Despite the outdated stereotype that a girl driving and a monkey with a grenade are one and the same, there are more car enthusiasts among women. After all, not only the outer shell is important for modern girls, but also the technological parameters of the car they drive. Especially if this is the first car.

1. Old friend better than new

Should I take a used car or a brand new one? There is an opportunity to purchase an elite used one, or you can buy an unused, but budget one. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of both options: choosing a wheelbarrow with a run, you fly into the ranks of a high class for a strikingly low price. Such cars are considered more reliable. Reliable, but only in comparison with the car of the same year. On top of that, you have no idea what this car has been through before you. There is a risk that you will spend more on repairs.

When it comes to a new car: the cost of using it is completely predictable. Good insurance policies are provided that will cover potential problems. The purchase price should not exceed the annual salary.

2. Does size matter

While SUVs and large vehicles have many advantages, they are suitable for experienced drivers. A big car needs a lot of gas. For a beginner, dimensions play an important role. Your first car should be compact. The best options for beginners are cars of the "A", "B", "B +" segments, and small crossovers.

Artem Matyash, head of the sales department at Autocentre-Bavaria (part of Astana Motors), the official importer of BMW and MINI brands in Kazakhstan, told what to look for when choosing a car:

It is difficult to imagine the perfect car that would suit absolutely any girl. Too much depends on the character, temperament, driving experience, driving style and, finally, the taste preferences of the hostess. It is clear that for a girl a car should always look attractive - the fair sex pays great attention to the color and design of the car. In fact, the emphasis should also be placed on the presence of reliable active and passive protection in the car. The smart systems that premium brands have at their disposal make it much easier, and if necessary, save the life of the driver. If a girl chooses the first car, it is better not to opt for a huge crossover, but to give preference to more compact models - BMW 1 Series, BMW 3 Series, BMW X1. Needless to say, it is better to choose an automatic transmission. Of course, unless the girl is a fan of motorsport and does not spend the weekend on the race track, calculating the apexes and entry points into corners. It is better to choose a front or full drive - with such a car it will be comfortable and easy in the winter. It is difficult for a beginner to cope with a rear-wheel drive car in winter. And for convenient parking, for example, you can get parking sensors and a rear-view camera.

3. Fuel consumption

We should not forget about such an important aspect as fuel consumption. It is worth choosing an economical car with a small engine size - in the case of BMW, even the smallest engine size guarantees enough power for a comfortable ride and driving pleasure. At the same time, fuel consumption will be minimal, which means that you will not have to seriously spend money on transport tax and gasoline, - says Artem Matyash.

Also, the official importer of the BMW and MINI brands in Kazakhstan added that before choosing a car, it is better to find out how difficult it is to find spare parts for the car you are interested in, whether there is an official service center for this brand in Kazakhstan. Original consumables, for example, prolong the life of your car and retain its true "factory" character.

For example, I took a Lenovo V580 laptop worth about 22,000 rubles (in 2014 :). In general, you can take home as regular laptop, and gaming with a very "interesting" price tag. In the framework of this article, we will consider ordinary laptops.

So, let's see what characteristics Yandex.Market shows us:

Immediately striking is a long line of incomprehensible bukaff and numbers. These are the main characteristics by which you can immediately imagine what kind of “fruit” is in front of us and decide whether to look further. And then there is a decoding of these parameters. Well, let's see.

Type, laptop size

The very first is the type. It is clear here whether it is a laptop or a netbook. I don't recommend netbooks, unless you want a small, compact computer to carry around with you all the time. Netbooks small screen(with a diagonal up to 10″ (one inch = 2.54cm), no DVD drive and technically modest stuffing. In general, netbooks are an endangered species, which are being actively replaced by tablets and "transformers".

Comparison of laptop and netbook sizes

Installed operating system

Pay special attention to this item, because. the price directly depends on it and your headache in future. Notebooks come with Windows, Linux or DOS operating systems. True, there are also "Macbooks", i.e. laptops from Apple with Mac OS, but I do not take them into account in this article. To buy a MacBook, you just need to come to the salon and choose a model that is suitable in size and price.

To save money, look at laptops with free Linux or DOS operating systems. The presence of these operating systems in itself does not mean that you have to work with them. These are “nominal” systems that no one actually works with. You will have to use such a laptop or invite a specialist. Nothing complicated in Windows installation No, and you can verify this by reading my article.

But, if your time is precious to you and you don’t feel sorry for the extra $ 50-100, then take the model with the installed operating system Windows 10. But keep in mind that when a new Windows versions, it will still need to be installed manually. Regarding the choice between Windows 7 and Windows 8/10, I will say that there is not much difference. Seven and eight on this moment still normal operating systems, but the tenth version is rapidly gaining popularity, including "what will be, it will not be avoided." Windows 10 is tailored for tablet computers with a touch screen, and many do not like it, but soon everyone will get used to it)

A fast processor is the heart of a laptop

We go further and look at the processor. It makes sense to consider laptops with modern Intel or AMD processors. There is a strategic point here: Intel processors are faster than AMD, but AMD processors is with more powerful integrated graphics.

Therefore, if this is a laptop without a discrete graphics card (more on that below), but you want to ever play games, then it’s better to choose AMD A-series, but Intel is better for comfortable work, because. they work faster in office programs and on the Internet. For a home, it makes no sense to look for six or eight cores, 4 is enough (for games), and even two cores in general. Phew, I hope I explained the deck clearly!

Intel processors

Modern Intel processors for laptops are:

• very budget Atom and Celeron
• medium Core M3, M5, M7 and Pentium
• powerful Intel Core i3, Core i5, Core i7
• TOP Core i9
• secret Xeon, for narrow tasks

Models one series(first letter and number) differ only in the clock frequency at which they operate. For example, the Pentium B960 operates at 2.2 GHz, while the B980 operates at 2.4 GHz (this difference is almost imperceptible in operation). The more cache of the first (L1), second (L2) and third (L3) levels, the better. But this is tied to the model and does not change within the same series, incl. look only at the processor code.

For leisurely work at home, you can stay on a laptop with an Intel Celeron or Atom processor (x5, x7). But better Pentium (N4200 is preferable than N3710) or energy-efficient Core M, which runs without a fan, is quiet. Their performance is enough to solve most everyday tasks.

Intel Core i3 has almost no advantages over younger brothers, so for more comfortable work it is better to immediately take a platform on a Core i5 processor. Processors i7 are even more powerful, but also cost significantly more. Intel Core i9 is very expensive, it is the fastest laptop processor. Within the same line, the arithmetic of choice is simple: the more expensive and more numbers in the model, the better.

AMD processors are:

• E series (legacy E-350, E-450) and E2 (9000, 9000e)
• A4, A6, A8, A10, A12 with good graphics card
• FX series, no video at all
• top Ryzen series

I do not advise you to pay attention to ultra-budget laptops with AMD "E2" processors, and even more so "E". It is impossible to work comfortably on them! For starters, pay attention to the processors of the "A" series. The name is followed by numbers in which the frequency of operation is encoded. For example, A4-4300M means a processor that runs on clock speeds 2.5-3.0 GHz.

Please note that if you take two Intel and AMD Ax processors with the same frequency, then Intel will be faster! But AMD is faster. graphics core, which means that there will be games from several years ago. True, Intel processors with Iris Pro graphics are also doing well.

AMD FX processors are good in terms of price / speed and do not have a discrete graphics card, so a separate video processor is always installed in such a laptop, which makes them medium-suitable for gaming applications. If you take a laptop with an FX processor just for work, then you will normally overpay for a video card. In this case, it is better to look at Intel Core i5, i7.

The Ryzen 3, Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 processors are stepping on the heels of the Intel Core third, fifth and seventh series, respectively. These are top processors from AMD with the AMD Radeon RX Vega video chip. But more early versions there is no integrated video core at all, just like the FX. In this regard, laptops on early Ryzen processors are equipped with a discrete graphics card, from not the worst to the top. In this case, it turns out that there is almost no point in Ryzen 3, because. for games, it is a bit weak, but you will have to pay extra for the video, i.e. better then Intel i3, tk. it carries integrated office-grade graphics.

Graphics adapter type

There may be an integrated video chip (for example, Intel HD) or a discrete video card (read). The model of the integrated video core is practically irrelevant. Laptops with a discrete graphics card are significantly more expensive and are needed only by those who like to play modern games.

