Digital Camera on the Web » computers

How A Digital Camera Works

Paul Stevens — Tue, 10 May 2011 09:59:03 +0000

An electronic digital camera works a lot like film camera in that light comes in through the lens and it is captured to create a picture. The way the image is captured is what makes an electronic digital camera different than a film camera. With a film camera, you press the shutter button which opens the shutter letting in the light. The light entering the lens is exposed to the film and causes chemical reactions within the film to create your photograph. In a dslr camera the picture is captured with an image sensor that converts the light rays into electronic signals which are then kept in a file in the buffer memory.

The light detector or image sensor is known as charged couple device (CCD) and it is comprised of individual light sensitive picture elements popularly known as pixels. Digital cameras tend to be measured in megapixels or millions of pixels. A camera having a 3000 x 2000 array of pixels within the image sensor would contain 6,000,000 pixels and is known as a 6 megapixel camera. When the light hits the CCD it breaks it down into the millions of pixels and measures the amount of light and color to generate a number for each pixel. Your digital picture is really a long string of numbers that is stored at a file in memory. The LCD screen on the back of the camera shows you the picture which the CCD is capturing.

Digital photographs have to be compressed or the file size would be enormous and fill up way too much memory. The most frequent compressed format is JPG which stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group. The higher the amount of photo information is kept the better the picture quality and the bigger the file. The more compressed the photo is, the lower the quality and the smaller the file size. The smaller file size makes for shorter load time plus you may store more photos in memory. One does sacrifice quality however.

The fact that digital images are stored digitally means they easier to keep, share and manipulate. If you open up a picture inside an editor such as Photoshop, you are able to change the quality of the photo by simply clicking on a setting. Once you do that it changes the numbers that the pixels are storing to generate the effects. For instance, if you wish to make the picture 10% brighter, the image editor would alter the pixel numbers by 10 percent to show increased light or brightness.

Some digital camera models have built-in effects and you may make a photographic effect in the camera immediately after you take the picture. Something you simply can\'t do with film cameras.

Find out about the new Mirrorless Cameras on the market and check out my lens on Mirrorless Cameras too.

Enhancing Lithium-Ion Battery Performance

Johnathon Webster — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:54:09 +0000

Is your notebook starting to feel more like a desktop, constantly needing to be plugged in and recharged? This is a classic symptom of battery degradation capacity loss, where batteries become less effective at carrying a charge. Unfortunately, you cannot completely stop capacity loss, and for this reason Lithium-Ion batteries normally last just 2-4 years. However, there are several steps you can take to slow the degradation process, making it more likely that your battery will last four years instead of two.

1. Keep Your Battery Away from High Temperatures

This is quite possibly THE most important factor that will influence how long your battery lasts. All manufacturers agree that it\'s extremely essential to avoid excessive heat, which destroys the battery\'s effectiveness. Apple recommends keeping your battery between 50F-95F when in use, with room temperature 70 F being ideal.

To keep your laptop--and its battery--within the recommended temperature range, use it on a flat surface that allows air to flow from the vents underneath. A cooling station is a great way to keep air circulating. You can get one for as little as $10 on Amazon. It\'s best to keep your laptop off of bedding comforters, pillows, and clothing, these materials not only collect heat, but also prevent your computer from ventilating.

2. \"When using wall current, is it OK to keep the battery in the laptop?\" It depends.

Shoppers frequently wonder if it\'s a good idea leave the battery in your computer if it is frequently plugged-in. This is a highly contested issue and there is a lot of inconsistent information on the web, even amongst manufacturers! Apple advises against the practice while Dell says it doesn\'t matter. After researching this issue for some time, I\'ve concluded that it depends on your computer usage habits.

If your computer is always connected to an external power source, runs a lot programs that require a lot of computing power, and has several peripherals connected to it, you should definitely remove the battery. In situations like this, the laptop itself is producing considerable amounts of heat, and with your battery always inside of it, your charge capacity may deteriorate quickly.

According to BatteryUniversity.com, 40% capacity loss occurs in as little as 3 months if lithium-ion batteries are kept in extremely hot environments--above 140 F--while being fully charged.

If your computer typically doesn\'t get this hot, and runs on battery power often, the battery can stay inside. Ideally, try to alternate between using wall current and battery power to \"keep the electrons moving.\"*

3. Your Battery Should Calibrated Every Month

Over time, your battery\'s charge meter becomes less accurate. You might have experienced this first hand--I certainly have.

One minute, your computer tells you that your battery has an hour of charge left, but then just a little while later, it\'s down to 20 minutes. Sometimes the battery may actually have a lot less charge than the battery meter indicates. This can force your laptop to shut down unexpectedly.

Occasional calibrations help to keep the charge meter accurate.

