Digital Cameras: The Basics
Instructor: Karen Douglas
What is a Digital Camera?
Digital cameras allow you to take photographs (and some digital cameras will take videos) without
the need for film. They use sensors that convert light information from the photographed scene
into a digital image. Each digital image is composed of many tiny pixels. In a graphic image, a
pixel, which is short for “Picture Element,” is a single point in a graphic image. When
discussing digital cameras, resolution can be defined as the number of pixels in an image. A
megapixel is one million pixels. Millions of pixels are combined to form one picture. Your
photos are stored on your camera’s memory card as a file. The larger (in file size) your
memory card is the more photos you can take at one time.
Some advantages of using digital camera versus traditional cameras.
1. No need to purchase film.
2. You can preview your images and decide which ones to edit, delete or print.
3. Share your digital photos online with family and friends.
4. If you own a photo printer, you can print your own
photos at your leisure.
5. You can organize and file your photos on your computer or burn to a CD for later use.
What are some Determining Factors to Consider when Purchasing a Digital Camera?
• Megapixels - If you want to take crisp photos that range from 4 x 6 up to 5 x 7 consider
purchasing a camera with at least 4 MP (megapixels) and for an 8 x 10, you will need
at least 7-8 MP. For larger prints, speak to a professional photographer to determine the best
camera for your needs.
• Size, shape and weight - It is recommend that you should always see the camera you wish to
purchase in person. That way, you can hold the camera to see how it fits in your hand, and
determine if the weight and size is appropriate for your use.
• Optical versus Digital Zoom - Digital cameras usually offer both optical and digital zoom.
You will produce better quality photos by using your optical zoom versus the digital zoom.
Try to buy a camera with more optical zoom options. The higher the number for the optical
zoom, the more powerful lens (for zooming) you will own.
• Price - The price can vary greatly. Determine which features are most important to you and
compare various brands. Refer to websites that have professionals who review digital
cameras. One example would be www.cnet.com
• Battery type - Consider purchasing a camera that uses a rechargeable battery.
• Manual and/or Auto Controls - Many digital cameras are very basic point and shoot
cameras. If you want more controls such as ISO or shutter speed, consider purchasing a
digital camera with manual controls as well.
• Software limitations or specifications - Before you purchase a camera, make sure it will be
compatible with your existing computer hardware and software.
• Ease of Photo transfer - Inquire about how the camera will transfer the photos to your
computer. You may need to purchase an additional USB cable or even a card reader.
• Memory Card - Most cameras come with a small memory card (such as 30 MB). You may
want to consider purchasing a larger card (1 GB) so that you can take more photos at one time
without having to stop and download the photos to your computer on a regular basis.
How do I Transfer Images from my Camera to my Computer?
The newer cameras on the market today use a USB cable which will connect to a USB
port on your computer. Follow your camera instructions for the exact steps for
connecting your camera to your computer. Most cameras come with software that will
assist you with downloading and editing your images. This software will usually
recognize when your camera is connected, and will typically open automatically. You
will be able to choose which images you wish to download by first viewing them on
your monitor.
Another option for downloading your images would be to purchase a card reader. This
device will allow you to place your flash memory card from your camera into the card reader. The card reader will
connect to your computer by using a USB port and will read your camera’s memory card. Some computers have a
built-in card reader. If you are unsure about whether you need to purchase an external card reader, please consult
with a computer technician.
Once you have downloaded your images to your computer, you can either print or email your images. If you decide
to archive your photos, you may want to create separate folders for each event (such as “Tammy’s birthday”, or
“summer vacation 2007”) and save to your hard drive. You could also save to an external storage device like a travel
drive or burn to a CD. Before you print or email your photos, you want to edit them by using image editing software.
What is Photo Editing Software?
Image editing software will allow you to change or manipulate your photos in several different ways. They will
usually allow you to lighten or darken a photo, rotate it, trim or crop out certain areas, adjust the contrast, remove red
eye and more. As mentioned before, most newer cameras come with some image editing software. Before you
purchase your camera, make sure its software is compatible with your system
How Would I use a Photo Sharing Web Site?
