A Practical Guide

A digital camera is, in principle, no different to the very first cameras developed nearly 200 years ago. Images are captured by light entering the camera through a lens onto a light sensitive surface.

The heart of a digital still camera is an electronic image sensor or CCD chip which takes the place of photographic film. Instead of grains of sliver halide, the surface of the chip is covered with millions of light sensitive picture elements or 'pixels'. More pixels will give a clearer, sharper image with crisper colours. The CCD chips convert images into digital data which is then stored onto a removable memory card.

The card is then connected to your computer either directly from the camera or from a card reader, the pictures are downloaded and the card is erased and ready to use again. In film cameras you then have to wait to have the film developed but in digital cameras the image can be viewed immediately and printed seconds later.

There are many advantages to owning a digital camera, other that not having the cost of film and processing to worry about after the initial cost of the camera. You can check your pictures on the camera's LCD viewing screen and instantly retake a shot if you are not happy with it. There's no waiting for prints to come back from the lab; they can be in your hands minutes after you pressed the shutter button.

Digital cameras can have all the creative features of their film camera counterparts, plus a lot more, including basic movie-making facilities (with sound) and a range of special effects. You are also free to digitally manipulate the images which means that they can be cropped, red eye can be rectified and people and objects can be moved and replaced. Add to this that they can also be sent anywhere in the world via email and can be stored on your computer ready to use later for illustrating documents and web pages.

There are a few things to take into consideration when buying your new digital camera. Budget models, usually costing under £100, are best avoided as their limitations will only leave you feeling dissatisfied and needing to upgrade almost immediately. Models with larger, brighter viewing screens are worth the extra if you want to check your pictures on the spot. A zoom is a welcome addition for framing shots but make sure the zoom on your digital camera is an ‘optical zoom’ as digital zooms will only degrade the quality of your pictures.

The prices of digital cameras are falling rapidly and it is worth budgeting for a spare battery as digital cameras are quite power hungry. A higher capacity memory card is a worthwhile investment too as the ones supplied often store only a few pictures.

Digital cameras are now far more popular than film cameras. The latest generation provide extremely high quality images, are easy to use and offer a wide range of additional features.

Select the link below to browse all the latest Digital Cameras from leading manufacturers, such as: Nikon, Canon, Fuji, Sony, Kodak, Minolta, Pentax and others.


View the latest Digital Compact Cameras...

Your Honeymoon in Barbados...
The first smile of your new-born baby...
Your Daughter's Wedding Day...
Your Son's Graduation...
Your Grandchild's first steps...
Your Silver Wedding Anniversay in Paris...

A lifetime of priceless, precious moments can be captured and kept forever on a Digital Camcorder.



View the latest Digital Camcorders...

Print your own professional quality photographs at very low prices. Check out the latest models from Canon, Hewlett Packard and Epsom, including a range of dedicated 'Photo' printers.

Use a scanner to restore the photos you thought were lost forever! Scan in the original copy of your old, damaged photograph, use a graphics program such as Photoshop to remove the damaged parts, then print out a brand new image!

View the latest printers and scanners...

So you've bought your camera... and now you're ready to move on!

Experienced photographers will tell you that a successful photograph is often enhanced through the use of accessories such as tripods, lighting, reflectors, light meters, flash guns, lenses, filters and of course a case to carry it all in!




View a wide range of photographic accessories...

Finding a reliable method of storing valuable images is essential for any photographer, amateur or professional. CompactFlash storage cards are available in a variety of sizes from 512MB to a massive 16GB!

Once the images have been safely transferred to a computer, it is well worth backing them up on either a CD, DVD or an external hard drive.


View storage media...

Everything you need to edit, enhance, and show your photos.

Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 4.0 software combines power and simplicity to help you do it all. Edit and enhance your photos by fixing common flaws instantly or using advanced options for more control. Keep every photo at your fingertips. And show off your creativity in even more entertaining ways, including cards, calendars, and more.

More details on Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 4.0 and other software programs...

Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 is the consumer version of Adobe's professional-level graphics program, Adobe Photoshop. Powerful and flexible, Photoshop Elements adjusts to your level of expertise and ability. Quickly fix photos with the easy-to-use tools in the Quick Fix mode or switch to the Standard Edit mode to have all the tools at your disposal. Become a digital artist, optimize images for the Web, or create vast panoramas. Use the Photo Organizer to catalog your photo collection, print or order copies, create slide shows, album pages, greeting cards, calendars, and more. The sample pictures the author uses to illustrate his examples are included so you can follow along with him.

Click here to begin learning Adobe Photoshop Elements 4 today...