HIT191 > Widgets & Gadgets: Digital Cameras
Digital Cameras

Digital cameras are now a "gadget" that has become available in many forms - included in your mobile phone, a consumer point and shoot device or a more sophisticated instrument that looks and feels like many of the standard 35mm cameras that were the major photography tool in the recent past.

In this topic you will explore digital camera basics so that you can not only be an informed consumer of these very useful products, but also an informed and competent user.


Develop your skills - Digital Cameras

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Skills
To understand the basics of digital cameras you will investigate:

  • Why use digital photographs?
  • Types of digital camers
  • Functions and features

You will use your internet skills to access a range of web based reference sites and online resources for this topic.


Why use digital cameras?

Digital photography has been adopted by many amateur snapshot photographers, who take advantage of the convenience of the form when sending images by email, placing them on the World Wide Web, or displaying them in digital picture frames. Given the popularity of the digital image, what are some advantages?

A short reading from Curtin (2002), outlines 7 reasons for the sudden surge of interest in this form of media and also outlines three steps in the digital photography process.


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Activity:
Why Digital?

Read Ch 2, Why Go Digital? from A Short Course in Choosing a Digital Camera.


TASK: Why Digital?

Types of digital cameras
Because of the popularity of digital cameras there are now quite a lot available on the market. If you have one which type do you think yours is?

Find out more about the different types of digital cameras, review the following online article and then complete the task.


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Types of
Digital Cameras

Types of digital cameras
(Ch 4: A Short Course in Choosing a Digital Camera)

 


 

 

 

 



Compare ideas
Compare ideas

 
TASK: If you have a digital camera, which of the following categories does it fit into:
     • point and shoot cameras
     • prosumer cameras
     • professional cameras
     • digital video cameras
     • speciality cameras
     • novelty cameras

Explain your answer

Answer

Is your camera a point and click or prosumer camera. These make up the bulk of the home user market today.



Functions and features of digital cameras

The major difference between a digital camera and a traditional camera is that there is no film in a digital camera. Instead a digital camera uses a computer chip to record the image as a series of dots called pixels. The more pixels, the larger you can print the image without losing detail.

To understand how to use a digital camera, it is important to understand what features and functions are available. Two interactive tutorials from Choice Magazine will help you.


Work through the two tutorials and them complete the activity.


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Comparison Table
(34k)
TASK: Relate the information in the Choice Magazine to your own digital camera. Use the table provided (see opposite) to complete an overview of the specifications of your camera.

Tips & tricks icon Tips & Tricks

Tips for taking digital photographs

Choice Magazine provides some tips for taking photos with your digital cameras.

Important features

When buying your digital camera the most important feature is the optical zoom. The greater magnification available the more options you have in taking photos.

Putting it to work: Digital cameras

Learn about how to manipulate digital images here as well as some extra info about how to buy a digital camera.

Manipulating digital images


File Formats
File Formats

File Formats
Resizing digital
images

File Formats
Digital image
editing

Once you have taken your digital images with your camera - what do you do with them. Use the following activities to understand the basics:

  1. File formats
  2. Resizing your digital images
  3. More on digital image editing.

Ensure that you share your photos in a format that other people can access readily.

 

 

 


Buying your digital camera
Buying your
digital camera

How to buy the right camera for your needs

The first step in purchasing a digital camera is deciding what wort of photographer you are. Use this article to find out what would be best for your needs:

What type of camera do you think is right for you?

 



What have I learned?

After completing these activities you should:
  • be able to identify the different parts of a digital camera
  • understand how to choose a camera that's right for you
  • be able to share your images in appropriate size and file formats.

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