If the model in question has an NVidia GT 910M installed, then this is a very weak video card, which is only slightly better than the integrated solution. It does not make sense to take such a model for financial reasons. You can take from NVidia GT 840M, 920M and higher. Among laptops with AMD cards, you should not pay attention to the Radeon 5xx, HD 7420G, 7470M models, and the amount of video memory does not matter.

More complete information about video cards can be found in this comparison. By the way, keep in mind that you still won’t be able to play on a discrete video card from a battery. she might just not turn on.

Memory won't hurt us either.

It's simple: the more, the better! For comfortable work in Windows systems 7/8/10 requires 4GB of RAM. You can work on two, but I wouldn't do it 🙂 All modern laptops are equipped with DDR3 / 4 memory, but it can work at different frequencies, for example, at 1600 or 2133 MHz. The higher the frequency, the better.

Pay attention to the maximum memory size and the number of slots for modules. You can choose a laptop with 2GB or 4GB of RAM, and then add as much as you need. The memory itself does not cost much, but memory strips can be replaced or added at service center for a small fee. If you are going to do it yourself, then I warn you that not every laptop allows easy access to the memory slots! Some just take off back cover, while others require serious disassembly, so check this nuance in advance.

The screen is the "Achilles heel" of inexpensive laptops

Look at the following screenshot:

The fact is that inexpensive home laptops put disgusting screens! Immediately be prepared for unusually poor viewing angles and slurred color reproduction. Even the cheapest home monitor will display better than a laptop screen that is considered good.

I don’t know what such marketing is connected with, they say that good economical matrices are expensive (and after all, in laptops all components are energy-efficient), but they used to put normal screens! The person who bought sony laptop 6 years ago, today can't find at least the SAME screen.

Screens are divided into glossy and matte. The situation is further complicated by the fact that matrices (screens) with a glossy finish are installed in the vast majority of laptops. Such laptops look very advantageous on store shelves, but nothing more. Everything is reflected on the screen like in a mirror! If you plan to walk around with such a laptop, then immediately get ready for the painful choice of the screen position in which you can work normally. Also, when working with glossy screens more.

In addition to a beautiful appearance, glossy screens visually increase the contrast and color reproduction of the image, so they are more preferable for multimedia applications (photos, movies, games). Matte screens do not look like a mirror, they are more comfortable to work with. Therefore, only matte screens are installed in all corporate laptops. But the contrast and color reproduction of such screens is slightly worse than that of glossy ones (if we take the same level). However, you can find decent options inexpensively.

Comparison of glossy (left) and matte (right) screens

I read that in America people took to the streets with banners, protesting against the total installation of glossy screens in MacBooks. And this despite the fact that on macbooks there is a normal gloss, which does not glare so much. My opinion is that glossy screens will pass soon, just as the fashion for glossy coatings passes.

However, special films are sold for glossy screens that eliminate glare. But not every film will be superimposed on the screen evenly, without bubbles and will not degrade the image quality. Therefore, immediately choose the type of screen that suits your needs.

There is also such a joke that the quality of the screen somehow does not directly depend on the price of the laptop. It's just that there are both successful models and frank G. Correct option is to come to the store and see everything with your own eyes. Do not trust reviews on the Internet, because. different matrices can be installed in the same laptops of different production series.

In addition to the type of screen, pay attention, of course, to the size of the matrix. The 15.6″ diagonal has become the de facto standard for office laptops. Compared to the usual 19″-21″ home monitor, this is not enough, but for that it is also a mobile computer. By the way, if you decide to buy a laptop just as a home computer, then think again, is it better to buy a normal computer? Screens with a size of 17″ will be significantly more expensive, they are inconvenient to carry around, the battery drains faster, and still this is not enough.

Light-emitting diode (LED) backlighting is already used in almost all laptops. There is also such a characteristic that is not always mentioned - the maximum angle of the screen. The small tilt angle will not allow you to tilt the screen cover enough to work with a laptop on your lap. Choose a laptop with a lid angle of 130 degrees.

These days it's not hard to find a laptop with a good IPS panel, they are much better than the cheap TN Film. However, playing dynamic games, such as shooting games, is better on TN-matrices, because. they have a faster response time, well, or expensive IPS.

Hard disk and DVD drive

Consider whether you even need a drive to read discs. Many users have not used DVDs for a long time, everyone has switched to flash drives. As an alternative to expensive ultrabooks, there are thin laptops without a DVD drive that cost less and weigh half a kilo less. If you need a drive, then note that you can find models with a BlueRay drive that will read not only ordinary CD / DVD discs.

Large volumes of hard drives are needed today not as much as before. Few people already store music and movies on a disk, everything can be watched and listened to online, and even work with. But they still don’t install less than 500GB, and I think this is more than enough. A much greater impact on the comfort of work will have the type of disk: HDD or SSD.

Solid state drives (SSD) are many times faster, but the cost of capacious SSDs is still high and they are not installed in home laptops. You can buy an SSD drive yourself and install it instead of the HDD, and enjoy life 🙂

And if you don’t want to choose between speed and free space, then there are laptops with both HDD + SSD drives. In such cases, the operating system is installed on the SSD, and the data is stored on a regular hard drive. I do not recommend hybrid drives, because you have to overpay, but there is not much sense.

In the budget segment, you can find laptops without an HDD at all, but simply with eMMC flash memory. On such a device, you can only install the operating system.

Communication with the outside world and connected devices

When choosing a laptop, you should make sure that you have all the necessary means of communication and inputs / outputs for external devices.

Network and WiFi

All laptops have a network card for connecting to a wired network, usually a Gigabit LAN standard with connection speeds up to 1000Mb / s. All models are also equipped with an interface for connecting via Wi-Fi today, but there is a catch here.

Don't fall for outdated models that have wifi adapter Wi-Fi 802.11n standard. You need the newer Wi-Fi 802.11ac because it supports faster speeds, better stability, better signal coverage. No. there is nothing wrong with the "n" standard, they are good adapters and at home you will hardly notice the difference. But why choose an "n" adapter when "ac" is everywhere?

And if it does fall good laptop, but with 802.11n , please note that some Wi-Fi network modules only support speeds up to 65-72Mbps, not 150-300Mbps. And this does not affect the price in any way, just such modules and that's it. Presumably, the maximum speed is hardcoded in the module parameters and is not a hardware limitation. Such a “trick” was noticed in Broadcom modules.

Next comes Bluetooth, which is available on almost all laptops. It happens that the BT module is stated in the specifications, but in reality it does not turn out to be! But this is more the exception than the rule. Bluetooth is needed for a wireless connection between your phone and laptop, as well as for connecting wireless headsets and speakers.

USB and video

In modern laptops, USB 3.0 and 2.0 connectors are installed. Unlike the more common version of USB 2.0, the “troika” is an order of magnitude faster, but in order to take advantage of all the delights of fast data transfer, you need the same high-speed, and expensive, device! Therefore, do not chase the presence of a large number of USB 3.0 ports.

More important is the total number of USB ports. 3-4 USB ports can be considered optimal. For example, a wireless mouse radio module is connected to one, a USB flash drive to another, a USB headset to a third, a fourth printer, and so on. If there are not enough ports, you can buy a USB hub (splitter).

A VGA (D-Sub) and HDMI output is available on all laptops and allows for an external monitor. Please note that laptops are widescreen and the connected external monitor must be widescreen. But this is in the case of duplicating the image of the laptop screen. And if you use it as an additional, expanding desktop, then it doesn’t matter which one, the main thing is that it is convenient.

Audio

And here is the next "chip". It's a hobby of manufacturers to install a combined headphone output with a microphone input! Well damn, just no words, optimized! We saved three kopecks, and people go around, suffer, buy adapters for $ 10 to connect a microphone to such a miracle, but it still doesn’t work, because everyone has different standards 🙂 See right away what if you need to connect an external microphone or headset with separate jacks , then choose a laptop with separate input and output.

Combined input / output (left) and separate (right)

The combo input allows you to connect a headset with a four-pin plug, but not every one will work. It remains to buy an external USB sound device or an expensive USB headset. I understand that they would make a combined input / output based on the fact that you can use the microphone built into the laptop, but they manage to make it such that it becomes almost useless!

You should not be interested in the sound quality, it is about the same average on cheap and long models. However, in laptops of above average quality and gaming, there can be a good headphone output. Also note the presence of a digital S / PDIF output, if you need it. Regarding the built-in speakers, they can be of very disgusting quality, or more or less normal. Unfortunately, you won't find out about this from the characteristics.

But you can find out how high-quality webcam is. The lowest quality cameras come with a resolution of 0.3MP. The good ones have 1.3 or 2 million pixels (maybe written 720p).

