Choosing a digital camera
After we have covered the so-called basics, which you should know before buying a digital camera, now let’s look at the secondary functions, which will be very useful.
Streaming over USB. To be able to do this, the camera must have a built-in USB port so you can connect the camera to a computer and set up streaming from the camera.
Connecting an external hard drive. If you will be shooting a long one. Then you need a lot of digital space for this. This problem can be solved by the ability to connect to the camera external Hard disk.
Photo mode. With the in-camera photo mode, you can do more than just shoot. But also take photos, which will make your camera more versatile. With a camera, you no longer need to carry a camera with you.
Macro photography. The Macro mode in the camera will make it possible to shoot small objects in close-up.
Flash. The presence of a flash in the camera is a very necessary thing with which you can shoot in low light or in the dark.
Night shooting mode. This mode will allow you to shoot at night, but please note that the quality of such shooting will be poor anyway.
Battery. Pay attention to battery life in battery mode and while shooting. If you shoot a lot, then you may need to purchase an additional battery or replace it with a new, more powerful one, which will hold over 4 hours.
Manufacturers. Popular camera manufacturers are the following companies:
Which camera model to choose
How to choose a digital camera from budget options
Of the budget camera options we have reviewed, Analyzing the market for sale in 2011 and 2012, in our opinion, the Sony DCR-SX21E camera will be the best option. The price of the camera varies within 250.
This camera includes: Flash memory; widescreen mode; image stabilization; 576i recording format; availability of all necessary shooting modes; photo mode (640×480) support for memory cards and built-in clarifier. A good and necessary minimum of functions is present in this camera.
As always happens in budget models, this model raises a lot of complaints from users, in particular, they complain about the poor quality of photos, which can only be viewed on small screens, since the picture is very fuzzy on a large one. But despite all this, in terms of its functionality, the camera is very good, because what else can you want from a camera for that kind of money??!
How to Pick a Good Mid-Range Camera
What this wonderful camera includes: Flash memory; recording in Full HD format with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 in widescreen mode; image stabilization function; LCD screen; recording formats 480i, 1080i, 1080p; focusing on the face; photo mode.
Of the shortcomings, we can note a weak battery, which is enough for only an hour and a half of work. The purchase of a second non-branded battery will help to solve this problem, which will last much longer. Also, the disadvantages can be attributed to the lack of automatic closing of the lens curtain and the ability to shoot in Full HD only up to 2 GB.
Despite such minor flaws, using this camera, you can get high-quality and excellent photos. The camera’s features make it a pleasure to shoot.
Which camera is better to choose from the premium segment
Many owners write down a weak battery and NOT perfect zoom as disadvantages, but this is all personal preference of everyone. Several people note the microphone is overly sensitive, but overall the model has shown excellent results and is well worth the money.
General TIPs
1. Digital camera
The type of digital camera depends on the type of media on which the footage will be recorded. Let’s consider the most suitable types of cameras for a family:
DVD. A characteristic feature of this type of cameras is that data recording is carried out on a DVD, or rather a mini DVD disc. The recording takes place in MPEG2 format with a resolution of 720×576. Thanks to this type of media, you can immediately view what was filmed on a DVD-player. But this type of camera is not the best option for a family camera, as there is the following type.
Blu-ray. This type of digital camera records on Blu-ray disc (mini-BD), so you can record at a resolution of 1920 x 1080 in Full HD quality, although the duration will take no more than an hour. This option is much better than its aforementioned counterpart, but it also costs an order of magnitude more.
HDD. Such cameras allow recording to the built-in hard disk in MPEG2 format with a resolution of 720×576. In addition, there are HDD cameras, which support widescreen recording (with the AVCHD function of 720 or 1080 lines). The undoubted advantage is that depending on the size of the hard disk, you can record up to 10 hours in HD format. Among the shortcomings, it is worth noting the High cost of cameras with AVCHD support.
Flash. The most common and convenient type of cameras. The camera uses Flash memory for recording and storing data. Cameras of this type can have both built-in memory and a special slot for it, thanks to which you can freely change the filled cards, as well as easily transfer from them to a computer or laptop. The advantage is that these cameras are compact and lightweight, which is very convenient for transportation and carrying with you.
