For those of you who are new to digital camera, the task of choosing your desirable digital camera from tons of choices with wide variety of features could be extremely difficult. It’s maybe true that there are a number of brands, specifications and prices available for you to select. However, understanding some technical vocabulary would help you choose the best digital camera. Here are some technical terms that you should know before you start looking for your camera.

Pixels

Given the technology of digital camera, digital images nowadays consist of millions of very small squares. This is also known as pixels, which normally have their own colors. These tiny little squares are smoothly compiled into digital image like we normally see every day. Therefore, when this image is magnified using computer program, then you are able to see the actual appearance to pixels.

Normally, when we actually describe maximum resolution of pictures which digital camera can create, we use the word “megapixels” rather just pixel. The megapixels (or a million pixels) are probably the most important criteria for determining grades of camera and its price. Also, the bigger megapixels do not always mean superior picture quality. However, it would just mean larger size of image.

To identify how many megapixels your camera can produce, just multiply the amount of pixels in the horizontal line by that in the vertical line. For instance, the camera with the maximum resolution of 2000 by 1600 pixels is called 3.2 megapixel camera.

As mentioned earlier, the megapixels would determine the maximum image size that each camera could produce. So it’s important to bear in mind that, for example, 6.0 megapixels camera is not necessarily better than 5.0 megapixels camera. In fact, other feathers will also impact the performance of digital camera or even more significant than the megapixels. The greater megapixels camera would be important if you want to print out your images since it can create the larger prints.

CMOS and CCD Sensors

Generally, digital camera has a small sensor in order to capture image and then storing it in memory. Like megapixels, the sensors have various sizes ranging from 20 to 40 millimeters squared. Today, only two kinds of sensors will normally be used in digital camera, including CCD (Charged Couple Device) and CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor). The CMOS sensors are generally used in less superior cameras which can create lower image quality. On the contrary, CCD sensors are normally found in more superior cameras with the more expensive price. However, CMOS sensors are not necessarily better than CCD sensors. This is the case when Digital SLR cameras are used.

Zoom – Optical and Digital

Terminology_digital_zoom_vs_optical_zoom

Although zoom functions are provided in every camera, it is still important to know the type of zoom offered. There are two kinds of zoom, optical zoom and digital zoom. Optical zoom is offered only on a film camera, in which the camera lens actually moves in order to create the magnification. On the other hand, digital zoom utilize circuitry to produce larger size of image. To compare between these two types of zoom, the optical zoom can generally create a better image than the digital zoom (see picture above). However, the price of optical zoom is much more expensive than digital zoom but if you really want a quality picture, then the optical zoom should be a good choice for you.

There are still more features to come. Please stay tune to the part two of the terminology you should know.