A Guide to the
Various Camera Modes
If you've bought a camera that offers custom exposure settings and scene modes, you may be confused by all the options available.
We're talking about the different camera modes you find on your new toy.
While the standard Program, Aperture priority and Shutter priority modes are will be familiar to many, the latest digital camera models have many other scene modes which are bewildering to the uninitiated.
Which is then the purpose of this article - to help you understand the most common scene modes available in the digital cameras today.
The camera mode dial on a Nikon D70 camera
Auto Mode
This is the automatic mode found in all cameras. It is used by beginners and professionals who just want to take a quick snap without worrying about exposure settings. In the automatic mode, you will usually not be able to adjust ISO or white balance settings.
Shutter Priority Mode
The Shutter Priority Mode is best used when you're taking fast action photos and is usually found in enthusiast or advanced digital cameras. Here, you select the shutter speed and the camera chooses the best aperture. Some examples would include sports or wildlife photography, where you’ll need a high shutter speed.
Aperture Priority Mode
The Aperture Priority mode is found in many enthusiast level cameras, such as the Kodak EasyShare DX7590, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20 or the Canon PowerShot G6. Essentially, what happens here is that you select the aperture, thereby locking your depth of field. The camera then automatically sets the best shutter speed to match the conditions. When do you use the the Aperture Priority mode? Well, its very suitable when you're shooting a stationary subject when you want to control your depth of field and aren’t too concerned about shutter speed.
Manual Mode
In this camera mode, anything goes. You can set the shutter speed and aperture, with options to change white balance, ISO, flash and even focus on some cameras. Choose this mode if you know what you're doing and want maximum flexibility for experimenting with the photo.
Landscape Mode
As the name implies, the Landscape mode allows you to shoot pictures of landscapes like mountains, Your camera will select the smallest aperture possible under the conditions to maximize depth of field in the image.
Note that the Landscape mode may not always work. Playing with my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20, I found that the camera attempts to deliver sharpness from the foreground to the background - but it really depneds on the lighting conditions and the lens used.
Portrait Mode
If you want to shoot close-ups of people or faces, the Portrait Mode is the mode to choose. When you choose Portrait mode, the camera will select a wide aperture setting, minimizing your depth of field for a soft background effect, and also may adjust your zoom. In addition, the flash setting will try to switch to red-eye reduction.
Macro Mode
If you take pictures of flowers a lot (I do), this mode is invaluable. The Macro Mode allows you to focus on objects at amazingly small distances - sometimes just centimeters from the lens. Use the Macro mode when you need to capture the smallest little details on your subject. When activating this mode, I usually use a tripod for best results.
Sports Mode
If you want to capture fast action, then you'll need the fast shutter speed setting offered by the Sports Mode. When you switch to this mode, your camera will automatically choose the fastest shutter speed possible given the situation. Some cameras will also activate continuous shooting (instead of single frame), enable the evaluative metering mode (if any) and also disable the flash.
Beach & Snow Mode
If you shoot pictures on the beach or the snow, the bright and reflective surfaces will confuse the camera. The Beach & Snow Modes serve to compensate for the abundant ambient and reflected light by slightly overexposing based on the meter reading.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has taught you a thing or two about the various scene modes available in your digital camera. Learn how to use the correct scene mode in a given photo situation - and you'll start to achieve better exposures. Happy shooting!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Photo Software for Your Digital Images
Photo Software for
Your Digital Images
If you’re just starting out in digital photography, you may be worrying a lot about which digital camera to get.
While that is important, do remember that there is another element – image editing. After digital photos are taken, they can (and should) be cleaned up using an image editing program.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the various types of photo software available in the market. Hopefully, it will give you a better insight into the software options available to you.
Beginner Photo Editing Software
If you’re new to editing digital photos and images, a basic photo editing software is what you need. These programs tend to have standard image editing features and allow you to perform basic image editing tasks like rotation, sharpening, cropping and the like. You can refer to my list of the top 5 beginner photo editors for more information.
Personally, I rely on a great tool called Ulead PhotoImpact. This program allows you to all sorts of image effects to your photos using clean, simple-to-use wizards and menus. What’s more, it’s one of the cheapest commercial grade photo editing packages I know of.
Advanced Photo Editing Software
If you need more power in your photo editor, you need to turn to advanced photo editing software. Examples include Adobe Photoshop CS and Corel Painter. These programs have high-end features not found in typical lower-end packages and are used by professional photographers. Their prices are also much higher – so do your research first if you’re thinking of buying one.
Free Photo Editing Software
There are, in fact, many photo editors available for free download on the Internet. These programs offer basic image
editing features and are usually written by individuals. If you want to have a feel of how to edit your photos, try one of these programs out. You can refer to my list of free photo editors for more information.
One of the best programs I know of is the GIMP. It’s a nice, clean image editor originally used under the UNIX operating system but has now been distributed for Windows. You can download it here.
Photo Management Software
This class of photo software has been gaining importance in the last year or so. As a digital photographer, you’ll certainly take many, many photos. How do you go about organizing and maintaining your photo collection? That’s where photo management software comes in.
One of the best programs for this purpose is Adobe Photoshop Album 2.0. It’s my program of choice and I really like the easy to use drag-and-drop capabilities, as well as attractive, clean user interface. Other good options include Ulead Photo Explorer and ACDSee.
Conclusion
I hope this article has helped you understand what types of photo software are available in the market. Personally, I like to combine a good photo editing program like Ulead PhotoImpact with organizing software like Adobe Photoshop Album. This way, I have extreme flexibility when its comes to editing or organizing my digital photos.
Your Digital Images
If you’re just starting out in digital photography, you may be worrying a lot about which digital camera to get.
While that is important, do remember that there is another element – image editing. After digital photos are taken, they can (and should) be cleaned up using an image editing program.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the various types of photo software available in the market. Hopefully, it will give you a better insight into the software options available to you.
Beginner Photo Editing Software
If you’re new to editing digital photos and images, a basic photo editing software is what you need. These programs tend to have standard image editing features and allow you to perform basic image editing tasks like rotation, sharpening, cropping and the like. You can refer to my list of the top 5 beginner photo editors for more information.
Personally, I rely on a great tool called Ulead PhotoImpact. This program allows you to all sorts of image effects to your photos using clean, simple-to-use wizards and menus. What’s more, it’s one of the cheapest commercial grade photo editing packages I know of.
Advanced Photo Editing Software
If you need more power in your photo editor, you need to turn to advanced photo editing software. Examples include Adobe Photoshop CS and Corel Painter. These programs have high-end features not found in typical lower-end packages and are used by professional photographers. Their prices are also much higher – so do your research first if you’re thinking of buying one.
Free Photo Editing Software
There are, in fact, many photo editors available for free download on the Internet. These programs offer basic image
editing features and are usually written by individuals. If you want to have a feel of how to edit your photos, try one of these programs out. You can refer to my list of free photo editors for more information.