All laptops have a slot for memory cards. Just make sure it reads all the necessary, rare formats you're working with. The memory card slot can be open or come with a cover.

Battery and ergonomics are not in last place

We look at the last screenshot with the characteristics of the experimental laptop:

Ignore the battery life specified by the manufacturer, as it is obviously overpriced. Focus on the capacity of the battery, which is indicated. Laptops have lithium-ion batteries with an average capacity of 4400mAh. A laptop with a screen diagonal of 15.6 inches on average will work on such a battery for 4-4.5 hours.

Pay special attention to the ease of use of the keyboard. It is clear that the location of some buttons will be unusual - get used to it. The main thing is that the keys should be pleasant to the touch, easily distinguishable, with a clear application of the English and Russian layouts.

Now laptops are equipped with practical and convenient island-type keyboards, i.e. when each key is located on a separate substrate. The AccuType proprietary keyboard from Lenovo (IBM) is recognized as the leader. There are keyboards with backlight and without it.

Decide for yourself whether you need a full keyboard with the usual number pad on the right. The fact is that the stripped-down keyboard (without a numeric keypad) has more buttons and a greater distance between them. Make sure the keyboard doesn't flex too much under finger pressure.

Full-size AccuType keyboard (bottom) and trimmed keyboard (top)

Laptops, in addition to the keyboard, are equipped with additional input devices. This is the usual "touchpad" ( Touchpad) and trackball. The touchpads are also different. Modern laptops are equipped with multi-touch touchpads that allow you to work with it with two fingers, for example, to zoom in on a photo.

On some models, you can find a trackball (touchpoint) - this is such a special wheel that you can control the mouse cursor:

Trackball in Lenovo laptop ThinkPad

But these are all the characteristics of the filling. I also advise you to pay attention to the external quality of the laptop. So that nothing creaks or crunches anywhere, so that the screen cover is well fixed in the installed position and does not dangle at the slightest shock (for example, on the road). The metal finish of the case will give a more solid look and add durability to the laptop.

findings

I chose the main criteria for a home laptop: the type and quality of the screen, a comfortable keyboard and a fast processor. Everyone will draw up a picture of an ideal computer for themselves, but most likely this does not exist 🙂 Somewhere you will have to compromise. Do not buy used laptops at a discounted price. they often start to fail over time and tend to have a dead battery.

Finally, I suggest you watch a video from a colleague:

Which camera to buy? Which camera to choose? Professional or amateur?

The difference in the quality of pictures taken on professional cameras and on amateur ones is huge.

To understand this phenomenon, you need to understand the terms. So: professional camera this is any camera held by a professional, amateur camera this is any camera that an amateur holds in his hands.

Basic rules to help you choose a camera

The parameters by which you can choose a camera include certain (1) features of the technical specification of the device, (2) the main purpose of the camera (what, where, when and where it will be filmed), (3) the degree of knowledge of photography techniques, (4) the amount of money available (the price of a carcass and a park of lenses), (5) the presence of previously purchased lenses and photographic accessories , (6) personal aesthetic preference.

The main technical characteristics of the camera taken into account when buying it

Bayonet

The type of interchangeable lens mount that can be used with this camera model.
Only lenses specifically designed for this model can be attached to an interchangeable lens camera. It's connected with different types mount, as well as with different electronic "stuffing" of lenses. As a rule, each major camera manufacturer develops its own standard for interchangeable lenses, which is not compatible with the standards of other manufacturers.
If you already have a set of lenses for your camera, then when choosing a new model, you can choose the one that will be compatible with them.

Matrix type

The type of photosensitive sensor installed in the digital camera.
The camera matrix is ​​an array of photosensitive elements (pixels). With the help of a lens, an image of the object being shot is created on the matrix. During exposure (photography), each pixel accumulates an electrical charge proportional to the amount of light that hits it. After shooting, a signal is read from each photocell, digitized and processed by the processor.
Cameras typically use one of the following sensor types: CCD, CMOS, X-Trans CMOS, BSI CMOS, EXR CMOS, and Live MOS. In CCD (Charge-Coupled Device, or CCD - a device with charge bond) when reading the signal, the accumulated charge shifts from one matrix element to another, forming a finished image line or a whole frame at the output.
CMOS (Complementary-symmetry / Metal-Oxide Semiconductor), or CMOS matrix (CMOS - Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor), consists of individual photocells and control transistors made using CMOS technology. Transistors control the operation of the photosensor and provide signal reading.
X-Trans CMOS is a joint development by FUJIFILM with Adobe Systems Incorporated. Processing RAW photos from cameras equipped with this type of sensor in Adobe software allows you to more effectively combat moiré and correct colors in photographs.
X-Trans CMOS II - a new version matrices from FUJIFILM. Thanks to the technologies used to create of this type matrices, the speed of phase focusing is increased, and the moiré effect is also reduced.
Matrices BSI CMOS (Back Side Illuminated CMOS - back-illuminated sensor) differ from conventional CMOS in increased light sensitivity, which can significantly reduce the amount of visual noise when shooting in poor lighting conditions. This is achieved due to the fact that the reverse side of the matrix transmits more light, so the sensor, as it were, is installed upside down.
EXR CMOS is developed by Fujifilm. In matrices of this type, the pixels are arranged in a sequence different from other types of matrices. Due to this, the EXR CMOS sensor can switch operation modes depending on the shooting conditions and requirements. There are three main modes. HD (high definition) - all the pixels of the sensor are used, achieving maximum resolution and clarity. DR (high dynamic range) - some pixels take a picture with one exposure, some with another, which achieves the HDR effect with just one shot (usually two or three are required), but the resolution is reduced. SN (high sensitivity) - pixels are combined in pairs, which improves the performance of the matrix in low light, but also reduces resolution.
Live MOS matrix is ​​a photosensitive matrix based on MOS technology. Live MOS contains fewer connections for each element and is powered by less voltage. Due to this and the simplified transmission of control signals, it is possible to obtain a "live" image in the absence of overheating and increased noise levels traditional for such an operating mode.
LBCAST (Lateral Buried Charge Accumulator and Sensing Transistor Array) also uses photosensitive semiconductor elements like the CMOS matrix, but since the LBCAST circuit structure is simpler, the matrix can be miniaturized and its performance can be improved. Thanks to this, it is possible to increase the shooting speed. In addition, the increased surface area of ​​the photosensitive elements improves color depth and image contrast.
However, despite all the advantages, the LBCAST matrix has not been widely used.

Matrix Format

The physical size of the matrix has a direct relationship with the format. Most cameras in the mid-price category and above have a matrix of a certain format: 1 ″, 4/3 (Four Thirds), APS-C, APS-H, Foveon, Full frame (35mm) or medium format. If the matrix format is not specified, then, as a rule, we are talking about a budget camera with a non-standard matrix size. Please note that the dimensions of a single sensor format may vary slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer.
1″ (Nikon CX) is a relatively small matrix (13.2×8.8 mm). Installed in Nikon, Sony and Samsung compact cameras. Crop factor - 2.72.
APS-C is a very popular matrix format. The sensor dimensions for all manufacturers (except Canon) are 23.6×15.6 mm. Canon uses smaller sensors - 22.3×14.9 mm.
APS-H - the format used by Canon in some top-end SLR cameras and has dimensions of 27.9 × 18.6 mm.
4/3 (Four Thirds) is a popular sensor format for mirrorless cameras such as Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds ("4/3", "m4/3"). The sensor dimensions are 17.3 × 13 mm, the crop factor is 2.0.
Foveon - the format is used only in Sigma cameras. The sensor dimensions are 20.7×13.8 mm.
Full frame (35mm) - full frame sensor. Often found in top-end SLR cameras, the sensor dimensions are approximately 36x24mm.
Medium format - used in professional studio photography.

