Digital Camera Basics

What is ISO speed or Sensitivity?

This setting has been adopted from film cameras. Higher ISO speeds are needed to take pictures in worse lighting conditions, however they also cause an increased amount of noise. Digital cameras also come with different ISOs. The higher the speed, the more sensitive the film is to light so 100 speed film is good for outdoor shots, but 400 film is better for indoor shots. Faster film is also needed to capture quick motion shots. Exactly the same considerations go into choosing the ISO of a digital camera. Think about the light conditions and type of subjects you plan to shoot and pick an ISO accordingly. Typically 100, 200 and 400.

What is lens aperture?

Lens aperture or the f-number is the ratio of the focal length of the lens to the diameter of the light rays passing through the aperture in the iris diaphragm. Smaller numbers represent bigger openings and allow more light to pass through.

What is shutter speed?

Shutter speed is the amount of time the shutter allows light onto the CCD or film. The shutter speed is measured in seconds. The slower the shutter speed, the more motion is recorded by the camera. A tripod is needed to use slower shutter speeds without blurring the picture.

LCD Viewfinders

Most digital cameras are equipped with a liquid-crystal display (LCD) viewfinder that allows you to see what your picture will look like before you take it. LCD viewfinders also permit you to view saved images and delete the ones that you don't like

Macro Mode

To take extreme close-ups like photographing a stamp, coin collection or flower. A macro lens can act as a normal lens but also lets you focus on an object as close as 3 cm. Macro mode works best from 10-30 cm.

What else can my digital camera do?

Video Clip Recording:
Many digital cameras can capture video clips. While none of them can reach the quality of a dedicated video camera, some are better than others. The best video-clip quality currently available from a digital still camera is 30fps VGA with sound. Some cameras allow you to record a continuous clip up to the capacity of your memory card, while others shoot only 30 or 60 seconds. And not all cameras that shoot video capture sound, so read the specifications if you want your clips to be with sound.

Image Effects:
Some cameras can produce different artistic image effects. For example, pictures can be taken in monochrome, sepia and negative modes. Panoramic views are possible, as are deliberate multiple exposures where you superimpose two or more images. Some cameras can divide the CCD array into four, six different pictures.

What are my storage options?

Most digital cameras use memory cards of one kind or another to store the images you take. These can be taken out of the camera and replaced by other cards. Several different card types are in use and are not interchangeable. You can read more about storage in the feature on Memory Cards.

Compact Flash Cards
Compact Flash Card is the most common format in use for digital camera storage but can also be used by other devices. Comes in two version Type I and Type II. Compact Flash Card Type I max capacity is 256 MB but the Compact Flash Card Type II can store more than 256 MB. Compact Flash is not only the most common but also the most supported format today. It's used by Nikon, Nikon, Casio, Minolta and HP.

SmartMedia Cards
SmartMedia Cards are almost the same as Compact Flash Cards, they're not as wide supported and are a little bit thinner than Compact Flash Cards. SmartMedia Card max capacity is still at 128MB. Olympus and Fuji digital cameras use SmartMedia cards but are now making their new models with XD Flash Memory Card that'll soon replace the SmartMedia Cards.

XD Flash Memory Card
The most recent and most advanced memory cards today, XD Flash Memory Card are really tiny and are storing the photos into the memory really fast. Most new models of Olympus and Fuji digital cameras are using XD Flash Memory Card.

What kind of lens do I need?

Lens quality also has an important influence on the image quality - there is little point in having a high-resolution digital conversion of an unsharp optical image. Lens quality can only really be assessed by practical tests, but the better-known camera and lens makers - Nikon, Nikon, Olympus, Konica Minolta, Pentax, Leitz as well as Sigma, Tamron, Tokina and others - can generally be relied on to produce good quality. Fixed focal length lenses
These lenses offer no optical zoom. Look for autofocus instead of fixed focus, as well as selectable macro and landscape focus modes.
Retractable zoom lenses
These zoom lenses retract into the camera body when the camera is off and extend when it's on.
Interchangeable lenses
Digital SLRs use interchangeable lens systems, which means that you can detach the entire lens from the camera body and replace it with any other compatible lens.
What a Zoom Lens Can Do For You?
Most people think of a zoom lens as a tool for getting closer to your subject. It is. However, it can be used for so much more. The real benefit of using a zoom lens is the speed and ease with which you can recompose your picture.
What a Fixed Lens Can Do For You?
Fixed-focal length lenses will give, in theory at least, the sharpest results. This makes sense; if you want the least distortion, etc., you want to have the least amount of glass between you and your subject. A zoom lenses usually consists of a great number of different elements while a fixed will have few.

Difference Between Optical and Digital Zoom

Both optical zoom and digital zoom are means to magnify an image, but they work in different ways. Optical zoom will always yield a far superior image than digital zoom.

How does optical zoom work?
A digital camera that offers optical zoom works the same way as a zoom lens on a traditional camera. A traditional lens works by collecting light rays and projecting them onto a piece of film, or in the case of a digital camera, onto the sensor.

