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[D358]Digital Camera To Web Camera

by Brandon Layne, Bra

I didn't buy a digital camera when they first came out. All you could get were 1 megapixel models with no optical zoom capability. Maybe a good replacement for the cardboard throwaways you get at the supermarket, but I much preferred the quality images I got from my (now 20 year old) Nikon 35mm SLR film camera.

When I finally did buy a digital camera a few years ago, I picked up a slightly used 2.1 megapixel from Olympus digital camera with a 3x autofocus optical zoom. At the time, it was as good a value as you could get when buying a digital camera, but technology being what it is - it's now considered a midrange consumer level camera.

Well, while I'm still satisfied with my Nikon film-based camera, I've been thinking about buying a new digital camera for a few months now. That's because I've seen the amazing shots that my friends have taken with their cameras, and I want to be able to get the same results. In addition, I'm using my 35mm SLR much less these days just because it's so much more convenient to use my digital camera, and I've got a bag full of film that I've never found the time to have developed. It's finally time to buy a new digital camera to actually replace the 35mm camera.

Towards that end, I've been reading online guides and digital camera reviews to catch up on exactly what to look for when buying a digital camera. This research is very helpful, as I evaluate which cameras are easy to use, produce high-quality photos, come packed with features, and are the best bargains. In fact, these resources make the task of buying a digital camera easier than I imagined it would be.

Since I've been doing all this research beforehand, I'm ready to make my purchase now that I've decided that buying a digital camera is the right move for me. I've read about people getting fantastic bargains from online stores, so that's where I'll look first. I also read store reviews as part of my research into buying a digital camera, so I know which websites were trustworthy and which ones to avoid. As a result, I'll be able to complete my purchase without a single problem.

Now that I've made the decision, I really can't remember what was preventing me from buying a new digital camera a long time ago! I can't wait to get it so I can play around with the settings, and try out the different features that are available on these newer digital cameras. If you ask me, this is the way photography was meant to be.

If you've been thinking about buying a digital camera, I recommend that you go ahead and do it sooner rather than later. You'll be amazed at how much easier it is to take pictures with this kind of equipment and how much better the pictures turn out.

Buying a digital camera can be a scary proposition, especially if you've only dealt with 35mm cameras in the past. Though the market used to be pretty small it's exploded, leaving consumers a huge range of options from $20 point and shoot digitals to $1,000+, professional level digital single lens reflex setups. So what sort of camera is right for you?

The biggest thing to keep in mind when buying a digital camera is what you plan on using the camera for. For example, if you want a small, easy to carry camera for taking photos at parties and emailing them to friends, you probably want a small, ultra-light camera. These cameras are point-and-shoots with little or no zoom and a relatively low resolution, but the small resolution won't matter unless you're printing the photos larger than 4x6, and the ultra-small size of these cameras makes them easy to drop into a purse or shirt pocket for a night out.

Or, maybe you want to use your digital camera in the same way you did your 35mm, sending a few photos to friends and printing others out for storage in albums or for a few larger wall hangings. Then consider buying a digital camera in the point-and-shoot range, something with a resolution between three and five mega pixels. Though these cameras may not always fit in a shirt pocket, they're still easy to carry and use. Most come with a decent optical zoom that will allow you to get close to your subject, a few different shooting modes for taking portraits, indoor, and outdoor shots, and various other features depending on the model and manufacturer. The higher resolution will allow you to print out crisp photos, either at home or at a photo processing store.

If you're buying a digital camera to compete with your 35mm SLR or want to get into more advanced digital techniques, you'll want something in between the point-and-shoot and the full-on, professional digital SLR. You fit into the ?prosumer? category, squarely in between the professional and the standard consumer. In the past five years the digital camera market has really responded to this section of the market, offering up a large number of fully-featured, relatively inexpensive cameras. Digital SLRs with a full range of interchangeable lenses usually start around $1,000, while other cameras with many of the features of the SLRs but without the interchangeable lens system can be had for much less.

Whatever you're looking for, be sure to do your homework while buying a digital camera and try out a few cameras before you buy. If the camera you buy matches your needs well, you'll be taking great pictures for years.

Article Source : Pg. 19

About Author

Both Brandon Layne & Russel Clark are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Brandon Layne has sinced written about articles on various topics from Digital Camera, Digital Photos. Brandon Layne is a "serious amateur" using both film and digital cameras to shoot primarily outdoor and action shots, and publishes a