Digital Camera Reviews | Camcorder Reviews

What's the difference between optical image zoom and digital image zoom?
When you're looking to find out how much "zoom" a digital camera has, always look at the "optical" zoom not the "digital" zoom. While optical zoom physically adjusts the lens to get closer to the subject, digital zoom "crops" the digital image to enlarge the subject which can degrade the quality.
How much optical zoom do I need?
Again it depends on what you're going to use the camera for. Most point and shoot digital cameras come with at least 3x optical zoom (35mm –105mm) which is more than adequate for most snapshooting purposes. If you want to get in closer – if you're photographing nature, for instance – consider a camera with 4x and beyond.
So how many megapixels do I need?
Well, if you want to make prints of up to 8.5 x 11-inches in size, six megapixels is really all you'll need. If you want to print larger than that, find a camera with over six megapixels which, these days, in not hard. Remember though, the more megapixels your camera has, the more space your images will take up on your computer's hard drive. And yes, you'll also need to buy a bigger, more expensive memory card to fit all those high-resolution pictures.
Do megapixels matter?
It depends on what you need them for. While a digital camera with an image sensor that has large number of megapixels (above 6MP, for example) means you will be able to make extraordinarily large prints (above 8.5 x 11-inches in size) without a major degradation of resolution, it does not necessarily mean the image will be of good quality. Along with megapixels, a good point & shoot digital camera has to have a sharp lens, a powerful and effective image processor, a robust feature set and, if possible, built-in optical image stabilization, to take a good-quality, non-blurry picture. Of course, it also depends on the photographer having a "good eye."
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There seem to be a lot of different types of digital camcorders out there. What are all the formats and which one is the best?
Camcorders use one of four different formats to record and store movie footage – MiniDV tapes, MiniDVDs, memory cards, or built-in hard drives. All have their pluses and minuses though some are easier to use than others, especially MiniDVDs, an increasingly popular format which makes playing back your footage as simple as Netflix. For a breakdown on all the different formats and their advantages and disadvantages, check out the article "The ABCs of Digital Camcorders" on our site.
I've heard a lot of talk about camcorders that record high-definition video (HDV). Should I get one?
While HDV camcorders are clearly the wave of the future, before you get one, you have to ask yourself one question – do I have some way of playing back the HDV footage I capture? If you don't already own an HDTV or a computer with a high-resolution screen, you're better off saving your money and buying a camcorder that records in standard definition. On the other hand, if you home theater is already HD-ready, it might be worth it to plunk down a few extra bucks and buy an HDV camcorder that can record video with stunning detail.
How do I edit my digital video footage to turn it into a real movie?
There's lots of good video editing software out there but if you own a recent Mac you likely have a great program already installed on your computer – iMovie HD. First transfer the video over to your computer via a FireWire cable (usually sold separately). Once you make the connection, iMovie HD should open automatically and ask if you want to import your footage. The program will let arrange your clips on a time line and edit them so that they flow together smoothly. If you don't have a Mac, you should consider purchasing Adobe Premiere Elements 3.0 for your PC, which has more advanced editing features than iMovie HD but is just as easy to use.
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What is a Digital SLR (DSLR)?
The "SLR" part of Digital SLR stands for "single lens reflex," a camera system in which light passes through the lens and is reflected by a mirror to the camera's optical viewfinder, giving the user a clear image of their subject. When the shutter is pressed on a DSLR, the mirror flips out of the way and the image is projected onto an imaging sensor to "capture" the picture. (In a traditional SLR, the image is projected onto film.)
With so many good compact digital cameras out there, why would I need to buy a digital SLR?
While they're more expensive and still considerably larger than point & shoot cameras, digital SLRs offer more control over the picture-taking process including extensive exposure adjustment, quicker shutter response time with virtually no lag, and the benefits of detachable lenses. Most importantly, digital SLRs are the camera of choice for serious photographers because they allow for more flexibility and creativity while offering generally superior picture quality.
Which brand of DSLR should I buy?
It all depends on whether you already have lenses from a particular manufacturer or not. Since detachable lenses for DLSRs only fit on corresponding brand camera bodies – Nikon lenses on Nikon DSLRs, Canon lenses on Canon DSLRs etc. – you wouldn't buy a Pentax camera, for example, if you wanted to use your Olympus lenses on it. If you don't currently own any detachable lenses, the field is wide open with several manufacturers making excellent DSLRs – Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, and Pentax are the top brands. We suggest you go to a photo retail store and try out some of these cameras to see which one you're most comfortable with. Also, there are some excellent magazines and websites that review digital SLRs. Some of our favorite online spots for camera reviews are CNET, Imaging Resource, and DP Review. In print, be sure and check out Popular Photography magazine, PC Magazine, and David Pogue's column in the New York Times.
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Why do I need an external hard drive when my computer already has a large hard drive?
There are lots of reasons, actually. For one, while hard drives on computers – especially desktop computers – are quite large these days, digital cameras and camcorders are capturing images and video footage that's larger than ever. So while your new 10 megapixel camera can take pictures with enough resolution to make huge prints, those digital images are also going to gobble up huge amounts of space on your computer's hard drive. And High Definition Video (HDV) footage? Fuggedaboutit. Put one too many high-res images or HDV home movies on your computer and before you know it you'll be getting those scary warnings that your hard disk is almost full. But there's another, perhaps more important reason, to get an external hard drive. Safety. Backing up your computer to an external hard drive is something we can't recommend enough. While it's rare that a hard drive on a computer will fail completely and fry all your documents and digital memories, it does happen and you should be prepared. Regularly backing up your hard drive is even more critical if you have a laptop since there is always a chance it will get stolen or damaged in transit.
What is RAID storage?
