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Icon Glossary

SLR Digital SLR cameras are indicates by this icon. See the DLSR Basics page for more what this implies. Electronic Viewfinder A camera uses an electronic viewfinder is marked with this icon. SLR cameras never have EVFs.
Ultra Zoom Signifies that a fixed-lens digital camera has more than 10X optical zoom. Some have 20X or more. Most ultra-zoom digital cameras have an EVF. High ISO Signifies that a camera supports an ISO sensitivity of 6400 or more at its full-resolution without up-sampling. This is knows as high-ISO capability.
Manual Controls Indicates a camera which has full manual controls including full-manual exposure (M), aperture-priority (A) and shutter-priority (S). Manual focus and various metering modes are also commonly included. White Balance Indicates a custom white-balance function. This can greatly improve color accuracy, specially under mixed and artificial light sources. Otherwise, one must rely on automatic or preset white-balance options.
Continuous Drive A camera which can capture continuously at least 3 images at 2 FPS while a viewfinder or LCD preview remains usable is marked by this icon. Flash This icon indicates that an external flash can be attached to a camera. This can be done via a hot-shoe or sync-port (PC).
VGA Movie Mode Video captured between VGA and HD resolutions. This is at least 640x480 but less than 1280x720. Sports Photography Indicates a camera usable for sports-photography. Requires shutter-speeds faster than 1/1500s.
720p HD Movie Mode HD video captured at 1280x720 or more but less than 1920x1080. This is the basic HDTV resolution. 1080p HD Movie Mode HD video captured at 1920x1080 or more. This is the maximum HDTV resolution, often referred to as Full HD.
Night Photography Indicates a camera usable for night-photography. This requires shutter-speeds longer than 4 seconds. Compact Flash Cameras which can use both types of Compact Flash memory cards are indicated with this icon. Microdrives are supported too. Note that some cameras do not accept cards over 2 GB regardless of their type.
AA Batteries Cameras which can use AA batteries for power are marked by this icon. This is far more flexible than generally expensive proprietary solutions. SD Memory A camera which supports Secure Digital memory cards directly is marked with this icon. SDHC cards cannot be used with these cameras, unless a special firmware update is available and successfully installed.
Compact Flash 1 Indicates a camera accepts Compact Flash Type I memory cards but not the thicker Type II cards such as Microdrives. SD HC Memory A camera which supports Secure Digital High Capacity memory cards directly is marked with this icon. Cameras which support SDHC cards also support SD cards which are the same size and shape.
xD Memory Indicates a camera accepts xD cards. These cards are proprietary to Fuji and Olympus but are also manufactured by other flash vendors. SD XC Memory A camera which supports Secure Digital Extended Capacity memory cards directly is marked with this icon. Cameras which support SDXC cards also support SDHC and SD cards which are the same size and shape.
Memory Stick Indicates a camera accepts Memory Stick Duo cards but not larger Memory Stick cards. These cards are proprietary to Sony but also made by other vendors. Memory Stick Indicates a camera accept proprietary Sony Memory Sticks. These are the larger type of cards by Sony.
Micro SDHC A camera which supports Micro Secure Digital High Capacity memory cards directly is marked with this icon. Cameras which support Micro SDHC cards also support Micro SD cards which are the same size and shape. Micro SDXC A camera which supports Micro Secure Digital Extended Capacity memory cards directly is marked with this icon. Cameras which support Micro SDXC cards also support Micro SDHC and Micro SD cards which are the same size and shape.
XQD Indicates a camera accepts XQD cards. Discontinued Marks a camera or lens which has been discontinued by its manufacturer. It may still be available in stores while quantities last and on the used market.
Neocamera Review Neocamera's full-reviews are indicated by this icon. The reviews are focused on usability, suitability and quality of images produced. Hands On Preview Cameras that have been used at Neocamera, but not long enough for a full-review, are marked with this icon.
Unrated Camera has not been rated yet. Poor Poor cameras tend to produce unacceptably flawed images for the resolutions of their sensors. Performance and handling may also be lacking.
Average Average cameras produce noticeably flawed but reasonable pictures and usually compromise on performance or handling. Good A good camera has a few flaws but no major problems with image quality. This cameras also handles reasonably well.
Excellent An Excellent camera is shows exceptional image quality for its class. This does not mean it is perfect, or that a lower rating camera may not be more suitable. Good Excellent Plus announces image quality that is a significant step above cameras rated Excellent the its class, being Fixed Lens, Mirrorless, Cropped DSLR or a Full-Frame DSLR.
    Built-In GPS GPS is built-in position information is embedded with each photo.
