35mm Equivalent Zoom - Tells you the capabilities of the digital camera lens in terms of a 35mm camera. This is helpful in determining if the camera will take the type of photos your want - for example, the extremes of wide-angle close ups with blurred out foregrounds and backgrounds, or amazing zoom shots that get you into to the action.
AC Adapter - Cable that allows you to use your camera while it's plugged into an electrical outlet instead of under battery power. This feature may be useful in a situation where your batteries run out, but you wish to continue shooting, or when using your camera to view photos on your TV. Some cameras also allow recharging of batteries through this connection, whereas others require the use of a separate charging stand.
Aperture Range - The range of aperture settings available. Aperture refers to the size of the hole that allows light to enter the camera, measured in f-stops. A lower f-stop number signifies a larger aperture, allowing you to take good pictures in low light conditions or successfully freeze rapid motion.
Audio - Some cameras allow you to record brief audio messages to go with photos. If the camera model has a movie mode it may also be able to record an accompanying audio track. Adding an audio accompaniment to an image or movie clip really helps to capture the moment.
Auto OFF Mode - Conserves battery power by automatically turning off the camera after a period of inactivity.
Autofocus System - Helps you to take better pictures by automatically bringing objects in the center of the viewfinder into sharp focus.
Battery Type - Type of battery used with a camera, such as AA, AAA, or rechargeable. Digital cameras quickly drain alkaline batteries, so using rechargeables is most efficient. However single use batteries are very handy in the camera case as backup when your rechargeables run out. Rechargeable batteries come in different capacities: the higher the capacity, the longer the battery life before recharge. Common types of rechargeable batteries include:
Nickel Cadmium (NiCd or NiCad): Early form of nickel battery that has largely been replaced. Susceptible to memory effect, which occurs when the battery was charged before being fully discharged.
Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH): Modern nickel battery, which does not suffer from memory effect.
Lithium Ion (Li-Ion): Lighter but more costly than NiMH or NiCad. Li-Ion batteries can be recharged regardless of their state of discharge, and are better at maintaining a charge at lower temperatures. Li-ion batteries also hold a charge longer when idle.
Built-In or External Flash - Flash type for the camera. A built-in flash is ideal for snapshots to capture a special moment, whether it's at a party or around a campfire. An external flash gives you more flexibility to control your lighting, and is handy for portraits or group shots.
Burst Mode - Lets you quickly take one photo after another simply by holding the shutter button down. Sometimes referred to as Continuous Shooting or Rapid Fire Shots. The number of continuous pictures a digital camera can shoot varies from camera to camera.
Computer Compatibility - Refers to computer platforms and operating systems with which the camera and its software will operate. This may be a Windows-based PC (e.g., Windows 98+), Macintosh computer (e.g., Mac OS 9+), or both. The "+" means "or newer". Often photo editing software can access the photos regardless of platform - for instance, Apple's iPhoto software allows Macintosh computers to interact with large variety of cameras, including many that only include Windows-based software.
Digital Media Type - Refers to the medium the camera uses to store images. Common types of digital media include smart cards and compact flash.
Digital Sensor Size - Measured in megapixels, the number of light-sensitive cells on the sensor. The higher the number of megapixels, the higher the resolution of the final image allowing you to print larger pictures without losing quality or detail.
Digital Zoom - Zooming feature on digital cameras that complements or replaces optical zoom. It zooms in on the pixels (points that make up a graphic image) using the camera’s built-in software. Its effect is similar to blowing up a photo, and as such, results in reduction of photo quality, unlike an optical zoom. However, if you’ll be merely viewing photos on your PC and emailing them to friends, the difference between digital zoom and optical zoom will not be as noticeable as in print.
Effective Image Size of Digital Sensor - The digital sensor is the device used to capture the image - the film of your digital camera. The two most common types are CCD and CMOS. The effective image size of the digital sensor tells you the number of pixels used to capture and store the information in a single image.
Exposure Compensation - Lets you easily take better pictures by allowing you to darken or lighten a picture while taking advantage of the camera's automatic settings.
Exposure Metering System - The system that measures the amount of light and determines the proper exposure rating to give you the best picture. Center-Weighted Average Metering is most common, but Spot (Partial) Metering and Matrix or Evaluative Metering are also offered in some cameras.
