What makes digital SLRs special is the ability of the photographer to see the same image that the sensor will see. This enables the photographer to ensure that the composition, focus and depth of field are just right. The second major advantage is the ability to change lenses to suit your requirements.

A digital SLR, also known as dSLR, will give you a clearer and brighter image than any electronic viewfinder ever can. If a point and shoot (P&S) camera has a separate viewfinder, it will be much smaller than a dSLR and will not display any shooting data.

A dSLR has a larger sensor in terms of physical size (not pixels), than a P&S camera. This is usually almost six times the area and this can significantly improve the image quality. The main reason for this is that with a larger sensor, noise is less of a problem.

Another benefit of having a larger sensor is that you can have a shallow depth of field for blurred background effects. A P&S camera with a higher pixel count than a dSLR may not provide images that are as good as the SLR.

The lenses that are available with a digital SLR are usually superior in quality to those provided with a P&S camera. Having the option of changing lenses can be a very big advantage. Using a macro lens with an SLR will give you better images than those provided by a P&S camera, with a macro facility.

Digital SLRs have a higher dynamic range than P&S cameras. Dynamic range refers to the brightness levels that a camera can capture. This is the range of light, from the lightest to the darkest, in which you can still make out the details.

In a dSLR the shutter lag is almost non-existent. This is the lag between the time when you press the button and when the photograph is taken. With an SLR, it may be as low as millionths of a second, while it may be much higher in a P&S camera.

Most P&S cameras cannot capture images in the raw format, while all digital SLR cameras can. Raw formats are images from the sensor that are saved without any manipulation by the camera’s software. This can provide the best image quality that you can get from a digital camera.

However, a dSLR camera does have disadvantages. It costs a lot more, especially if you start adding the cost of the lenses and accessories. A digital SLR is also much bigger and heavier. The lenses and accessories add to this. Still, if you are interested in obtaining the best image quality, then a dSLR may be the best option for you.

People who want to buy a digital camera need to understand what resolution is because it is this term that decides the quality of an image. They also need to understand what pixel is because the resolution of an image is expressed in terms of pixels per inch and that of a digital camera in terms of megapixels.

The term pixel itself is derived from the words “picture element” and is used to refer to the smallest dot in an image that is used to store color. A picture is said to have good resolution if it is packed with dots or pixels over every inch of the image. This metric is also referred to as pixels per inch or ppi.

One million pixels go to make a megapixel, and a camera that shoots a picture that has one million pixels is said to have a resolution of 1MP or one megapixel. Similarly a camera that can shoot a picture that has five million pixels on its surface is said to have a resolution of 5 megapixels.

A higher resolution camera therefore provides better picture quality. That is why professional photographers use cameras whose resolution ranges from 14MP to 22 MP. These photographs are not only sharp and clear but also print well. They can also be easily enlarged without losing sharpness or focus.

In contrast, it is difficult to improve the quality of low resolution images. The photographers are forced to add pixels through a process known as interpolation. In this process, an intermediate color is assigned to the added pixels, which is based on the color of the existing pixels. This process can add to the resolution, but not to clarity. The reason for this is that you cannot create something from nothing.

Interpolation is a common feature on low-priced, entry level digital cameras. The lower the actual resolution of the image, the lower the clarity of the interpolated image will be.
Usually a 3.2 megapixel digital camera will provide images with sufficient resolution for general photography. However, if you are into more serious photography you will need a camera with a higher resolution.

Fortunately, this problem does not exist on the Internet. Web designers keep the resolution of images at 72 ppi that is 72 pixels per inch. This produces a sharp image on a computer screen. Also, the picture download is fast because the picture is not weighed down by the weight of pixels.

Traveling with a digital camera is not as simple as going for a trip with a conventional camera. With a conventional camera, all you need to do is to carry some extra film rolls and get some more when you run out of them. A digital camera has a fixed storage capacity and you can only add to it by buying expensive flash memory cards.

It therefore makes sense to carry a notebook computer – if you have one — and transfer the pictures to it periodically to free the badly needed camera memory. You can also preview the pictures and decide if you want to want to erase them, e-mail them, or post them on the web. If your notebook computer has a CD writer then you can transfer the images to a CD. You can even carry a small printer and print the images, or have them printed at a shop that provides this service.

If you don’t want to carry a notebook, you can transfer images directly to a portable hard drive. This is a battery-powered, palm-sized device that may come with or without a monitor.

You can also transfer pictures to a Clik! drive, which is a portable storage device, powered by a rechargeable battery. Once the images have been transferred to the Clik! drive, you, you can free up space on your flash memory card by erasing the images.
When a Clik! disc gets filled you can replace it with another one, which may cost you $10. Once you return from the trip, you can transfer the images to your computer.

