That's quite a question, Ann. As with all forms of technology improvements are being made all the time and my recently acquired Fuji bridge camera comes about as far as is possible to a DSLR at this time.
Having said that, I don't think multi-tasking lenses will compete with dedicated lenses for a very long time.
David i realy am a numpty i know, but what is a bridge camera or a DSLR
Absolutely no problem, Ann.
1) a bridge camera is (if you like) a halfway-house (hence bridge) between a compact camera and a DSLR. It has a fixed multi-function i.e. zoom, macro etc lens.
2) a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) has interchangeable lenses for specific purposes.
As digital cameras have improved so has the digital zoom function. What a digital zoom does (in simple terms) is the equivalent of enlarging the middle section of what would be the whole picture instead of using the lens alone. Optical zoom uses the lens itself to its full capacity - when you add the digital zoom you are enlarging a portion of what the lens is seeing.
As digital cameras have evolved the ability to capture more pixels (the tiny dots the picture is made up of) has increased vastly so a digital zoom with say, a 1.5mp ccd ('close coupled device' which is the part that records the data in the camera [not the card which stores the data]) will give a more pixellated (fuzzy) result than say, a 5mp ccd simply because there are many more pixels in the higher resolution camera and so the higher the mp (mega pixels) the camera has the greater clarity the end results will be. A 14mp camera will give very clear pictures therefore compared to say a 3mp one.
One thing you will need to be aware of though: when using digital zoom it will be much more difficult to keep the camera still so it becomes more important to use a tripod or other steadying device or 'camera shake' will be evident in the pics you take.
Best way is to practice and compare the results: as there is no film to pay for and you can easily delete unwanted pictures is pays to take lots of pictures on all sorts of settings so that you get thoroughly used to what the camera can do.
I couldn't have been able to do that without explaining the relation between pixels & the camera's sensor.....didn't know how deeply Ann wanted to go into it.
It may also be worth mentioning here, that most pics in the public forum (including the Countryfile Calendar) have been digitally manipulated using Photoshop or similar.
I do have & use Photoshop CS5 but there are some excellent photo programmes available that are much less money than Photoshop. I bought the full PC/CS5 package when I ran my own business (now retired) because used to buy Digital Camera magazine which seems to do all their tutorials in Photoshop.
A very good alternative to Photoshop is 'Photoshop Elements' which is only a fraction of the full product price but does most things that non professionals need.
Very interesting, John....I suspected from your shots you have a photographic background.
As a result of this discussion and for a rough example of zoom lenses (Ann may be interested) I've just taken this shot of a chimney about three miles away.
Posts
That's quite a question, Ann. As with all forms of technology improvements are being made all the time and my recently acquired Fuji bridge camera comes about as far as is possible to a DSLR at this time.
Having said that, I don't think multi-tasking lenses will compete with dedicated lenses for a very long time.
David i realy am a numpty i know, but what is a bridge camera or a DSLR
Absolutely no problem, Ann.
1) a bridge camera is (if you like) a halfway-house (hence bridge) between a compact camera and a DSLR. It has a fixed multi-function i.e. zoom, macro etc lens.
2) a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) has interchangeable lenses for specific purposes.
thank you i hope you wont mind a few more silly questions
Not at all, Ann, but remember I'm by no means an expert.....in fact I joined a camera club a couple of months ago to broaden my own knowledge.
Hi little-ann,
As digital cameras have improved so has the digital zoom function. What a digital zoom does (in simple terms) is the equivalent of enlarging the middle section of what would be the whole picture instead of using the lens alone. Optical zoom uses the lens itself to its full capacity - when you add the digital zoom you are enlarging a portion of what the lens is seeing.
As digital cameras have evolved the ability to capture more pixels (the tiny dots the picture is made up of) has increased vastly so a digital zoom with say, a 1.5mp ccd ('close coupled device' which is the part that records the data in the camera [not the card which stores the data]) will give a more pixellated (fuzzy) result than say, a 5mp ccd simply because there are many more pixels in the higher resolution camera and so the higher the mp (mega pixels) the camera has the greater clarity the end results will be. A 14mp camera will give very clear pictures therefore compared to say a 3mp one.
One thing you will need to be aware of though: when using digital zoom it will be much more difficult to keep the camera still so it becomes more important to use a tripod or other steadying device or 'camera shake' will be evident in the pics you take.
Best way is to practice and compare the results: as there is no film to pay for and you can easily delete unwanted pictures is pays to take lots of pictures on all sorts of settings so that you get thoroughly used to what the camera can do.
Hope this helps and isn't too complicated.
Hi, John...an excellent reply.
I couldn't have been able to do that without explaining the relation between pixels & the camera's sensor.....didn't know how deeply Ann wanted to go into it.
It may also be worth mentioning here, that most pics in the public forum (including the Countryfile Calendar) have been digitally manipulated using Photoshop or similar.
PS. I don't have or use Photoshop.
Hi David,
I do have & use Photoshop CS5 but there are some excellent photo programmes available that are much less money than Photoshop. I bought the full PC/CS5 package when I ran my own business (now retired) because used to buy Digital Camera magazine which seems to do all their tutorials in Photoshop.
A very good alternative to Photoshop is 'Photoshop Elements' which is only a fraction of the full product price but does most things that non professionals need.
Very interesting, John....I suspected from your shots you have a photographic background.
As a result of this discussion and for a rough example of zoom lenses (Ann may be interested) I've just taken this shot of a chimney about three miles away.
Fuji S50EXR. ISO 100 - F5.6 -1/480sec