““Jelly Beans, Pictures & Portraits”Jelly Beans, Pictures & Portraits”

Created Nov 2006 – Updated Dec 2008Created Nov 2006 – Updated Dec 2008

Pixels = DotsJelly BeansJelly Beans

PixelsPixels

Jelly BeansJelly Beans

PixelsPixels

This photo measures› 640 pixels wide› 480 pixels wide

640 x 480 = 307200 pixels

The larger you make a picture, the more you will see the pixels.

The higher the megapixel, the better the photograph

But, how big a picture will you ever print?But, how big a picture will you ever print?

110 cameras vs 35mm cameras?

2,880,000 pixels = 2.8 MegaPixels

1800 x 1600 = 2,880,0001800 x 1600 = 2,880,000

1800 pixels1800 pixels160

0 p

ixels

160

0 p

ixels

Easy to share with others You see them immediately Saves you $ by not having to buy film View images before they’re printed,

edit them or delete them Print them right away No loss of image quality if stored

properly

Lens› Brings light from the scene into focus inside

the camera Aperture

› Hole that can be made smaller or larger to control the amount of light entering the camera

Shutter› Device that can be opened or closed to control

the length of time light enters the camera

The lens plays a very  important roll in the quality of photos you take with any digital camera.

You can buy a 6 megapixel camera, but if it has a cheaply made lens on it, the images may not even contain as much detail as a high quality 3 megapixel camera from a major brand.

Some cheaper models of cameras have plastic or poor grades of  glass for a lens, so when you're browsing Ebay and see these no-name cameras, beware - you're not getting a top quality lens on them.

Other more expensive models have coated, multi-level glass lenses.  While pixels and the quality of the image sensor play rolls in how well your photos will turn out, neither does the job on it's own.

The lens must be a high quality lens in order for you to take good photos.  Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Sony, and Olympus are popular for their high quality of lenses on their digital cameras.  In case you're wondering just HOW much difference inferior lenses can make to a digital image... look at the image below of the bricks.

Point and Shoot

Fully Automatic Point Fully Automatic Point and Shoot Camerasand Shoot Cameras

5 to 9 megapixels5 to 9 megapixels

$100 to $350$100 to $350

CompactCompact

7 to 12 megapixels7 to 12 megapixels

$200 to $500$200 to $500

Extended Zoom

MoreMoreAdvanced FeaturesAdvanced Features

Focusing ThroughFocusing Throughthe Viewfinderthe Viewfinder

Control LightingControl Lighting

6 to 12 megapixels6 to 12 megapixels

$300 to $600$300 to $600

Digital SLR

For the SeriousFor the SeriousPhotographerPhotographer

InterchangeableInterchangeableLensesLenses

6 to 10 megapixels6 to 10 megapixels

$850 to $2000$850 to $2000

Match the size to your needs… They all take decent pictures Is camera size important to you? Do you want more “photographic”

power? 5 megapixels : minimal resolution 8+ megapixels : overkill? Zoom : 3x to 12x

More megapixels = more picture detail Beyond 5 megapixels, you’re unlikely to

see the difference unless you› Crop heavily› Make poster-size prints

High resolution does NOT assure high overall print quality, since other factors, such as lens quality, affect the picture

In this sample image below, you can see full sized sections of a photo of a car and tree.  On the left is as it appears with NO digital zoom.  The middle section is at about a 3X digital zoom, and the right section is the digital zoom at 5X.  You can see how severely digital zoom degrades an image quality as you use it.

Compact cameras are less expensive Subcompacts cost more, but worth it if

you want to carry it in your pocket Prosumer cameras if you want lots of

control over exposure and the image but prefer a built-in lens

Go for a super-zoom if you want to shoot close-ups of distant subjects

SLR if you must have it all and can afford separate lenses

Compact Cameras› Canon PowerShot A650 IS $400› Canon PowerShot G9 $550› Canon PowerShot A590 IS $170› Nikon Coolpix P5100

Subcompact Cameras› Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W300

Super-Zoom Cameras› Kodak EasyShare Z1012 IS $250› Leica V-Lux 1› Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-H10 $330

Digital SLRs› Pentax K200D› Canon EOS Rebel Xsi› Nikon D80

What replaces FILM?What replaces FILM?

› Media cardsMedia cards SD cards : Secure DigitalSD cards : Secure Digital SmartMedia CardsSmartMedia Cards XD cardsXD cards Sony Memory SticksSony Memory Sticks CompactFlashCompactFlash

CDs & DVDsCDs & DVDs Web HostsWeb Hosts Flash MemoryFlash Memory

Use NiMH batteries (Nickel-Metal Hydride)› They perform better than alkalines…

BUT They discharge when not in useSO Always keep disposable alkalines as a backup

The higher the mAh the better2500 mAh

mAh stands for Milliamp Hour, a technical term for how much power a particular battery will hold. Digital camera batteries with higher mAh values theoretically last longer without requiring a recharge, allowing you to take more photographs before you have to replace your batteries.

