I promised some time ago that I would tell you about DSLRs. Time to follow through on that promise!
The top of the digital camera line is the digital single lens reflex camera (DSLR). These cameras are bigger and heavier than the compact cameras, and they have removable lenses and a hot shoe in addition to a built-in flash. A hot shoe allows you to attach a larger flash unit to the top of the camera or to attach a power cord to the camera that will allow you to place the flash unit away from the camera.
DSLRs are very high quality, and usually have a price tag to match. Expect to pay several hundred dollars for even a low-end DSLR, plus more money for an array of lenses and other accessories. The good news is, if you have a film SLR, your lenses and perhaps other accessories, such as flash, might also fit the same brand DSLR.
SLR cameras (both film and digital) were once used only by professional and advanced amateur photographers. This is no longer true. I know many professional photographers who use high quality compact digital cameras in addition to—and sometimes in place of—DSLRs. I also know a number of amateur photographers who purchased a DSLR as their first camera.
In my opinion, a DSLR camera has few advantages over a digital compact camera when it comes to most genealogy photography.
The first advantage is the ability to remove the flash from the camera body. And even that is no longer true in all cases. Some of the newer compact digital cameras have a hot shoe in addition to the built-in flash.
A second advantage is that digital SLRs also allow you to change lenses in ordet to allow more versatility to your photography. But with the wide range of zoom and macro capabilities available in many digital compacts, I don’t see the ability to change lenses as a major advantage for most genealogy photography.
A third advantage of the DSLRs is that they also eliminate any type of shutter lag—that fraction of a second between the time your finger presses the shutter release and when the camera actually snaps the photograph.
Shutter lag can be critical in photographing some subjects, such as sports or children, both of which tend to move very quickly and require split-second timing to capture with a camera. But for most genealogy photography, shutter lag shouldn’t be much of a problem.
What it really comes down to when choosing the right type of digital camera is features. The features any camera provides, regardless of its format (compact or DSLR) is most important in digital photography of any type. If your camera has the features needed for genealogy photography, it doesn’t matter whether it is a compact or a DSLR.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Memory Cards
Most digital cameras have a small amount of built-in memory. Many have 16, 32, or even 64 megabytes of memory built into the camera itself. But if you plan to take more than a few photos, you also need a removable storage device, usually referred to as a memory card or memory stick.
Consult your camera owner’s manual to determine which type of memory card your camera uses and be sure to buy only that type of memory card for your camera.
Some cameras will accept more than one type of memory card. For example, my 10-megapixel Canon compact camera accepts SD, SDHC, MMC, MMC Plus, and HC MMC Plus memory cards.
Memory cards come in many different storage capacities, from a few megabytes to several gigabytes. The larger the storage capacity, the more images the card can store. Having a 4-gigabyte memory card will allow you to take several hundred photographs at high resolution (lots of megapixels) without filling up the card. Very convenient.
Preventing damage to memory cards is important. Although some cards are damaged by events over which you have no control, you should take some precautions to protect your cards.
When not in your camera, memory cards should be stored in the little plastic case they came in when they were purchased—or in some other storage container made specifically for holding memory cards.
This protects the metal contacts from being scratched, bent, or otherwise damaged, and protects them from dirt or other contaminants that might compromise their ability to function properly.
Be sure that memory cards are not stored or carried near a source of magnetic or electromagnetic energy. Magnets can corrupt the data on the card.
Consult your camera owner’s manual to determine which type of memory card your camera uses and be sure to buy only that type of memory card for your camera.
Some cameras will accept more than one type of memory card. For example, my 10-megapixel Canon compact camera accepts SD, SDHC, MMC, MMC Plus, and HC MMC Plus memory cards.
Memory cards come in many different storage capacities, from a few megabytes to several gigabytes. The larger the storage capacity, the more images the card can store. Having a 4-gigabyte memory card will allow you to take several hundred photographs at high resolution (lots of megapixels) without filling up the card. Very convenient.
Preventing damage to memory cards is important. Although some cards are damaged by events over which you have no control, you should take some precautions to protect your cards.
When not in your camera, memory cards should be stored in the little plastic case they came in when they were purchased—or in some other storage container made specifically for holding memory cards.
This protects the metal contacts from being scratched, bent, or otherwise damaged, and protects them from dirt or other contaminants that might compromise their ability to function properly.
Be sure that memory cards are not stored or carried near a source of magnetic or electromagnetic energy. Magnets can corrupt the data on the card.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Compact Digital Cameras
What kind of digital camera do you need for genealogy photography?
Digital cameras come in an array of physical sizes and configurations, but when it comes down to the basic question of camera types, there are really only two categories available today: compact and DSLR.
Today’s post will discuss compact cameras. I’ll tackle DSLRs next time.
Compact digital cameras come in a variety of models, and they currently sell for anywhere from less than $100 up to several hundred dollars, depending on the features and capabilities.
Advances in technology have made many of these little cameras perfectly suited for almost any type of photography, including genealogy photography.
Many compact cameras have a wide range of features that allow you to shoot on automatic or give you the ability to control some or all of the settings manually. Most have a zoom lens that works well to get you closer to the subject or get a wide angle shot. All the models I’ve seen have a built-in flash.
These little cameras are very versatile and—depending on the features, which I’ll discuss in a later blog—will be very suitable for genealogy photography. And their compact size and light weight make them ideal for traveling or carrying in a pocket or purse.
I own a 10-megapixel compact Canon that I carry with me everywhere. It has all the features I need, including the ability to shoot on manual.
I’ll discuss features in a later blog. I don’t want to bore you—or overwhelm you!
See you next week.
