Digital Cameras
As the quality and capacity of digital cameras continue to improve, their pricing has remained steady. Coupled with the amazing results from consumer-priced ink jet printers, we are entering an era where digital cameras are no longer just for the rich or the technically blessed.
I still think that digital cameras shine brightest for website graphics and electronic postcards. Issues related to image resolution, color correction and sizing are much easier to cope with on the Internet than in the print world. But with a little trial and error and a trusty ink jet printer, today's consumer cameras can render photo quality prints up to 8" x 10", and very acceptable images even larger.
If you're in the market for a camera, here are a few features to look for:
- Megapixel resolution. Examples are 1280 x 960, 1024 x 768, etc.
- Optical zoom lens to capture "tighter" images that don't require "computer enlargements."
- Compact removable media to extend picture taking sessions (e.g. SmartMedia and ATA Flash). SmartMedia cards can hold up to 16 MBs now.
- Lithium or rechargeable Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries for extended power.
- Image editing software to sharpen and enhance pictures (e.g. Adobe PhotoShop).
- Card reader for digital media to avoid lengthy downloads via a serial or parallel cable to the computer. My favorite combination is a PCMCIA reader (such as Microtech SSFDC Type II Adapter) and a laptop computer.
Electronic VS Print Output
The reason electronic publication is so much more feasible than print output with inexpensive cameras centers around image resolution. To publish a picture on the Internet, your image resolution only needs to be 72 dpi (dots per inch). Using JPEG compression, a 640 x 480 pixel picture could be as small as a 100k file for good quality.
To make a print of the same image, on the other hand, would require resolution somewhere near 266 dpi with file sizes in the upward range of 10 megabytes or more. The problem is that print images require finer resolution than computer monitors.
Here's the rub: most of the time when you read the specifications for a digital camera (640 x 480 resolution and upward), those specs are at 72 dpi, not 300! Here's how that works in real world use:
- A 640 x 480 image in a digital camera at 72 dpi produces a file size of about 900k.
- That image published on the Internet would be roughly 6.5" x 9".
- That same image size (6.5" x 9") resampled for print publication would produce a file size of 12MB!
- If you decided to keep the file size at the original 900k but wanted make a print (266 dpi) instead of publishing on the Internet (72 dpi), the size of the print would be a teeny 2.5" x 1.8".
Digital Camera Pricing
The bottom line is that for Internet publishing and snapshot print making you should be happy with the less expensive consumer cameras. A few good examples are (Mac and PC compatible):
- Agfa ePhoto 780, 1024 x 780, $399.
- Epson Photo PC 700, 1280 x 960, $499.
- FujiFilm MX-700, 1280 x 1024, $499.
- Kodak DC210, 1152 x 864, $399.
- Olympus D-340R, 1280 x 960, $299.
But if quality prints measuring up to 8" x10" are important to you, you should consider cameras with additional features such as optical zoom lenses. The good news is that many of the high quality cameras have come down to a tolerable price range of $700 to $1,000. A few good examples include (Mac and PC compatible):
- Agfa ePhoto 1680, 1600 x 1200, 3x optical zoom, $599
- FujiFilm MX-700, 1280 x 1024, $599.
- Kodak DC260, 1536 x 1024, 3x optical zoom, $579.
- Nikon Coolpix 900s, 1280 x 960, 3x optical zoom, $599.
- Olympus D-450, 1280 x 960, 3x optical zoom, $499.
- Olympus D-600L, 1280x 1024, 3x optical zoom, $699.
Film scanners can serve as alternatives to megapixel cameras in certain applications. Like digital cameras, film scanners have come down in price and are now an affordable alternative for creating high quality digital images. Check out our Film Scanners section for more information.
D. Story
Aug. 1999
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