Camera buying tips - Carleton University · 2014. 10. 6. · modes scene modes maximum apErturE screen size Macr O auto Focus optical zoom Focal length image Format image stabiLization

Camera buying tips

C a m e r a B u y i n g

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introduCtion J T e r m i n o l o g y D e m y s T i f i e D J i m a g e s i z e — m e g a p i x e l s J z o o m c a p a b i l i T y J s T a r T i n g T h e p r o c e s s e s s J p o i n T & s h o o T v s d s l r s J W h e r e T o b u y c a m e r a s J c a m e r a e x T r a s

C a m e r a B u y i n g

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the informationK n o W l e D g e i s p o W e r

C a m e r a B u y i n g

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O r i e n t a t i O n s e n s O r

L i t h i u m - i o n

S t o r a g e t y p e S

V i d e o F o r m a t

ExposurE compEnsation

M e t e r i n g

F L a s h m o d e s

s c e n e m o d e s

maximum apErturE

s c r e e n s i z e

M a c r O

a u t o F o c u s

optical zoom

F o c a l l e n g t h

i m a g e F o r m a t

i m a g e s t a b i L i z a t i o n

WhitE balancE

i s o

procEssor

s e n s O r t y p e

s e n s o r s i z e

e f f e c t i v e p i x e l s

m a x r e s o L u t i o n

S e n S o r

body typE

terminology demystified

C a m e r a B u y i n g

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Body Type size of camera (ie, compact)max resoluTion largest image size in pixelseffeCTive pixels megapixel size of image

sensor Type usually cmos or ccDproCessor Technical information

iso Different “film” speed settingsWhiTe BalanCe Different presets

CusTom WhiTe BalanCe usually just yes or noimage sTaBilizaTion if the camera has is

unCompressed formaT The raw format, if applicableJpeg qualiTy levels usually fine and normal

foCal lengTh (equiv.) equivalence to a 35mm cameraopTiCal zoom The zoom factor (ie, 5x)

auTofoCus The different af methodsdigiTal zoom baD

maCro foCus range how close the camera can get and still focus

numBer of foCus poinTs Technical informationsCreen size on back of camera

sCreen doTs more is betterlive vieW usually yes or no

maximum aperTure usually a range of f-stopsminimum shuTTer speed good for low light

terminology demystifiedmaximum shuTTer speed stops the action

aperTure/shuTTer prioriTy usually yes or nomanual exposure mode usually yes or no

suBJeCT / sCene modes Variety of environments the camera can recognize

BuilT-in flash usually yes or noflash range How far the flash works, in metres

exTernal flash usually yes or noflash modes Variety of flash settings

ConTinuous drive usually yes (with fps) or no

meTering modes Variety of methods the camera can determine exposure

exposure CompensaTion how to modify the meteringWB BraCkeTing usually yes or no

video formaT Technical informationaudio Channels stereo or other

video resoluTions list of different video sizessTorage Types The type of cards used

BaTTery Type of batteries used, usually pack or cells

BaTTery desCripTion usually lithium-ion

BaTTery life (Cipa) how many shots the camera can take with a full charge (no flash)

dimensions size/weight of camera

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megapixels

J s h o r T a n s W e r - n o J T h e p r o c e s s o r , s e n s o r s i z e a n D s e n s o r T y p e a l l p l a y a f a c T o r i n q u a l i T y o f i m a g e• m o r e p i x e l s o n a s m a l l e r s e n s o r i s n ’ T

a s g o o D a s o n a l a r g e r s e n s o r• c c D V e r s u s c m o s s e n s o r s - e a c h h a V e

T h e i r s T r e n g T h s J q u a l i T y o f T h e l e n s i s a b i g f a c T o r i n i m a g e q u a l i T y• D i s T o r T i o n , f r i n g i n g , c h r o m a T i c

a b e r a T i o n s a r e p r o D u c T s o f i n f e r i o r l e n s e s

i s b i g g e r r e a l l y b e T T e r ?

C a m e r a B u y i n g

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Zoom

J z o o m i s e x p r e s s e D i n 3 W a y s :• a c T u a l ( 3 m m - 2 7 m m )• 3 5 m m e q u i V a l e n T ( 2 4 m m - 1 2 0 m m )

• z o o m f a c T o r ( 5 x ) J a l W a y s l o o K a T T h e o p T i c a l z o o m f a c T o r

J D i g i T a l z o o m i s b a D

g e T T i n g f r o m h e r e T o T h e r e

C a m e r a B u y i n g

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the purChaseK n o W l e D g e i s p o W e r

C a m e r a B u y i n g

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Where to start

J W h o i s i T f o r• c a s u a l u s e r• h o b b i e s T• p r o s u m e r

J W h e n & W h e r e W i l l i T b e u s e D m o s T J T h e s i T u a T i o n f o r g e T T i n g i T• u p g r a D e a n o l D , l o s T o r b r o K e n

c a m e r a• f i r s T c a m e r a

J W h a T K i n D o f c a m e r a T o g e T• ( u l T r a ) c o m p a c T p o i n T a n D s h o o T ( p & s )• d s l r

i T a l l b e g i n s s o m e W h e r e

C a m e r a B u y i n g

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p&s vs. dslr

J p o i n T a n D s h o o T q u a l i T i e s• c o m p a c T• e a s y T o c a r r y• m o s T l y a u T o m a T i c s h o o T i n g• i n e x p e n s i V e

J D s l r q u a l i T i e s• r u g g e D b o D i e s• l o T s o f c r e a T i V e c o n T r o l• s u p p e r i o u r i m a g e q u a l i T y• s i g n i f i c a n T i n V e s T m e n T

i T ’ s a l l a b o u T T h e a c r o n y m s

C a m e r a B u y i n g

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Where to buy

C a m e r a B u y i n g

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What to WatCh for When buying

J s a l e s — e s p e c i a l l y D u r i n g T h e h o l i D a y s J e x T r a s• c a m e r a K i T s — s p a r e b a T T e r i e s , b a g ,

c l e a n i n g s u p p l i e s• m e m o r y c a r D s

J W a r r a n T e e s• m a n u f a c T u r e r W a r r a n T e e i s u s u a l l y

1 y e a r• D e a l e r c a n o f f e r l o n g e r o r m o r e

c o n V e n i e n T W a r r a n T e e s

C a m e r a B u y i n g

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odds & ends

J m e m o r y c a r D s• W a t c H f o r “ c l a s s ” — t H e H i g H e r t H e

n u m b e r , T h e f a s T e r i T W r i T e s D a T a J c a r D r e a D e r s• u s i n g T h e c a m e r a T o T r a n s f e r T h e

p h o T o s u s e s b a T T e r y p o W e r J e x T r a b a T T e r i e s J s T r a p s J c a m e r a b a g s J T r i p o D s

T h o s e l i T T l e e x T r a s s h o W y o u c a r e

C a m e r a B u y i n g

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other sourCes of info

J W o r D o f m o u T h J T h e i n T e r n e T• e x c e l l e n T s o u r c e o f r e V i e W s• w w w . d p r e v i e w . c o m

J s a l e s p e o p l e

a n h o u r j u s T i s n ’ T e n o u g h T i m e

the endc a m e r a b u y i n g T i p s