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Camera Features and Specification Notes
Type | ||
| Camera Type | There are four main types of cameras on the market: DSLR - A digital SLR that uses a mirror to enable you to compose the picture by looking through the lens. The mirror flips out of the way every time a photograph is taken. DSLR's tend to be larger because of the added mirror and prism assembly. CSC (or MILC) - A Compact System Camera (or Mirrorless Interchangable Lens Camera) does away with the mirror in favour of an an LCD monitor and optionally and electronic view finder (EVF). Bridge Camera - These cameras have one fixed zoom lens that aims to cover a very wide range of focal lengths. Compacts Cameras - Small cameras with either a fixed zoom or prime lens. | |
Sensor | ||
| Circle of Confusion | The acceptable circle of confusion (aka disc of confusion) is a circular area of imperfect focus on the camera sensor that is acceptably in focus. The diameter of this circle is used in calculating depth of field and hyperfocal distances. | |
| Crop Factor | The sensor size measured as a crop of a full frame sensor. ie 1 means full frame, 2 means half of a full frame sensor. | |
| Low Pass Filter | An Optical Low Pass Filter (OLPF) or Anti-Aliasing filter(AA) is present on most digital cameras. It is used to eliminate moire by slightly blurring the image. The level of blurring is so small that it is not noticeable unless you zoom right in to pixel level. For some applications such as landscape photography, photographers may choose cameras without this feature to obtain the ultimate in image sharpness at the expense of moire which can be removed during the post-processing stage. | |
| Megapixels | The amount of information contained in an image measured in megapixels. | |
| No Low Pass Filter | Absence of an Optical Low Pass Filter (OLPF) or Anti-Aliasing filter(AA). An OLPF is used to eliminate moire by slightly blurring the image. The level of blurring is so small that it is not noticeable unless you zoom right in to pixel level. For some applications such as landscape photography, photographers may choose cameras without this feature to obtain the ultimate in image quality at the expense of moire which can be removed during the post-processing stage. | |
| Sensor Cleaning | A short high frequency vibration is used to shake dust off the sensor. | |
| Sensor Format | The largest sensor cameras (excluding medium and large format) are referred to as full frame cameras. Other sensor formats in order of descending size include APS-C, Micro-Four-thirds (MFT), 1 inch and smaller. | |
| Sensor Noise Rating | A subjective rating of the noise produced at various ISO's in comparison to other cameras. A camera rated at 7 (out of 10) is estimated to have one stop more noise than a rated at 8/10. | |
| Sensor Size | This is the physical size of the sensor. For example, a full frame sensor is 36mm x 24mm. Sensor sizes are compared by the area in square mm. | |
| Sensor Type | An indication of the technology and the sensor size | |
Image | ||
| Aspect Ratio | The ratio of the image height to the image width. Some cameras have multiple aspect ratios to choose from which has the affect of cropping the image to the selected aspect ratio. | |
| Base ISO | Lower ISO's help with shooting in bright light when you wish to use a wide aperture to deliberately throw the background out of focus. The BASE ISO is the ISO of the sensor where the image quality is at its peak (low noise and high dynamic range). Many cameras extend the ISO range even lower than the base ISO for very bright scenes. | |
| Image Stabilisation | Image stabilisation allows you to shoot at slower shutter speeds without a tripod. | |
| Max ISO | Higher ISO's help with shooting in dim light. The ability to shoot as a higher ISO does not always mean that the image quality will be adequate for your needs. | |
| Max Resolution | Image area in pixels | |
| Processor | The processor is responsible for the handling of the recorded image including converting it into available formats. | |
| Raw Buffer Size | The number of raw images that can be captured in the fastest shooting mode before the buffer is full | |
Features | ||
| Video Lens | Cine lenses are deigned specifically for video and have a number of features including smoother zooming and smooth aperture rings without click steps. | |
Lens / Optical | ||
| Elements | There is a theory that less elements will produce greater micro-contrast. While some prefer a lower element count, others will trust that more elements will create the corrections required for a sharper image. | |
| Filter Size | The diameter of the thread used to attach filters and filter mounts. | |
| Focal Length Tele | How far you can optically zoom in (also called telephoto). | |
| Focal Length Wide | How far you can optically zoom out (or how wide). | |
| Lens mount | The types of lenses suitable for this camera | |
| Macro | Ability to get very close to the subject. | |
| Max Aperture | A measure of how much light the lens will let in. Larger apertures help you take better quality photos in dimly lit conditions. Smaller numbers indicate larger apertures that let more light in. | |
| Max Aperture Tele | A measure of how much light the lens will let in at the zoomed in (telephoto) end. Larger apertures help you take better quality photos in dimly lit conditions and also help you to deliberately defocus backgrounds. Smaller numbers indicate larger apertures that let more light in. NOTE that for cameras with interchangeable lenses, the max aperture of available lenses with a standard tele focal length of 85mm is used. | |
| Max Aperture Wide | A measure of how much light the lens will let in at the zoomed out (wide) end. Larger apertures help you take better quality photos in dimly lit conditions. Smaller numbers indicate larger apertures that let more light in. NOTE that for cameras with interchangeable lenses, the max aperture of available lenses with a standard wide focal length of 28mm is used. | |