The number of megapixels of the matrix
The resolution of the matrix that acts as a film in digital cameras, i.e. the number of photosensitive elements located on it (pixels, pixels).
How more number matrix pixels, the higher the quality of the resulting images.
The maximum size with which the image can be reproduced without a visible deterioration in quality depends on the resolution of the matrix. For example, a 2-3 megapixel matrix (2-3 million elements) is enough to print a print of 9 × 15 cm format to a printer, a 3-4 megapixel matrix is ​​needed for an A4 print.
The resolution of modern cameras significantly exceeds the required minimum, and the number of megapixels of the photomatrix increases every year and today reaches 15-20 or more. Increasing the resolution with the same matrix size leads to a decrease in the pixel size. This, in turn, increases the level of noise in the photo. So the race for megapixels is not always good for quality.

crop factor
The value of the crop factor of a digital camera.
The crop factor is defined as the ratio of the frame diagonals of a 35mm film (24x36mm) and a digital camera sensor.
If we compare two cameras - one with a full-frame 24x36mm sensor and the second with a smaller sensor and a crop factor greater than one - then when using the same lenses, the second device will have a smaller field of view than the first. This is due to simple geometry. Since the angle of view is usually measured by the focal length of a 35 mm camera lens, the concept of "equivalent focal length" has been introduced for digital cameras. It is equal to the product of the focal length of the lens and the crop factor. The equivalent focal length essentially determines the camera's angle of view.
Knowing the value of the crop factor for digital cameras with interchangeable lenses, you can easily determine what equivalent focal length (angle of view) you will get when installing a particular lens.
When choosing lenses, you should also pay attention to the crop factor. On sale you can find special lenses for working with digital cameras, which have a crop factor greater than one. These lenses should not be used with 35mm cameras.
For most digital SLR cameras, the crop factor is in the range of 1.3-2.0. The smaller the value of the crop factor, the larger the size of the photomatrix (see "Matrix physical size") and the larger the area of ​​one pixel (at a given matrix resolution), the lower the noise level.

Physical size of the matrix

The size of the photosensitive matrix of the camera determines the size and area of ​​​​the smallest photosensitive element - the pixel. The larger the matrix area, the larger the pixel area (with the same matrix resolution, of course). With an increase in the pixel area, the photosensitivity increases, and the dynamic range of the matrix, noise decreases. An increase in the size of a matrix, as a rule, leads to an increase in its cost, therefore large matrices with a large diagonal are used only in professional equipment. Sensor size for inexpensive small cameras is usually specified as the nominal diameter of the transmission tube into which the sensor could fit and is measured in fractions of an inch. For large matrices, the size along two axes is indicated in millimeters.

ISO sensitivity, min

The minimum light sensitivity of the matrix elements of a digital camera, indicated in units ISO systems.
Each photosensitive matrix has certain physical characteristics that determine its operating sensitivity range. In this range, the matrix transmits an image with minimal distortion and an acceptable noise level. The wider this range (greater than the maximum and less than the minimum value of sensitivity), the more opportunities for scene shooting a digital camera has.

ISO sensitivity, max
Maximum light sensitivity of digital camera matrix elements.
Light sensitivity is the amount of light energy required to produce an image. It is indicated in units of the ISO system and can take values ​​of 100, 200, 400, 800, etc., by analogy with photographic film, in a certain interval. The higher the ISO number, the higher the sensitivity. The photographer, depending on the shooting conditions, can set one or another sensitivity value. The wider the sensitivity range of the photomatrix, the more shooting opportunities the camera has.
Shooting in low light conditions, shooting fast-moving subjects (sports) requires a higher light sensitivity than shooting still subjects in sunny weather. However, with an increase in the sensitivity of the matrix, the image noise also increases (i.e., a large number of dots appear on the image, the brightness or color of which differs significantly from the average color of the object).
The maximum light sensitivity indicates how sensitive the photomatrix can be.

Color depth

The number of bits used to represent the color of each pixel in the image.
The color of each pixel is encoded by a certain number of bits (bit), that is, elementary units of information. Depending on how many bits are allocated for the color of each pixel, it is possible to encode a different number of colors. Thus, the color depth allows you to determine what is the maximum number of colors that can be implemented in the image. For example, if the color depth is 24 bits/pixel, then a potential image can contain up to 16.8 million different colors and shades. It is obvious that the more colors are used for the electronic representation of the image, the more accurate the information about the color of each of its points (i.e. its color rendering).
For modern digital cameras, a color depth of 24 bits / pixel is considered the norm. If academic accuracy in color reproduction is required, then the color depth should be at least 30 bits / pixel.

Image stabilization (still image)

The type of image stabilizer used when taking photos.
Image stabilization compensates for hand-shake when shooting for a clear, blur-free shot. The jitter effect becomes especially noticeable when photographing at a high magnification (zoom) or at a slow shutter speed. Image stabilizers are optical and digital, it is also possible to combine them (double stabilizer).
To compensate for hand shake, the optical image stabilizer uses the movement of one of the elements of the camera's optical system or the shift of the photomatrix (see "Stabilizer System"). A special sensor detects the shift of the lens barrel. After that, there is a change in the optical scheme or a matrix shift. This compensates for the micro-shift of the camera, and the image projected onto the matrix remains motionless.
In the digital stabilization mode, the camera's automation sets the maximum allowable value of the photomatrix sensitivity (ISO) for specific shooting conditions. In this case, the shutter speed automatically decreases. The fast shutter speed makes it possible to take blur-free pictures even if the camera shakes slightly while shooting.
It should be noted that a digital stabilizer can not help in all cases, therefore, to obtain high-quality images, it is better to focus on an optical stabilization system.
Dual Image Stabilizer is a combination of optical and digital image stabilizer.

Image stabilization system

The design of a mechanical image stabilizer in a digital camera.
Image stabilization compensates for hand-shake when shooting for a clear, blur-free image (see “Image Stabilizer (Still Image)”).
All modern systems mechanical stabilization can be divided into two types. In the first system, a moving element in the lens is used to compensate for camera shake, and in the second, a shift of the photosensitive matrix is ​​used.
Matrix-shift stabilization does not introduce additional distortions into the resulting image and does not affect the aperture ratio of the lens. In SLR cameras with such a stabilization system, you can use any lens.
An image stabilizer with an active element in the lens is considered to be more efficient due to the higher speed of operation.
Using the stabilizer increases the power consumption of the camera and may interfere with photography (when shooting with “wiring”). The stabilizer is not effective when shooting at long focal lengths and slow shutter speeds.

Maximum flash range

The maximum distance that the built-in flash can illuminate to take a good photo.
The maximum flash range is determined by the power of the flash emitter, so it is natural that for super-compact cameras the maximum range of the built-in flash will be less than for larger cameras.

Built-in flash

The presence of a built-in flash lamp in the camera, which turns on simultaneously with the shutter opening and illuminates the subject at the moment of shooting.
The flash allows you to take pictures in low light conditions, such as in the evening, to avoid shadows on the face, etc.
Most modern digital cameras are equipped with a built-in flash. Built-in flash may not be available on very compact or budget models, as well as some high-end models designed exclusively for work with external lighting.

Synchrocontact

The presence on the case of a special connector (sync contact) for connecting an external flash.
This connector can be used to connect a non-standard flash that is not compatible with the hot shoe installed on the camera. The sync contact is often used for connection when shooting in a studio environment.

Flash bracketing

The presence of a flash bracketing mode in the camera.
Flash bracketing is an automatic mode continuous shooting, at which the flash output for each frame changes by some amount up or down from the average value. The average value is determined automatically.
This shooting mode can be used in situations where it is difficult to determine the exact exposure, or for special effects.

Shooting 3D

The presence of a system of two lenses (sometimes two pairs of lenses and matrices) that allows you to shoot photos and videos with the ability to view the footage in 3D format. 3D shooting can also be implemented at the software level, that is, using a special algorithm that converts ordinary photos into a three-dimensional format.
To obtain a three-dimensional image, it is necessary to record two separate frames (stereo pair) with angles for the left and right eyes and show each frame for "one's own" eye.
There are three most common methods for displaying a 3D image. The easiest and cheapest to implement is color coding of images. To obtain the effect, it is necessary to use special anaglyph glasses, in which light filters are used instead of glasses (usually red for the left eye, and blue for the right). The stereo pair is encoded into one photograph, in which the left eye is depicted in the red channel, and the right eye in blue. When viewed, each eye sees an image of the color that matches the color of its lens. The disadvantage of this method is incomplete color reproduction, as well as discomfort when viewing images or videos for a long time.
The most common household method for obtaining a high-quality three-dimensional image is the use of glasses with liquid crystal interrupters. To view, you need a playback or display device that supports 3D. Images for the left and right eyes are alternately displayed on the screen, and synchronized glasses cover the right eye at the time of displaying the image for the left eye and vice versa.
Also, a qualitative effect can be achieved by using polarized glasses. In this case, glasses for each eye use different polarizing filters (with vertical and horizontal polarization or with left and right circular polarization). The image for each eye is displayed on the display device with the polarization corresponding to the particular eye.

