Computer Active 20091101 Scan02 HDR

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Despite far superior technology, photographic film is still better than digital cameras in emulating the dynamic range our eyes can perceive. That's where High Dynamic Range steps in. Wikipedia defines HDR as a set of techniques that allow a greater dynamic range of luminances between the lightest and darkest areas of an image than standard digital imaging techniques or photographic methods. This wider dynamic range allows HDR images to represent more accurately the wide range of intensity levels found in real scenes ranging from direct sunlight to faint starlight.

Chip 20091101 Scan01 Digital Cameras

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One way to go about selecting a digital camera is to look at all the features, give them weightages then zero in on the highest aggregate score. In such an approach, I would personally give the highest weightage to the number of service centers the brand has simply because a digital camera is not only very costly and very delicate but also very "handled". So it is extremely important to avoid grey market cameras or even Indian distributor cameras that lack an extensive after sales service network. If the above method is too much trouble for you, head over to Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/cameras/), which provides what could possibly the most relevant and real time survey of digital cameras in actual use. Sadly my most favourite camera the Casio FS-10 (http://exilim.casio.com/products_exfs10.shtml) does not seem to be in wide circulation among Flickr users and Casio as a brand never really took off as much as I would be liked it to.