| There are three basic types of digital camera, | | | | Again, there is very little to choose between |
| compact, (slr-type or "bridge" camera) and Dslr. The | | | | cameras when it comes to their suitability for |
| slr-type and Dslr cameras look fairly similar although | | | | shooting landscapes. The overall quality of the image |
| Dslr's are bigger and heavier. The most obvious | | | | will probably be your main concern. Having said that, a |
| difference between them is that you can change the | | | | large zoom range (6x or more) is good because it will |
| lens on a Dslr. However, there is a great deal more | | | | allow you to take a wider range of shots from the |
| to it than that. The Dslr is fundamentally different | | | | same viewpoint. A wide angle lens is very useful in |
| and designed to work exactly the same way as a | | | | landscape work but the zoom range number is no |
| high-end film camera. This makes it extremely | | | | help in comparing cameras to find which one has the |
| versatile and the only type of digital camera that can | | | | widest lens. The angle or field of view of a lens is |
| cope equally well with any genre of photography. | | | | determined by its focal length, measured in |
| If your budget doesn't run to a Dslr then you need | | | | millimetres. The smaller the number, the wider the |
| to choose amongst the other types as to which one | | | | lens. Unfortunately, you can't always compare this |
| will suit your favourite type of photography best. | | | | number directly between cameras. What you need |
| The choice between compact and slr is a little more | | | | to find is the 35mm equivalent of the camera's focal |
| complicated as both are equally suited to many | | | | length. That is the only number you can use to make |
| photographic genres. For many people, the choice will | | | | a direct comparison. A large depth of field is what |
| come down to convenience. Some will simply prefer | | | | most landscapes want, so use aperture priority and |
| a camera they can slip into their pocket rather than | | | | set the minimum aperture, which is the biggest f |
| one they have to hang around their neck. | | | | number. |
| It is certainly the case that compact cameras at the | | | | Night photography |
| top end of the market can produce pictures that are | | | | You might think that a high maximum ISO number |
| every bit as good as those from slr's. It's not image | | | | would be useful for night photography but it's not |
| quality that separates these two forms of camera | | | | particularly. Much more useful is a long maximum |
| but rather the ease with which you can adjust the | | | | shutter speed. Of course you need a tripod (or some |
| photographic controls on them. Things like exposure | | | | other support) for your camera but setting a high |
| compensation or manual focus are usually simple to | | | | ISO will create "noise" in your pictures. You will usually |
| adjust external controls on an slr but may be buried | | | | get a much better result using a normal ISO setting |
| deep amongst the menus of a compact camera. | | | | and a long shutter speed. You should look for a |
| Many cameras have "program modes", for example | | | | longest shutter speed of at least 30 seconds, the |
| landscape, sports (or action) and portrait etc. And | | | | longer the better. Set your camera to shutter priority |
| these will set up your camera the best way for | | | | and use the longest shutter speed you have. |
| those types of photography. However, it's not the | | | | Close up (macro) photography |
| case that if your camera does not have one or other | | | | Most digital cameras have a built in macro facility, |
| of these modes then it cannot do that sort of | | | | usually identified by a flower symbol. This allows you |
| photography. The only modes that you actually need | | | | to focus on your subject from only a few |
| are shutter priority and aperture priority. As long as | | | | centimetres away. Even without this, you can still do |
| your camera has these two, then you can optimise | | | | macro work by fitting a close up lens. This is made |
| it's settings for most photographic situations. | | | | easier to do if your camera's lens has a filter thread. |
| When choosing between cameras best suited to a | | | | Working this close means that you will naturally have |
| particular genre, you need to look a little deeper into | | | | an extremely small depth of field. To help with this |
| their specifications to find the best one for your | | | | you should use aperture priority and set the minimum |
| preferred type of photography. There are four sets | | | | aperture (largest f number). |
| of numbers that matter. They are about the lens, | | | | Sports or action photography |
| the ISO number (defines how light-sensitive your | | | | Only Dslr cameras are ideal for this type of |
| camera is), the aperture and the shutter speed. It is | | | | photography. That is because all the others have a |
| those numbers that really matter when it comes to | | | | certain amount of shutter lag so you can never be |
| choosing the right tool for the job. | | | | sure of catching the perfect moment in a fast |
| Portrait photography | | | | moving situation. Of the other types, an slr type |
| This is the simplest case because their are not really | | | | camera is definitely more practical for this sort of |
| any special requirements of a camera for this genre. | | | | work. Look for a camera with the longest zoom |
| Most portrait photographers like to use a narrow | | | | range and the fastest shutter speed. Set your |
| depth of field (throwing the background out of | | | | camera to shutter priority, use the fastest shutter |
| focus), this requires a large aperture. The size of the | | | | speed you can, zoom into the action and start |
| aperture is given as an f number and the lower the | | | | shooting. |
| number, the larger the aperture. Theoretically you | | | | There are a few other types of photography, but |
| want a camera with the lowest f number but in | | | | they don't have any different requirements to the |
| practice but, because there are other factors that | | | | ones mentioned above. For example stage (or band) |
| affect the depth of field, it is not worth choosing a | | | | work has similar requirements to sports photography |
| camera for portraiture on the f number alone. It | | | | and architectural photography is similar to shooting |
| would be better to choose a camera that you find | | | | landscapes. No matter what type of photography |
| comfortable to use. Set your camera to aperture | | | | you enjoy, their is definitely a digital camera that is |
| priority and use the maximum aperture, which will be | | | | most suitable. It's just a question of choosing the |
| the lowest f number. | | | | right tool for the job. |
| Landscape photography | | | | |