Continuous Shooting Speed

Shooting speed in burst mode. For more information about this mode, see the Burst Mode section.
The shooting speed is determined by the shutter speed and digital system image processing. The higher this speed, the more photos of the event you are interested in you will have time to take.
For compact digital cameras, the speed of fast shooting is usually in the range of 1 - 3 frames per second. Professional and semi-professional digital SLR cameras are capable of shooting up to 10 frames per second or more.
Please note that when shooting fast, camera manufacturers use different image processing techniques. This means that the quality of these shots may differ from the quality of normal shooting.
Often, manufacturers provide the ability to change various quick shooting parameters, which allows the user to fine-tune shooting for specific tasks.

Maximum burst (RAW)
The maximum number of pictures that can be taken in one burst and saved in RAW format.
Continuous shooting refers to the ability of the camera to take several frames in a row with a minimum interval (see “Burst shooting mode”). The maximum number of shots in a series is limited by the operation of the camera electronics.
RAW is an image format that allows you to save the raw data of a photo without compression or with lossless compression. The maximum burst when saving an image in JPEG format is usually much larger than the same figure for RAW format. Therefore, if you need to get a long series, then choose to save in JPEG format.

Maximum burst (JPEG)

The maximum number of pictures that can be taken in one burst and saved in JPEG format. The value corresponding to the maximum shooting speed is given (see “Fast shooting speed”).
Continuous shooting refers to the ability of the camera to take several frames in a row with a minimum interval (see “Burst shooting mode”).
The maximum number of shots in a series is limited by the operation of the camera electronics.
The more frames in one series the camera can take, the more opportunity the photographer has to “catch” an interesting event.
Note that in some cameras, the user can choose the fast shooting modes, choose the burst length and shooting speed within the technical capabilities of the camera.

Time-lapse mode

Time-lapse is a shooting mode in which frames are taken after a significant period of time (from several seconds to tens of minutes). When played back at a normal frame rate, the clip appears to be sped up over a large amount of time. The most typical scenes for this shooting mode are: a blossoming flower and sunrise/sunset, shown in a few seconds.

Turn-on time

The period of time from the moment the power button is pressed until the moment when the camera is fully ready for use.
The turn-on time varies from a few seconds for "slow" cameras to tenths of a second for "fast" cameras.

Viewfinder pixels

The resolution of the electronic viewfinder of the camera.
The viewfinder is an optical device that allows you to see what will be captured by the camera.
The electronic viewfinder is a miniature LCD screen with a lens (eyepiece) installed inside the camera. It displays the future frame as it is "seen" by the photosensitive matrix through the camera lens.
The higher the resolution of the LCD matrix in the viewfinder (and the greater the number of pixels), the more detailed and detailed the image will be seen by the photographer.

LCD size

The diagonal size of the liquid crystal display. By tradition, it is indicated in inches (1 inch = 2.54 cm). Most cameras have an LCD screen between 3 and 6 cm in size. The larger the LCD screen, the more convenient it is to view the pictures taken and to deal with the numerous camera settings.

Number of LCD dots

The number of LCD dots. The higher it is, the clearer and better the image is obtained and, accordingly, the more comfortable it is to work with such a screen. For most digital cameras, the number of LCD dots is between 120,000 and 921,000.
It is worth considering that most manufacturers of digital cameras under the "number of screen dots" do not mean the number of pixels, but the number of subpixels. To form one pixel, three sub-pixels of the primary colors are usually used: red, green and blue. Therefore, to find out the real number of screen pixels, you need to divide the number of its points by three.

Swivel screen

The camera has a swivel screen. Can be rotated as a separate screen, and the entire rear panel of the device. The screen can rotate around its axis by 90 degrees or open to the side, like a video camera.

Touch screen

The presence in a digital camera of a touch (sensitive to pressing) liquid crystal screen.
In most devices, separate buttons are used to select various settings, located on the rear panel near the LCD screen. Touch screen models do not have these buttons. Such a display allows you to switch through the camera menu by pressing certain areas of the screen itself. This makes it possible to enlarge the screen and take up almost the entire back panel camera.
Usage touch screen makes it intuitive to operate and navigate through the numerous menus of the camera.

Exposure, min

The minimum shutter speed of the camera.
Exposure - the time during which the camera shutter remains open and transmits light rays to the photosensitive matrix.
Along with the aperture, this parameter determines the amount of light that hits the matrix, and, accordingly, the correct exposure. For well-lit subjects and for shooting moving subjects, the shutter speed should be very fast.
The lower the minimum shutter speed, the more opportunities for scene shooting a digital camera has.

Exposure, max

The maximum shutter speed of the camera.
is the time the camera shutter remains open to take a picture.
Along with this parameter determines the amount of light that hit the photosensitive surface (matrix), and, accordingly, the correct exposure. For night shooting or when the F-number is high (see “Aperture value (F), min”, “Aperture value (F), max”), the shutter speed should be fast.
The range of possible shutter speeds for each camera is set in accordance with its technical solution. The longer the maximum shutter speed, the more opportunities for scene shooting a digital camera has.

Shutter speed for X-Sync

The minimum shutter speed at which the camera shutter fully opens the frame.
X-Sync is an electronic flash mode that fires the flash exactly when the shutter is fully open.
Mechanical shutters with curtains work in such a way that at very short shutter speeds the frame is not completely open, the shutter opens a slit to the light, which “runs” through the frame. Since the flash time is shorter than the time for which the shutter opens the frame, a short flash light pulse will illuminate only that part of the frame over which the shutter slit was located at the moment the flash fired, that is, only part of the frame will be illuminated.
Thus, shooting with flash in X-Sync mode at shutter speeds slower than the X-Sync speed is not recommended. The smaller this value, the wider the range of shutter speeds for working with flash and the more opportunities the photographer has to realize his ideas.

General exposure metering (Evaluative)

The operation of the camera's exposure metering system in general mode.
Exposure metering is the calculation of the amount of light needed to get a good picture. Measurement is made by the camera before each shot, as a result of which the required shutter speed and aperture are calculated.
There are several exposure metering modes. Each mode is better suited for certain shooting conditions.
In the general measurement mode, information from several sensors is used. When calculating the exposure, the obtained data is compared with a database of typical frame compositions. After that, the best exposure for a particular type of frame is selected.

Electronic rangefinder

The presence of an electronic rangefinder function.
This function is helpful when using manual focus. The principle of operation is similar to rangefinder cameras, but the specific implementation and functionality depends on the device manufacturer and model.

Autofocus adjustment

The autofocus correction function allows you to increase the accuracy of focusing by fine-tuning it. In addition, for the most popular lenses, the camera memory may have preset settings.

Autofocus type

Type of camera autofocus system.
During the existence of autofocus, several types of autofocus have been invented. It all started with active autofocus using ultrasonic waves, and then infrared. Today, these methods are not used - they have given way to passive autofocus. It, in turn, can be contrast, phase or hybrid.
Contrast autofocus is common among mirrorless cameras. The camera processor analyzes the current image from the matrix and starts moving the lenses in one of two possible directions. If, after shifting the lenses, the picture is more contrasting (clear), then the movement of the lenses continues until the desired focus is found. If the image has deteriorated, then the movement of the lenses occurs in the opposite direction, again, until the desired focus is achieved. The strong point of contrast autofocus is precise focusing in dark and low-light scenes.
Phase autofocus is most commonly used in SLR cameras. For its operation, special sensors are required, which can be located directly in the camera's matrix or separately. Sensors receive fragments of the light flux from different points of the frame using mirrors. After that, the sensor will calculate how to move the lenses to get sharp image. When two light fluxes are at a certain distance from each other, given by the design of the sensor, the desired focus will be achieved. Phase detection autofocus boasts excellent focusing speed.
Hybrid autofocus systems are rare. This autofocus combines the positive aspects of both contrast and phase autofocus. The hybrid system is being implemented in both mirrorless and SLR cameras. In SLR cameras, it works in Live View mode.

Number of focus points

Modern cameras have a different number of line points that focus when shooting. The focusing module is responsible for the focusing process. It focuses on those areas of the frame that fall into the field of view of points. The number of such points on the camera affects the accuracy of calculating the desired focus object during shooting and ease of setup. manual mode focus.
Line points can be horizontal or vertical. The effectiveness of their application depends largely on the objects being photographed. points with horizontal orientation focus well on objects with vertical lines. Points in vertical orientation, in turn, focus better on objects with horizontal lines.

Microphone input

When shooting video, one of the main criteria is capturing high-quality sound. Using the microphone built into the camera, it will be quite problematic to achieve good sound on video due to the presence of extraneous noise(wind, audience hum). To solve this problem, camera manufacturers equip their models with a connector for connecting an external microphone, from which sound is recorded.