To calibrate your battery, Apple says to follow these steps*:

1--Fully charge your laptop. 2--Keep it fully charged for at least two hours. You may use it during this time. 3--Unplug the power adapter and run the laptop on battery power alone. Use the computer until the battery is completely depleted. The system should automatically shuts off or go to sleep. 4--Keep it off or sleep for at least 5 hours. 5--Plug in the laptop until the battery is fully charged.

4. Don\'t Frequently Discharge the Battery 100%

Unlike last decade\'s NiCd batteries, lithium-ion batteries should not be fully depleted--except during calibrations. Your discharges should go no lower than 50%.

According to BatteryUniversity.com, if you usually deplete your battery 100% you can expect an average lifetime of 500 charge/discharge cycles. Compare that to batteries that are only 25% discharged, which have an average lifespan of 2500 cycles. Shallow discharges exert far less stress on the battery than full discharges do.

5. Exercise efficient use battery power

Bluetooth, wireless adapters, USB peripherals, etc. all put additional stress on the battery. When not in use, it\'s best do disable these components.

This goes hand-in-hand with tip 4. Conservative energy use both prevents the battery from becoming fully depleted and lowers your laptop\'s operating temperature.

6. When Storing Batteries, Make Sure They Are 40-60% Charged

Most manufacturers recommend moderately charging your battery before storing it. Apple says to store batteries with 50% charge, HP says 30-50%, and Dell 40-60%.

Storing your battery fully charged can actually cause capacity loss. On the other hand, since lithium-ion batteries self-discharge over time, a fully discharged battery runs the risk of being rendered useless if it falls below a critical voltage after a full discharge. The fact that lithium-ion batteries self-discharge over time increases the likelihood of this occurring. Storing the battery at close to half of its fully capacity protects against both scenarios.

Overall, lithium-ion batteries prefer everything in moderation. Keep them from getting too hot or too cold, and don\'t let them remain fully charged or fully discharged for long periods of time. Although all batteries eventually need to be replaced, you can extend the life of your battery by using it efficiently.

*Reference list can be accessed at the ShopGuides blog. View our in-depth review of the ASUS G73JW gaming laptop. With a NVIDIA GTX 460M graphics card and Intel i7 Quad-Core processor, the ASUS G73JW delivers the computing power you need to dominate today\'s cutting-edge games.. This article, Enhancing Lithium-Ion Battery Performance has free reprint rights.

Hybrid Cameras Explained

Paul Stevens — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 09:58:48 +0000

Hybrid cameras, also known as mirror less cameras, are a new strain of camera that combine the compactness of your compact digital camera together with the image quality of a digital single lens reflex camera. The modern hybrid cameras don\'t have a single lens reflex mirror removing some of the bulk of a DSLR, but have a larger image sensor than your standard compact digital for better photos. A hybrid camera also does not have a normal viewfinder as in a DSLR, but rather uses an LCD screen or an electronic viewfinder that can be purchased separately. The hybrid cameras have interchangeable lenses similar to a DSLR, making them versatile enough to get many types of shots. They also take incredible HD video in 780p or 1080p format.

Hybrid cameras are the answer to that middle market of consumers who do not want to invest in high end DSLRs, but want to get excellent quality pictures than a compact digital. The hybrids are compact enough to carry around without difficulty. On many models, you are able to instantly record HD video without dealing with a menu. Most models run in the $300 - $1,000 range, which makes them very affordable to many people.

Olympus and Panasonic use what\'s known as a micro four thirds format for interchangeable lenses. It is an attempt to come up with a standard format for digital camera lenses to make it possible to change with advanced DSLR lenses. Micro four thirds refer to the ratio of the image sensor, which is a 4 X 3. This size is smaller than an ordinary 35mm, but about 10 times larger than a regular digital compact. The increased size and quality allow the photographer to shoot in lower light without worrying about graininess connected with smaller image sensors.

Many major camera brands have come out with their own version of the hybrid camera. Panasonic led the way with the Lumix G1, then came Olympus with the PEN series. Sony came out with the NEX 3 and 5. Nikon and Canon have promises to come out with hybrids very soon.

With all the hype surrounding the modern hybrid cameras, it remains to be seen if the marketplace for this kind of camera will take off. Sales have steadily increased since 2008 and it\'s predicted to take off by 2012.

Hybrids offer the best of both worlds. They are compact enough to cart around easily and powerful enough to take great photos.

Before you buy anything online check out my lens on Hybrid Camerasand my article on Buying Digital Cameras

A Good Micro SD 16 GB

Ryan Travis — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:37:59 +0000

It is mind boggling when you imagine thousands of data being stored in a small piece of material like the micro sd 16gb.

Detachable versatile memory cards are growing in demand in pace with the growing demand of extra memory in movable devices. Memory cards are storage cards that are solid-state with no movable pieces; hence, they perform quietly storing large volumes of data safely.