Unlike a fixed lens, a zoom lens has several moveable glass elements inside. By adjusting these elements, the focal length of the lens can be changed. Adjusting the focal length both changes the view distance and reduces the field of view, causing the projected image to appear larger.

In a digital camera with optical zoom, the same number of pixels are captured when the image is magnified. The only thing that changes is which rays of light are projected onto the sensor to form those pixels.

How does digital zoom work?
Unlike optical zoom, digital zoom works by scaling up the pixels in the final image after it is captured. This is very similar to cropping and resizing your picture in PhotoShop.

How many megapixels do I need?

The term megapixel means one million pixels. Digital images are made of pixels, or picture elements.
One of the questions many people ask when looking for a new digital camera is "How many megapixels do I need?" Many people are aware that the number of megapixels the camera is able to capture in a single image has a direct effect on the quality of the photos the camera is able to output. However, because the number of megapixels also has a direct effect on the price of the camera, most people also want to know how many megapixels they really need to get good quality prints without spending too much money on a camera.
It's important to note that there are many factors in choosing a digital camera, many of which may be increasingly more important than the number of megapixels. A camera with a high megapixel count but poor optics will take high resolution, poor looking pictures. You will be able to see close up just how bad the picture looks. It's worth shopping carefully when choosing a new digital camera rather than simply choosing the unit off the shelf with the highest megapixel count.
However, the megapixel count is still an important factor in choosing the right camera for you.
First, determine how big you want to print your picture. Next multiply the number of inches by the desired ppi to calculate the total number of pixels needed. For example, let's say you want to make a typical 3 x 5-inch print:

3 inches x 300 ppi = 900 pixels
5 inches x 300 ppi = 1500 pixels
900 x 1500 = 1350000 pixels = 1.35 megapixels

If you wanted to make an 8 x 10 portrait instead:

8 inches x 300 ppi = 2400 pixels
10 inches x 300 ppi = 3000 pixels
2400 x 3000 = 7200000 pixels = 7.2 megapixels

If you don't mind a drop in quality, you can print your portrait at 200 ppi:

8 inches x 200 ppi = 1600 pixels
10 inches x 200 ppi = 2000 pixels
1600 x 2000 = 3200000 pixels = 3.2 megapixels

What kind of digital camera is best for me?

We wish we could give you quick answer. But that is like asking what is the one best food. While there are over 400 digital cameras on the market, there is no single best digital camera for everyone.
To get a good fit with a digital camera that matches your needs, price range and personality, requires a considered study of your purposes, preferences and budget. We need to answer the following questions: What kind of traditional camera do you current using? What kind of pictures do you need and want, and how will you use them? How experienced are you as a photographer? Are there any specific features that are necessary for your work? How much money do you wish to spend? And etc...

1.You are a snap shooter:

I want to take photos that I can e-mail to friends and family, post on the Web, or print in sizes smaller than 8x10 inches. I'd like a digital camera that is easy enough for the whole family to use and small enough to take anywhere. I'll be printing on an inexpensive, all-purpose inkjet printer.
It's the digital camera specification for you:

Resolution	3 megapixels or greater
Price	$150 to $500
Lens type	Zoom (range encompassing at least 38mm to 114mm, 35mm equivalent)
Storage media	Internal memory, CompactFlash, Memory Stick, xD-Picture Card, or Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard
Photo file format	JPEG
Interfaces	USB, NTSC/PAL television connection
Exposure controls	Automatic, programmed scene modes, exposure compensation (for tweaking the automatic exposure)
Focus controls	Automatic
Flash modes	Automatic, fill, red-eye reduction
Software	Photo stitching, photo album, slide show
Multimedia	Video-clip recording with sound
Cool features	Direct-to-printer output compatibility and in-camera red-eye removal

2.You are a budget buyer:

I want to find a digital camera that costs less than $300 that will let me post snapshots on the Web; e-mail them to friends; print them in small sizes (4x6) and get me up and running quickly without requiring me to read the manual. I want a camera that will good enough for a few years.

Resolution	3 megapixels or greater
Price	Less than $200
Lens type	Fixed (between 38mm and 55mm, 35mm equivalent) or zoom (range at least encompassing 38mm to 76mm, 35mm equivalent)
Storage media	Internal memory, CompactFlash Type I, Memory Stick, xD-Picture Card, or Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard
Photo file format	JPEG
Interfaces	USB, NTSC/PAL television connection
Exposure controls	Automatic, exposure compensation (for tweaking the automatic exposure)
Focus controls	Autofocus or fixed focus
Flash modes	Automatic, fill, red-eye reduction
Software	Basic photo editor
Cool features	Webcam capabilities, automatic scene modes, continuous-shooting mode, autofocus assist lamp

Somep points to consider:

• Look for cameras that can save files in a raw state. Saving your image as a RAW,TIFF will provide you with a higher quality image to work from.
• Choose a camera with an eye-viewer rather than just a screen. LCD screens use up a lot of battery and inaccurate
• Find a camera with minimal 'shutter lag'. An annoying feature of some digital compacts is the lag between clicking the shutter and the camera taking the shot
• Ensure that the camera has a good quality lens. Ideally not plastic and good brand
• Choose a camera with a large buffer memory. This allows a number of images to be taken before writting into camera storage

