Digital Photography on a Cell Phone

photo credit: Molly Des JardinThe era of digital photography affected more than one sector of the world, and one of the most popular sectors that have been affected is that of cell phones. What used to be a device for talking to people has now become one of also taking pictures while on the go. Though not of the same quality as pictures
from a standalone digital camera, photos from a camera phone are high enough quality to share with friends and relatives via email. Of course, some cell phones produce higher quality pictures than others. Originally, you could expect 1.0 or 2.0 megapixels from a camera phone but now you can find camera phones with megapixels of 3.0 or 4.0. Some also include memory cards that allow you to store more pictures on your phone than you were able to do previously.

Of course, there are some disadvantages to having a camera phone because it allows everyone the
opportunity to takes pictures of people without their knowledge or consent. For many people being
photographed without their permission seems like invasion of privacy and they tend to become a little arrogant about it at times. The fault lies with the person taking the pictures because that person should be the one with a little consideration. In addition, camera phones have also opened another source of
concern as more businesses are forbidding people to have camera phones for fear they will take pictures of confidential or secure information. Until camera phone users learn to be considerate in their picture taking, there will be controversy over their use.

On the positive side, camera phones are an easy way for business travellers to capture pictures at trade fairs and conferences without having to carry a digital camera with them. In most cases, these travellers are in possession of a Blackberry or other SmartPhone and can email the pictures right back to their office at that precise moment. Having a camera phone can save a great deal of time and frustration
when you need something in a hurry and do not have your digital camera with you at the time. Cell
phones have become a luxury that almost everyone has today, and for some it is the only phone they possess choosing a cell phone over a landline. Since most cell phones are actually camera phone, we can see how digital technology has affected the sector of the economy.

Know the importance of Megapixels in a Digital Camera

If you have never owned a digital camera you may not understand the importance of megapixels or
even know what they are and how they relate to your camera. The first thing you want to understand is that the higher the megapixels on your camera the higher the quality of the pictures. However, and this is the other consideration, the higher the megapixels the more expensive your camera will be.
Therefore, you want to look at your own needs before you arbitrarily decide you want to buy a 10-
megapixel camera because it is the latest thing on the market.

You never want to buy more of anything than what you really need. Are you going to buy a 16-passenger
van when a 12-passenger van will do? Of course, you are not because it will cost more to purchase and
maintain. The same is true for a digital camera—you want to buy the digital camera that has the
features you need and will use including the megapixels. Many digital cameras have video capabilities
but if you are not going to use that feature, you may want to choose a more basic digital camera—keep
in mind that even if you think you will use the video feature, you cannot do still photos and video at the
same time. Therefore, do not rely on the capabilities of your video feature. Another thing to remember
is that the video features may require higher megapixels in order to produce the quality in your videos.

When you are looking at digital cameras and trying to decide the right megapixels for your needs, keep
in mind that 2.0 on a cell phone camera is about average and is a high enough quality for emailing
pictures to your family and friends. On the other hand, when you are going to print pictures or put them
on your computer, you want a higher quality. That doesn’t mean you have to pay the higher price for a
digital camera that has 6.0 megapixels or higher, but you do want to consider at least 4.0 or 5.0 in order
to get the quality you want for printing and producing enlargements. It will cost you more money
initially, but the quality you will get from your pictures will more than make up for the cost. Make sure
you know before you buy your digital camera what your needs are so that you do not invest money in
more features than are necessary.

Choosing a Digital Camera for a Beginner

photo credit: Great BeyondWhen you are used to using a film camera it can be confusing to try to figure out the features on a
digital camera. In order to avoid confusing the beginning digital camera user, try to buy something that is simple and easy to operate. Just like film cameras, digital cameras can be very simple or very
complicated to operate, especially with features such as video. For those who have been used to the
simplicity of a film camera learning how to use a digital camera can become a little bit testy. Instead of just pointing and shooting, you have to take the time to focus because the picture you see in the screen is what will be the finished product.

The good thing about digital cameras for beginners as well as seasoned photographers is that if the
picture you take is not clear or not what you expect you can simply delete it from your camera and start again. There is no longer the disappointment of taking a picture only to find out that something went wrong such as lighting and the picture could not develop. You no longer have to take two or more
pictures of the same pose just to make sure you will have one that turns out the way you want. At the same time, you still have to know how to focus the camera and take the picture or you will be deleting many shots, an inconvenience if you are taking photographs at a special event.

You should not assume that because a digital camera does not have the same features as another one
does the quality of the pictures would be lower. The quality of the pictures is in the megapixels on the
camera not on the number of other features on the phone. Also, do not assume that because you have a
cell phone with a 2.0 megapixel camera with decent quality that you will obtain the same quality in
printed pictures. At the same time you do not need to pay the higher price for 6.0 megapixels and higher
if you do not choose to do so. For most pictures, 4.0 or 5.0 megapixels will provide high quality pictures. When you become more experienced, you can certainly buy a more expensive digital camera that has more megapixels and other additional features that may be available at the time you upgrade.

Choosing the Right Camera Manufacturer

photo credit: mikecoghBefore you buy a digital camera, you want to become familiar with different manufacturers so that you
know what you are buying. Each manufacturer has certain features that are included with their digital
cameras, thus if you know the manufacturer you will have a better idea what you should buy. In
addition, you want to choose someone you can trust and that you know makes quality products. If you do not learn about the manufacturers, you will not know how to buy a quality digital camera. With the cost of digital cameras, the last things you want to do is buy from an unknown manufacturer and
discover the camera was not worth the price you paid.

Most of us are familiar with the big names like Kodak, Nikon, Sony, Olympus and a few others, but there
are many more brands on the market that what we might know. The mistake many people make is
asking the sales person in the store about the manufacturer of a digital camera in which they have an
interest. You have to keep in mind that the salesman is interested in selling his product, so he is going to
tell you whatever he thinks you want to hear whether it’s true or not. He might know a particular brand
of digital camera is currently having many quality issues, but he will pretend he does not know that. You
want to conduct your own research and ask people you know who have a digital camera by that
manufacturer rather than asking the sales person in the store where you are buying the camera.

It is never a good idea to buy a digital camera made by a manufacturer with which you are not familiar
nor do you want to buy an off-brand unless you know someone who has used that brand without
problems. You have to take the time to conduct your own research when dealing with a manufacturer
that is unfamiliar to you. By taking the time to find out something about digital camera manufacturers
you stand less of a chance of choosing something that is low on quality. Learning different
manufacturers will help you make the right choice not only for your first digital camera but also for
future purchases. It is not possible to know all of the manufacturers, so you may want to keep a
notebook for future reference.