One of the best programs I know of is the GIMP. It’s a nice, clean image editor originally used under the UNIX operating system but has now been distributed for Windows. You can download it here.
Photo Management Software
This class of photo software has been gaining importance in the last year or so. As a digital photographer, you’ll certainly take many, many photos. How do you go about organizing and maintaining your photo collection? That’s where photo management software comes in.
One of the best programs for this purpose is Adobe Photoshop Album 2.0. It’s my program of choice and I really like the easy to use drag-and-drop capabilities, as well as attractive, clean user interface. Other good options include Ulead Photo Explorer and ACDSee.
Conclusion
I hope this article has helped you understand what types of photo software are available in the market. Personally, I like to combine a good photo editing program like Ulead PhotoImpact with organizing software like Adobe Photoshop Album. This way, I have extreme flexibility when its comes to editing or organizing my digital photos.
LATEST MODELS OF ADVANCED CAMERAS
I’ve compiled a list of the top 10 advanced digital cameras that are selling like hotcakes in the market right now.
 | Canon EOS 20D The Canon EOS-20D is one of the best digital cameras for the advanced user. With an 8.2 megapixel resolution and a bewildering range of manual modes, this digital SLR will deliver professional looking photos. |
 | Canon PowerShot G6 The Canon PowerShot G6 has a 7.1 megapixel resolution, a 4x optical zoom, as well as a wide range of scene modes and manual controls. Even though it lacks a digital SLR body, the images shot with this camera are nothing short of outstanding. It’s also one of the cheapest advanced digital cameras out there. |
 | Olympus C-7000 The Olympus C-7000 zoom offers a 7.1 megapixel resolution and 5x optical zoom. It also boasts 5 scene modes and full manual options. A very attractive buy, although the optional lenses are not allowed. |
 | Nikon D70 The Nikon D70 is one of the best-selling entry level digital SLRs. It has a solid design, a bewildering range of options, powerful speed, as well as great photo quality. With its cheap price, this 6.1 megapixel SLR is one of the best value cameras for serious photographers looking to upgrade their camera. |
 | Canon Digital Rebel The 6.3 megapixel Canon Digital Rebel is a direct competitor to the Nikon D70. It targets photographers at the lower end of the advanced digital SLR market. Its low price, excellent image quality and speed give the Nikon D70 a run for its money. |
 | Sony Cybershot Pro DSC-V3 The Sony Cybershot Pro DSC-V3 is a decent advanced camera which is light and easy to use. With its 7.2 megapixel resolution and 4x optical zoom, it’s a great buy. Do note the colors can be a bit poor in some shots. |
 | Canon EOS-1D Mark II The Canon EOS-1D Mark II is a new digital SLR aimed at professional photographers who want excellent customization options, great photo quality and impressive speed. This 8 megapixel camera is high on my list of recommendations. |
 | Olympus C-8080 With its 8 megapixels and a 5x optical zoom, the Olympus C-8080 represents great value for those hunting for a digital SLR. While it doesn’t sell as well as the Canon and Nikon SLRs, I think Olympus comes up with pretty decent advanced cameras too. |
 | Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 The Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 is a hot favorite amongst professionals. From a feature and function point of view, it’s one of the best digital SLRs I’ve seen. However, the build quality lacks that nice and heavy SLR feel. |
 | Sony DSC-F828 Featuring a whopping 8 megapixel image resolution, the Sony DSC-F828 comes replete with a powerful 7X zoom lens and great camera optics. Very nice camera indeed. |
Conclusion
There are lot of cameras suitable for the advanced digital photographer, but the list above covers some of my favorites. I particularly like the Nikon D70 and Minolta DiIMAGE A2. One shopping tip to remember is that the camera above tend to be more expensive than the average point-and-shoot model. So do consider carefully whether you need to features before buying the camera. If you're just starting out in digital photography, you may want to try a simpler and cheaper model first.
NEW POWERSHOT W310 DIGITAL CAMERA
NEW POWERSHOT W310 DIGITAL CAMERA
Free 4GB Memory Card + Battery Charger + Camera Pouch
3 Year's Official Sony India Warranty
!! BRAND NEW AND BOX PACKED PRODUCT !!
Stylishly sleek and simple to operate. The Cyber-shot W310 enables you to capture perfect pictures every time with innovative technologies such as Intelligent Auto Mode, Smile Shutter and Face Detection.
• 12.1 Mega Pixels
• Wide angle 4x optical zoom lens
• 2.7 (6.9 cm) Clear Photo LCD Screen
• Intelligent Auto Mode
• Smile Shutter
• Face Detection
Basic Features
Gross Pixels Approx. 12.4 Mega Pixels
Effective Pixels Approx. 12.1 Mega Pixels
Processor Sony Processor
Sensor Type 1/2.3 Super HAD CCD
Optical Zoom 4x
Precision Digital Zoom Approx. 8x
Smart Zoom 8M: Approx. 4.9x, 5M: Approx. 6.2x, VGA: Approx. 25.0x, 16:9: Approx. 8.3x
Lens Sony Lens
F Number 3.0 - 5.8
Focal Length f = (35mm Conversion) 5 - 20mm (28 - 112mm)
Auto Focus Range iAuto (W: Approx. 5cm to Infinity, T: Approx. 50cm to Infinity)
Compatible Recording Media Memory Stick Duo / Memory Stick PRO Duo / Memory Stick PRO Duo (High Speed) / Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo / SD Memory Card / SDHC Memory Card
LCD 2.7 (6.9 cm) (230K pixels), Clear Photo LCD
Stamina (Battery Life) 220 shots / 110mins
Battery System Lithium ION Battery
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
Main Features
Photo Mode Intelligent Auto, Easy Shooting, Program Auto
Scene Selection Twilight / Twilight Portrait / Landscape / Soft Snap / Snow / Beach / High Sensitivity / Gourmet
Still Image Size 12M 4,000 x 3,000
Still Image Size 8M 3,264 x 2,448
Still Image Size 5M 2,592 x 1,944
Still Image Size VGA 640 x 480
Still Image Size 16:9 Mode 9M(4,000 x 2,248) / 2M(1,920 x1,080)
Movie Recording Mode (VGA) 640 x 480, 29.97fps
Movie Recording Mode (QVGA) 320 x 240, 29.97fps
Movie Recording Time Up to 2GB per shoot