It is recommended when placing batteries in a digital camera that their mAh values match. Otherwise, it is possible that one lesser mAh battery will drain before the others, causing extra strain on the remaining batteries or causing your digital camera to not work until all batteries are replaced.

Printing at Home› Immediate› Convenient› More expensive› Photo quality deteriorates

more over time

Photo Lab› You might have to wait a whole hour!› Less Convenient› Less Expensive› More options for size, novelty products› Able to send your pictures via a web

service

Steve’s Digicamswww.steves-digicams.com

Canon a540› http://www.steves-digicams.com/

2006_reviews/a540_qtvr.html

www.shoppersdrugmart.ca www.photolab.ca www.walmart.ca

As low as 19 cents / print

Snapping pictures Zooming Flash Viewing Downloading Editing

www.flickr.com Photobucket Myphotoalbum Picasa Picturetrail Snapfish

FlickrFlickrTutorialTutorial

FlickrFlickrVideoVideo

TutorialTutorial

MS Office Picture Manager Print Perfect Deluxe : $20 PhotoSuite : $80 Photoshop Elements : $150 Gimp : FREE

Lets Play!Lets Play!

Turn Your Camera on.Turn Your Camera on.

Turn Your Camera on.Turn Your Camera on.

You may have to hold the button down for a You may have to hold the button down for a second or two.second or two.

Set the dial to Set the dial to “auto”“auto”

Set switch to “picture taking mode”.Set switch to “picture taking mode”.

The other button is for The other button is for viewing pictures already viewing pictures already

stored on Camera.stored on Camera.

Take a few pictures.Take a few pictures.

Set switch to green arrow to Set switch to green arrow to viewview your photos.your photos.

You can Zoom in on your subject You can Zoom in on your subject by using the switch on top of by using the switch on top of

camera. Turn it to right or left.camera. Turn it to right or left.

You can also Zoom when You can also Zoom when viewingviewing your your pictures by using the same switch. pictures by using the same switch.

To delete a picture Press the To delete a picture Press the function button while in viewing function button while in viewing

mode.mode.

Then select “erase” and push the Then select “erase” and push the SET button.SET button.

Before trying to store the photos Before trying to store the photos on your laptop let’s create a on your laptop let’s create a

place for them on your place for them on your C: Drive.C: Drive.

1.1. Click on “my computer”Click on “my computer”

2.2. Click on Local Disk (C:)Click on Local Disk (C:)

Click to Click to “Make a “Make a

new new Folder”.Folder”.

A new folder will appear, ready A new folder will appear, ready for you to name it. Name it.. for you to name it. Name it.. ““YournamePhotosYournamePhotos” ”

eg AllenPhotoseg AllenPhotos

DON’TDON’T call it My Pictures call it My Pictures

Now close the Now close the window and window and you have a you have a

spot ready for spot ready for your pics.your pics.

To download pictures to your To download pictures to your laptop use the USB cable provided.laptop use the USB cable provided.

Open the Open the digital A/V outdigital A/V out

as shown.as shown.

Turn the camera on.Turn the camera on.

Your computer will recognize the Your computer will recognize the camera and open a window giving camera and open a window giving you some options. Where do you you some options. Where do you

want to store your photos?want to store your photos?

Choose “copy Choose “copy pictures to a pictures to a folder on my folder on my computer”.computer”.

The Scanner and Camera Wizard The Scanner and Camera Wizard will lead you through the process.will lead you through the process.

Name the set Name the set of photos.of photos.

Browse to find the Browse to find the folder where you folder where you

want to store your want to store your pictures. You already pictures. You already

named it named it ““YournamePhotosYournamePhotos”.”.

You can delete from your You can delete from your camera by checking here, or camera by checking here, or leave them on the camera.leave them on the camera.

Now just follow the wizard through the Now just follow the wizard through the steps. It will copy the selected photos to steps. It will copy the selected photos to

the folder you created.the folder you created.

Congratulations! You’re done.Congratulations! You’re done.

You can now print, edit or insert You can now print, edit or insert your images into documents or slide your images into documents or slide

show presentations.show presentations.

When you get a chance check out:When you get a chance check out:

PHOTOSTORYPHOTOSTORY

MICROSOFT OFFICE PICTURE MICROSOFT OFFICE PICTURE MANAGERMANAGER

GIMP (for more advanced users)GIMP (for more advanced users)