In the US, the power supply is 110 volts and 60 Hz, whereas when you travel overseas, the voltage may be 220 volts and 50 Hz. The wall outlets may also be different. You will need an adapter kit, to plug in your notebook computer, AC adapter, or battery charger.

A transformer is suitable for use with electronic devices. A converter can be used with electrical appliances like hair driers. It can harm devices over time and should not be used for more than a few hours. Transformers can be used for longer periods, though they tend to be heavier.

If you are planning to use a modem, you need to find out about the type of adapters that are used in the country, where you are going. While hiking, canoeing, or sailing, you will need a solar-powered battery charger, to recharge your batteries.

Your digital camera, laptop computer, flash cards, audio and video tapes, floppy discs and films will remain unharmed by the X-ray machines installed at airports. However, a metal detector may harm magnetic media like Clik! Discs. Please keep this in mind while traveling by air.

A digital image can be modified, enhanced or even made to lie. This was not so in the case of negative or transparency. They could not be made to lie because the alteration was easily noticeable. But digital image and manipulation go hand in hand.

Maybe, manipulation is a strong word to use. A more appropriate word would be digital enhancement. This is what every photographer tries to achieve – to improve the quality of the picture. He does this by using photo-editing software like Adobe Photoshop or Photopaint.

Some of the characteristics that the photographers play around with on the computer screens are: color, angle, size, pixellation or removal of distracting elements like tables, chairs etc. If need be, the photographers also use a digital brush to change the color of eyes or remove identifying marks. All this, and more can be done with the tools available in any good photo-editing software. The picture invariably comes out looking better.

No one will complain if the changes improve the quality of the picture. But there are times when photographers go further and alter parts of the picture. They import another face or person into the picture or change the surroundings. When they do this they are clearly guilty of manipulation. The photograph then is not a document but a lie. It can prove to be dangerous if it was submitted to a court of law. It could very easily upturn a verdict if the manipulation was of a quality that could fool digital forensic experts.

The danger is that the manipulation tools are so easily available. Anyone can buy photo-editing software, and edit or morph pictures of celebrities. There have been scores of cases when pictures of celebrities have been morphed and hosted in compromising positions on the net. This is indefensible; all acts of manipulation need to be punished.

Some photographers put forward the argument that it is impossible to capture reality. They are right. Even the best digital cameras cannot capture colors in the same way that the eyes do. But this is not manipulation. This is acceptance of reality. Actually, we should feel happy that we can capture nature so closely now.

What is more important is that we don’t manipulate digital images. We should limit ourselves to enhancing their quality.

PowerShot SD770IS Highlights

3x optical zoom and Optical Image Stabilizer

1x zoom/3x zoom

The PowerShot SD770 IS Digital ELPH’s 3x optical zoom is a clear winner when it comes to getting up close and personal. And Canon’s invaluable Optical Image Stabilizer reduces the blur of camera movement, even in tricky low light situations.

2.5-inch PureColor LCD II screen for bright, accurate color The PowerShot SD770 IS Digital ELPH gives you a large 2.5-inch LCD screen for excellent control when framing your shots. Canon’s PureColor LCD II offers more spectacular color, resolution and contrast even when viewed at an angle (compared to PureColor LCD). The screen is highly durable and easy to see in any light with a scratch-resistant, anti-reflective coating. It also features Night Display for easy viewing in low light — a perfect feature for gathering friends and family around to see your images.

Motion Detection Technology automatically detects subject movement and optimizes exposure control Life doesn’t stand still for picture-taking. That’s why Canon included its advanced Motion Detection Technology in the PowerShot SD770 IS Digital ELPH. This sophisticated feature works in the background to instantly evaluate how fast your subject is moving. Then it automatically selects and sets the optimal exposure and ISO settings to keep everything looking sharp and clear. When you need higher ISOs for action-stopping shutter speeds, Motion Detection Technology provides it. But when no movement is detected, it allows lower ISOs for excellent color and detail. So whether you’re shooting a bride walking down the aisle, a ballet recital or even a child’s soccer game, you can relax and shoot with confidence knowing you’ve got the picture you intended.