Recording Format Motion JPEG / AVI
Still Image Recording Mode Normal (JPEG) / Burst (JPEG)
Aperture iAuto (F3.0 - F4.3) / Program Auto (F3.0 - F4.3)
Shutter Speed iAuto (1/4" - 1/2,000) / Program Auto (1" - 1/2,000)
ISO Sensitivity Setting Auto / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200
Image Stabilizer SteadyShot
Focus Mode Multi-point AF (9 points) / Center-weighted AF
Auto Focus Mode Intelligent
Exposure Compensation Plus / Minus 2.0EV, 1 / 3EV step
White Balance Auto / Daylight / Cloudy / Fluorescent / Incandescent / Flash
Light Metering Multi-Pattern / Center Weighted / Spot
Flash Mode Auto, Flash On, Flash Off, Slow Synchro
Flash Range ISO Auto: Approx. 0.5 - 3.0m (W) / 0.5 - 1.5m (T), ISO3200: up to Approx. 6.0m (W) / 3.0m (T)
Pre-flash Yes
Face Detection Yes
Red-eye Reduction Yes
User Interface
Self-Timer Yes (10sec / 2sec / off)
Auto Review Yes
Index Playback Yes
Playback Moving Image Mode Play back own recorded movie files only
Slide Show Playback Yes (SD)
Trimming / Resize / Playback Zoom Yes / No / 8x
Image Rotation / Divide (MPEG) / Cue & Review Yes / No / Yes
Hand Shake Alert Yes
LCD Brightness Setting Yes
Speaker Volume Control Yes
Internal Memory Full Data Copy (to Memory Stick) Yes
Multi-use Terminal Yes (AV / USB)
USB Connecting Mass Storage / PTP / PictBridge
Other Features
Tripod Receptacle Yes
Battery Remaining Indicator Yes
Recording Media Remaining Indicator Yes
Quick Response
Start-up Approx. 2.0sec
Shutter Time Lag Approx. 0.8sec
Release Time Lag Approx. 0.093sec
Burst Speed (Maximum) Approx. 0.85 fps
Burst Interval (Minimum) Approx. 1.25sec
Body Size
Dimensions (W x H x D) 95.3 x 55.0 x 18.7mm
Weight Approx. 121g (Body), Approx. 137g (With Accessories)
Body Material Metal Face
Supplied Accessories
Battery Lithium ION Battery NP-BN1
Battery Charger BC-CSN
A/V Cable Yes
USB Cable Yes
Power Cord Yes
Wrist Strap Yes
Application Software Picture Motion Browser
Free 4GB Memory Card + Battery Charger + Camera Pouch
3 Year's Official Sony India Warranty
!! BRAND NEW AND BOX PACKED PRODUCT !!
Mega Pixel W Series 4x Optical Zoom Cyber-shot (Black)
Stylishly sleek and simple to operate. The Cyber-shot W310 enables you to capture perfect pictures every time with innovative technologies such as Intelligent Auto Mode, Smile Shutter and Face Detection.
• 12.1 Mega Pixels
• Wide angle 4x optical zoom lens
• 2.7 (6.9 cm) Clear Photo LCD Screen
• Intelligent Auto Mode
• Smile Shutter
• Face Detection
Basic Features
Gross Pixels Approx. 12.4 Mega Pixels
Effective Pixels Approx. 12.1 Mega Pixels
Processor Sony Processor
Sensor Type 1/2.3 Super HAD CCD
Optical Zoom 4x
Precision Digital Zoom Approx. 8x
Smart Zoom 8M: Approx. 4.9x, 5M: Approx. 6.2x, VGA: Approx. 25.0x, 16:9: Approx. 8.3x
Lens Sony Lens
F Number 3.0 - 5.8
Focal Length f = (35mm Conversion) 5 - 20mm (28 - 112mm)
Auto Focus Range iAuto (W: Approx. 5cm to Infinity, T: Approx. 50cm to Infinity)
Compatible Recording Media Memory Stick Duo / Memory Stick PRO Duo / Memory Stick PRO Duo (High Speed) / Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo / SD Memory Card / SDHC Memory Card
LCD 2.7 (6.9 cm) (230K pixels), Clear Photo LCD
Stamina (Battery Life) 220 shots / 110mins
Battery System Lithium ION Battery
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
Main Features
Photo Mode Intelligent Auto, Easy Shooting, Program Auto
Scene Selection Twilight / Twilight Portrait / Landscape / Soft Snap / Snow / Beach / High Sensitivity / Gourmet
Still Image Size 12M 4,000 x 3,000
Still Image Size 8M 3,264 x 2,448
Still Image Size 5M 2,592 x 1,944
Still Image Size VGA 640 x 480
Still Image Size 16:9 Mode 9M(4,000 x 2,248) / 2M(1,920 x1,080)
Movie Recording Mode (VGA) 640 x 480, 29.97fps
Movie Recording Mode (QVGA) 320 x 240, 29.97fps
Movie Recording Time Up to 2GB per shoot
Recording Format Motion JPEG / AVI
Still Image Recording Mode Normal (JPEG) / Burst (JPEG)
Aperture iAuto (F3.0 - F4.3) / Program Auto (F3.0 - F4.3)
Shutter Speed iAuto (1/4" - 1/2,000) / Program Auto (1" - 1/2,000)
ISO Sensitivity Setting Auto / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200
Image Stabilizer SteadyShot
Focus Mode Multi-point AF (9 points) / Center-weighted AF
Auto Focus Mode Intelligent
Exposure Compensation Plus / Minus 2.0EV, 1 / 3EV step
White Balance Auto / Daylight / Cloudy / Fluorescent / Incandescent / Flash
Light Metering Multi-Pattern / Center Weighted / Spot
Flash Mode Auto, Flash On, Flash Off, Slow Synchro
Flash Range ISO Auto: Approx. 0.5 - 3.0m (W) / 0.5 - 1.5m (T), ISO3200: up to Approx. 6.0m (W) / 3.0m (T)
Pre-flash Yes
Face Detection Yes
Red-eye Reduction Yes
User Interface
Self-Timer Yes (10sec / 2sec / off)
Auto Review Yes
Index Playback Yes
Playback Moving Image Mode Play back own recorded movie files only
Slide Show Playback Yes (SD)
Trimming / Resize / Playback Zoom Yes / No / 8x
Image Rotation / Divide (MPEG) / Cue & Review Yes / No / Yes
Hand Shake Alert Yes
LCD Brightness Setting Yes
Speaker Volume Control Yes
Internal Memory Full Data Copy (to Memory Stick) Yes
Multi-use Terminal Yes (AV / USB)
USB Connecting Mass Storage / PTP / PictBridge
Other Features
Tripod Receptacle Yes
Battery Remaining Indicator Yes
Recording Media Remaining Indicator Yes
Quick Response
Start-up Approx. 2.0sec
Shutter Time Lag Approx. 0.8sec
Release Time Lag Approx. 0.093sec
Burst Speed (Maximum) Approx. 0.85 fps
Burst Interval (Minimum) Approx. 1.25sec
Body Size
Dimensions (W x H x D) 95.3 x 55.0 x 18.7mm
Weight Approx. 121g (Body), Approx. 137g (With Accessories)
Body Material Metal Face
Supplied Accessories
Battery Lithium ION Battery NP-BN1
Battery Charger BC-CSN
A/V Cable Yes
USB Cable Yes
Power Cord Yes
Wrist Strap Yes
Application Software Picture Motion Browser
The project aims to design, develop and evalauate a new in-vehicle control system
The project aims to design, develop and evalauate a new in-vehicle control system using advanced digital technolo, and minature cameras which will replace current in-vehicle controls such as In Car Entertainment (ICE), climate and non-safety critical controls. The consortium comprises a mixture of academic, small and medium enterprise companies and a large enterprise company who will work closely together in the development of the system proposed over a period of three years.
