Introduction Getting Ready
Taking Pictures
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GB-178
Basic Glossary of Digital Camera Terms
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Contents (Top page) Detailed Contents Index Nomenclature Menus and Settings Troubleshooting
Focus
This term refers to the focal point of a lens, but is more broadly used to refer to the condition whereby the
subject of a photograph is seen most clearly. When the focusing is correct and the subject is clearly visible, the
shot is said to be "in focus". When this is not the case, the shot is "out of focus".
Formatting (initialization)
This is a process that organizes the internal structure of a memory card so that data can be recorded on the
card. Formatting a memory card erases all the existing data stored on that card.
Infinity
Once the subject of a photograph is further than a set distance away from the camera lens,
moving still further away requires no adjustment to the focus. The distance at which the
subject is so far away that no change in the focus occurs is referred to as "infinity".
ISO (International Organization for Standardization) sensitivity
This is a number that indicates the sensitivity of film to light, with higher values indicating greater sensitivity.
Film with higher ISO sensitivity is more sensitive to light and can be used to take pictures in low-light conditions,
but is also more susceptible to unwanted specks on the image (noise).
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
This refers to an image data compression format. The compression ratio is variable, with higher compression
ratios giving smaller image file sizes but poorer image quality.
Memory card
A recording medium on which data can be erased (rewritten). SD memory cards and Multimedia cards can be
used with this camera.
PictBridge
This is a printing standard that allows images to be printed directly from a digital camera or video camera via
USB cable, regardless of the manufacturer or model.
Program AE
This is a type of AE in which the camera automatically selects a combination of shutter speed and aperture
setting according to the brightness of the subject.
