Digital Camera Basics

It’s nice to pick up a brand new camera and take good pictures without reading the manual. But the manual will always tell you something about your camera that you wouldn’t discover on your own. So give it at least one good read. And keep it handy .If you have any problems, consult the manual to see if it has the answers.

Purchasing a digital camera takes some research. If you ask yourself the right questions, however, the choices become clearer. The most important thing is that you get a camera you are excited about, one that you want to take pictures with, and one that you can take everywhere.

What is a digital camera?

A camera that creates a photograph in digital form and records on digital memory rather than film.

"Think of a film camera. You aim at a subject, press a shutter button, and the shutter inside the camera lens opens to expose light to film inside, capturing the image onto the film. You fill up the roll of film, take it to a lab, they develop it, and you have photos!

Ok, now you have a digital camera. You aim at a subject, press a shutter button, and the shutter inside if camera lens opens to expose light to a small sensor inside, capturing the image onto a memory card, instead of film. You fill it up, transfer your images to your computer, and can save them, alter them, print them, email them, and more! Even better, you can take your memory card to the local drug store photo lab, and insert them into a machine and have photo lab prints made .




Digital Camera Terms

Image Sensor- The image sensor is positioned in the digital camera where the film would normally be. When the photograph is captured the information is stored in the digital camera's memory.

Resolution- For digital cameras the resolution is usually expressed as a matrix of horizontal by vertical pixels. A resolution of 640x480 means the digital camera produces images that consist of 640 horizontal pixels by 480 vertical pixels.

Images Capacity- Number of images (pictures) that can be stored depending on the image quality mode.

Focus- Adjustment of the focal length setting on a lens to define the subject sharply.
Most digital cameras have a fixed-focal-length lens with close-up or macro setting. Some have zoom lenses or dual-focal-length lenses.

Focus Range- The range within a camera is able to focus on the selected picture.
Usually the focus range is listed for normal mode and/or macro mode.


Memory/Storage:

Built-in- The image storage method use two different techniques:
Built-in (internal) memory and removable memory.
Once the internal memory is used up by images, the user has to download and erase the images to continue taking pictures.

Removable-Removable memory is like a roll of film for conventional cameras that can be re-used over and over again.



How do I get my digital photos from my camera to my computer?

The pictures taken by a digital camera have to be extracted by some means in order to get them onto a computer, or perhaps directly onto a printer.

USB ports: Some specialized cameras may take advantage of the high speed Firewire protocol for connecting to a computer. Just about all modern computers come with at least a pair of USB ports, but not all computers include Firewire.

Use a Camera Dock: A camera dock can transfer photos directly from your camera to your computer.

Card Readers: Many people find flash memory card readers to be a quick and convenient alternative to using the camera’s native means of connecting. You simply remove the memory from the slot on the camera and pop it into the appropriate slot on the reader, and then the computer system can access the card like a local disk drive.

Memory card slot: Take the memory card out of your camera and place it directly into the memory card slot on your computer.


Photo Sharing-
Flickr-flickr.com
Photobucket -Photobucket.com
Kodak Gallery- KodakGallery.com
Shutterfly-http://www.shutterfly.com/
Snapfish
Picasa- is free photo editing software from Google http://picasa.google.com/


ONLINE EDITORS
Picnik: http://www.picnik.com/
Fotoflexer:http://fotoflexer.com/
Pixlr: http://www.pixlr.com/

Free Photo Editors-
PhotoFiltre –Image editing and filter program. (http://www.photofiltre-studio.com/news-en.htm)

Paint.NET-Is a free image and photo manipulation software for Windows 2000, XP. (http://www.getpaint.net)

Photobie-Is an image editor that offers all the standard editing and paint tool. -(www.photobie.com)

Pixia –Is the English version of a popular Japanese painting and retouch software for full color graphics. http://park18.wakwak.com/~pixia/)

FxFoto- Allows you to edit, correct and improve your digital images. (http://www.fxfoto.com)

Computer / Internet Safety

Educate Yourself and Be Smart

Understanding how you can get infected and what to avoid when using the Internet will be the most important step in keeping your computer clean and secure. The majority of people who have infections on their machines were infected due to lack of knowledge and clicking on things that they should not.