Headphone output

This interface can be used to monitor audio through headphones during video recording. Usually, a mini jack 3.5 mm is used as a connector.
It is recommended to use an external microphone and other accessories to get high-quality sound when recording video.

Number of JPEG levels

The number of possible compression levels for images when they are saved as JPEG. JPEG is the most common recording format that compresses the image to save memory. However, the compactness of images is achieved at the expense of quality, since the JPEG format recognizes some data as unimportant during compression and discards them during compression. The higher the image compression, the more photos can fit on the memory card, but the worse the quality will be. In many cameras, the degree of compression, and therefore the quality of the images, can be controlled. By varying the compression levels, you can save either more photos, but more Low quality, or fewer photos, but their quality will be higher.

Memory - Memory Stick

The ability to use removable Memory Stick format memory cards in the camera.
Memory Stick is a flash memory card format introduced by Sony, which is used primarily in Sony's digital cameras. At the moment it is one of the most expensive of the existing carriers. In addition to the Memory Stick standard, there are other varieties: Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo.
Memory Stick dimensions are 50×21.5×2.8 mm.

Memory - Memory Stick Duo

The ability to use removable memory cards in the Memory Stick Duo format in the camera.
This memory standard was developed and maintained by Sony. The body of this card is quite compact and strong enough. The Memory Stick Duo was developed on the basis of the widely used Memory Stick standard from the same Sony, but is not compatible with its connector and is small in size (20x31x1.6 mm). To use a Memory Stick Duo with a device that has a Memory Stick slot, you need to use a dedicated adapter.

Memory - XQD

Possibility of using interchangeable XQD format memory cards in the camera.
Memory cards were announced in 2011, their main difference from other cards is their high data transfer rate (up to 125 Mb/s).
Cards of this standard have dimensions of 38.5 x 29.8 x 3.8 mm.

Maximum memory card size

The maximum size of the memory card that the camera can use.
The higher the value of this parameter, the larger the capacity of the card you can use, therefore, you can record more pictures and videos on it. If you already have an appropriate type of flash card large capacity, before buying a camera, you should make sure that the selected model supports cards of this size.

Interface - video

The presence of a composite video interface on the camera.
Composite interface is designed to transfer images to any device displaying video information.
The video output is used for viewing photos and videos on a TV or for recording to a VCR.
It is recommended to use the HD output to transmit high resolution images to HDTV devices.

Interface - Bluetooth

The ability to connect the camera to a computer and other devices via Bluetooth wireless interface.
Bluetooth technology uses short-range radio communication and allows you to set up high-speed wireless connection at a distance of up to 10 meters.
With via Bluetooth you can transfer files from the camera to a computer, and print photos directly on a dedicated printer equipped with a Bluetooth adapter.

Support for NFC technology.
NFC (Near Field Communication) is a technology wireless communication short range. NFC allows two devices that are close to each other (within a distance of no more than 10 cm) to exchange data.

Battery capacity

The capacity of the battery built into the camera.
A larger battery allows you to take more pictures without recharging.

Maximum movie recording resolution
The maximum video recording resolution of a video-recording camera.
The higher the resolution of the video, the clearer and more detailed the video image can be. The function of recording a video image on a digital camera is not the main one, it serves rather as a pleasant addition to the main functions.

Electronic video stabilization

The presence of the electronic stabilization function during video recording.
When shooting video, camera shake causes the recorded image to shake. Since most of the shooting is done by hand, this is a problem that you will have to deal with quite often.
The electronic stabilization function is implemented through digital image processing using the built-in processor. To form a frame, only a part of the image from the photosensitive matrix is ​​used - a video frame is cut out from the overall image. When shaking, the image shift is tracked, and the video frame moves up or down accordingly within the entire image field from the photomatrix to compensate for this shift. As a result, the recorded image (video frame) remains motionless for the viewer.
The use of stabilization allows you to get rid of unpleasant effects in far from all cases.

Frames per second at 4K (3840×2160)
The maximum number of frames per second when shooting video with a resolution of 3840x2160 pixels.
Frequencies of 25 and 50 frames per second are standard in countries with PAL and SECAM broadcast systems (Europe, Asia, Russia), while 30 and 60 frames per second are common in countries with NTSC broadcast standard (USA, Canada, Mexico). , Japan, Philippines and a number of countries in South America).
The camera's support for these frequency sets may depend on the country for which the camera is manufactured. Many cameras are universal: regardless of the region, they have simultaneous support for 25/30 (50/60) frames per second.

MOV video recording

Ability to save the recorded video in MOV format.
The MOV format (or container) was proposed by Apple. To view videos in this format, QuickTime is usually used.

MP4 video recording

Ability to save the recorded video in AVI format.
When describing standards for digital video, two concepts are usually used - video codec and video container. A codec is a method by which video information is compressed, and a container is a file extension. The type of container determines which programs can play this file, the type of codec determines the degree of information compression, image quality.
MP4 is a multimedia container format that can contain audio and video streams, as well as other information. To compress video information, codecs from the MPEG-4 family are usually used.

Using the MJPEG video codec

The ability to save the captured video using the MJPEG codec.
When describing standards for digital video, two concepts are usually used - video codec and video container. A codec is a method by which video information is compressed, and a container is a file extension. The type of container determines which programs can play this file, the type of codec determines the degree of information compression, image quality.
When using the MJPEG (Motion JPEG) codec, each frame is processed separately, and the quality of the video does not depend on the dynamics of the scene. But you have to pay for this with a significantly larger video file size.
Compared to MPEG4 video (see "Using the MPEG4 video codec"), video created with the MJPEG codec is much better suited for subsequent editing, since the frames do not depend on each other and you can insert (or cut) video fragments starting from any frame.

HDR shooting

Taking photos with the HDR effect allows you to create high-quality photos in difficult lighting conditions, when there are both bright areas and dark objects in the frame. For the highest quality creation of this effect, the camera automatically takes 2-3 frames with different settings and glues them into one.

Orientation sensor

The presence in a digital camera of a special sensor that determines the orientation of the camera (horizontal or vertical) during shooting.
With this sensor, it is possible to automatically flip photos and movies shot vertically when they are played back on a TV screen or when transferred to a computer. In the latter case, special software supplied with the camera.
In addition, information about the position of the camera is used by automation when determining exposure and white balance.

Frost resistance

The presence of protection against low temperatures in the camera.
Some digital cameras are equipped with freeze protection. Such models are suitable for work in bad weather.

dust protection

The presence of dust protection significantly affects the choice of camera.
Some digital cameras are equipped with dust protection. Such models are suitable for work in bad weather.

Waterproof case

The presence of a waterproof housing for a digital camera.
SLR cameras often have a waterproof housing. Some models with a waterproof housing are suitable for short-term immersion in water.

The weight of the camera and lens is sometimes the leading factor in choosing a camera.
Digital camera is enough mobile device: they take it with them on vacation, they often carry it with them, therefore, when choosing its dimensions and weight, it is far from last.
The size of the camera can be divided into several categories:
- ultra-compact devices weighing up to 200 g. Specifications such cameras are not the most impressive, but they fit freely in a woman's handbag or in the breast pocket of a shirt;
- compact cameras, the most common, their weight is up to 300 g. They have higher technical capabilities compared to ultra-compact devices and are quite convenient for transportation;
- advanced, or semi-professional, cameras weighing 400-600 g. Equipped with high-aperture optics, the ability to install an external flash, manual settings shooting modes;
- professional SLR cameras, the weight of which is from 600 g and above. Equipped with removable lenses, the camera body is usually made of metal, they have the greatest range of technical characteristics.

Choosing an SSD is a fascinating undertaking, given the comparative novelty of this type of drive, the variety of characteristics and performance test results, and. With all their undeniable advantages, solid-state drives have (hopefully so far) one significant drawback - they are not cheap, especially high-capacity models. If you need somewhere to store the accumulated collections of music, movies, photos and other information that requires space, then you can’t do without a regular hard drive.

Hard disk requirements

Now the Internet is replete with comparative tests of SSD drives. About 5-10-15 years ago, a similar situation was with traditional hard drives, when the results of various models were compared, a certain rating was compiled, which drives are the fastest, which are the coldest, and which are the quietest.

Currently, the speed of "hard drives" has somehow faded into the background. The effect is that it is already difficult to squeeze more out of this technology, and with solid state drives still can't compete. So, it is necessary to "take" other qualities. What? capacity, and, most importantly, the cost of that capacity. There is such a concept - the price per gigabyte, i.e. how much does one gigabyte of the capacity of a particular disk cost.