How do I Transfer Images from my Camera to my Computer?
The newer cameras on the market today use a USB cable which will connect to a USB
port on your computer. Follow your camera instructions for the exact steps for
connecting your camera to your computer. Most cameras come with software that will
assist you with downloading and editing your images. This software will usually
recognize when your camera is connected, and will typically open automatically. You
will be able to choose which images you wish to download by first viewing them on
your monitor.
Another option for downloading your images would be to purchase a card reader. This
device will allow you to place your flash memory card from your camera into the card reader. The card reader will
connect to your computer by using a USB port and will read your camera’s memory card. Some computers have a
built-in card reader. If you are unsure about whether you need to purchase an external card reader, please consult
with a computer technician.
Once you have downloaded your images to your computer, you can either print or email your images. If you decide
to archive your photos, you may want to create separate folders for each event (such as “Tammy’s birthday”, or
“summer vacation 2007”) and save to your hard drive. You could also save to an external storage device like a travel
drive or burn to a CD. Before you print or email your photos, you want to edit them by using image editing software.
Another option you may want to consider for sharing your photos would be to use an online
photo sharing site. These allow you to upload and save your photos so that family and friends
can view your photos from any computer with Internet access. These web sites provide you
with free storage and sharing.
What is the Difference between Pixels per Inch and Dots per Inch?
When we discuss digital images, the term ppi (pixels per inch)
primarily is referring to print quality not video (monitor) quality. Each
digital image is composed of thousands or maybe millions of pixels
(little squares of colors). See the enlargement of the parrot’s eye in the
sample photo to the right. The entire photo is composed of tiny square
pixels. The more megapixels your camera has, the more crisp and
clear your photos will be when printed in a larger format.
The term dpi (dots per inch) refers to how many dots a printer uses to recreate a single pixel
from your digital image. This refers to a printer property. If you used a 300ppi print setting
with a 2880 dpi printer, it would use 9.3 tiny dots to represent each pixel in your digital photo.
If you used a 240 ppi setting, the same printer would need to use 12 dots to represent each pixel.
What Settings Should I Use to Print My Photos?
If you have an image that is 800 pixels tall x 1200 pixels wide, and you print it with
a setting of 200 pixels per inch, your printed image will be 4 x 6. If you print that
same image with a setting of 300 ppi, your printed image will be 2.6 x 4. Even
though your image will be smaller, it will be of a higher quality. So, if you want a
quality 4 x 6 print, with a setting of 300 ppi, make sure you set your camera’s
image quality to 1200 x 1800 pixels prior to taking the photo. For a print size of 5 x
7, set your image size to 1500 x 2100 or something close to that setting before you
take your photo. For a print size of 8 x 10, set your image size to 2400 x 3000 (see
your camera instructions for specific settings). Remember that your camera may
come with certain preset pixel size settings. If this is the case, get as close as
possible to the settings above for the correct print size results. Keep in mind that the larger your image size is per
photo, the more file space it will need on your memory card. So, the larger the file size per photo, the less photos you
can save on your memory card at one time. If you have a 1 GB memory card in your camera, you can fit 500 individual photos that are 2 MB each. Don’t forget that you can always take your images and have them printed for you
directly from your memory card at a professional photo lab, a local photo kiosk or an online print website.
What Settings Should I Use to Email or Save My Images to the Web?
If you know your intent will be to save an image to a web site or to email an image
and you never intend to print the image, set your image resolution on a lower
setting. Remember that once you take a photo at a low pixel size, you can’t enlarge
the image size later to print a 4 x 6 photo. Well, technically you can, but it will
produce a very pixilated and blurry print.
The smaller the file size, the more images you can fit on your memory card. JPEG
is the preferred file format for saving photos to be emailed or saving to the Web.
To email a picture that is 5 x 7, you will want to change your camera settings to 360
x 504 pixels or for a 4 x 6, set your image size to 288 x 432 pixels before you take
your photo (see your camera instructions).
In Addition to my Camera, What else Should I Consider Purchasing?
• As mentioned before, most new digital cameras come with a small memory card.
If you want to be able to save many images and videos (if your camera has a video
option), then consider purchasing a memory card with one or two gigabytes
(1 or 2GB).
