Digital Camera

[smchan]

Originally posted by MarkRG
In a film camera, it's more a combination of the rating of film, the type of flash and shutter speed.

In digital, all these run down to a common denominator in an ISO 'equivalent' rating, which is, in this case, a bottom line rating of how fast the camera can capture.

Nice picture.

In all cameras, as far as I know, the ability to capture a given subject in a given light is a function of film speed (ISO), shutter speed, and aperture. The flash is simply a light source just like the sun or a lamp.

The setting of film speed, aperture, and shutter speed depend on the type of shot you want and the light - and there are trade-offs. Low available light situations require high ISO (introduces grain for film or noise for digital), wide apertures (creates shallow depth-of-field, esp. for telephoto lenses), and lower shutter speeds (blurred subject if not absolutely still).

So... ISO is definitely not your only consideration. Take a camera with a fixed shutter speed (let's say 1/60 second) and variable aperture and ISO. Unless you get into expensive lenses, a typical aperture is 5.6. So, an f5.6 lens with ISO 800 film is the same as using an f/4 lens with ISO 400 film which is the same as f/2.8 lens with ISO 200 film.

Look at the specs for your digital camera. The aperture of the lens is probably listed. Most point-and-shoot cameras probably have smaller aperture lenses (f/4 or higher) and require higher ISO speeds for low light photography.

This is one area a digital SLR really shines. Some can reach an ISO of 3200 or 6400 - albeit with tons of digital noise - and have interchangeable, fast lenses.

Sam

 

[GenieDana]

A camera you might also consider is the Panasonic Lumix DMZ-FZ10

A workmate has one and it is nice camera.
4 megapixel
ISO 400
12X Optical zoom
Image stabilization (important for that long lens)
Available for under $500

What is interesting is this camera maintains its largest aperature through the full zoom range.

See a reviews at:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/fz10.html

and

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_fz10-review/index.shtml
My next camera will be a digital SLR I can use my Minolta lenses on.

 

[MarkRG]

Sam, that is a stellar explanation. I can understand it, if I do look at it hard enough. I've never been that big of a photography buff to really get a good grasp on a lot of the settings.

You however left out the most important part of what I wrote:

(yes, for the heavier than me camera buffs, I know there are other terms, but for the average user, this is easier to explain than anything else, and most retailers are stating to specify it in the general specs. )

When they start listing the other specs in the at-a-glance cards it'll be much more relevant. Maybe by then even the casual shopper will know what they mean.

The only point I was trying to make, is it could have 100 megapixels(which is what the stores really do push), but if those megapixels are only sensitive enough to stand an equivalent 100 speed shot, it had better be a rock that's the subject matter.

DSLR's are in another whole ballpark from the over the counter electronics store stuff. And not all the over the counter stuff is all bad either, just not the best presented to the consumer.

 

[smchan]

Originally posted by MarkRG
The only point I was trying to make, is it could have 100 megapixels(which is what the stores really do push), but if those megapixels are only sensitive enough to stand an equivalent 100 speed shot, it had better be a rock that's the subject matter.

I totally agree. In fact, the camera I lust for, a Nikon D2H, only has 4 megapixels and costs $3,200 just for the body - but it'll outperform most other digital cameras out there.

There's not a single 5, 6, 7, or 8 megapixel point-n-shoot digital camera out there I'd take over the 4 megapixel D2H.

My other point is that a slow lens will negate film or sensor speed. ISO 800 does nobody any good if you got a lens around f/5.6 or higher - but with f/2.8 or f/4, you can get a shot like the one or posted, or like the one that follows which was taken in the Walt Disney Theater onboard the Disney Magic:

Sam

 

[MarkRG]

Very nice. Is that the new show? (havn't seen it yet) I don't seem to remember a pride rock in Dreams.

Absolutely. I would say just a little bit more on why I think the ISO number is the easiest to measure on right now. I had been doing some looking for someone else I know who is interested in getting a digital. What I seemed to find is that the barrier seems to be, right now, ISO 400. Any 'pocket' model above that seemed to have a competant lens setup along with it. Below that, and yes, you'd better make sure it has an adjustable lense on it, not a fixed item.