Parts of A Digital Camera
The Body
The Body: The body
is usually made of plastic, some models use
lightweight metals in their construction. Some cameras
automatically retract the lens and "clamshell"
themselves into a small, tight package. Sizes vary, many of the newer cameras are getting very small, this
can be great for storage (tuck into your pocket) but if you have
large hands or shake a little bit, it can be more difficult to
use.
If at all possible, go to a
department store that has the various types of cameras on
display. See how the camera body feels when you hold it,
use the menu system/controls and see if you like them. I
know I was surprised when I had read about the new series of cameras
out this year and looked at the pictures of them. I really
expected larger bodies, when I went into COSTCO
and saw them in person, they were actually tiny. If you
like to have a small camera that would slip into your shirt
pocket, don't forget to try it out before you purchase it - i.e.
can you see the flash mode symbols on the tiny screen?
When you zoom and pan your pictures, are they easy to make out?
Also - remember that when you buy the tiny cameras you will
usually have more blurring and less quality due to the
difficulty of holding it still. Panasonic makes a good
image stabilizer to reduce shake.
Check out the newer generation of
quality digital cameras - the "mirrorless"
variety. They have larger sensors than the average point
and shoot pocket cameras and they take much better photos in low
light. The Canon GX 1 is worth a look. It was just
announced this month (January 2012). Many of the camera
companies are making this style of camera due to them being
lighter and less obvious when using them in the public.
Shop and try the
various models before you purchase, consider mail order with
trusted companies, three of my favorite online companies are
www.bhphoto.com, www.costco.com
and www.amazon.com
(purchasing direct from Amazon).
Return
to Anatomy of a Digital Camera
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