Photography

Other Features

There are many other features and functionalities that have been included in modern digital cameras, some fancy and some are actually quite useful. Here are some that might be worthwhile looking into when you are comparing cameras.

Self-Timer

When you press the shutter-release button the camera waits for a preset delay before actually releasing the shutter. Typically the default delay is 10 seconds. Some cameras have a 2-second and a 10-second delay option and some have a user defined self-timer delay.

Long delays are useful for making self portrait without using a remote control or if everyone wants to join in a group picture and nobody can be left to take the shot. Short delays are often used for sensitive shots like night photography or macro photography. The camera can be placed on a sturdy position (preferably on a tripod) and the shot can be taken after you press the shutter button and totally let go of the camera so you can eliminate the possibility of your hand's jiggle destroying your shot.

Continuous Shooting

Also called Burst Mode in some cameras, this feature allows you to shoot a continuous sequence of pictures while you keep pressing the shutter-release button. This is useful if the subject is moving and you want to capture as much of the action as you can. Most sub-compact cameras and some low-end DSLRs can shoot at a rate of 2.5 frames per second. More advanced DSLRs however can shoot at 5 to 6 frames per second. The rate of continuous shooting depends on the speed of the camera's processor, resolution, and the size of the memory buffer. When shooting with this mode the camera does not write the images directly to the main memory, instead it temporarily keeps it in the buffer. If the buffer becomes full the camera starts transferring the images to the main memory and the rate will start to slow down.

Some cameras have a Best Picture option which actually uses the Continuous Shooting mode to capture several images of the same subject and allows you to keep the best ones and delete the rest.

Intervalometer (Time-lapse Recording)

In time-lapse photography, images are taken of a subject at specific intervals showing its changes over time. A blooming flower for example can be photographed at 1 frame per hour for 2 days depending on the type of flower. The entire sequence can then be used for documentation or sequenced as a continuous movie which runs for only a few seconds. Some cameras have built-in intervalometer feature which triggers the camera automatically after a preset interval. Other cameras may require it to be connected to a computer to make use of this feature -- either way, this eliminates the possibility of missing a sequence or firing at a wrong interval.

Image Compression

Most cameras use JPEG (Joint Photography Experts Group) compression format to store images as it offers the highest compression and the best quality compared to other compression techniques. Some cameras have a fixed compression ratio while others provide quality options to change the compression setting. Options are usually Super Fine or High, Medium, and Low. Super Fine or High offers the highest possible quality but provides the least compression making your files large. Medium is a good balance between quality and compression, and Low provides the highest compression but the quality may be good only for small prints.

Professional photographers sometimes prefer to get the highest possible detail and quality of the image so they can do the editing manually according to their standards. For this reason most high-end cameras like DSLRs have a RAW option which stores the images as they come out of the sensor without passing through any of the camera's color correction, noise reduction or compression processes.

LCD Monitor

Various sizes of LCD monitor are fitted into cameras today. Most professional photographers prefer to use the viewfinder when taking pictures as it gives a more stable hold of the camera, however, some cameras don't have a viewfinder anymore and the user has to rely only on the LCD monitor to frame their subjects and get a proper focus. A large, bright LCD monitor with a high resolution is usually a very good choice as it can give you more detail on the scene you are taking a shot at. It is also very useful when reviewing the pictures you have taken. It is important to note however that larger LCDs require larger power and thus drain the batteries faster than smaller LCDs. With the addition of brighter backlighting, which allows the LCD to be viewable even in broad daylight, larger monitors tend to be consume a large percentage of your camera's battery. Make sure the size of the LCD monitor is just enough for your needs.

Video/Audio Output 

Video and Audio recording features are integrated to most compact and sub-compact cameras today. In order to view and hear the captured video and audio, you can use the built-in LCD monitor and speakers in the camera. Some cameras include a video/audio output ports which allow the video and audio to be viewed using a standard television. This port actually makes a standard television unit to acts as an external monitor which you can also use to navigate within the menus, or view your captured images as well. Some cameras even have a built-in slide show option with variable timing and transition between images.

USB/Firewire Support

These are standard digital ports which allow the camera to connect and interact with a computer through a standard USB (Universal Serial Bus) or Firewire (also known as IEEE 1394) cable, whichever is available for the camera. Softwares are provided for your standard computer systems to make it view and transfer images and videos from your camera. These digital interfaces are often used with certain computer applications to make it control your camera totally through your computer.