For example, the cheapest 4 TB HDD with a 3.5-inch form factor will cost about 7500 rubles, i.e. 1 GB costs 1.88 rubles. So far, SSDs of this capacity are only in the plans, and from what is available, the most capacious models are 2 TB. At the same time, their cost is (the cheapest) about 50,000 rubles. How much does 1 GB cost in this case - calculate for yourself.

Hence the conclusion - if you need to store a large amount of data, and do it for sane money, then the choice is definitely for the HDD. Here's how to choose HDD, what volume to prefer, with what speed of rotation?

HDD parameters

Still, you can not ignore the main parameters of hard drives. This is:

• Form Factor There are 3.5 and 2.5 inches. The first ones are for desktop PCs, the second ones are for laptops, all-in-ones, etc. In this case, the larger physical size of the drives can provide more capacity. Among the 2.5-inch models, there are models for both 4 and 5 TB, but their thickness does not allow them to be installed in laptops, but they are suitable for stationary PCs, network storage, etc. At the same time, their cost is higher than that of larger ones 3.5-inch brothers. There are still 1.8-inch models, but their prevalence tends to zero.
• Capacity. Actually, it shows how much everything you need and important can be stored on a disk.
• Interface. Everything is simple here. SATA-3, practically no options. Server drives with a SAS interface are not commonly used at home.
• Rotational speed. There are two main options - 5400 and 7200 rpm. There are also options with 5900 rpm or, as is the case with some drive models, for example, western digital, the speed is not indicated at all, and the specifications contain the word "IntelliPower", i.e. the drive somehow controls the speed itself. Well, God bless him, let him manage. Naturally, the higher the rotation speed, the faster the drive should be.
• Buffer memory size. Here, similarly, the more, the faster (in theory) the disk should work. In my opinion, this parameter can be looked at last. At home, it does not have a significant effect on the "rate of fire" of the drive.

What else?

Agree, it is unpleasant when some component in the computer suddenly fails. Just now (yesterday, an hour ago, etc.) everything worked, but now it doesn’t. The soul, if it could be in the motherboard, memory module, power supply, etc., can fly off to its computer paradise quietly, or with special effects such as sparks, smoke, burning smell.

Trouble? No, it's upsetting. The motherboard, memory module, power supply, video card can be repaired, eventually replaced with a new one, even better than it was, and after a little manipulation, continue working.

And if the hard drive is out of order, is it a chagrin? But in some situations this may well already “pull” into trouble. Especially if this drive contained a home photo archive, the results of many days of work, an almost written diploma, and something else important that existed in a single copy.

Now I don’t mean options with a faulty interface wire, problems in the power supply, “loss” of the disk by the operating system, etc. We are talking about the failure of the disk itself, whether it be a mechanical failure or electronics failure. Restoring information from such a disk can be expensive, or it may not be possible to recover data.

This raises another requirement for the disk - reliability. Such a parameter as “time between failures”, which every drive has, is not empirical, but is based on some kind of calculations. I wouldn't recommend looking at it. It is better to pay attention to the warranty period for a specific model of "hard drive" and the possibility of an exchange if a breakdown occurs during this period.

Reliability

How to determine which drive is more reliable and which is not? To be honest, almost nothing. Verbal battles on the forums and in the comments in the style of "Seagate sucks, WD rules" only confuse, without giving any useful information. For some, one thing works, and another breaks, while for someone it is exactly the opposite.

Personally, I have my own preferences, and for many years I have been using Hitachi drives (now it is more correct to call HGST), which have never let me down, but this is a purely subjective opinion. Although I also have several WD Green drives (one of which is already dying), and an 8-terabyte Seagate.

More or less adequate disk reliability statistics can only be shown by comparative testing, which requires n-th number of disks of each model and a lot of time. Who is doing this? Almost no one, unfortunately. Although some information can still be found.

So, interesting reports on the number of used hard drives and detailed failure statistics are published by Backblaze, a company providing cloud storage services. The number of drives used, models, and the number of failures are regularly reported.

They have been running their statistics since the beginning of 2015. I will not give graphs and calculations here, they can be easily found on the net. According to the information they publish, HGST drives have the fewest failures. Things are worse at Seagate, but there is a tendency to reduce the number of failures and increase the life of drives.

How to treat this information? As to "information for thought". In this case, the question is not when the drive will fail (sooner or later "all dogs hard drives go to heaven"), but what is the probability of this sad event. Any manufacturer has successful and not very models, some serve for a long time, others have a lot of complaints.

No one can guarantee 100% reliability. Therefore, you need to take care of the safety of information yourself. Really important files should be stored on several different physical media, or backed up to cloud storage. In the end, build a RAID array from several disks.

Series of hard drives

For each manufacturer, all manufactured models are somehow divided into several series, each of which is positioned for a specific application. So, Hitachi… sorry, HGST divides its drives into the Deskstar and Ultrastar series. The former are focused on use in home / office computers, the latter are for use with more serious loads and are designed for round-the-clock work.

Other brands do the same. Seagate has several series:

• Barracuda and Barracuda Pro are for everyday use. The range of capacities is from 1 to 10 TB. In general, forgive me fans of the brand, a sort of consumer goods for all occasions. This is also evidenced by such an interesting parameter indicated in the characteristics as “Workload limit, TB / year”. For all modifications of the Barracuda series, it is 55 TB, and for the Barracuda Pro - 300 TB. At greater load it is recommended to choose enterprise-class disks. Warranty - 2 years and 5 years respectively.
• FireCuda is a hybrid model (with a small 8 GB cache on an MLC type NAND memory chip). Focused on productive computers, workstations or gaming stations. Only 2 capacities are offered - 1 and 2 TB. There are no workload restrictions.
• IronWolf and IronWolf Pro are a special series for network attached storage (NAS). Available capacities are from 1 to 10 TB. The annual load limit for IronWolf is 180 TB, and for the IronWolf Pro version it is 300 TB. The number of head parking operations is 600,000 times. Warranty - 3 years and 5 years respectively.
• SkyHawk - oriented for use in video surveillance systems and can receive streaming data from a large number of cameras at once at high speed. The range of capacities is from 1 to 10 TB. The load limit is the same 300 TB / year.

At WD, it is customary to divide drives into the following series:

• Blue - drives for office or home computers that are not critical to the speed of the disk subsystem. Capacities up to 6 TB are available. The rotation speed of almost all models is 5400 rpm. Warranty - 2 years. Roughly the same as Seagate's Barracuda series.
• Black - more powerful drives for demanding users. Capacities - up to 6 TB, rotation speed - 7200 rpm. Warranty - 5 years.
• Purple - models for video surveillance. Available capacities up to 10 TB, rotation speed - 5400 rpm. Workload limits are 180 TB/year. Warranty -3 years.
• Red - for network storage (NAS). Capacities - up to 10 TB, rotation speed - 5400 rpm. Warranty - 3 years. Declared number of head parking operations is 600,000 times.
• Gold is a corporate series of drives for servers and data centers. Capacities - up to 10 TB, rotation speed - 7200 rpm. Productive models with a 5-year warranty.

Models for NAS and server applications usually include systems that are not used in devices intended for normal use. This includes, for example, rotational vibration sensors, optimization for use in RAID arrays, etc.

At the same time, it often happens that such drives can work louder, and the heating can be higher, so cooling will definitely not be superfluous for them. At the same time, user-class drives (such as Seagate Barracuda or WD Blue) are less "nimble", but they work quieter, they heat up less, although they are not equipped with any additional sensors or optimizations. However, they are cheaper.

Which hard drive to choose.

I will express my opinions, which do not necessarily have to coincide with yours. As for laptops, optimal solution- 1 TB hard drive, preferably with a rotation speed of 7200 rpm. Manufacturer? Choose which one you like. Personally, I prefer HGST. I currently have a 1TB HGST HTE721010A9E630 in my laptop that I bought a few months ago.

For stationary PCs, i.e., when choosing a 3.5-inch hard drive, there are much more opportunities to break your head. In any case, I would not consider hard drives with a capacity of less than 1 TB. Judge for yourself, the cheapest 500 GB drive (Toshiba DT01ACA050) costs about 2500 rubles. The cheapest terabyte Seagate Barracuda (ST1000DM010) is only 300-400 rubles more expensive. Does it make sense to save?

It makes sense to take a terabyte if it will be the only drive on which the system will be installed, and a lot of space is not required, because all that is needed is office work, surfing the Internet, etc. 7200 rpm model ( any will do HGST, WD Black, Seagate Barracuda or, if you don't mind the money, Seagate FireCuda).

