Digital photography basics for beginners

Here are some important digital photography basics for beginners.These basic terms will help you know how to choose the right digital camera for you.Knowing the different vocabulary terms that apply to digital cameras can help you choose the right camera and also can help you use your camera to the best effect to get the greatest photos that you can.

1. How many pixels does your camera have? The term pixel comes from the words Picture Element.Every single digital image that you see on your digital camera, on a computer screen, or on a TV, is made up of an enormous number of tiny squares.These squares are each a single color, but combined and next to each other, they create the colors that you see in the image. One of the main ways that digital cameras are identified and categorized is by their pixel count.The pixel count is the number of individual pixels that are in each image.Generally speaking, the pixel count of today's digital cameras ranges from anywhere from 1 million pixels, or 1 megapixel, to about 14 million pixels, or 14 megapixels.If you look at a camera that says that it has 3MP, this means that it has 3 megapixels, or 3 million pixels.The majority of mid-range digital cameras have between 2 million pixels, or 2MP, and 5 million pixels, or 5MP.A 3MP camera will give you great 4"x6" and 5"x7" photo prints.However, if you would like larger photo prints, such as 8"x10", you should consider purchasing a 4MP or a 5MP camera.
2. Aspect ratio The aspect ratio is the term used to describe the ratio of the length of the image to the sides of the image.The traditional 3mm film frame that most film cameras use is about 36mm wide and 24mm high.So the aspect ratio of this 35mm film frame is 36:24, or 3:2.The majority of single lens reflex cameras, or SLR cameras, have an aspect ratio of 3:2.On the other hand, your computer monitor probably has a 4:3 aspect ratio, meaning that it typically has an 800x600 display.So a higher quality digital camera for you, if you will be viewing your photos on your computer, will probably be one with an aspect ratio of 4:3.
3. Sensor size Generally speaking, the size of the sensor in your camera, which is the digital equivalent of film, is pretty small.For example, most 5MP digital cameras have 1/1.8" sensors that are actually 7mm x 5mm (the former number comes from outdated methods of measuring that come from early ways of describing television sets).Does sensor size really matter?Well, the more pixels a camera has, the better your image quality will be, the lower the noise level in the image, and the larger the camera.Some cameras, like the Canon EOS 10D, can operate at the level of cameras with larger sensors.However, this high performance is not true of the majority of digital cameras that have smaller sensors.
4. What is your white balance? When you purchase film, you can buy it for different settings, like daylight or nighttime.The way that you adjust a digital camera for different lightings and different uses is by changing the white balance.You can change your white setting to ensure that the whites in your picture actually look white.

Digital cameras usually automatically pick the white balance for your image.But, if you are aware of the lighting conditions, you can change the white balance yourself and end up with a better image.Your digital camera will probably have different settings for shade, sunlight, fluorescent lighting, tungsten lighting, and electronic flash.Some cameras also let you point your camera at a white object so that your camera can figure out what your white setting should be.