How to Choose the Best Outdoor Security Cameras

Executive summary about Outdoor Security Cameras by Gregory B.

Outdoor security cameras can keep your home or business safe from break-ins and serve as a powerful deterrent factor for any potential thieves. Because the cameras are outside and subjected to the elements and different lighting conditions, they need to be tougher and more versatile than the cameras that you see inside convenience stores and other places of business. If you want to find the best, most cost effective cameras for your home look for these qualities in any camera that you buy.

The first thing any security camera meant for the outdoors should have is quality housing. The housing will keep the delicate camera safe from the ravages of Mother Nature. Next, your camera must be able to work in a wide variety of lighting situations. At the very least, the camera should be equipped with night vision or infrared vision. Finally, look to see the angle of viewing that the camera has and the camera's depth of field.

How to Choose the Best Digital Camera Lens

Executive summary about Digital Camera Lens by Fredrick Joy

It is very imperative to choose good quality camera lens. Lens is the vital element in a camera. Most of you buy digital camera without examining the lens in it. Always, make sure that you buy a very good camera lens as well as the camera. In some cases, it is not likely to change the camera lens. It is prudent to go for glass lens rather than plastic lens.

Ensure that the lens you buy suits your camera, because some cameras are restricted to specific lenses. The focal length of a lens is the measure of magnification and the view angle the lens supports. Focal length determines the type of lens and is measured in mm. Wide angle lens offers less magnification and wide view angle with a focal length of 20mm to 35 mm. Traditional lens provides a focal length of 50mm with normal magnification.

Zoom lens bids a focal length between 50mm to 150 mm and it alters its focal length while zooming in. Zoom lenses are largely preferred these days. A few lenses can be interchanged between digital camera and film camera. Sundry camera models have different lenses in them.

Some models like super zoom are not exactly Single Lens Reflex model, even though they possess some features like SLR features.

History of the Camera

Executive summary about History of the Camera by Christopher Haslego

Early cameras of the 16th and 17th century were able to project images onto paper or glass but the study of capturing, processing and printing the images took many more years.

It was called the Camera Obscura. Both the Camera Obscura and the Camera Lucida provided an image that was temporary, which could not be lastingly captured on to paper for later reference.

This development led to another key invention - the motion picture camera by Thomas Edison's in 1891.

During the 20th century the pace of technology development in cameras and photography continued at an accelerated pace much like many other key technology developments. 

20th century chronology in the history of the camera:

1913: 35 mm still-camera created

1948: The concept of the Polaroid camera is introduced in the market. American scientist Edwin Land developed the process for instant photography. 1972: The electronic camera that does not require film was created and patented by Texas Instruments. This is however not the same as a digital camera though you don't require film in digital cameras as well. The launch of the digital camera is still many years away.

1975: Kodak's experiments with digital imaging kicked off around the mid seventies but it will take another 20 years before a digital camera for the home consumer market is launched.

1981: Sony launches a commercially available electronic still camera. 1985: Digital processing technology makes its entry. Digital imaging and processing is introduced by Pixar.

1986: The camera industry becomes even more consumer focused and taps the fun and travel connotations behind camera usage, with the launch of the concept of the disposable single use cameras. Pixels are the programmable units of an image that can be processed by computers. 1990: Kodak introduces Photo CD's. 1991: Kodak introduces a digital camera targeted at professionals and journalists. Kodak is credited with the invention of a pixel based camera technology known to us as the digital camera. Digital cameras don't use film similar to their predecessor electronic cameras but the storage method is entirely different and the final photograph is of much higher resolution. In a digital camera photos are recorded and stored in digital form. Kodak and Canon are well known digital camera manufacturers and there are also several other key brands as well.

1994: The Apple QuickTake camera, a home use digital camera is launched. -->The digital era:

The development of digital camera technology is considered to be linked to the development of TV and Video technology. The principles of transmission and recording of audio-visual images using digital electrical impulses finds use in camera imaging as well.

Through the 1990's the developments continued in camera technology, the focus now shifting to the field of digital imaging which is where the future lies. The innovation that sparked many an invention in the camera industry found its way into the digital world as well and continued among digital camera manufacturers. Many of Kodak digital camera models with EasyShare capabilities are compatible with Windows XP. The Kodak EasyShare software enables users to transfer digital camera pictures directly from camera to their computers and then print the pictures or even email them.

Manufacturers in a related industry like the printing industry have adapted their products to be in sync with the images created by digital cameras. Cell phone manufacturers have tied up with digital camera manufacturers to develop new age camera phones in recent years. These camera phones can capture images and share the images through the cell phone.

Among the 21st century digital developments are the advanced product offerings from digital cameras manufacturers and these are sure to occupy an important place in the ensuing history of camera development. For instance, the Kodak Professional DCS Pro SLR/c is a high-end digital camera and the Kodak website calls the DCS Pro SLR models the most feature-rich digital cameras on the market. It has an image sensor that can handle 13.89 million pixels and this makes it the highest resolution digital camera available. Digital camera sales figures for 2003 show that the two key players Kodak and Canon have recorded impressive growth.

What does the future holds for camera users?

• Four key ongoing camera developments that are likely to further improve the process of photography: Greater resolution from even the simplest, low cost camera models.
• Usage in any type of lighting conditions.
• Compatibility across a range of software, hardware and image types.
• Rich colors and tone

The camera and photography interest starts young and this creates a truly large audience base for the camera industry.