2. Type of digital media
As you may have guessed, the camera type assumes the Corresponding Media Type. The cameras use the following media:
Optical disc;
HDD;
Flash memory.
When choosing a camera, giving preference to the media that will be more convenient for you to use, but in turn, we would recommend a camera with a slot for Flash cards.
3. Resolution recorded
The higher the resolution. The better it will be. In addition, if you are going to watch what was recorded on a widescreen monitor or TV, then for this you need the camera to shoot in HD quality, or even better in Full HD. We also recommend purchasing a camera that shoots with a resolution of at least 1440×1080.
The aspect ratio is also worth mentioning here. As you all know, the widescreen picture is in vogue now, so we recommend that the camera shoot in a 16: 9 ratio.
4. Liquid crystal screen
For the convenience of shooting, it is very good if the camera has an LCD screen. From this screen, the operator will control and monitor the shooting progress. It is desirable that the LCD screen be able to rotate in the range from 180 to 270 degrees. New camera models EquIPped with a touch screen, which makes shooting more convenient and interesting.
5. Shooting modes
If your digital camera has a choice of shooting modes, then this is a definite plus. Most popular shooting modes:
Twilight mode;
Sunrise and Sunset Mode;
Fireworks mode;
Landscape mode;
Beach mode;
Snow mode.
Thanks to the presence of such modes, you can get high quality when shooting in the appropriate environment.
6. Number of frames per second
The higher the number, the smoother and more natural the image will be. Modern cameras support a frame rate of 25 to 60 frames per second. The most optimal indicator for a camera is 50 fps.
7. Zoom
Zoom. This is the ability to visually zoom in or out of the objects being shot so as not to come closer. With the help of magnification, you can bring the desired subject closer so that it fits well and fully into the frame. But with high magnification, the image quality will deteriorate markedly.
When buying a camera, give preference to an optical zoom over a digital one, since in the first option, the magnification is due to the optics, and in the second option, due to cropping the edges of the frame.
How to choose a camera?
Do you have a big family and you want to preserve the bright moments that fly by? A camera will help in this case, but still a digital camera is best suited for this. After all, thanks to the camera, you can capture your summer family vacation, all holidays, birthdays, and especially how your children are growing up. Therefore, today we will try to tell you how to choose the right camera for family needs, as well as tell you about choosing a camera for surveillance.
Articles:
Surveillance camera
There are the following types of surveillance cameras:
- Frameless cameras. Most often, frameless cameras are installed for covert surveillance. Cameras of this type are mounted either in the wall or in furniture.
- Dome cameras. This type of camera is most often used indoors, especially for surveillance in a supermarket hall or in a small office. Dome cameras are black ball shaped and ceiling mounted.
- Box cameras. Cameras of this type are used for stationary surveillance in offices or shopping centers. These cameras are most often seen at supermarket checkouts. Certain camera models can be controlled from afar by rotating them to view the area in a circle.
- Street cameras. Street cameras, you guessed it, are mounted on the wall of a building or a special support. These cameras are perfectly adapted to work in cold and hot weather and are resistant to temperature extremes and moisture.
When choosing a camera for surveillance, you must consider the possibility of recording color. If this moment is NOT important for you, then give preference to a black and white picture, since such cameras are much cheaper. If you need to carry out close observation, for example, Capturing the colors of cars, then, of course, a camera is necessary.Coloring the image in color.
Sensitivity
The sensitivity of the camera depends on what minimum illumination the camera will be able to legibly fix the territory and any movements in it. If good lighting is expected at the planned installation site, then you should not think about the sensitivity of the face, but if the camera will be on the street and work in the dark, this moment must be thought out.
Security cameras resolution
For most cases, the camera’s ability to capture an image with a resolution of 420 lines is fine.
In this article, we have tried to cover all the important aspects that you need to know when choosing a camera, both for family needs and for surveillance.
Semi-professional
The next stage of evolution is an intermediate link between amateur and professional cameras. Such devices often have three matrices at least 1/4 “in size, which means that they more reliably reproduce the colors of the image. Semi-professional cameras weigh from 2 to 4 kg. you can no longer vilify in one hand. But recording, as in amateur devices, is removable memory card.This technique shoots in HD 960×720 or HDV 1440×1080 pixels.