It is proposed that a digital system is developed which will detect the driver's hand/finger position and then use this information to initiate the controls. This approach will utilise digital cameras and image processing. The control positions will be indicated on a virtual dashboard using LCD technology thus offering fully configurable layout coupled with inexpensive manufacturing and installation. To ensure that the human factors implications are considered and met in this project the Applied Vision Research Unit (AVRU) at the University of Derby will partake in the design, development and evaluation of the system. This will ensure that a driver-centred approach is adopted utilising ergonomic research methods and visual search monitoring during both simulated and real world driving.
Final Report Summary
The project aims to design, develop and evalauate a new in-vehicle control system using advanced digital technolo, and minature cameras which will replace current in-vehicle controls such as In Car Entertainment (ICE), climate and non-safety critical controls. The consortium comprises a mixture of academic, small and medium enterprise companies and a large enterprise company who will work closely together in the development of the system proposed over a period of three years.
It is proposed that a digital system is developed which will detect the driver's hand/finger position and then use this information to initiate the controls. This approach will utilise digital cameras and image processing. The control positions will be indicated on a virtual dashboard using LCD technology thus offering fully configurable layout coupled with inexpensive manufacturing and installation. To ensure that the human factors implications are considered and met in this project the Applied Vision Research Unit (AVRU) at the University of Derby will partake in the design, development and evaluation of the system. This will ensure that a driver-centred approach is adopted utilising ergonomic research methods and visual search monitoring during both simulated and real world driving.
It is proposed that a digital system is developed which will detect the driver's hand/finger position and then use this information to initiate the controls. This approach will utilise digital cameras and image processing. The control positions will be indicated on a virtual dashboard using LCD technology thus offering fully configurable layout coupled with inexpensive manufacturing and installation. To ensure that the human factors implications are considered and met in this project the Applied Vision Research Unit (AVRU) at the University of Derby will partake in the design, development and evaluation of the system. This will ensure that a driver-centred approach is adopted utilising ergonomic research methods and visual search monitoring during both simulated and real world driving.
Final Report Summary
The project aims to design, develop and evalauate a new in-vehicle control system using advanced digital technolo, and minature cameras which will replace current in-vehicle controls such as In Car Entertainment (ICE), climate and non-safety critical controls. The consortium comprises a mixture of academic, small and medium enterprise companies and a large enterprise company who will work closely together in the development of the system proposed over a period of three years.
It is proposed that a digital system is developed which will detect the driver's hand/finger position and then use this information to initiate the controls. This approach will utilise digital cameras and image processing. The control positions will be indicated on a virtual dashboard using LCD technology thus offering fully configurable layout coupled with inexpensive manufacturing and installation. To ensure that the human factors implications are considered and met in this project the Applied Vision Research Unit (AVRU) at the University of Derby will partake in the design, development and evaluation of the system. This will ensure that a driver-centred approach is adopted utilising ergonomic research methods and visual search monitoring during both simulated and real world driving.
high-performance "camera on a chip" technology
MURRAY HILL, N.J. -- Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation has licensed high-performance "camera on a chip" technology from Lucent Technologies' Bell Labs. The technology will lead to marble-sized video cameras -- ideal for PC videoconferencing and security cameras -- because each camera will use a single quarter-inch silicon chip.
The "camera on a chip" approach, based on the same CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) technology found in today's computer chips, produces real-time video images that rival the quality of images produced by camcorders, which rely on a handful of non-CMOS chips.
"While other companies have tried to use a single CMOS chip in video cameras, we're the first group to show high-quality performance," said researcher Bryan Ackland of Bell Labs, which is the research and development arm of Lucent Technologies.
The key to the CMOS camera's high performance is how Bell Labs researchers improved upon state-of-the-art "active pixel" technology, and this expertise complements Vanguard's ability to produce low-cost silicon chips. "We see an opportunity in CMOS technology, and we're fortunate to have Lucent as our partner," said Bob Swartz, director of Vanguard's Imager Product business unit.
Third-party camera and computer peripheral manufacturers will package the Vanguard chips with a small lens, and the final camera eventually will sell for less than $50, Swartz said.
By developing a high-quality imaging array using conventional CMOS technology, the researchers integrated all of the functions normally associated with a camera -- timing and control, analog to digital conversion and the signal processing required to provide exposure control and color balance -- onto a single silicon chip.
Traditonally, video cameras have required more chips because the camera relies on a specialized imaging process, known as CCD (charge-coupled device) technology, which was developed at Bell Labs in 1969. It turns out that the CCD manufacturing process is not well suited for making the different types of transistors necessary for the various non-image capturing functions.
The imaging array on the Bell Labs chip is comprised of more than 100,000 optical sensors (or pixels) laid out in a two-dimensional grid on the silicon surface. Each pixel generates a small packet of charge when illuminated by an image. Individual pixels are accessed using a two-dimensional arrangement of address and data buses, which is similar to how semiconductor memories are accessed. A small amplifier at each pixel helps reduce noise and distortion levels.
"Although the 'active pixel' approach was first proposed back in the early 70s," said Marc Loinaz, a researcher at Bell Labs, "it's only been in the last few years that technology has progressed enough where transistors can be included in each pixel without significantly increasing the size of the array."
Even with this change, however, CMOS-based cameras have been plagued by a defect known as "fixed pattern noise." This is an annoying stationary background pattern in the image that results from small differences in the behavior of the individual pixel amplifiers. Although some researchers believed this defect would prevent CMOS from ever seriously challenging CCDs, the researchers developed circuits outside the sensor array that detect and cancel this noise.
Besides requiring less space, CMOS cameras use less power than CCD cameras. A nine-volt battery, for instance, powers a CMOS camera for five hours, but powers one of today's computer-based desktop cameras for only 30 minutes. As a result, CMOS cameras are well suited for hand-held cameras or security cameras.
The CMOS camera also allows users to immediately access specific portions of an image. With today's video camera, users first must produce the entire image before manipulating it.
Although the new technology initially will be used for computer and security cameras, future uses might include three-dimensional imaging and collision avoidance, such as cameras detecting other vehicles in a car's blind spot. The camera also might become integrated into computer screens.
