| With a seemingly infinite array of digital cameras | | | | that performs well at high ISOs. Digital SLRs |
| on the market with different shapes, sizes, | | | | usually perform much better than small point and |
| features and even color options, it can be very | | | | shoot cameras in this area. |
| confusing for consumers to identify which brand | | | | Face recognition |
| and model will best serve their needs. In this | | | | This feature, introduced over the last year to a |
| article I will run through a couple of the key | | | | whole range of cameras, automatically detects |
| features of a digital camera, and how they will | | | | faces in the picture and optimises the focus for all |
| help you cope with different situations. By | | | | of these faces. Great if you see yourself taking a |
| evaluating your own uses for a camera and | | | | lot of pictures of groups of people, this feature |
| matching them with the capabilities on offer, you | | | | works well if your camera is intended for |
| should be able to find something that is just right | | | | capturing family memories - maybe not such a |
| for you. | | | | good feature for landscape shots though. |
| ISO | | | | Video |
| ISO is one of the great new features of digital | | | | Many modern cameras offer high quality video, up |
| cameras. In a film camera, to use a different ISO | | | | to HD quality. If you want to shoot a lot of video |
| you would have to finish and change to a | | | | though, a dedicated video camera might still be a |
| different roll of film - whereas a digital camera | | | | better option. |
| lets you change between every shot if you wish. | | | | Size |
| ISO refers to the sensitivity of the camera | | | | Often overlooked, the size of your camera may |
| sensor to light. A higher ISO means that you can | | | | influence how much you use it more than you |
| take pictures in low light with less motion blur and | | | | think! You can't take a picture if you don't have a |
| without needing a flash. However a high ISO also | | | | camera with you and you are more likely to have |
| lowers the overall quality of the image. If you | | | | a camera with you if it can slip into your glovebox |
| want to take low light pictures, choose a camera | | | | or even pocket. |