|
|
|
 |
Learn about The Online Mom Network
|
|
Join The Online Mom Network
|
|
How Do I Become An Online Mom?
|
|
The Online Mom provides internet technology advice and information to help parents protect their kids, encourage responsible behavior and safely harness the power of technology in the new digital world. Social networking, photo sharing, video games, IM & texting, internet security, cyberbullying, educational resources, the latest on tech hardware, gadgets and software for kids 3-8, tweens and teens, and more.
|
|
Digital Cameras
Remember film? Ancient history: nowadays, almost every camera sold is digital. Which means: instead
of storing images on film that requires expensive developing, they store images on erasable memory
chips. And they store those images in the form of data bits - zeroes and ones - that you can manipulate
and share in just about any way you can imagine.
It all starts with your digital camera: the device that captures your image. There are two primary kinds
of digital cameras: Point-and-Shoot, and Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR).
About Point-and-Shoot Cameras
Point-and-shoot is just what it sounds like - a camera that's designed to be easy enough for beginners.
Point-and-shoot cameras capture images without fuss or muss. They automate wherever they can: for instance,
many can compensate for shaky hands, and some can recognize faces - then, tweak color settings for better
portraits. Some point-and-shoots double as very-low-end camcorders; some offer easy image sharing features
(such as Wi-Fi connections and links to TVs.)
While your point-and-shoot camera might have manual options - say, for setting faster exposure times to
shoot your kids' soccer match - those options are easy to avoid if you can't be bothered.
Point-and-shoots tend to be lighter and smaller than DSLRs. (Many point-and-shoots will fit in your pocket.
Some folks actually find them too light and small: tough to control and hold steady.)
Oh, and lest we forget, point-and-shoot cameras tend to be significantly less expensive: you can get a very
good point-and-shoot for $175-$300.
About DSLRs
More sophisticated photographers might want to move up to a Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera. DSLRs
offer virtually total creative control... but you'll have to invest some time in learning how to take advantage
of all those features. (If you were a serious photographer back in the film age, you may already know about
aperture settings, white balance, flash synchronization, and so forth: if not, it's a whole new language to learn.)
DSLRs tend to use higher-quality sensors. That translates to cleaner images, deeper color, and more detail.
If you're in a hurry, DSLRs switch on practically instantly, and your camera captures your image as soon as
you click: none of that maddening "shutter lag" which drives the pros insane. Last but not least, with DSLRs,
you can switch lenses - say, for wide angle or soft focus shots.
The downside, aside from a tough learning curve? While DSLRs have come down in price, they're still significantly
more expensive than point-and-shoots - say, $500-$1,000, and up.
Get the right software
Whatever camera you buy, you'll need software to edit, manage, and share your images. Most cameras come with
some software, but it's often clumsy and rudimentary. On the other hand, unless you're a professional photographer,
you shouldn't need top-of-the-line software like Adobe Photoshop. Several options fall in the "sweet spot" right
in the middle: they're cheap (or free), and they're easy for mere mortals to use.
Before you spend actual cash, check out Google's free, downloadable Picasa software, and Adobe's brand-new online
tool, Photoshop Express. (Photoshop Express "lives" on Adobe's Web site: you run it through your high-speed Web connection).
If those don't work for you, other good options include Adobe Photoshop Elements, ACDSee Photo Editor, and
Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2.
|
|
|
|
|
|