"This camera might follow the same life-cycle as the digital clock," Ackland says, "which used to be an expensive stand-alone device, but is virtually everywhere now."
Because the camera on a chip is an offshoot of today's silicon-chip technology, any semiconductor manufacturer could produce the chip at existing facilities, Ackland said. The same situation has not existed with CCD technology, which requires specially designed manufacturing facilities.
Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hill, N.J., designs, builds and delivers a wide range of public and private networks, communications systems and software, data networking systems, business telephone systems and microelectronic components. Bell Labs is the research and development arm of Lucent Technologies. For more information on Lucent Technologies, visit the company's web site at http://www.lucent.com.
Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation (VIS), with headquarters in the Science-Based Industrial Park, Hsinchu, Taiwan, designs, develops, manufactures, markets and sells DRAM and other semiconductor products. VIS has its own in-house design expertise, supplemented by a strong US design subsidiary in San Jose, California. VIS sells its products through its US sales office, as well as a worldwide network of distributors and representatives. More information is available at http://www.vis.com.tw.
The "camera on a chip" approach, based on the same CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) technology found in today's computer chips, produces real-time video images that rival the quality of images produced by camcorders, which rely on a handful of non-CMOS chips.
"While other companies have tried to use a single CMOS chip in video cameras, we're the first group to show high-quality performance," said researcher Bryan Ackland of Bell Labs, which is the research and development arm of Lucent Technologies.
The key to the CMOS camera's high performance is how Bell Labs researchers improved upon state-of-the-art "active pixel" technology, and this expertise complements Vanguard's ability to produce low-cost silicon chips. "We see an opportunity in CMOS technology, and we're fortunate to have Lucent as our partner," said Bob Swartz, director of Vanguard's Imager Product business unit.
Third-party camera and computer peripheral manufacturers will package the Vanguard chips with a small lens, and the final camera eventually will sell for less than $50, Swartz said.
By developing a high-quality imaging array using conventional CMOS technology, the researchers integrated all of the functions normally associated with a camera -- timing and control, analog to digital conversion and the signal processing required to provide exposure control and color balance -- onto a single silicon chip.
Traditonally, video cameras have required more chips because the camera relies on a specialized imaging process, known as CCD (charge-coupled device) technology, which was developed at Bell Labs in 1969. It turns out that the CCD manufacturing process is not well suited for making the different types of transistors necessary for the various non-image capturing functions.
The imaging array on the Bell Labs chip is comprised of more than 100,000 optical sensors (or pixels) laid out in a two-dimensional grid on the silicon surface. Each pixel generates a small packet of charge when illuminated by an image. Individual pixels are accessed using a two-dimensional arrangement of address and data buses, which is similar to how semiconductor memories are accessed. A small amplifier at each pixel helps reduce noise and distortion levels.
"Although the 'active pixel' approach was first proposed back in the early 70s," said Marc Loinaz, a researcher at Bell Labs, "it's only been in the last few years that technology has progressed enough where transistors can be included in each pixel without significantly increasing the size of the array."
Even with this change, however, CMOS-based cameras have been plagued by a defect known as "fixed pattern noise." This is an annoying stationary background pattern in the image that results from small differences in the behavior of the individual pixel amplifiers. Although some researchers believed this defect would prevent CMOS from ever seriously challenging CCDs, the researchers developed circuits outside the sensor array that detect and cancel this noise.
Besides requiring less space, CMOS cameras use less power than CCD cameras. A nine-volt battery, for instance, powers a CMOS camera for five hours, but powers one of today's computer-based desktop cameras for only 30 minutes. As a result, CMOS cameras are well suited for hand-held cameras or security cameras.
The CMOS camera also allows users to immediately access specific portions of an image. With today's video camera, users first must produce the entire image before manipulating it.
Although the new technology initially will be used for computer and security cameras, future uses might include three-dimensional imaging and collision avoidance, such as cameras detecting other vehicles in a car's blind spot. The camera also might become integrated into computer screens.
"This camera might follow the same life-cycle as the digital clock," Ackland says, "which used to be an expensive stand-alone device, but is virtually everywhere now."
Because the camera on a chip is an offshoot of today's silicon-chip technology, any semiconductor manufacturer could produce the chip at existing facilities, Ackland said. The same situation has not existed with CCD technology, which requires specially designed manufacturing facilities.
Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hill, N.J., designs, builds and delivers a wide range of public and private networks, communications systems and software, data networking systems, business telephone systems and microelectronic components. Bell Labs is the research and development arm of Lucent Technologies. For more information on Lucent Technologies, visit the company's web site at http://www.lucent.com.
Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation (VIS), with headquarters in the Science-Based Industrial Park, Hsinchu, Taiwan, designs, develops, manufactures, markets and sells DRAM and other semiconductor products. VIS has its own in-house design expertise, supplemented by a strong US design subsidiary in San Jose, California. VIS sells its products through its US sales office, as well as a worldwide network of distributors and representatives. More information is available at http://www.vis.com.tw.
Intelligent Shot Mode and Advanced Camera Features
Intelligent Shot Mode and Advanced Camera Features
LG conducted consumer preference surveys in fourteen countries including the U.S., U.K., France, Brazil, Russia, India and China to learn what consumers wanted to see in the next generation mobile device and one key finding was that users thought current camera phones were too complicated to operate.
LG’s engineers addressed this issue in the Viewty Smart with Intelligent Shot Mode, which analyzes the subject, background, and lighting conditions and compares the data against seven pre-programmed scenarios to take perfect pictures every time. This feature, still rare on high-end stand alone compact digital cameras, is a first for a camera phones and only available from LG. This hassle-free mode completely eliminates the need to check settings before taking a photo. It even provides instantaneous feedback, showing exactly how the camera is analyzing a particular scene with real-time indicator bars.
With 8 megapixels of resolution, Viewty Smart’s pictures are not just great for sharing online, but are even sharp enough for printing and framing. With a maximum ISO setting of 1600, shots previously considered too dim or dark can now be captured even without a flash. This can be further augmented with the phone’s LED flash. Viewty Smart adds several new camera features including Multi-Face Detection and DVD-quality D1 video recording. It also carries over features such as Touch Shot, Art Shot, Beauty Shot, Panorama Shot and Continuous Shot.
S-Class User Interface Enhanced for Camera Features
Viewty Smart also includes the easy-to-use 3D S-Class UI, which debuted on LG’s ARENA earlier this year. LG has tailored S-Class around Viewty Smart’s camera features with an on-screen dial for instantly switching shot modes and a thumbnail viewer that shows recently taken photos without having to switch to the photo gallery. LG even included an easier way to zoom in and out: Simply move your finger in a clockwise circle on the touchscreen to zoom in, as if turning the zoom ring on an SLR camera. Zoom out by moving the finger in the opposite direction. Zooming in and out is also possible with multi-touch pinching and stretching.