How do digital cameras differ from film

Film	Digital
When using a conventional camera, you may accidentally put your thumb over the lens or expose the film -- but you have to wait at least an hour for the film to be developed before discovering your photographic faux pas.	A digital camera lets you preview pictures on the spot through its LCD screen. You then save the keepers and erase the ones you don't like.
Conventional cameras use film.	Digital cameras use small storage cards.
Basic point-and-shoot units can be fired at will	digital camera has a 1- to 20-second processing delay, making it difficult to photograph squirmy kids or take a quick sequence of action shots.
Deliver to a photofinisher in order to get prints or digital files	You can download image files to your computer for printing on your home printer, or, if you have a compatible printer, you can attach your camera directly to it. Another option is getting traditional silver-halide prints from an online service or a local photofinisher who accepts digital files.
Digital cameras give me much better and more accurate colors than I've ever gotten with print film. If all I need is a 12 x 18" print digital camera is better and faster.	You can spend all day making a custom print from a large transparency I'll use film.
Digital is far more convenient and offers great quality for photojournalism and portraits.	Film is king for large prints and reproduction where textures in nature and landscapes are important.

Structured settlements

Structured settlements

What are Structured Settlements?

Structured Settlements are most often used to resolve personal physical injury claims or lawsuits by establishing a stream of periodic payments that are funded by annuities provided by highly-rated life insurance companies. If a structured settlement is used to fund a personal physical injury claim, it provides the payments tax-free. A structured settlement can be used to settle non-personal injury claims too.

Who Should Use Structured Settlements?

One or more of the following criteria might be used to determine if structured settlements are appropriate for your personal injury situation:

• The loss amount is greater than $10,000 and there is an opportunity to defer some of the payments for three or more years.
• There is involvement of a minor child and a loss of $5,000 or more.
• The injured party has a desire for the security and peace of mind gained from receiving a steady stream of income from a structured settlement over a long period.
• The injured party has little experience and discomfort with managing large sums of money all at once, much less over time.
• The injured party wants to shelter the settlement monies from future taxation on the earnings.
• The severity of the partyÍs injuries and future care needs will best be served by the periodic payments that can be gained by using a structured settlement.

Structured Settlements Defined

In a structured settlement, the defendant/insurance carrier agrees to provide injured parties with certain periodic payments. A structured settlement results in the release of claims against the defendant in exchange for the promise by the defendant to make a stream of future payments to the injured party. A structured settlement may also include an immediate, up-front cash payment to the injured party at settlement as well as future lump sum payments.

In essence, the term "structured settlement" encompasses virtually any payment scenario other than the traditional lump sum cash payment. In contrast with the lump sum cash payment, a structured settlement consists of the periodic payout of the settlement amount to help the claimant meet economic needs over time.

In any given structured settlement, the payment scenario might provide any of the following or a combination thereof:

1. An immediate cash payment for lost wages, incurred medical expenses, special equipment or home modification.
2. Attorney fees in an immediate cash payment or structured over a period of years.
3. Monthly income designed to replace lost wages payable for a fixed number of years or for life and guaranteed for a period certain.
4. An annuity consisting either of monthly or annual payments designed to provide for future medical or rehabilitative expenses through a medical trust.
5. A series of payments to fund future educational expenses.
6. Life insurance to provide for children in the event of premature death of the surviving parent.
7. Future lump sums that serve as inflation stabilizers or opportunity lump sums that fund major purchases.

This flexibility creates virtually unlimited opportunity to achieve a unique settlement for each claimant. The structured settlement can be very simple or quite complex. The complexity of the structure, and the ability of that structure to meet the needs of the claimant are limited only to the creativity of the consultant and parties involved and the financial instruments available in the structured settlement annuity market.

How Structured Settlements Are Funded

Most structured settlements are funded by a purchase of a single-premium annuity from a life insurance company by the defendant or its insurer. Annuities that pay fixed amounts over a life time or a certain period of time are the most common method of funding the settlement. The annuity premium is paid directly to the life insurance company issuing the annuity contract. Another alternative available for funding a settlement is a trust fund, which invests only in U.S. Treasury Obligations (Bonds).

An annuity is defined as a regular payment made over a fixed period or for the duration of a designated life or lives. Originally, the word annuity referred to an annual payment. Now, the term includes monthly, quarterly and semi-annual payouts. Under an annuity contract, the life insurance company, or its assignee, assumes the liability for the payment from the defendant.

Criteria For Structured Settlements

One or more of the following criteria might be used to determine if a structured settlement is appropriate for a claimantÍs situation:

• A loss amount greater than $10,000 and an opportunity to defer some of the payments for three or more years.
• Involvement of a minor child and a loss of $5,000 or more.
• The claimantÍs desire for security and the peace of mind gained from receiving a steady stream of income over a long period.
• The claimantÍs experience and comfort with managing large sums of money over time.
• The desire of the claimant to shelter the settlement.
• The severity of the claimantÍs injuries and future care needs.