Built-In Stabilization Built-in stabilization allows pictures to be taken at lower shutter speeds than would normally be possible while hand-holding a camera. It does so by moving the sensor or a lens element to compensate for camera movements. Depth-Of-Field Preview Depth-of-field preview improves the accuracy of our perception of depth-of-field through the viewfinder by stopping down the lens aperture to the one that will be used to capture the image.
Built-In Dust Reduction Dust-reduction is a mechanism to reduce the dust accumulated on a camera sensor. Only DSLR cameras need this feature since their sensor can be exposed to dust while changing lenses. Spot Metering Spot metering evaluates exposure using only a small spot. It is used to determine exposure by choosing what to picture as a mid-tone.
Weatherpoof Weather-proof cameras are sealed to keep away dust, humidity and light splashing. Waterpoof Water-proof cameras are capable of being submerged under water without the need for an optional casing. Water-proof cameras are subject to specific limits of depth and duration.
Unlimited Slow Continuous Drive Unlimited slow continuous drive measn the camera can shoot at less than 5 FPS, but at least 2 FPS, until the memory card fills up, regardless of its size. Unlimited Fast Continuous Drive Unlimited fast continuous drive means the camera can sustain 5 FPS or more, until the memory card fills up, regardless of its size.
Long Duration Slow-Speed Continuous Drive Long duraction slow-speed continuous drive means that the camera can shoot at less than 5 FPS, but at least 2 FPS, for at least 5 seconds. Long Duration High-Speed Continuous Drive Long duration high-speed continuous drive means that the camera can sustain 5 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.
Short Duration Slow-Speed Continuous Drive Short duraction slow-speed continuous drive means that the camera can shoot at less than 5 FPS, but at least 2 FPS, for less than 5 seconds. Short Duration High-Speed Continuous Drive Short duration high-speed continuous drive means that the camera can sustain 5 FPS or more for less than 5 seconds.
Extra-Large Viewfinder An extra-large viewfinder (effective size of 0.7 or more) with less than 100% frame coverage. 100% Coverage Extra-Large Viewfinder An extra-large viewfinder (effective size of 0.7 or more) with 100% frame coverage.
Large Viewfinder A large viewfinder (effective size between 0.6 to 0.7 or more) with less than 100% frame coverage. 100% Coverage Large Viewfinder A large viewfinder (effective size between 0.6 to 0.7) with 100% frame coverage.
Medium Viewfinder A medium viewfinder (effective size between 0.5 to 0.6 or more) with less than 100% frame coverage. 100% Coverage Medium Viewfinder A medium viewfinder (effective size between 0.5 to 0.6 or more) with 100% frame coverage.
Small Viewfinder A small viewfinder (effective size 0.5 or less) with less than 100% frame coverage. Live-View DSLR featuring true live-view. Must be exposure-priority display with 100% coverage, white-balance previewed and capable of autofocus.
Built-In Level Level that measures camera tilt and helps to keep the horizon level. Automatic Level Automatic level system which corrects for some degree of tilt to keep the horizon level.
Digital Camera A digital camera, as opposed to a lens. 3D A stereoscopic camera or lens which gives in impression of 3D.
DSLR Lens A lens, as opposed to a camera. Mountable on a compatible camera such as a DSLR or ILC. Image Stabilization Optical Image Stabilization built into a lens. Some cameras provide this in the body instead which benefits all lenses.
Zoom Lens A lens that zooms optically by changing its focal-length. Can be constant-aperture which means that the widest aperture remains the same accross the zoom range. Prime Lens A lens that does not zoom. It has a fixed focal length.
Rectilinear Lens Normal lenses are rectilinear, the are designed to show straight lines as straight lines. Fisheye Lens A fisheye lens renders a view where straight lines appear curved except if they pass through the center. Can produce a rectangular or circular image.
Macro Lens Lens capable of macro photography with a reproduction ratio of at least 1:1.
3 Megapixels3 Megapixels 4 Megapixels4 Megapixels 5 Megapixels5 Megapixels 6 Megapixels6 Megapixels 7 Megapixels7 Megapixels 8 Megapixels8 Megapixels 9 Megapixels9 Megapixels 10 Megapixels10 Megapixels 11 Megapixels11 Megapixels 12 Megapixels12 Megapixels 13 Megapixels13 Megapixels 14 Megapixels14 Megapixels 15 Megapixels15 Megapixels 16 Megapixels16 Megapixels 17 Megapixels17 Megapixels 18 Megapixels18 Megapixels 19 Megapixels19 Megapixels 20 Megapixels20 Megapixels 21 Megapixels21 Megapixels 22 Megapixels22 Megapixels 23 Megapixels23 Megapixels 24 Megapixels24 Megapixels 25 Megapixels25 Megapixels 26 Megapixels26 Megapixels Indicates a camera with that number of megapixels. We round the number of effective megapixels to the nearest whole number.

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