Viewty Smart is as good at sharing photos as it is at taking them. Its wide, sharp 3-inch WVGA screen provides full 800 x 480 resolution, great for seeing every detail in pictures and movies. With 7.2 Mbps HSDPA network and Wi-Fi compatibility, Viewty Smart can upload photos over the internet at broadband speeds. With A-GPS based geotagging, friends can even see the exact spot where a photo was taken. The Viewty Smart can also store photos on its 1.5 GB of internal memory or on MicroSD cards up to 32 GB.
Extremely pocketable, Viewty Smart is just 12.4 mm deep, making it the slimmest 8 megapixel camera phone available. However, with its svelt camera-like design, few people will want to keep this phone hidden from view.
LG conducted consumer preference surveys in fourteen countries including the U.S., U.K., France, Brazil, Russia, India and China to learn what consumers wanted to see in the next generation mobile device and one key finding was that users thought current camera phones were too complicated to operate.
LG’s engineers addressed this issue in the Viewty Smart with Intelligent Shot Mode, which analyzes the subject, background, and lighting conditions and compares the data against seven pre-programmed scenarios to take perfect pictures every time. This feature, still rare on high-end stand alone compact digital cameras, is a first for a camera phones and only available from LG. This hassle-free mode completely eliminates the need to check settings before taking a photo. It even provides instantaneous feedback, showing exactly how the camera is analyzing a particular scene with real-time indicator bars.
With 8 megapixels of resolution, Viewty Smart’s pictures are not just great for sharing online, but are even sharp enough for printing and framing. With a maximum ISO setting of 1600, shots previously considered too dim or dark can now be captured even without a flash. This can be further augmented with the phone’s LED flash. Viewty Smart adds several new camera features including Multi-Face Detection and DVD-quality D1 video recording. It also carries over features such as Touch Shot, Art Shot, Beauty Shot, Panorama Shot and Continuous Shot.
S-Class User Interface Enhanced for Camera Features
Viewty Smart also includes the easy-to-use 3D S-Class UI, which debuted on LG’s ARENA earlier this year. LG has tailored S-Class around Viewty Smart’s camera features with an on-screen dial for instantly switching shot modes and a thumbnail viewer that shows recently taken photos without having to switch to the photo gallery. LG even included an easier way to zoom in and out: Simply move your finger in a clockwise circle on the touchscreen to zoom in, as if turning the zoom ring on an SLR camera. Zoom out by moving the finger in the opposite direction. Zooming in and out is also possible with multi-touch pinching and stretching.
Viewty Smart is as good at sharing photos as it is at taking them. Its wide, sharp 3-inch WVGA screen provides full 800 x 480 resolution, great for seeing every detail in pictures and movies. With 7.2 Mbps HSDPA network and Wi-Fi compatibility, Viewty Smart can upload photos over the internet at broadband speeds. With A-GPS based geotagging, friends can even see the exact spot where a photo was taken. The Viewty Smart can also store photos on its 1.5 GB of internal memory or on MicroSD cards up to 32 GB.
Extremely pocketable, Viewty Smart is just 12.4 mm deep, making it the slimmest 8 megapixel camera phone available. However, with its svelt camera-like design, few people will want to keep this phone hidden from view.
LG Viewty Smart will be available through operators in Europe starting this May and then launch in other markets around the world.
The full list of specs LG Viewty Smart GC900 comes with includes:
* 3.0 inches TFT touchscreen display with 800 x 480 pixels
* S-Class Touch UI (like the LG Arena)
* Quad band GSM connectivity (850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz)
* HSDPA 2100 connectivity
* A-GPS, geotagging
* Wi-Fi
* Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP
* Music player
* DivX/XviD/MPEG4 player
* 1.5GB of internal memory
* MicroSDHC card support, up to 32 GB
* 100.8 x 55.8 x 12.4 millimeters
LG GC900 Viewty Smart will hit the market in May, via several European carriers (Orange is probably one of them, since we saw the phone with its logo on it). After that, the Viewty Smart will be released in other markets around the world.
The handset’s price was not announced by LG.
A promo video with the Viewty Smart can be seen below:
Digital cameras can do things film cameras cannot
A digital camera (or digicam for short) is a camera that takes video or still photographs, or both, digitally by recording images via an electronic image sensor.
Front and back of a Canon PowerShot A95.
Many compact digital still cameras can record sound and moving video as well as still photographs. In the Western market, digital cameras outsell their 35 mm film counterparts.
Digital cameras can do things film cameras cannot: displaying images on a screen immediately after they are recorded, storing thousands of images on a single small memory device, recording video with sound, and deleting images to free storage space. Some can crop pictures and perform other elementary image editing. Fundamentally they operate in the same manner as film cameras, typically using a lens with a variable diaphragm to focus light onto an image pickup device. The combination of the diaphragm and a shutter mechanism is used to admit the correct amount of light to the imager, just as with film; the only difference is that the image pickup device is electronic rather than chemical.
Digital cameras are incorporated into many devices ranging from PDAs and mobile phones (called camera phones) to vehicles. The Hubble Space Telescope and other astronomical devices are essentially specialised digital cameras.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Conversion of film cameras to digital
When digital cameras became common, a question many photographers asked was whether their film cameras could be converted to digital. The answer was yes and no. For the majority of 35 mm film cameras the answer is no, the reworking and cost would be too great, especially as lenses have been evolving as well as cameras. For most a conversion to digital, to give enough space for the electronics and allow a liquid crystal display to preview, would require removing the back of the camera and replacing it with a custom built digital unit.
Many early professional SLR cameras, such as the NC2000 and the Kodak DCS series, were developed from 35 mm film cameras. The technology of the time, however, meant that rather than being a digital "backs" the bodies of these cameras were mounted on large, bulky digital units, often bigger than the camera portion itself. These were factory built cameras, however, not aftermarket conversions.
A notable exception is the Nikon E2, a camera followed by Nikon E3, using additional optics to convert the 35mm format to a 2/3 CCD-sensor.
A few 35 mm cameras have had digital camera backs made by their manufacturer, Leica being a notable example. Medium format and large format cameras (those using film stock greater than 35 mm), have a low unit production, and typical digital backs for them cost over $10,000. These cameras also tend to be highly modular, with handgrips, film backs, winders, and lenses available separately to fit various needs.
The very large sensor these backs use leads to enormous image sizes. The largest in early 2006 is the Phase One's P45 39 MP imageback, creating a single TIFF image of size up to 224.6 MB. Medium format digitals are geared more towards studio and portrait photography than their smaller DSLR counterparts; the ISO speed in particular tends to have a maximum of 400, versus 6400 for some DSLR cameras.