• In order to save files on a portable storage device, you need to be aware of the
file size of your images. Several photos can be saved to one floppy if the images
have a small file size. One floppy will hold up to 1.4MB of files. If you want to
save many photos or larger image files, please consider learning how to burn CD’s
or purchase a USB travel drive.
• If you will need to download your photos from your camera to another computer (other than your own computer), you may want to purchase a portable memory card reader. This device will connect to the computer’s USB port. Even though your friend’s home computer will not have the software from your camera
installed, you can use your memory card reader to install your photos from your camera to their computer.
• If you will be using an inkjet printer to print your new photos, then you will need to purchase some photo
quality paper. The best results will come from premium professional grade gloss paper.
• To protect your camera from bumps and scratches, you may want to purchase a camera bag. Some are made
to fit securely to your belt so that transporting the camera is very easy.
• A tripod is a device that holds your camera steady while you take a portrait. Your camera mounts to the
tripod and can easily be assembled for a quick photo. It is also a great way to take a photo of you with your
friends in case no one else is around to take the picture.
What are Some Techniques for Taking Better Photos?
• Remember to always hold the camera as still as possible. Brace your elbows into
your side for a more steady shot.
• When shooting outside, make sure the subject is not looking into the sun and
remember not to point your camera toward the sun.
• As you compose your shot, always pay attention to the background. Many
unsuspecting subjects have disappointing photos with mysterious “trees” or “poles” that
appear to be growing from their head! Try to move your subject so that the background
is appropriate and flattering.
• Another advantage of using a digital camera is that you can take “practice” shots. Take a photo and allow your
subject to see the photo. If it is an unsatisfactory picture, then just delete it and try taking another one.
• Learn how to take quality photos. See the following page for a list of books describing proper photo composition. Know when to take close up photos to capture the moment. Learn more about panoramic and macro shots
as well. Enjoy learning about your camera and all the possibilities you have to produce quality photos!
From http://www.clarke.public.lib.ga.us/services/digitalcamerabasics.pdf 24/08/2011
Instructor: Karen Douglas
What is a Digital Camera?
Digital cameras allow you to take photographs (and some digital cameras will take videos) without
the need for film. They use sensors that convert light information from the photographed scene
into a digital image. Each digital image is composed of many tiny pixels. In a graphic image, a
pixel, which is short for “Picture Element,” is a single point in a graphic image. When
discussing digital cameras, resolution can be defined as the number of pixels in an image. A
megapixel is one million pixels. Millions of pixels are combined to form one picture. Your
photos are stored on your camera’s memory card as a file. The larger (in file size) your
memory card is the more photos you can take at one time.
Some advantages of using digital camera versus traditional cameras.
1. No need to purchase film.
2. You can preview your images and decide which ones to edit, delete or print.
3. Share your digital photos online with family and friends.
4. If you own a photo printer, you can print your own
photos at your leisure.
5. You can organize and file your photos on your computer or burn to a CD for later use.
What are some Determining Factors to Consider when Purchasing a Digital Camera?
• Megapixels - If you want to take crisp photos that range from 4 x 6 up to 5 x 7 consider
purchasing a camera with at least 4 MP (megapixels) and for an 8 x 10, you will need
at least 7-8 MP. For larger prints, speak to a professional photographer to determine the best
camera for your needs.
• Size, shape and weight - It is recommend that you should always see the camera you wish to
purchase in person. That way, you can hold the camera to see how it fits in your hand, and
determine if the weight and size is appropriate for your use.
• Optical versus Digital Zoom - Digital cameras usually offer both optical and digital zoom.
You will produce better quality photos by using your optical zoom versus the digital zoom.
Try to buy a camera with more optical zoom options. The higher the number for the optical
zoom, the more powerful lens (for zooming) you will own.
• Price - The price can vary greatly. Determine which features are most important to you and
compare various brands. Refer to websites that have professionals who review digital
cameras. One example would be www.cnet.com
• Battery type - Consider purchasing a camera that uses a rechargeable battery.
