Most cameras use lithium- zoomed-out frame. A lower number is best to ensure your ion rechargeable battery packs. While they offer greater landscape and group shots are up to scratch. battery life than readily available AA size batteries, they 5m Flash range - A built-in flash is standard with all are generally designed for a specific make or model of digital compact cameras, but it needs to be strong enough camera. There are models using AA batteries, but they’re to properly illuminate your shots. A 5m flash range is the commonly, lower-end compacts and larger mega-zoom minimum standard to watch out for. cameras. When buying a camera, check out how many Waterproofing - Waterproof cameras have a limited shots its battery has been rated for, a specification that has zoom, but most can withstand being dropped 10 meters been standardized by CIPA. underwater. Face detection - Technology that identifies one or Tips to choose the right DSLR multiple faces in a scene, locks focus on it and adjusts Awesome photos - With superior image resolution you the picture settings accordingly around that person. The will get professional photos. The bigger the image sensor, feature is a real help for those who take lots of pictures of the better result. The best DSLRs have sensors featuring groups of friends and family. 24-megapixels or more, meaning they can capture a huge Burst/continuous shooting rate - A measure of the amount of photographic detail. number of frames per second a camera can capture, this Interchangeable lenses - For more creative shots you spec can get quite confusing. Optimally, you want a high need interchangeable lenses. Most budget level DSLR and frame rate, at full resolution, with auto-focus and auto- CSC cameras come with a starter ‘kit lens’. exposure, for a reasonable number of frames. Sensor cleaning - DSLR means frequent swapping Video - For typical vacation videos or videos of the between lenses, so choose a camera that has automatic kids, you want 1080/30p - ‘1080’ refers to 1920x1080 sensor cleaning. This vibrates the sensor to keep it free resolution, also referred to as Full HD, while ‘30p’ stands from dust that can be introduced when it is exposed to the for 30fps progressive video - uses more lines and pixels to elements as you swap over the lenses. make up each frame of the footage, offering more true-to- Extended dynamic range - The dynamic range of a life images when played on a high definition TV. DSLR camera measures how effectively it can pick out Screen - Size of the screen, in inches, on which you detail in very bright or very dark areas of a scene. A high view digital camera images. Larger screens assist with dynamic range means it will boost the detail and contrast photo composition and make it easier to view pictures in a photo. once they’re taken. A camera with touchscreen allows you to control different options on the LCD screen easily. Tips to choose the right bridge camera Storage capability - Higher storage capability means Low light photos - Bridge cameras generally have the same more space to save a number of snaps and videos on sized camera sensor as a compact camera but improved your camera. photo processing technology. This means more detailed GPS - If you love knowing exactly where you were when shots with an improved contrast between colors. you took a photo, you’ll want a camera with a built-in Manual controls - Choose a bridge camera that offers GPS (global positioning system) receiver. Typically found automatic settings, such as scene modes, as well as manual in rugged or higher-end cameras, the GPS receiver uses control over aspects such as aperture and shutter priority satellite positioning to tag your pictures with location data. modes, enabling a creative edge in your photography.