Front and back of a Canon PowerShot A95.
Many compact digital still cameras can record sound and moving video as well as still photographs. In the Western market, digital cameras outsell their 35 mm film counterparts.
Digital cameras can do things film cameras cannot: displaying images on a screen immediately after they are recorded, storing thousands of images on a single small memory device, recording video with sound, and deleting images to free storage space. Some can crop pictures and perform other elementary image editing. Fundamentally they operate in the same manner as film cameras, typically using a lens with a variable diaphragm to focus light onto an image pickup device. The combination of the diaphragm and a shutter mechanism is used to admit the correct amount of light to the imager, just as with film; the only difference is that the image pickup device is electronic rather than chemical.
Digital cameras are incorporated into many devices ranging from PDAs and mobile phones (called camera phones) to vehicles. The Hubble Space Telescope and other astronomical devices are essentially specialised digital cameras.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Conversion of film cameras to digital
When digital cameras became common, a question many photographers asked was whether their film cameras could be converted to digital. The answer was yes and no. For the majority of 35 mm film cameras the answer is no, the reworking and cost would be too great, especially as lenses have been evolving as well as cameras. For most a conversion to digital, to give enough space for the electronics and allow a liquid crystal display to preview, would require removing the back of the camera and replacing it with a custom built digital unit.
Many early professional SLR cameras, such as the NC2000 and the Kodak DCS series, were developed from 35 mm film cameras. The technology of the time, however, meant that rather than being a digital "backs" the bodies of these cameras were mounted on large, bulky digital units, often bigger than the camera portion itself. These were factory built cameras, however, not aftermarket conversions.
A notable exception is the Nikon E2, a camera followed by Nikon E3, using additional optics to convert the 35mm format to a 2/3 CCD-sensor.
A few 35 mm cameras have had digital camera backs made by their manufacturer, Leica being a notable example. Medium format and large format cameras (those using film stock greater than 35 mm), have a low unit production, and typical digital backs for them cost over $10,000. These cameras also tend to be highly modular, with handgrips, film backs, winders, and lenses available separately to fit various needs.
The very large sensor these backs use leads to enormous image sizes. The largest in early 2006 is the Phase One's P45 39 MP imageback, creating a single TIFF image of size up to 224.6 MB. Medium format digitals are geared more towards studio and portrait photography than their smaller DSLR counterparts; the ISO speed in particular tends to have a maximum of 400, versus 6400 for some DSLR cameras.
Digital Cameras In western Markets
A digital camera (or digicam for short) is a camera that takes video or still photographs, or both, digitally by recording images via an electronic image sensor.
Front and back of a Canon PowerShot A95.
Many compact digital still cameras can record sound and moving video as well as still photographs. In the Western market, digital cameras outsell their 35 mm film counterparts.
Digital cameras can do things film cameras cannot: displaying images on a screen immediately after they are recorded, storing thousands of images on a single small memory device, recording video with sound, and deleting images to free storage space. Some can crop pictures and perform other elementary image editing. Fundamentally they operate in the same manner as film cameras, typically using a lens with a variable diaphragm to focus light onto an image pickup device. The combination of the diaphragm and a shutter mechanism is used to admit the correct amount of light to the imager, just as with film; the only difference is that the image pickup device is electronic rather than chemical.
Digital cameras are incorporated into many devices ranging from PDAs and mobile phones (called camera phones) to vehicles. The Hubble Space Telescope and other astronomical devices are essentially specialised digital cameras.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 / DMC-ZS3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 / DMC-ZS3
10.1 Megapixel Digital Camera Intelligent Auto Mode Helps prevent shooting errors. LEICA DC Vario-Elmar Lens 25mm wide angle Venus Engine HD Supports AVCHD Lite & HDMI Silver.
Specifications
*
Format
Compact
*
Also known as
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7
*
Max resolution
3648 x 2736
*
Low resolution
3776 x 2520, 3968 x 2232, 3072 x 2304, 3168 x 2112, 3328 x 1872, 2560 x 1920, 2656 x 1768, 2784 x 1568, 2048 x 1536, 2112 x 1408, 2208 x 1248, 1920 x 1080, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480
*
Image ratio w:h
16:9, 4:3, 3:2
*
Effective pixels
10.1 million
*
Sensor photo detectors
12.7 million
*
Sensor size
1/2.33 " (6.13 x 4.60 mm, 0.28 cm²)
*
Pixel density
36 MP/cm²
*
Sensor type
CCD
Front and back of a Canon PowerShot A95.
Many compact digital still cameras can record sound and moving video as well as still photographs. In the Western market, digital cameras outsell their 35 mm film counterparts.
Digital cameras can do things film cameras cannot: displaying images on a screen immediately after they are recorded, storing thousands of images on a single small memory device, recording video with sound, and deleting images to free storage space. Some can crop pictures and perform other elementary image editing. Fundamentally they operate in the same manner as film cameras, typically using a lens with a variable diaphragm to focus light onto an image pickup device. The combination of the diaphragm and a shutter mechanism is used to admit the correct amount of light to the imager, just as with film; the only difference is that the image pickup device is electronic rather than chemical.
Digital cameras are incorporated into many devices ranging from PDAs and mobile phones (called camera phones) to vehicles. The Hubble Space Telescope and other astronomical devices are essentially specialised digital cameras.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 / DMC-ZS3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 / DMC-ZS3
10.1 Megapixel Digital Camera Intelligent Auto Mode Helps prevent shooting errors. LEICA DC Vario-Elmar Lens 25mm wide angle Venus Engine HD Supports AVCHD Lite & HDMI Silver.
Specifications
*
Format
Compact
*
Also known as
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7
*
Max resolution
3648 x 2736
*
Low resolution
3776 x 2520, 3968 x 2232, 3072 x 2304, 3168 x 2112, 3328 x 1872, 2560 x 1920, 2656 x 1768, 2784 x 1568, 2048 x 1536, 2112 x 1408, 2208 x 1248, 1920 x 1080, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480
*
Image ratio w:h
16:9, 4:3, 3:2
*
Effective pixels
10.1 million
*
Sensor photo detectors
12.7 million
*
Sensor size
1/2.33 " (6.13 x 4.60 mm, 0.28 cm²)
*
Pixel density
36 MP/cm²
*
Sensor type
CCD
Features of digital cameras
A digital camera (or digicam for short) is a camera that takes video or still photographs, or both, digitally by recording images via an electronic image sensor.
Front and back of a Canon PowerShot A95.
Many compact digital still cameras can record sound and moving video as well as still photographs. In the Western market, digital cameras outsell their 35 mm film counterparts.