The Secure Digital card or SD card was the de-facto standard for memory cards; that is before 16gb micro sd came on the scene. SD cards are very stable; formatted like the memory card which was developed by Toshiba, SanDisk and Matsushita to be used in easy to carry devices such as the cell phones, MP3 players, digital cameras, laptops and game consoles. SD cards come in the size of 24mm32mm2.1mm, following the older format of the MMC.

As the gadget size continues to shrink, memory cards are required to be more powerful. The SD card shrank to become a miniSD at the specification of 20 by 21.5 by 1.4 millimeters with the microSD following closely behind at a size 15 by 11 by 1millimeters. Currently the microSD holds the record of being the smallest memory card available in today\'s technology market. Its format was created by SanDisk but was taken on by the special SD card Association (SDA) in the year 2005. SDA managed to design 3 different capacities for the market; they were 32MB, 64MB and 128MB. The manufacturer also provided accompanying card and adapters for easy usage on various gadget brands. The versatility of the microSD prompted many companies to follow suit in its design and usage; hence, the drastic drop in pricing. When the consumers demanded more memory, SanDisk introduced the 16gb micro sd in 2008 at a starting price of $120.

In buying memory cards, sd micro 16gb is a very practical choice. One 16gb memory card is better than three or four low-capacity ones in terms of price and convenience. Imagine how hassle-free it is to have all your data stored in only memory card. there will be no need for constant changing.

Manufacturers of the 16gb sd micro assure a high transfer performance of their products to prevent hiccups during data transfer to and from a computer. With the larger memory, the gadget can multitask with different applications such as playing music, videos and games. There is never a worry of running out of space with a 16gb micro sd memory card; hence, your gadget\'s features are utilized to its maximum potential.

A 16gb sd micro is definitely a good choice for many people who are searching for a media storage device to keep their music and movies on. The micro sd 16gb is probably one of the most popular media storage devices available on the market right now.

Gaming Computers And How You Can Avoid Paying More Than You Should For Parts

Joanna Fredricson — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 14:44:33 +0000

The fact that you will find it very rewarding to build your own computer is just one of the many benefits that this will bring. However if you discover that you have spent far more than you needed to on parts for your computer you could end up feeling very disappointed.

What follows are just a few tips to help you avoid paying too much for spare parts.

- One of the main reasons why people tend to spend too much on their parts for their gaming computer is that they rush into things and don\'t take the time to consider all the options. It is understandable that people want to get building their dream computer, but if you don\'t do the required research you are highly likely to pay too much. By looking around at the various prices on offer, you are much more likely to get the best prices that you can.

- You are not going to be the first person to build a gaming computer so it pays to benefit from the knowledge and experience of those how have walked this trail before. You will find that there are plenty of people online willing to share their experience of building their own gaming computers. You can also find out from them, where they bought the cheapest and best parts.

- Buying brand name parts for your computer is the best route to go down if you have the money. At least that way you are guaranteed quality. But when it comes to parts for your computer you can find really good parts that are cheaper than the branded ones. You need to be careful though with this type of purchase because some of the cheap parts are not very good.

- Some sellers will charge more for the same part that another seller is charging so be careful and always compare prices.

When it comes to gaming cards, and r4 carte in particular, follow the link for a wealth of choice.

Get the finest digital camera for you

Geoff James — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 11:48:21 +0000

Modern engineering is awesome isn\'t it? Weekly it appears there are up-to-the-minute developments and new and better digital cameras approaching the market. However how do you decide which is the best value camera? What are mega pixels, LCD dimensions and memory cards? Here\'s a rapid explanation on what to look for.

What does mp mean?

A digital image consists of many of little square shapes. Fundamentally mega pixels are the quantity of little squares making up the photograph. one mega pixel is 1 million tiny squares! The larger the digit (4,6 8 mps) the nicer. The additional mps you get, the clearer your depiction. If you wish to move in on specific elements of your image they could be clearer and less blurred with higher mega pixels.

What\'s LCD dimension?

Every digital cameras include a little display on the back so you can observe what image you\'re taking without using the viewfinder. You may also evaluate the movies you have got. The larger the display, the better it is for you to distinguish your pictures.

Optical or digital zoom?

Really you want to possess equally optical and digital zoom. If you could afford it head for a higher optical zoom rather than digital, since the outcomes are nicer. The majority of reasonably priced digital cameras have an optical zoom between 2x - 12x.

How big a memory card?

The memory card is the chip where your images are saved before you transfer them to computer or print them out. Each of the key manufacturers of camera has a distinctive sort of memory card so be sure you get the right one. Most cameras include a small memory card, so it may be sensible to consider buying a bigger one to fit a larger number of pictures on. They at this time go to 2 GB or higher, which will hold 1000\'s of images.

You\'ll notice countless great cameras in the shops that are lovely for day-to-day use & won\'t cost too much. The prices are to be lessening constantly as well so never pay too much for an up to date model if all you desire are good celebration & relatives pictures.

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