Digital Photography:    Using digital cameras

These notes are general and do not apply to any specific camera, practices may vary with different models.

Most cameras will have control over a number of properties, the more sophisticated the camera the more control.


Image Size/Quality:
In general terms to get the best from the camera use the highest settings. For images to be used on the web, or to get the most images on the camera reduce the size.

Image Size:
Most cameras will offer a range of image size, they may show the resolution by pixel e.g. 2400X1600 or they may show best, high, good, fair, or large medium, low.
These options will determine the size of image captured which will determine the size of the print possible.

Image Quality:
Most cameras save images as compressed jpg files. This file type offers variable compression. The lower the compression, the less loss of quality and therefore the better the image. High compression allows more images to be stored on the card but increases the chance of digital noise and 'image blocking'.
Typical options for jpg capture are best, high, good, fair, or large medium, low.
More advanced cameras may offer an uncompressed option, usually Raw or Tif.
For best results use Raw capture.

Image Storage on Camera:
There are a number of different storage media in use on cameras. This is the digital film. Common types are Compact Flash and Smart Media, Sony use Memory Sticks. These cards are removable. You need the right kind of media for your camera. In most cases there will be a range of capacities of card available, e.g. 1gb, 4gb, 16gb.

Light Colour:
Most cameras will let you change the lighting balance to achieve correct results under artificial light.

  

     Exposure Control:
Control of exposure is usually very similar to that on traditional cameras. Modes offered may include:
Manual: offering full control.
Aperture Priority: you set the aperture the camera controls the shutter speed.
Shutter Priority: you control shutter speed and the camera sets the aperture.
Programme: complete automatic control.
File formats
Depending on the make and model of camera, you may have up to three options of file formats you can use to save images on your camera.
All cameras offer .jpg format, some offer different compression levels.
Some offer .tif format, an uncompressed file type.
Some offer RAW file saving.
RAW files are the information saved from the chip but not formatted to any file type and not processed in any way. RAW files need special software to open them, but offer the possibility to correct images before they are saved, rather than working on an image that has already been saved.
RAW and .tif files take up a lot of room on the camera memory storage.