File Formats - File types that the camera supports. Most cameras save photos in JPEG format, while other formats include Bitmap, GIF, TIFF, and RAW. Cameras that have movie and audio features may save in AVI, QuickTime or WAV format. If you need to use a particular file format for work, you may want to consider a digital camera that also uses this format, rather than having to do file conversion on your computer.
Flash Range - Usually measured in feet from the camera, this is the range that will be illuminated by your flash when you are shooting in telephoto mode (or zoom).
Focus Range - The maximum distance from the camera that an object can be, and still be photographed in sharp focus.
Included Digital Media Size - Size of the removable digital media storage (memory card) included with the camera. Digital camera owners often purchase a larger capacity storage card and use the smaller included digital media as backup.
Interface - The way that your camera connects to and communicates with your PC. Most common is USB (Universal Serial Bus), which refers to USB 1.1, offering transfer speeds up to 12Mbps (megabits per second). Some high-end cameras now include USB 2.0 connections, with speeds up to 480Mbps, so you don't have to wait as long to transfer photos to your computer.
Internal Memory - Amount of memory built into the camera's hardware. This memory is necessary for the camera features to work. The more internal memory a camera has, the faster and more sophisticated these features can be - for example, recording a movie clips with audio. Photos, movies, and audio recordings are stored on removable digital media.
ISO Rating - International Standards Organization (ISO) rating that identifies the speed of conventional film, a higher ISO number means 'faster' film requiring less light to take the picture. On a digital camera, and ISO equivalency rating let's you know the minimum amount of light required to capture good quality images without a flash.
LCD Monitor Size - Size of the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen on the camera, measured diagonally. You may find it easier to view your subject on the screen than through a standard viewfinder. This feature is also useful for reviewing and deleting photos.
Movie Mode - Allows you to create a short movie. Some cameras create these movies by stitching together a series of photos, creating a kind of 'flip book' effect. Some use other formats, such as AVI, MPEG, or QuickTime. Maximum movie length varies by model, as does audio recording capability. A digital camera with Movie Mode lets you conveniently record the movement and also capture it in a photo format in one device. For instance, you could record a movie clip of you and your friends while heading up a ski hill chair lift, and capture the view from the mountaintop in a still photo.
Optical Zoom - Magnifies the photo by physical lens movement to bring you closer to the subject, thereby keeping the original photo quality. The magnification level is expressed in factors, such as "3X", "6X", or "10X". A higher optical zoom will allow you to get close up to the subject—especially useful for candid shots from across the room—while retaining a high image quality for printing. For the most flexibility, choose the highest optical zoom available in your price range.
Playback Menu - Provides options for reviewing photos on the LCD screen or on your TV. Common playback options include viewing individual photos, thumbnail index, zoom-in, and slideshow. This lets you quickly navigate to your favourite photos, zoom in on interesting details, and share your photos at family gatherings with your camera connected directly to the TV.
Product Dimensions - The width, height, and depth of the camera. If you want to keep your camera in your pocket to avoid losing it, this will be a key feature for comparison between models when making your choice.
Product Weight - The weight of the camera. If you want to carry your camera with you frequently, you might prefer a lighter model. Cameras with advanced, SLR-type features and high zoom capabilities generally weigh more.
Self-Timer - Sets a timer within the camera for a delay between the time the button is pressed and the time the photo is taken. The time shown represents the number of seconds between button click and exposure. This feature lets you set up the camera, then get into the shot before the photo is taken.
Shutter Speed - The length of time the shutter is open (shutter speed) determines how sharp moving images will appear in the photograph. Faster shutter speeds allow you to freeze faster action. In a digital camera, the delay between the shutter button is pressed and the image is captured, during which the image sensor is cleared and white balance is set. May also include the recycle time, the time required for the camera to process and stor the captured image.
Video Output - Connects a digital camera with video output capabilities directly to a TV or VCR. With this feature you can edit your photos on a full-sized television screen, or show off your vacation photos with a TV slide show.
Viewfinder Type - Method by which you can view your shot. Types include LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), optical viewfinder, and digital viewfinder. Most digital cameras have an LCD and optical viewfinder. An LCD is easy on the eyes and great for in-camera photo editing, however, an optical viewfinder uses less battery power and can be handy when your battery is running low.
Warranty - Tells you the terms and conditions of the warranty provided by the product manufacturer, including whether parts and/or labour are covered and for what period of time the warranty is in effect.