• Manual and/or Auto Controls - Many digital cameras are very basic point and shoot
cameras. If you want more controls such as ISO or shutter speed, consider purchasing a
digital camera with manual controls as well.
• Software limitations or specifications - Before you purchase a camera, make sure it will be
compatible with your existing computer hardware and software.
• Ease of Photo transfer - Inquire about how the camera will transfer the photos to your
computer. You may need to purchase an additional USB cable or even a card reader.
• Memory Card - Most cameras come with a small memory card (such as 30 MB). You may
want to consider purchasing a larger card (1 GB) so that you can take more photos at one time
without having to stop and download the photos to your computer on a regular basis.
How do I Transfer Images from my Camera to my Computer?
The newer cameras on the market today use a USB cable which will connect to a USB
port on your computer. Follow your camera instructions for the exact steps for
connecting your camera to your computer. Most cameras come with software that will
assist you with downloading and editing your images. This software will usually
recognize when your camera is connected, and will typically open automatically. You
will be able to choose which images you wish to download by first viewing them on
your monitor.
Another option for downloading your images would be to purchase a card reader. This
device will allow you to place your flash memory card from your camera into the card reader. The card reader will
connect to your computer by using a USB port and will read your camera’s memory card. Some computers have a
built-in card reader. If you are unsure about whether you need to purchase an external card reader, please consult
with a computer technician.
Once you have downloaded your images to your computer, you can either print or email your images. If you decide
to archive your photos, you may want to create separate folders for each event (such as “Tammy’s birthday”, or
“summer vacation 2007”) and save to your hard drive. You could also save to an external storage device like a travel
drive or burn to a CD. Before you print or email your photos, you want to edit them by using image editing software.
What is Photo Editing Software?
Image editing software will allow you to change or manipulate your photos in several different ways. They will
usually allow you to lighten or darken a photo, rotate it, trim or crop out certain areas, adjust the contrast, remove red
eye and more. As mentioned before, most newer cameras come with some image editing software. Before you
purchase your camera, make sure its software is compatible with your system
How Would I use a Photo Sharing Web Site?
How do I Transfer Images from my Camera to my Computer?
The newer cameras on the market today use a USB cable which will connect to a USB
port on your computer. Follow your camera instructions for the exact steps for
connecting your camera to your computer. Most cameras come with software that will
assist you with downloading and editing your images. This software will usually
recognize when your camera is connected, and will typically open automatically. You
will be able to choose which images you wish to download by first viewing them on
your monitor.
Another option for downloading your images would be to purchase a card reader. This
device will allow you to place your flash memory card from your camera into the card reader. The card reader will
connect to your computer by using a USB port and will read your camera’s memory card. Some computers have a
built-in card reader. If you are unsure about whether you need to purchase an external card reader, please consult
with a computer technician.
Once you have downloaded your images to your computer, you can either print or email your images. If you decide
to archive your photos, you may want to create separate folders for each event (such as “Tammy’s birthday”, or
“summer vacation 2007”) and save to your hard drive. You could also save to an external storage device like a travel
drive or burn to a CD. Before you print or email your photos, you want to edit them by using image editing software.
Another option you may want to consider for sharing your photos would be to use an online
photo sharing site. These allow you to upload and save your photos so that family and friends
can view your photos from any computer with Internet access. These web sites provide you
with free storage and sharing.
What is the Difference between Pixels per Inch and Dots per Inch?
When we discuss digital images, the term ppi (pixels per inch)
primarily is referring to print quality not video (monitor) quality. Each
digital image is composed of thousands or maybe millions of pixels
(little squares of colors). See the enlargement of the parrot’s eye in the
sample photo to the right. The entire photo is composed of tiny square
pixels. The more megapixels your camera has, the more crisp and
clear your photos will be when printed in a larger format.
The term dpi (dots per inch) refers to how many dots a printer uses to recreate a single pixel
from your digital image. This refers to a printer property. If you used a 300ppi print setting
with a 2880 dpi printer, it would use 9.3 tiny dots to represent each pixel in your digital photo.
If you used a 240 ppi setting, the same printer would need to use 12 dots to represent each pixel.
What Settings Should I Use to Print My Photos?