Literally RAID stands for "Redundant Array of Independent Disks." What a RAID array does is link together several hard drives to provide greater storage, increase overall performance and, most importantly, provides a higher level of protection from data loss if there's a malfunction. Most regular consumer don't need to know if a particular hard drive they're buying is "RAID capable" but for someone, such as a professional photographer, who does serious archiving of digital images, being able to create a RAID array from several hard drives is essential.
What's the difference between a portable USB drive, a jump drive, a key drive, and a thumb drive?
Pretty much nothing, actually. They're all just different names for what is essentially the same product – a portable flash memory storage device that uses a USB (universal serial bus) interface for easy access to other electronic devices such as computers. These little devices are great for quickly connecting to your computer via its USB port, transferring over data such as documents, photos, or program, and then ejecting and bringing with you. Since portable USB drives use flash memory they don't need to be powered by an electrical source to maintain content storage and can be erased and rewritten again and again.
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I've heard that photos made on my inkjet printer will fade in just a few years. Is that true?
While it's true that light and environmental conditions can made prints fade, the longevity of prints made from inkjet printers has dramatically increased in the last few years thanks to advances in inkjet technology. Canon now has the ChromaLife100 system, including Canon ChromaLife100 dye-based inks and select Canon photo papers. Properly made prints using this system should last a long time before the colors show any noticeable change: 100 years in dark storage (an archival-quality photo album); 30 years on display in a glass frame indoors, without direct sunlight or other high-intensity light; and 10 years of resistance to gases found in indoor air (ozone, nitrous oxides, sulfur oxides.) At Epson they've chosen a pigment-based approach, the DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink system, with fade resistance of up to 100 years – not only for prints made on special photo paper, but even for prints made on good-quality plain paper. Other manufacturers have also made advances in inkjet print longevity so do some research on the Internet to find out which one is best. One of the leading inkjet research sites to check is Wilhelm Imaging at www.wilhelm-research.com.
I'm shopping for a home printer and I'm confused by all the choices. What's the difference between an inkjet printer, a laser printer, and an all-in-one printer?
You know that old expression – "different strokes for different folks?" Shopping for a home printer is a lot like that since there are so many different types of printers out there. Here's a quick breakdown of the three most popular options: Inkjet printers
An inkjet printer shoots out tiny droplets of liquid ink onto paper to create text, a graphic, or an image. While standard inkjet printers often use four colors to print, inkjet photo printers typically use six, seven, or eight different colors. The more colors, the better the quality of the photo. While inkjet printers are great for printing photos, color ink tanks can be expensive so they're not economical for high volume work. If you want a less expensive and faster alternative for printing text, you might want to consider a laser printer. Laser printers
A laser printer uses a laser beam to transfer text or an image to paper with toner powder. While there are color laser printers, they're mostly for business users. A black-and-white laser can produce crisp text documents faster than an inkjet, at a significantly lower cost per page. The ink alone can cost 11 cents for an inkjet-printed page versus 3 cents for toner (used instead of ink) in a laser printer. What's more, the toner cartridge lasts for months, virtually eliminating frantic runs to the office supply store. Laser printers, however, only print mediocre quality photos. All-in-one printers
A booming printer category, an all-in-one machine combines a printer (usually a color inkjet) with an image scanner (for turning documents into digital files), which also lets you make copies and (in some cases) send faxes. For photo printing, look for an all-in-one with more than three ink colors. Also, if family members like to print photos directly from their digital camera or memory card, a large LCD preview screen and memory card slots are important features.
Can't I get better quality photos if I print my digital images at a retail store versus on a home printer?
There has actually been a pretty hot debate on this issue for a number of years now. While having your digital images processed at a photo retail store will usually give you better quality prints, there are strong arguments for printing at home as well. For one, the quality of prints made at home has improved greatly, especially if you purchase a high-quality inkjet photo printer with at least six color inks. (There are some professional inkjet printers with 8 inks and higher.) Aside from print quality, home printing means you can tweak your photos at home using an image-editing program such as iPhoto or Photoshop. It's almost like having your own darkroom right in your home office or living room. Printing from home also means you don't have to drive to the store to pick up your prints.
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A friend of mine recently purchased computer software that I want to try out on my computer. Is it ok if I borrow his disks and install the software on my computer just to see if I like it before I purchase it?
Any way you slice it, this is still technically "pirating" (aka "stealing") software without paying for it and is illegal. While in some cases – such as when the owner of the software has a site license allowing multiple installations – you can legally install software on several different computers, this is not common in home usage. If you just want to try out some software, most companies offer free downloads for a trial period of typically ten to 30 days. There's also plenty of free software on the market (known as "freeware") along with "shareware," which is software that can be used for free for evaluation purposes.
What are some good alternatives to Microsoft Word?
Even though it's become the de facto standard in word processing, there are plenty of alternatives to Microsoft Word that can do the job as well and, in some cases better, than mighty "Word." Here are three of our favorites to consider: Corel WordPerfect Office X3
Before Microsoft Word took over, WordPefect was the big kid on the block. This latest edition – while not nearly the heavyweight in brand recognition it once was – offers as many features as Microsoft Office but at a more affordable price. www.corel.com OpenOffice.org
A very decent suite of office programs with a very capable word processor that while it may not dazzle like Word, is very appealing in one area – it's absolutely free! www.openoffice.org Nisus Writer Express
Before Apple switched operating systems to OSX, Nisus Writer was the best word processing program for Macs, bar none. With its latest version of Nisus Writer Express, Nisus is giving Microsoft a run for its money once again. www.nisus.com
What's the difference between "software" and "firmware."
Software is an external program or suite of programs that must be loaded (aka installed) onto a computer while firmware is software that's already embedded in a hardware device. Even though firmware is written into a device's read-only memory (ROM), like software, it can be updated by a user.
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