Digital cameras come in an array of physical sizes and configurations, but when it comes down to the basic question of camera types, there are really only two categories available today: compact and DSLR.
Today’s post will discuss compact cameras. I’ll tackle DSLRs next time.
Compact digital cameras come in a variety of models, and they currently sell for anywhere from less than $100 up to several hundred dollars, depending on the features and capabilities.
Advances in technology have made many of these little cameras perfectly suited for almost any type of photography, including genealogy photography.
Many compact cameras have a wide range of features that allow you to shoot on automatic or give you the ability to control some or all of the settings manually. Most have a zoom lens that works well to get you closer to the subject or get a wide angle shot. All the models I’ve seen have a built-in flash.
These little cameras are very versatile and—depending on the features, which I’ll discuss in a later blog—will be very suitable for genealogy photography. And their compact size and light weight make them ideal for traveling or carrying in a pocket or purse.
I own a 10-megapixel compact Canon that I carry with me everywhere. It has all the features I need, including the ability to shoot on manual.
I’ll discuss features in a later blog. I don’t want to bore you—or overwhelm you!
See you next week.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Using Your Digital Camera for Genealogy Projects
Even if you are an experienced genealogist, you might be wondering how digital photography and genealogy go together.
Actually, digital photography is a blessing for genealogists—if you’ll only take the time to learn to use it to your advantage.
How can you do that?
Obviously, you can use your digital camera to photograph your family as they are today, preserving their images for future generations, just as your relatives did for the past few generations.
But you can also use your digital camera to photograph tombstones and cemeteries, unique historic documents, family heirlooms, one-of-a-kind paintings and vintage photographs, historic buildings and property, and many other items connected with genealogy.
Digital photographs of all these items can have a place in your scrapbook, in family history books, and on your web site because they can often provide unique information to those researching your family tree.
These images can also be shared with other family members by email, on CDs or DVDs, or printed photographs.
As image quality increases and camera prices decrease, high quality digital photography is within the reach of almost every genealogist today.
As a professional photographer who also has more than forty years of genealogy research experience and hundreds of hours photographing items to enhance my genealogy research, the weekly advice in this blog can help you take better digital photographs for your own genealogy projects.
Over the next few weeks I’ll be covering subjects such as how to more effectively photograph tombstones and cemeteries; old documents and vintage photographs; small three-dimensional objects, such as jewelry, military medals, silverware, etc.; quilts and other textiles; large two-dimensional objects, such as paintings and maps; large three-dimensional objects, such as furniture; and buildings and architectural features.
Can’t wait for the blog posts? Much of the same information I’ll be posting on the blog is contained in my book, The Genealogist’s Guide to Digital Photography, which can be purchased through my web site at http://www.dannaestridge.com/.
But please come back to my blog every week, because I’ll also be adding new information that I’ve discovered since I finished the book.
I’ll also be exploring other areas of genealogy research and sharing ideas on breaking through some of those brick walls we all run into from time to time.
It should be fun, so please join me.
See you next week!
Actually, digital photography is a blessing for genealogists—if you’ll only take the time to learn to use it to your advantage.
How can you do that?
Obviously, you can use your digital camera to photograph your family as they are today, preserving their images for future generations, just as your relatives did for the past few generations.
But you can also use your digital camera to photograph tombstones and cemeteries, unique historic documents, family heirlooms, one-of-a-kind paintings and vintage photographs, historic buildings and property, and many other items connected with genealogy.
Digital photographs of all these items can have a place in your scrapbook, in family history books, and on your web site because they can often provide unique information to those researching your family tree.
These images can also be shared with other family members by email, on CDs or DVDs, or printed photographs.
As image quality increases and camera prices decrease, high quality digital photography is within the reach of almost every genealogist today.
As a professional photographer who also has more than forty years of genealogy research experience and hundreds of hours photographing items to enhance my genealogy research, the weekly advice in this blog can help you take better digital photographs for your own genealogy projects.
Over the next few weeks I’ll be covering subjects such as how to more effectively photograph tombstones and cemeteries; old documents and vintage photographs; small three-dimensional objects, such as jewelry, military medals, silverware, etc.; quilts and other textiles; large two-dimensional objects, such as paintings and maps; large three-dimensional objects, such as furniture; and buildings and architectural features.
Can’t wait for the blog posts? Much of the same information I’ll be posting on the blog is contained in my book, The Genealogist’s Guide to Digital Photography, which can be purchased through my web site at http://www.dannaestridge.com/.
But please come back to my blog every week, because I’ll also be adding new information that I’ve discovered since I finished the book.
I’ll also be exploring other areas of genealogy research and sharing ideas on breaking through some of those brick walls we all run into from time to time.
It should be fun, so please join me.
See you next week!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Welcome to My Blog
Hello Everyone,
Welcome to my blog! I'll be sharing information and ideas on how to use your digital camera (maybe the new one you got for Christmas) for projects connected with your genealogy research, as well as information about both digital photography and genealogy research in general.
I look forward to sharing some of my expertise and experience on two of my passions --photography and genealogy -- with my readers. I'll have a new post every Friday (just in time for you to try a new project during the weekend), so stop by often to see what's new.
Thanks for visiting.
Danna
Welcome to my blog! I'll be sharing information and ideas on how to use your digital camera (maybe the new one you got for Christmas) for projects connected with your genealogy research, as well as information about both digital photography and genealogy research in general.
I look forward to sharing some of my expertise and experience on two of my passions --photography and genealogy -- with my readers. I'll have a new post every Friday (just in time for you to try a new project during the weekend), so stop by often to see what's new.
Thanks for visiting.
Danna
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