If you have an image that is 800 pixels tall x 1200 pixels wide, and you print it with
a setting of 200 pixels per inch, your printed image will be 4 x 6. If you print that
same image with a setting of 300 ppi, your printed image will be 2.6 x 4. Even
though your image will be smaller, it will be of a higher quality. So, if you want a
quality 4 x 6 print, with a setting of 300 ppi, make sure you set your camera’s
image quality to 1200 x 1800 pixels prior to taking the photo. For a print size of 5 x
7, set your image size to 1500 x 2100 or something close to that setting before you
take your photo. For a print size of 8 x 10, set your image size to 2400 x 3000 (see
your camera instructions for specific settings). Remember that your camera may
come with certain preset pixel size settings. If this is the case, get as close as
possible to the settings above for the correct print size results. Keep in mind that the larger your image size is per
photo, the more file space it will need on your memory card. So, the larger the file size per photo, the less photos you
can save on your memory card at one time. If you have a 1 GB memory card in your camera, you can fit 500 individual photos that are 2 MB each. Don’t forget that you can always take your images and have them printed for you
directly from your memory card at a professional photo lab, a local photo kiosk or an online print website.
What Settings Should I Use to Email or Save My Images to the Web?
If you know your intent will be to save an image to a web site or to email an image
and you never intend to print the image, set your image resolution on a lower
setting. Remember that once you take a photo at a low pixel size, you can’t enlarge
the image size later to print a 4 x 6 photo. Well, technically you can, but it will
produce a very pixilated and blurry print.
The smaller the file size, the more images you can fit on your memory card. JPEG
is the preferred file format for saving photos to be emailed or saving to the Web.
To email a picture that is 5 x 7, you will want to change your camera settings to 360
x 504 pixels or for a 4 x 6, set your image size to 288 x 432 pixels before you take
your photo (see your camera instructions).
In Addition to my Camera, What else Should I Consider Purchasing?
• As mentioned before, most new digital cameras come with a small memory card.
If you want to be able to save many images and videos (if your camera has a video
option), then consider purchasing a memory card with one or two gigabytes
(1 or 2GB).
• In order to save files on a portable storage device, you need to be aware of the
file size of your images. Several photos can be saved to one floppy if the images
have a small file size. One floppy will hold up to 1.4MB of files. If you want to
save many photos or larger image files, please consider learning how to burn CD’s
or purchase a USB travel drive.
• If you will need to download your photos from your camera to another computer (other than your own computer), you may want to purchase a portable memory card reader. This device will connect to the computer’s USB port. Even though your friend’s home computer will not have the software from your camera
installed, you can use your memory card reader to install your photos from your camera to their computer.
• If you will be using an inkjet printer to print your new photos, then you will need to purchase some photo
quality paper. The best results will come from premium professional grade gloss paper.
• To protect your camera from bumps and scratches, you may want to purchase a camera bag. Some are made
to fit securely to your belt so that transporting the camera is very easy.
• A tripod is a device that holds your camera steady while you take a portrait. Your camera mounts to the
tripod and can easily be assembled for a quick photo. It is also a great way to take a photo of you with your
friends in case no one else is around to take the picture.
What are Some Techniques for Taking Better Photos?
• Remember to always hold the camera as still as possible. Brace your elbows into
your side for a more steady shot.
• When shooting outside, make sure the subject is not looking into the sun and
remember not to point your camera toward the sun.
• As you compose your shot, always pay attention to the background. Many
unsuspecting subjects have disappointing photos with mysterious “trees” or “poles” that
appear to be growing from their head! Try to move your subject so that the background
is appropriate and flattering.
• Another advantage of using a digital camera is that you can take “practice” shots. Take a photo and allow your
subject to see the photo. If it is an unsatisfactory picture, then just delete it and try taking another one.
• Learn how to take quality photos. See the following page for a list of books describing proper photo composition. Know when to take close up photos to capture the moment. Learn more about panoramic and macro shots
as well. Enjoy learning about your camera and all the possibilities you have to produce quality photos!
From http://www.clarke.public.lib.ga.us/services/digitalcamerabasics.pdf 24/08/2011
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