Digital Camera

Digital camera is the heart of Digital Photography. Does it mean that if we have a device that can be used to take digital pictures, then we are involving with Digital Photography? Not at all, nowadays the Digital kingdom has drawn suppliers and customers from everywhere.

We can find digital cameras made by camera manufacturers, Canon, Olympus etc.; from film manufacturers, Kodak, Fuji etc.; by video and electronic manufacturers, Sony, Casio etc.; by any business other than photography or even our names can be one of them. No technique, no factory, just to get them from OEM sources; we can be one among the thousands of brands in the market.

Too few choices would not be good for customers, yet too many can make one difficult to choose from them.

Of course, we cannot say this one is good, that one is bad. First, we do not have all cameras for testing together. Second, the digital camera users are quite diversified. Last, there are different criteria among us.

So this time, we are not talking about which one is good. Instead, we are discussing some basic knowledge about digital cameras.

Some may use the digital camera for fun pictures. For them, card camera, phone camera etc. would be one of the choices. It is so terrific for privacy that some places do not allow the phone cameras. Certainly, users of this group do not need any technique. Just click and have fun.

Some may suppose that digital cameras are trendy. Yes, it is true. Digital cameras have taken the kingdom of photography and shall remain so in the coming time. However, digital cameras are not so mighty as we may think of. Besides the CCD or CMOS replacing the film, there is not much different from traditional automatic cameras.

By digitizing the image, there is an entire new way of photography. In other words, this is more complicated than film unless we do not care about quality and applications. Without the knowledge and technique covering photographic principles and software applications, we cannot handle the images easily.

Moreover, digital camera is a combination of optic and electronic devices. We have to know that digital camera may have shorter life than traditional cameras. They are fragile too. We must remember that most compact type digital cameras are not for heavy duties. But their life would not be extended if we keep them unused. The best way is to use them occasionally, perhaps once every week or so. We can compare them with electronic devices like radio, CD player etc. They need electricity to keep a healthy state.

Therefore, we should not buy a digital camera when we do not need to take photo. This is not investment. Every now and then, there are new models with better functions or higher resolution or bigger LCD display. Use it in normal way and our payment would not be a waste.

In one way, digital cameras are not as good as conventional ones. With conventional cameras, we can clean them from top to bottom, from outer layer to inner chamber. Even if we are using SLR type of digital cameras, the CCD or CMOS chamber is not something that we should handle. They are delicate parts that only well trained technicians should touch.

Dust is something we have known since the first day of photography. This annoying problem has not been overcome in the digital age. Same as before, the bad practice of free zooming will make thing worse. Zooming the lens will have air moving in and out and dust usually follows. It is advised for all digital camera users to avoid unnecessary zooming. Every time we switch on a compact digital camera, its lens would zoom. Therefore, do not switch on the camera in open area especially in windy days. With SLR, we may change lens. The same way we have in the traditional days that changing lens must be handled in safe area without wind and dust.

Although we may get a new digital camera every two to three years for whatever reasons, yet to be sure of getting good photos without blemishes will require our care of it. If we are bothered by any problem, then the enjoyment of modern technology will turn into a nightmare. That should not be our way.