Secure Your Wireless Network

If you don't secure your network, you provide an entrance point to everything on your network, including personal information.

Don't let strangers use your network

Turn on WEP (wired equivalency privacy) or WPA (Wi-Fi protected access) on all of your devices, including your router

Move your wireless router

Place the wireless access point away from windows and near the center of your house to decrease the signal strength outside of the intended coverage area.

Retiring your old computer ?

• Eradicate personal data stored on its hard drive before unplugging it for the last time.

• Remove the files yourself at home using disk-cleaning software.

• Take your hard drive to a local reputable computer supplier to have them safely overwrite your files.

Primary Threats to Computer Security

Viruses/Worms
Software programs designed to invade your computer, and copy, damage, or delete your data.

Trojans
Viruses that pretend to be helpful programs while destroying your data, damaging your computer, and stealing your personal information.

Spyware
Software that tracks your online activities or displays endless ads.

Primary Online Risks for Children

Cyberbullies
Both children and adults may use the Internet to harass or intimidate other people.


Predators
These people use the Internet to trick children into meeting with them in person.

File-share Abuse
Unauthorized sharing of music, video, and other files may be illegal, and download malicious software.

Disturbing Content
If kids explore unsupervised, they could stumble upon images or information you may not want them exposed to.

Invasion of Privacy
If kids fill out online forms, they may share information you don’t want strangers to have about them or your family.


Primary Threats to Personal Online Safety

Phishing
E-mail sent by online criminals to trick you into going to fake Web sites and revealing personal information

Identity Theft
A crime where con artists get your personal information and access your cash and/or credit

Hoaxes
E-mail sent by online criminals to trick you into giving them money

Spam
Unwanted e-mail, instant messages, and other online communication



Steps You Can Take

Your computer

• Turn on Windows Internet firewall.

• Use Microsoft Update to keep Windows up-to-date automatically.

• Install and maintain antivirus software.

• Install and maintain Microsoft Windows Defender.

Your family

• Talk with your kids about what they do online.

• Set clear rules for Internet use.

• Keep personal information private.

• Use family safety settings in Microsoft software

Yourself

• Practice Internet behavior that lowers your risk.

• Manage your personal information carefully.

• Use anti-phishing and anti-spam
  

Four Steps to Help Protect Your Computer

1. Turn on Windows Internet firewall
2. Use Microsoft Update to keep Windows up-to-date automatically
3. Install and maintain antivirus software
4. Install and maintain antispyware software

Managing Passwords

Choosing a Password

• No matter what method you end up using to manage your passwords, the first concept you should be familiar with is how to choose a good one.

1. Use combinations of letters, numbers, and (when applicable) special characters.
2. Mix upper case and lower case when passwords are case-sensitive.
3. Keep them to about 8 characters on average.
4. Don't use regular words or phrases. The more straightforward the password, the easier it will be to hack.
5. Don't use numbers associated with your identity (such as birthdays, phone numbers, social security).

Re-using the Same Password

Writing Your Passwords Down

Some people resort to a sort of "password address book" where they write down usernames and passwords in a notebook as a reference. Unfortunately, this is a similarly insecure habit because of the possibility of someone getting their hands on it, particularly if you are keeping it around the office. If you decide to write them down, keep your password book in a locked drawer or someplace safe!

Develop a Password System

• The best way to try to memorize each password is by developing a system that allows you to generate a different memorable password for each site or application. Lifehacker has a great post on choosing and remembering great passwords. By using a combination of a base password, numbers, special characters, and elements from the names of the sites themselves, you can create passwords that are different for every account that you can remember without any outside help.