Pros:
- Decent quality;
- Average weight;
- Good microphone capable of picking up sounds at a distance of up to 25 m;
- Up to 4 channels of sound recording;
- Image stabilizer is already in use;
- Wide range of manual settings;
- Large LCD screen.
Minuses:
- Above average cost.
Camera selection options
Display
The more the better princIPle works here. Good diagonal, high resolution, the ability to rotate the stock screen. all this will make the camera more convenient to use. To get a high-quality picture on the display without glare and color distortion, you should choose AMOLED or LED options.
Professional
These are already serious devices intended for use on television and in documentary filmmaking. These cameras weigh quite a lot (from 5 to 15 kg). you cannot hold such a colossus of your face in your hands. For this there are special straps and trIPods, and shooting in motion has to be done from the shoulder.
Professional cameras always come with three color matrices NOT less than 1/2 “. The optics are extremely interchangeable. The microphone is taken out separately and has a rather long length (the so-called gun). However, there is often no LCD screen and autofocus. they are useless for professionals.
Such serious cameras often shoot in AVCHD format (1920 x 1080 pixels), but they are also capable of working in 4K, HD, SD, MPEG, etc.
Pros:
- Wide functionality (image stabilization, night mode. Manual focus, etc.);
- Very high picture quality;
- The microphone picks up at fairly long distances. up to 50 m;
- There is often 5.1 surround sound recording;
- Compatible with other professional TV equIPment.
Minuses:
- Very high cost;
- Heavy weight.
The device and princIPle of operation of the camera
A camera is a complex electronic device consisting of several main units:
- Lens;
- Microphone;
- Signal processing unit;
- Photosensitive matrix;
- Viewfinder and / or LCD screen, which can successfully replace it;
- Information carrier;
- Battery pack.
Powerful mid-range and high-end cameras also have an Image Stabilizer to compensate for camera shake and movement when shooting. However, this is just one of the lens options. a kind of shock-absorbing lens suspension.
In short, the princIPle of the camera is as follows: what you see on the screen or in the viewfinder is captured by the lens and projected onto an optoelectric converter inside the device. Here the light image transmitted to the matrix is converted into an electrical signal containing information about its brightness and color component. In the processing unit, several sequential actions take place, as a result of which the signal is converted and redirected to the display, and at the same time it is written to the medium.
Sweep type
Another parameter affecting the recording quality and the final cost of the camera is indicated in the marking next to the resolution:
1. I. interlaced scanning, often found on inexpensive devices. Here, each frame is slightly blurred, due to which slight flickering is possible during viewing (this is especially noticeable when the movie is stopped).
2. G. progressive scan gives clear and beautiful shots, but in shooting mode it eats up too much camera resources.
Matrices
The matrix arranges the visual image by color. This is one of the most important elements of any camera, so you need to pay special attention to its characteristics.
There are two types of matrices:
1.CMOS. have good color rendition and a resolution of up to 1080 pixels, while they are very inexpensive and consume more battery power.
2. CCD. reproduce colors as accurately as possible at the same resolution and do not create visual noise. Installed on semi-professional and professional cameras.
Ideal shooting quality is provided by 3ССD matrices, that is, a set of three high sensitivity filters.
The quality is also influenced by the size of the matrix. the wider it is, the more it collects light, making the picture brighter. This parameter is specified as an inch fraction with a unit in the numerator. Accordingly, the lower the denominator value, the larger the matrix size. Ideally, it should be at least 1/2 “, but 1/4” is also allowed.
Camera types
Battery
Here you need to pay attention NOT so much to the battery capacity or the possibility of using additional batteries, but to the number of resource-intensive functions of the device.
The battery life is affected by almost everything that is in the camera, starting from the presence of a screen, ending with the modes used:
1. Shooting itself is the most energy-consuming process. If you shoot more often. Than to watch it, then the declared working time must be specified necessarily. 2-3 hours of continuous shooting is a good result for the camera.
2. Viewing files is less resource intensive. In this mode, the camera can last for several hours, so it does NOT need a large battery capacity.
3. Waiting time. eats up a minimum of energy. The waiting camera can lie turned on NOT one day.