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For Digital Camera Novices: How Images Are Stored and Transferred

By: Christine Peppler

Although Digital Cameras entered the picture quite a number of years ago and have subsequently all but eliminated film cameras, some consumers are just now making the switch. The reason for this is clear as the quality of a 35mm shot is outstanding and quite simply, we understood them. However, digital cameras offer advantages as well, such as the ability to edit photographs and to delete unacceptable images prior to printing or "developing": a tremendous cost savings that allows photographers to experiment worry-free. When a stalwart film camera fan decides to take the leap some basic questions about how digital cameras function can arise.



Two common questions for digital camera novices are regarding how pictures are stored and then subsequently transferred for printing or sharing over the internet. The quick and dirty answer is that pictures taken with a digital camera are stored on digital memory cards: Smart Media cards, MultiMedia cards, Compact Flash cards etc. Images are stored on the cards and then loaded to a computer. Once on the computer, the images on the cards are generally deleted and the card is re-used so that a huge library of memory cards does not have to be maintained.



Images are usually compressed to fit on the cards. Greater compression allows more images to be stored on a given card helping to eliminate the need to download images to a computer after every few shots. However, it's important to realize that the more the images are compressed, the more the quality of the image is sacrificed.



When purchasing a card for a digital camera, users can roughly estimate that with a typical 8 megapixel camera, the card will hold at least one quarter as many images as the card has megabytes, which is indicated on the front of the card. Both the amount of compression and the resolution of the images greatly affect the storage capacity of the card. Another option of course is to purchase multiple cards.



Many individuals who travel with their digital camera get a portable hard disk which allows them to download their images onto it, delete images from their card, and continue using the card without having to worry about downloading to their computer when they are away from home.



Once an image is stored on a digital camera, there are several ways of getting images from it to a computer. Individuals purchasing their first digital camera will need to determine how their new camera will connect to their computer to assure they have any necessary equipment/cables to complete the transfer. Common connections include:



• Card readers



• A Docking station to connect the digital camera to the computer via either a USB or FireWire connection. (USB 2.0 allows much faster downloading that USB 1.1)



• PCMCIA adapters. These exist on most laptop computers. The memory cards fit directly into the slot and can be loaded from there.



Once connected to the computer, the software included with the digital camera is simply launched and transfer is completed with the click of a button. Even for those new to digital cameras, the ability to store and download images to their computer should be a very simple process that will be easy to master.

Article Source: Free Content Articles Directory

Christine Peppler, the author, shares information on home electronics products via her homemedias.info website. Readers can get photography tips, great hints for selecting the perfect device, and shop for a digital camera by visiting her site.

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