Digital cameras can do things film cameras cannot: displaying images on a screen immediately after they are recorded, storing thousands of images on a single small memory device, recording video with sound, and deleting images to free storage space. Some can crop pictures and perform other elementary image editing. Fundamentally they operate in the same manner as film cameras, typically using a lens with a variable diaphragm to focus light onto an image pickup device. The combination of the diaphragm and a shutter mechanism is used to admit the correct amount of light to the imager, just as with film; the only difference is that the image pickup device is electronic rather than chemical.
Digital cameras are incorporated into many devices ranging from PDAs and mobile phones (called camera phones) to vehicles. The Hubble Space Telescope and other astronomical devices are essentially specialised digital cameras.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Samsung SL620
Samsung SL620
The SL620 has everything you need in one compact camera. 12.2 megapixels give you the power to capture memories with beautiful details. And with a 5x optical zoom, it’s easy to get close to your subjects. Worried that photos might be less than perfect? The SL620 includes the SAMSUNG perfect portrait system which automatically retouches facial imperfections, selects the right scene mode and more. Make every shot a beauty, with the SL620 digital camera.
Specifications
Image sensor
*
Type
1/2.33" (approx. 1.09 cm) CCD
*
Effective Pixel
approx. 12.2 megapixel
*
Total Pixel
approx. 12.4 megapixel
Focusing
*
Type
TTL auto focus (multi AF, center AF)
*
Modes
normal: 80 cm ~ infinity macro: 10 cm ~ 80 cm (wide), 50 cm ~ 80 cm (tele) auto macro: 10 cm ~ infinity (wide), 50 cm ~ infinity (tele)
Shutter
*
Speed
auto: 1 ~ 1/2,000 s (AEB, continuous 1/4 ~ 1/2,000 s) night: 16 ~ 1/2,000 s
Exposure
*
Compensation
± 2 EV (1/3 EV steps)
*
ISO Equivalent
auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 (up to 3 M)
*
Metering System
multi, spot, center-weighted AE
Flash
*
Recharging Time
approx. 4 s, (approx. 5 s in low battery condition)
Front and back of a Canon PowerShot A95.
Many compact digital still cameras can record sound and moving video as well as still photographs. In the Western market, digital cameras outsell their 35 mm film counterparts.
Digital cameras can do things film cameras cannot: displaying images on a screen immediately after they are recorded, storing thousands of images on a single small memory device, recording video with sound, and deleting images to free storage space. Some can crop pictures and perform other elementary image editing. Fundamentally they operate in the same manner as film cameras, typically using a lens with a variable diaphragm to focus light onto an image pickup device. The combination of the diaphragm and a shutter mechanism is used to admit the correct amount of light to the imager, just as with film; the only difference is that the image pickup device is electronic rather than chemical.
Digital cameras are incorporated into many devices ranging from PDAs and mobile phones (called camera phones) to vehicles. The Hubble Space Telescope and other astronomical devices are essentially specialised digital cameras.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Samsung SL620
Samsung SL620
The SL620 has everything you need in one compact camera. 12.2 megapixels give you the power to capture memories with beautiful details. And with a 5x optical zoom, it’s easy to get close to your subjects. Worried that photos might be less than perfect? The SL620 includes the SAMSUNG perfect portrait system which automatically retouches facial imperfections, selects the right scene mode and more. Make every shot a beauty, with the SL620 digital camera.
Specifications
Image sensor
*
Type
1/2.33" (approx. 1.09 cm) CCD
*
Effective Pixel
approx. 12.2 megapixel
*
Total Pixel
approx. 12.4 megapixel
Focusing
*
Type
TTL auto focus (multi AF, center AF)
*
Modes
normal: 80 cm ~ infinity macro: 10 cm ~ 80 cm (wide), 50 cm ~ 80 cm (tele) auto macro: 10 cm ~ infinity (wide), 50 cm ~ infinity (tele)
Shutter
*
Speed
auto: 1 ~ 1/2,000 s (AEB, continuous 1/4 ~ 1/2,000 s) night: 16 ~ 1/2,000 s
Exposure
*
Compensation
± 2 EV (1/3 EV steps)
*
ISO Equivalent
auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 (up to 3 M)
*
Metering System
multi, spot, center-weighted AE
Flash
*
Recharging Time
approx. 4 s, (approx. 5 s in low battery condition)
A digital camera
A digital camera (or digicam for short) is a camera that takes video or still photographs, or both, digitally by recording images via an electronic image sensor.
Front and back of a Canon PowerShot A95.
Many compact digital still cameras can record sound and moving video as well as still photographs. In the Western market, digital cameras outsell their 35 mm film counterparts.
Digital cameras can do things film cameras cannot: displaying images on a screen immediately after they are recorded, storing thousands of images on a single small memory device, recording video with sound, and deleting images to free storage space. Some can crop pictures and perform other elementary image editing. Fundamentally they operate in the same manner as film cameras, typically using a lens with a variable diaphragm to focus light onto an image pickup device. The combination of the diaphragm and a shutter mechanism is used to admit the correct amount of light to the imager, just as with film; the only difference is that the image pickup device is electronic rather than chemical.
Digital cameras are incorporated into many devices ranging from PDAs and mobile phones (called camera phones) to vehicles. The Hubble Space Telescope and other astronomical devices are essentially specialised digital cameras.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Digital rangefinders
A rangefinder is a user-operated optical mechanism to measure subject distance once widely used on film cameras. Most digital cameras measure subject distance automatically using acoustic or electronic techniques, but it is not customary to say that they have a rangefinder. The term rangefinder alone is sometimes used to mean a rangefinder camera, that is, a film camera equipped with a rangefinder, as distinct from an SLR or a simple camera with no way to measure distanc
Front and back of a Canon PowerShot A95.
Many compact digital still cameras can record sound and moving video as well as still photographs. In the Western market, digital cameras outsell their 35 mm film counterparts.
Digital cameras can do things film cameras cannot: displaying images on a screen immediately after they are recorded, storing thousands of images on a single small memory device, recording video with sound, and deleting images to free storage space. Some can crop pictures and perform other elementary image editing. Fundamentally they operate in the same manner as film cameras, typically using a lens with a variable diaphragm to focus light onto an image pickup device. The combination of the diaphragm and a shutter mechanism is used to admit the correct amount of light to the imager, just as with film; the only difference is that the image pickup device is electronic rather than chemical.
Digital cameras are incorporated into many devices ranging from PDAs and mobile phones (called camera phones) to vehicles. The Hubble Space Telescope and other astronomical devices are essentially specialised digital cameras.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Digital rangefinders
A rangefinder is a user-operated optical mechanism to measure subject distance once widely used on film cameras. Most digital cameras measure subject distance automatically using acoustic or electronic techniques, but it is not customary to say that they have a rangefinder. The term rangefinder alone is sometimes used to mean a rangefinder camera, that is, a film camera equipped with a rangefinder, as distinct from an SLR or a simple camera with no way to measure distanc
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