Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Digital Camera - Specs

There are several different types of digital cameras. Compact and Ultra-compact are light, pocket-sized cameras that are easy to carry, usually with a built-in lens. Standard point-and-shoot cameras are of medium size, usually come with a built-in lens, and have basic features that are useful for the casual photographer. SLR/Professional cameras are usually larger, but offer more advanced features and detachable lenses for the photography enthusiast or professional.
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A CCD sensor will provide a sharper more precise image, but is generally more power consuming. CMOS sensors are generally more energy efficient and are creating better and better images as technology develops.
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The optical zoom ratio of a digital camera measures how much the lens can actually zoom in to make subjects appear closer. Be careful to not confuse optical zoom with digital zoom. Optical zoom actually enlarges a picture while keeping the resolution and sharpness of the picture high.
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The sensor in a digital camera is composed of pixels, which are tiny light-sensitive squares. The sensors in most cameras today are made up of millions of pixels, each one registering the brightness of the light striking it as the photo is taken. A megapixel is the term used for a million pixels â?? and the more megapixels an imaging sensor has, the higher the camera's potential resolution. On the other hand, the megapixels determine the size of the print, so higher megapixels means larger print sizes, for examples, 6 megapixels are good for 8 x 10 in. prints, 8 megapixels are good for 16 x 20 in. prints.
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The LCD screen is used to see the image that you are going to shoot. It is typically located on the back side of the camera below the viewfinder. The viewfinder serves a similar purpose as the screen, the difference being that it is much easier to see the image on the screen as the camera can be held at a distance. LCD screens come in different sizes - from around 1 inch across to all the way to about 4 inch across. Typically the smaller LCD screen are around 1.5 inch across and suffice for most purposes. Some compact cameras have larger screens (around 2.5-3inches) which cover the entire back side. The large screens are more easy to use as you can see the image clearly. However, the problem with large screens in compact cameras is that most of them are touch screens and current touch technology in digital cameras often gives a cumbersome user experience. The smaller screen cameras have the usual controls next to it and are at the moment more user friendly.
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High-definition video or HD video refers to any video system of higher resolution than standard-definition (SD) video, and most commonly involves display resolutions of 1,280x720 pixels (720p) or 1,920x1,080 pixels (1080i/1080p). Any cameras which can support either of these formats 720p/1080i/1080p is said to support HD Video. 1080p is the latest and the best HD format (also known as Full HD) but has limited support in other electronic devices and is often expensive. The best value for money is currently the 1080i standard, although 720p is also typically good enough for most casual recordings.
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Unlike optical zoom, digital zoom magnifies the pixels but not the actual image. The resulting image appears bigger, but is not as sharp as with an optical zoom.
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Higher-end cameras may allow you to separate the camera body from the lens, allowing you to interchange lenses for different types of photography.
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Resolution is measured in megapixels. The higher the megapixels, the sharper and more detailed the pictures your digital camera can take, and the bigger you can enlarge them without losing the sharpness of the image. 3.1 megapixels and higher is usually considered sufficient for print-quality photos. Photos with a resolution of less than 3.1 megapixels are best viewed only on computers.
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Image Sensor Size is the diagonal length of the sensor and is measured in mm. All other things being equal, a larger sensor captures images with greater dynamic range than a smaller sensor. For more information:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_sensor_format
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FPS, or Frames Per Second: the capture ability of your camera in a continuous shooting mode. The higher the FPS, the more pictures per second or the smoother the video.
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Min. ISO Speed refers to the miminum ISO speed supported by the camera.
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Max. ISO Speed refers to the maximum ISO speed supported by the camera.
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The method by which your camera will communicate with your computer or other video device. Different methods enable you to download photos at varying speeds. Make sure the interface you want is also compatible with the computer you want to use it with.
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Depending on the type of use and portability needed, weight is an important consideration when selecting a product.
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