With Canon’s Face Detection WB (right), skin tones are not affected by overall lighting

Improved Face Detection Technology sets the focus, exposure, flash and white balance automatically Canon’s powerful Face Detection Technology delivers even better results with the new SD770 IS Digital ELPH. The Face Detection Technology continues to recognize faces in a scene, and concentrate exposure (daylight or flash) and focus upon them. But the SD770 IS Digital ELPH adds more: Face Detection WB means the camera concentrates upon faces when calculating white balance for the best possible skin tones. Face Select and Track lets the SD770 IS Digital ELPH user highlight one face among several in a scene, and the camera concentrates on that person, even as they move around the scene. Face Detection Technology is a powerful contributing factor in Canon’s new Motion Detection Technology.

DIGIC III Image Processor for superior image quality and improved functionality With DIGIC III, your images boast superior quality, the camera operates at top efficiency and battery life is enhanced. What’s more, DIGIC III enables Canon’s Face Detection Technology and Red-eye Correction to give you better, more true-to-life people shots. Simply press the Shutter Button halfway down, and the camera automatically pinpoints the faces in the scene and chooses the ideal focus point. The camera controls exposure settings and flash to keep every face looking bright and natural. Red-eye Correction can be handled in-camera, in two ways. The entirely new Red-eye Correction during shooting uses the Face Detection Technology to recognize and remove red-eye from flash images as they’re taken, before the file is written to the memory card. It’s also possible to correct red-eye during image playback, using simple settings in the SD770 IS Digital ELPH’s menu.

iSAPS Technology is an entirely original scene-recognition technology developed for digital cameras by Canon. Using an internal database of thousands of different photos, iSAPS works with the fast DIGIC III Image Processor to improve focus speed and accuracy, as well as exposure and white balance.

Red-eye Correction provides three options for removing red-eye from subjects in flash pictures.
1) The new Red-eye Correction during shooting actually identifies and corrects red-eye in human subjects as pictures are taken.
2) The SD770 IS Digital ELPH can be set to automatically detect and correct red-eye during image playback.
3) The user can manually locate any red eyes in a scene during image playback on the LCD screen, and command the camera to remove them.

Print/Share Button for easy direct printing and downloading The PowerShot SD770 IS Digital ELPH’s Print/Share button makes direct printing easier than ever. Simply connect the SD770 IS Digital ELPH to a Canon PIXMA photo printer or SELPHY compact photo printer or any PictBridge compatible photo printer, press the lighted Print/Share button and print! Also use the Print/Share button to transfer images to a computer (Windows and Macintosh).

Print your own ID photos in 28 different sizes or use the Movie Print function to output multiple stills from a recorded movie on a single sheet with a Canon SELPHY compact photo printer.

Product Description

Instantly recognizable, the classic Box & Circle ELPH design of the PowerShot SD770 IS Digital ELPH houses a 3x Optical Zoom and Optical Image Stabilizer, perfect for the everyday photographer. High-end specifications include 10.0-Megapixel Resolution and a 3x optical zoom lens. Spectacular images are easy to create, thanks to advanced Canon technologies like Face Detection and Motion Detection Technologies that eliminate blur. Improved Face Detection Technology automatically sets the focus, exposure, flash, and white balance; allowing greater freedom of shooting throughout the image capture process. Motion Detection Technology automatically detects subject movement and optimizes exposure control and ISO settings to reduce image blur. DIGIC III Image Processor for superior image quality and improved functionality. Print/Share Button for easy direct printing and downloading, plus ID Photo Print and Movie Print with select PIXMA Photo Printers and SELPHY Compact Photo Printers. Shutter Speed - 1/60-1/1500 seconds, 15-1/1500 seconds White Balance - Auto, Preset (Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H), and Custom Built-in Flash - Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Auto Red-eye Correction, Flash On, Flash Off; FE lock, and Slow Synchro Flash Range - 12 to 11-feet/30cm-3.5m (W), 12 to 6.6-feet/30cm-2.0m (T) when sensitivity is set to ISO Auto Shooting Modes - Auto, Camera M, Portrait, Special Scene (Foliage, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Aquarium, Underwater, ISO 3200, Indoor, Kids & Pets) Night Snapshot, Color Accent, Color Swap, Digital Macro, Stitch Assist, and Movie Dimensions - Width 3.39 x Height 2.13 x Depth 0.80 (86.0×54.0×20.4mm) Weight - 4.59 ounces (130 grams) with camera body only.

Manufacturer Description

Instantly recognizable, the classic “Box & Circle” ELPH design lives on in the PowerShot SD770 IS Digital ELPH. This sleek, slim head-turner is the perfect everyday camera. High-end specifications include 10.0-megapixel resolution and a 3x optical zoom lens. Spectacular images are easy to create thanks to advanced Canon technologies like Face Detection and Motion Detection Technologies that eliminate blur.

Product Features

Technical Details