Aperture
Aperture of the lens installed in the camera or supplied with it in the kit (for models with detachable optics).
In a simplified way, this parameter can be described as the ability of the lens to transmit light - in other words, how much the light flux weakens when passing through the optics. It is believed that two main indicators affect the characteristics of light transmission: the size of the relative opening of the lens and its focal length. Aperture is the ratio of the first indicator to the second; in this case, the size of the active hole is taken as one and is generally omitted when recording, as a result, such a recording looks, for example, like this: f / 2.0. Accordingly, the larger the number after the fraction sign, the lower the aperture ratio, the less light the lens transmits.
Zoom lenses (zoom lenses), as a rule, have different aperture values for different focal lengths. For such optics, two values of this parameter are indicated in the characteristics, for the minimum and maximum focal lengths, for example, f / 2.8–4.5. There are also vario lenses that maintain a constant aperture over the entire range of focal lengths, but they are much more expensive than analogs with variable aperture.
The high light transmission of the lens is important if the camera is planned to be used for shooting in low light conditions or for shooting fast moving objects: high-aperture optics allow you to shoot at low sensor sensitivity (which...reduces the likelihood of noise) and at low shutter speeds (at which moving objects are less blurry) . This parameter also determines the depth of field of the imaged space: the higher the aperture ratio, the smaller the depth of field. Therefore, for shooting with artistic background blur (“bokeh”), it is recommended to use fast lenses.
Ultra HD (4K)
The maximum resolution and frame rate of video captured by the camera in
the Ultra HD (4K) standard.
UHD 4K refers to resolutions with a frame size of approximately 4,000 horizontal pixels. Specifically, in cameras for video shooting, resolutions of 3840x2160 and 4096x2160 are most often used. Regarding the frame rate, it is worth noting first of all that a normal (not slow-motion) video is shot at a speed of up to 60 fps, and in this case, the higher the frame rate, the smoother the video will be, the less jerks will be noticeable when moving in the frame. If the frame rate is 100 fps or higher, this usually means that the camera has a slow-motion video mode.
File recording formats
File formats in which the camera can record video. Given that the footage is designed to be viewed on an external screen, you should make sure that the playback device (DVD player, media centre, etc.) is able to work with the appropriate formats. At the same time, many camera models themselves can play the role of a player by connecting to a TV via an audio / video output or HDMI (see the corresponding paragraphs of the glossary). And if the video materials are to be viewed on a computer, you should not pay special attention to this parameter at all: problems with format incompatibility in such cases rarely occur, but are usually solved by installing the appropriate codec.
Maximum video length
Restrictions on the length of the recorded video provided in the design of the camera. In some models, the recording time is limited in time (for example, 30 minutes) — thus, to record a longer video, it will have to be split into separate clips. In others, the duration depends only on the amount of free memory — you can record as long as there is enough space. There is also a combination of these options; in such models, video recording stops as soon as either of the two limits is reached.
Continuous shooting
Continuous shooting speed provided by the camera at the maximum frame resolution. At lower resolutions, the speed may be higher, but this value is considered the key characteristic.
In continuous shooting, the photographer presses the button, and the camera takes several shots in a row, usually at intervals of a fraction of a second. Such shooting is convenient, for example, for capturing fast-moving objects: it allows you to choose the most successful from a series of frames, or to show the dynamics of movement using the entire series. And the higher the speed, the more effective the shooting, the more frames the camera can capture in a period of time. On the other hand, speed requires appropriate hardware and can significantly affect the cost.
Communications
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GPS module. The camera has a built-in GPS satellite navigation module. In digital cameras, the GPS module is used primarily for setting the so-called. geo-tagging to photos: information about specific geographical coordinates of the shooting location is recorded in the service information about each image. However, the matter is not limited to this, and models with this function can have many additional features - from classic navigation to special programs like a database of points of interest with hints based on the current location.
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WiFi. A wireless standard originally developed for computer networking, but more recently allowing for direct connection between devices. The ways in which Wi-Fi is used in cameras can vary. Thus, the most popular option is to connect to a smartphone, tablet or other similar device for remote control (see below) and / or transfer footage to an external device. Some cameras have built-in software that allows you to directly connect to the Internet through wireless access points and upload photos and videos to popular network services. And in models running Android (see above), specific features depend only on the installed software and may include full access to social networks through client programs (see below) and even web surfing through a browser.
— Bluetooth. A wireless interface used to communicate with various electronic devices. In cameras, Blu
...etooth is most often used to connect to a computer or laptop and transfer footage; In addition, it allows you to use the direct printing function on printers equipped with Bluetooth. The range of Bluetooth communication is up to 10 m, and the devices do not necessarily have to be in direct line of sight to each other.
- NFC chip. NFC (Near-Field Communication) is a wireless communication technology designed to connect various portable devices with each other at a distance of up to several centimeters. In cameras it plays an auxiliary role, designed to facilitate connection with other devices (smartphones, tablets, etc.) using a longer-range standard (Wi-Fi or Bluetooth). Instead of delving into the settings - looking for devices, connecting them manually - just bring the NFC camera to a gadget equipped with the same chip and confirm the connection request.
— Control from a smartphone. The ability to remotely control the camera using a smartphone, tablet or other similar gadget. The connection between the camera and the control device is usually carried out via Wi-Fi (see above), while a special application is used for control, and the gadget’s screen plays the role of a viewfinder. The specific capabilities of such control can be different - releasing the shutter on command, selecting exposure parameters and other shooting settings, focusing by touch, etc. Often, it is also possible to “drain” the footage onto the control device and, through it, to the Internet. Note that for cameras used with mobile phones (see “Camera Type”), this function is not indicated: such a camera is usually mounted directly on the device, and there is no talk of remote control.Shots per charge
The maximum number of photos that the camera can take on a single battery without recharging/replacing it. In fact, this number usually turns out to be less (sometimes quite noticeable) due to the fact that part of the charge is “eaten up” by the lens mechanics, using the display, changing settings through the menu, etc. Nevertheless, this parameter is a good indicator of the battery life of the device, and different models can be compared with each other.