| Min Focus Distance | Useful for macro photography | |
| Optical Zoom | A measure of the zoom range as a multiple of the telephoto to wide ratio. | |
Focusing | ||
| AF Points | The number of autofocus points. More focus points usually means more accurate autofocusing of moving subjects. Other factors include the type of focus points and the processing ability of the camera. | |
| AF System | The technology behind the autofocus capability of the camera. | |
| DOF Preview | The Depth of Field Preview function gives you a preview of what is in focus and out of focus prior to taking a photograph. | |
| Face Detection | Face recognition to aid focusing and sometimes exposure | |
Viewfinder / Screen | ||
| Live View | Option to use the LCD screen to preview the image. | |
| Screen Resolution | Screen area in pixels | |
| Tilt Screen | Some screens tilt upwards while others swing out and swivel. | |
| VF Coverage | How much of the image is visible in the View Finder (VF). | |
| Viewfinder Type | EVF - Electronic View Finders provide a view of what the finished image will look like prior to taking the photo.OVF - Optical View Finders provide a window showing frame lines to guide you what will be included within the frame of the photo. They make it easier to compose a picture as you can see what is included/not included in the image. | |
Photography features | ||
| Diopter Adjust | The ability to adjust the viewfinder to compensate for eyesight corrections. Useful for people who use reading glasses. | |
| Exp. Bracketing | The Exposure Bracketing feature allows you to take multiple shots at varying exposures which can later be combined into one exposure so that detail is retained in the darkest and lightest parts of the image. This is know as HDR or High Dynamic Range photography. Bracketing can also be used to increase your chances of obtaining perfect exposure in tricky lighting conditions. | |
| Exposure Comp. | Exposure Compensation allows you to easily adjust for lighting conditions where the camera would produce an incorrectly exposed picture. For example, when the sun is behind your subject. | |
| Fastest Shutter Speed | Faster shutter speeds allow the use of wider apertures (to intentionally blur backgrounds) on bright days without resorting to filters. | |
| Frames Per Second | The number of photos that can be captured in a second (fps = frames per second). The buffer size may also be relevant to you as this frame rate will slow down considerably once the buffer is full. A fast memory card will help increase this slower rate. | |
| Metering System | The metering system decides which exposure settings to apply or recommend and offers one or more methods to measure the light. Popular methods include multi/matrix, center-weighted and spot metering. | |
| Shooting Modes | Professional and enthusiast cameras usually provide 'P' (Program mode), 'S' or 'T' (Speed or Time priority mode), 'A' (Aperture priority mode) and 'M' (Manual mode).Cameras for beginners often include modes for sports, portraits, landscapes and macro photography. | |
| Silent shutter | The ability to take photos quietly. Useful for concert photography, street photography and capturing candid moments. | |
| Slowest Shutter Speed | Longer minimum shutter speeds allow easier control over long exposures although these can usually be manually controlled with a stopwatch or your watch. Long exposures are useful for astro photography and deliberately blurring moving subjects such as waterfalls. | |
| User Level | Some manufacturers design cameras for different levels of users such as 'beginners', 'enthusiasts' and 'professionals' | |
Video features | ||
| Movie modes | Formats in order of increasing definition include 720p, 1080p, HD and 4K. | |
Flash | ||
| Flash Metering | To control the brightness of the flash relative to the brightness of the surroundings while obtaining an accurate exposure of your subject. | |
| Flash Sync Speed | Higher sync speeds allow you to use flash in bright conditions usually to fill in shadows. | |
| Integrated flash | Useful for when you don't want to carry a separate flash gun. | |
Battery | ||
| Battery | The model number. Useful identification when ordering spare batteries. | |
| Battery Grip | An additional part to add a second battery to the camera for more shots between recharges and an additional grip to assist taking photos in portrait mode. | |
Media | ||
| Image Formats | Popular photo formats include RAW and JPG. Video formats include MP4 and MOV | |
| Memory card | Compatible Memory card formats. Popular formats include SD, SDHC and SDXC. | |
Connectivity | ||
| Connectivity | The available options to connect to remote devices such as mobile phones via wifi, bluetooth etc. | |
| PictBridge | PictBridge allows direct printing from camera to compatible printers | |
Physical | ||
| Bundled | Accessories included in the purchase. | |
| Colour | The main colour of the camera body. | |
| Materials | Construction material. Affects weight and durability. | |
| Operating Environment | Temperature range and humidity | |
| Screen Size | Larger screens enable you to check the quality of the photos you have taken more easily. | |
| Volume | The physical dimensions of the camera. For comparison purposes the volume is used. | |
| Weather Resistant | Some level of protection against water ingres which varies from weather resistant to water proof. | |
| Weight | The weight of the camera including battery and card. Heavy cameras can be a burden on long trips/hill walking whereas light cameras can be carried easily for long periods. | |
Further Info | ||
| UK Price | Value for money | |
| US Price | Value for money | |
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