What Does It All Mean?

ID
This is the unique ID tag given to each camera as its etered into our database system. The id number allows you to quickly find the camera you have seen on site or give to a friend.

Manufacturer
The Manufacturer is the company who has commisioned the model of camera shown.

Model
This is the exact version of the camera that has been commissioned by the manufacturer

Format
This is the general sizing given to the form of the camera. typical camera formats are:
Ultra Compact, Compact, and SLR. The Cameras format depicts how the camera is intended to be used.

Resolution
The resolution of a digital image is defined as the number of pixels it contains. A 5 megapixel image is typically 2,560 pixels wide and 1,920 pixels high and has a resolution of 4,915,200 pixels, rounded off to 5 million pixels. It is recommended to shoot at a resolution which corresponds with the camera's effective pixel count.

Image Ratio
The aspect ratio is the ratio of the width of the image related to the height of the image. For most camera images the current aspect ratio is 4:3.

Effective Pixels
A distinction should be made between the number of pixels in a digital image and the number of sensor pixel measurements that were used to produce that image. In conventional sensors, each pixel has one photodiode which corresponds with one pixel in the image. A conventional sensor in for instance a 5 megapixel camera which outputs 2,560 x 1,920 images has an equal number of "effective" pixels, 4.9 million to be precise. Additional pixels surrounding the effective area are used for demosaicing the edge pixels, to determine "what black is", etc. Sometimes not even all sensor pixels are used.

Sensor Photo Detectors

Sensor Size
The Physical size of the sensor

Sensor Type
The Type of Photo detector used in the camera model, usually RGB is used.

Zoom
A set of lenses are used to allow the user to "zoom" into an image yet retain focus and sharpness.

Digital Zoom
Digital zoom is emulated zoom from software. the pixels of the display are effectively increased in size ti give the effect of zoon. Digitally zoomed pictures appear pixelated at higher zoom amounts.

Image Stabalization
Some camera mdoels contain intelligent software that monitors the output of the cameras display and can sense when the camera is rocking. The software can then effectively reduce or reverse the rocking motion to stabalise the image.

Auto Focus
Found on the magority of new digital camera models, auto focus is where the camera choses an object within the scene (usually central) and adjusts the cameras focus to best suite that object.

Manual Focus
Manual focus is the oppsosite of auto focus and can sometimes be ommited from cheaper digital camera models.

Macro Focus Range
Macro focus range is the minimum distance in which the camera can accurately focus on the subject without distortion. The term macro means the optical ability to produce a 1:1 or higher magnification of an object on the film or sensor.On digital cameras there is often a Macro Focus mode which switches the auto focus system to attempt to focus on subjects much closer to the lens.

Aperture
Aperture refers to the size of the opening in the lens that determines the amount of light falling onto the film or sensor. The size of the opening is controlled by an adjustable diaphragm of overlapping blades similar to the pupils of our eyes. Aperture affects exposure and depth of field. By adjusting the apeture of a shot the photographer can.

Flash
A flash is a device that produces an instantaneous flash of light (typically around 1/1000 of a second) to help illuminate a scene.