| Digital cameras are quickly becoming more | | | | of the professional lenses cost anywhere from |
| popular, with their capabilities increasing | | | | $1,300 to $8,000 or more. Lens aperture or the |
| dramatically and are very expensive for what | | | | f-number is the ratio of the focal length of the |
| they do. They are distinguished by their resolution, | | | | lens to the diameter of the light rays passing |
| like how many pixels or picture elements the | | | | through the aperture in the iris diaphragm. Smaller |
| image sensor contains, like one megapixel equals 1 | | | | numbers represent bigger openings and allow |
| million picture elements. Digital cameras are also | | | | more light to pass through. |
| gaining popularity within the field of forensic | | | | Images in Digital Cameras |
| science. However, there are still some drawbacks | | | | Image resolutions in digital photography are much |
| to the utilization of digital cameras within forensic | | | | higher than computer monitors with numbers in |
| science casework. | | | | the millions of pixels or mega-pixel range. A digital |
| Digital cameras are sensitive to temperature | | | | camera with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 would |
| changes and humidity, more so than their film | | | | have a total resolution of 3.1 million pixels or |
| counterparts. A good camera bag will protect and | | | | mega-pixels. The image stabilization reduces blurry |
| insulate the camera from the elements, | | | | pictures and jumpy movies caused by shaky |
| particularly if you leave the camera in a car for a | | | | hands and the image files are often recorded in a |
| period of time. Although they are still rather | | | | variety of resolutions, suitable for a broad range |
| expensive, you must know the proper handling | | | | of applications. The image output is very good |
| and safety rules when using the camera. | | | | indeed and the controls and interface are easy to |
| As the years go by digital cameras are getting | | | | learn and comfortable to use. There are some |
| better and cheaper although with the new wave | | | | contradictions though. |
| of three-megapixel cameras, capable of delivering | | | | The Compact Digital Cameras |
| eight-by-ten photo prints. These prints are so | | | | Compact digital cameras come in all price ranges, |
| good that they're hard to distinguish from | | | | from under $100 to well over a $1000. This |
| film-camera prints and have come to market for | | | | ensures that the widest range of customers have |
| less than $1,000, often much less. They are very | | | | access to a camera that will suit their budget. |
| complex, and many critical elements must function | | | | These digital cameras are a good choice for |
| well for the camera to produce a high-quality | | | | travel when you know that you'll want to take a |
| image. | | | | photo every 15 or 20 minutes and have smaller |
| Digital Camera Lenses | | | | wells than DSLR's. |
| The Lenses are often sold separately, although | | | | Compact digital cameras are catching up; |
| many cameras are sold with a "kit" lens for about | | | | however the difference is still significant. A lag |
| $100 more than the cost of the body. Lenses are | | | | time of ~0.5 seconds can result in you missing the |
| extra, and expensive, anywhere from a couple | | | | heartbeat of the moment and hence that |
| hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. Most | | | | potential great picture. So make sure you know |
| lenses retail for just less than $1,000, but many | | | | your options when getting one. |