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Three Smart Things New Digital Cameras Can Do by Alfred DeBat Newly introduced digital cameras are offering built-in programs that help solve photography problems. One of the latest is face recognition capability. Article rating: 6.93

In past camera models, photographers had to be very careful when taking a multi-subject portrait because it was extremely important to set the autofocus distance to subjects correctly. You had to depress the shutter release button halfway during the auto-distance measurement, holding it there. Then you moved the camera so that the viewfinder included multiple individuals and snapped the picture. If you merely placed two people on each side of the viewfinder, the auto-focusing target in the middle would most likely adjust for the distant wall behind the subjects. Therefore, the faces would be out of focus.

With face detection software, cameras can actually recognize a human face and focus on it, no matter where the face is located in the frame. In fact, some models have the capability to correctly focus on up to 10 faces simultaneously. If the faces are at different distances, the software increases the camera lens depth of field by setting a smaller lens aperture.

Currently, Fujifilm cameras are among the leaders in Face Detection software, and individual cameras with this feature are identified with “fd” in their model numbers. Fujifilm’s “fd” lineup includes the SLR-like FinePix S6000fd, the compact FinePix F31fd and FinePix F40fd, plus the slim-line FinePix Z5fd.

Nikon has a similar feature called Face Priority Autofocus, which also can discern and automatically focus upon human faces in the viewfinder no matter where they are positioned in the photo, assuring that the subjects’ portraits will be sharp. This technology is found in many Nikon CoolPix S and L Series point-and-shoot models, including the Nikon CoolPix S200 and S500, as well as CoolPix L10, L11, and L12.

Many Canon PowerShot point-and-shoot models also have Face Detection Technology, such as the ELPH SD1000 and SD750, as well as the full-size Canon G7 and pocket-size Canon SD40.

Several Pentax models have an automatic Face Recognition feature, including the Optio A30, Optio M30, and Optio T30.

Pentax Optio M30

Pentax Optio A30

Pentax Optio T30

Some current generations of digital cameras also have Automatic Red-eye Correction, which is in-camera software that detects and eliminates red-eye problems in portraits that can occur when using a built-in camera flash.

Several manufacturers are incorporating imaging software capable of improving picture lighting. The feature allows photographers to employ camera playback modes when they review images on the camera’s LCD monitor. Users can correct “too hot” backlit lighting and insufficient flash illumination to improve detail in their images after exposure. Nikon calls its system D-lighting, and it is found on CoolPix S and L Series models. Olympus point-and-shoot cameras, such as the Olympus FE-240 and pocket-size FE-230, offer Bright Capture technology, which allows photographers to preview images to be made in low-level natural light situations on the camera’s LCD monitor before they are exposed. Thus, assuring that the photos made without flash will produce vivid images.

Wireless connectivity, or WiFi, is another convenience for transferring images from cameras to computers without a cable hookup. It does require that your computer or color printer be equipped with a WiFi or Bluetooth module so that it can receive the WiFi camera’s images without a physical connection.

WiFi cameras can also e-mail images directly at open “hot spot” locations or at T-Mobile’s network of WiFi access points. The WiFi-equipped cameras can “broadcast” the pictures simply by placing the WiFi camera close to the WiFi-equipped computer or laptop and pushing a button. Cameras with this technology include the Canon PowerShot SD430 and Nikon S50c. Canon’s WiFi PictBridge printing system requires an accessory Wireless Print Adapter for the photo printer.

In addition to in-camera face recognition, WiFi wireless connectivity, as well as pre- and post-exposure lighting adjustment for images, there have been industry-wide advancements in anti-shake technology that eliminates blurry pictures made with handheld exposures. We addressed this technology in detail in another article on this website.

You can learn more about these and other cameras at the manufacturers websites, including: www.canon.com, www.casio.com, www.fujifilm.com, www.nikonusa.com, www.olympusamerica.com, www.panasonic.com, www.pentaximaging.com, www.samsungcamera.com, www.sigmaphoto.com and www.sonystyle.com.

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You missed one logical choice on your survey of how people save their pictures. Many of us save them to an auxiliary backup drive which is independent of the computer's hard drive. Posted by: Cary Fishman Mar 27, 2007 @ 6:24 PM EST

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