If the drive is necessary for “to be”, if it serves as a makeweight to the system SSD drive, then you can save a little and stop at Seagate Barracuda or WD Blue. Moreover, pay attention to the capacity of the order of 4 TB. I'll explain why.

Let's take the Seagate Barracuda series as an example. To calculate the optimal cost per unit of disk capacity, let's recall the already mentioned "price per gigabyte". Let's look at the price:

• 1TB, model ST1000DM010 - the price is about 2800 rubles, each 1 GB "costs" 2.80 rubles.
• 2 TB, model ST2000DM006 - the price is about 4200 rubles, 1 GB "costs" 2.10 rubles.
• 3 TB, model ST3000DM008 - the price is about 5700 rubles, 1 GB "costs" 1.90 rubles.
• 4 TB, model ST4000DM004 - the price is about 7500 rubles, 1 GB "costs" 1.88 rubles.
• 6 TB, model ST6000DM004 - the price is about 14,500 rubles, 1 GB "costs" 2.42 rubles.
• 8 TB, model ST8000DM005 - the price is about 18,500 rubles, 1 GB "costs" 2.31 rubles.

As you can see, according to this parameter, the optimal solution is a 4 TB drive, and the most disadvantageous, if you do not take into account the model with the already “ridiculous” 1 TB capacity, is the ST6000DM004 model. True, these are all calculations from the standpoint of the cost of a unit of data. If you just need a capacious disk, so that there are 6-8, or even more, TB, then there is no difference how much 1 GB costs there now. Although 2 ST4000DM004 drives will come out cheaper than one ST8000DM005. Why not think about it?

HGST discs are somewhat separate. The company generally does not produce 3.5-inch models with rotation speeds less than 7200 rpm. True, their cost is higher. 1 TB disk Ultrastar 7K2 has a price of more than 5000 rubles. True, as the name implies, this is not a "desktop" series, but the Ultrastar series positioned above.

But models with larger capacities have a more reasonable price tag. So, the Ultrastar 7K6000 6 TB model costs about 13,000 rubles, which is quite consistent with the cost of competitors. And let's not forget about 7200 rpm and the Ultrastar series.

Naturally, the choice should be based on how much capacity you need and how much you're willing to spend on a drive.

If we are talking about the need to store large amounts of data (a collection of movies, music, photos, etc.), then I would not consider the cheapest options. Ideally, these should be NAS series, Seagate IronWolf (Pro) or WD Red. Even if you don’t have a NAS and you don’t plan to build RAID, these drives are still the best choice. Moreover, where is the guarantee that you will not decide to buy storage in the foreseeable future? Among HGST discs, it is better to give preference to the Ultrastar series.

Let's look at a few specific models for specific applications.

System disk

Let's assume that it will be a terabyte disk. I would single out the following models:

• Seagate Barracuda (ST1000DM010) - the cheapest, about 2800 rubles. Only the warranty should be taken into account - only 2 years. Typical budget option.
• Western Digital Caviar Blue (WD10EZEX) is one of the few models in the "blue" series with 7200 rpm. A direct competitor for Barracuda. Same 2 year warranty. Of these two drives, I would choose WD.
• Seagate FireCuda SSHD (ST1000DX002) - hybrid, the cost is already 5100 rubles. Same warranty - 2 years. Belonging to the FireCuda family suggests higher performance than the Barracuda.
• Western Digital Black (WD1003FZEX) - about the same price as FireCuda. They are generally direct competitors.
• HGST Ultrastar 7K2 (1W10001) - the cost is approximately 5200. There is 7200 rpm, the Ultrastar series, 128 MB of cache (the rest have 64 MB).

If you really overpay, then I would take the Ultrastar 7K2 model (as an alternative - WD Black), if not - then WD Blue.

Storage disk

If everything has already been decided with the system disk, and you need a drive, or maybe several, to store everything you need-important, then I would prefer to consider models starting with a capacity of 4 TB. If there are no serious requirements for the speed of the disks, then it is quite possible to limit yourself to models with a rotation speed of 5400-5900 rpm.

I will highlight the following:

• The Seagate Barracuda (ST4000DM004) is the cheapest of the 4TB drives. The cost is about 7700 rubles.
• Western Digital Blue (WD40EZRZ) - a little more expensive than the previous one, by about 400-500 rubles. As for me, this model is preferable.
• HGST Deskstar NAS (0S04005) - costs about 8500 rubles. Unlike the previous ones, it has a speed of 7200 rpm. Desktop series, focused on application including NAS.
• Seagate IronWolf (ST4000VN008) - cost about 8900 rubles. Speed ​​- 7200. Belonging to a series capable of working in disk storage, implies the presence of vibration protection systems, has additional balancing and other "improvers".
• Western Digital Red (WD40EFRX) - cost about 9700 rubles. The exact number of revolutions is not indicated, it is managed by the IntelliPower system. A specialized series for storage, which does not negate the possibility of using them as a single drive. If not for the price, it would be a great option.
• HGST Ultrastar 7K6000 (0F23025) - cost about 10,500 rubles. ultrastar series, big buffer, 7200 rpm, good performance, 5-year warranty. It's just that the price is high. For a home "file-washing", perhaps too good.

If the main purpose is to store data with a small load, mainly for reading, then why not also choose models for video surveillance systems. Provided, of course, that no RAID will be built on them.

Of these, WD Blue, HGST Deskstar NAS and Seagate IronWolf seem to be the best choice. The difference in price between them is no more than 800 rubles, and the last 2 are also ready to work in disk storages and in RAID. If you slightly increase the amount, then a good solution is WD Red.

If you need a larger capacity, then there is option 2 - either take a drive of the appropriate volume, or take 2 (3, 4 ...) with a smaller volume, but in total you get what you need. And even save money. Above, there was already a comparison of the cost of an 8 TB disk with the cost of 2 4 TB disks. The question is how much space do you have in the case for drives and what are the prospects for further increase in disk capacity.

Conclusion. How to choose a hard drive

So, how can you summarize all of the above? Let's start with the fact that there is no fundamental difference between manufacturers. Yes, some statistics show that HGST is somewhat more reliable and durable than Seagate, while WD is somewhere in between. However, this does not mean that Seagate should definitely be removed from the list of candidates for purchase. Let's not forget about the number of drives sold by this manufacturer, and if everything was so bad, who would buy them?

The choice can be influenced by personal preferences (like mine, for example), as well as some other, at first glance, insignificant characteristics. So, HGST hard drives are traditionally considered to be noisier, which does not prevent them from being considered more reliable.

You should also pay attention to the warranty period for the hard drive. Moreover, it is important to know where to turn in case of problems. The ideal option is the ability to exchange a failed drive under the RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) program from the manufacturer itself. Unfortunately, in Russia this program is valid only for Western Digital. Discs from other manufacturers will have to be exchanged through the store that sold you the product.

Yes, and the warranty period itself indirectly, but speaks of the "survivability" of the disk. It's probably clear that a 5 year warranty is better than a 2 year warranty. In the first case, it is assumed that the disk will not die in the next couple of years. But in the second case, anything can already happen, it can die a week after the end of the warranty, or it can last for many years.

It would be nice to be able to return or exchange the purchased hard drive if you did not like something in its operation when you first turned it on. It can be a noticeable vibration, and too loud a knock. It is also useful to check the disk, for example, with the HDTune program, including checking the surface of the disks for bad blocks.

Most importantly, do not forget that only timely and correct backup, i.e. backup copying, can guarantee the safety of important information. Storing the necessary data on different physical (namely, different physical, and not on different partitions of the same disk) media is a guarantee that no problems with disks will lead to big expenses, to the loss of important files, time and nerves.

Happy shopping and safe storage!

Hard drive, hard drive, HDD - which is one and the same. A very important part of a computer. Very often, it is this part that fails.

The need to buy a hard drive can arise for only two reasons - either the old drive has worked its way, or you have been updating your computer, including deciding to increase the hard drive capacity.

So, by what parameters should you choose a hard drive:

Dimensions
First of all, you need to know the parameters suitable for your PC - the width of the disk in inches, which is ideal in size for standard mounts in laptops and computers. The standard for desktop computers is 3/5 inch, for laptops it is 2/5 inch.

There are also much smaller hard drives: 0.85 inch, 1 inch, 1.3 inch, 1.8 inch.

Interface connection type

SATA- a new type of interface that has appeared to replace the old IDE. This type of interface gives higher throughput.

IDE- type of interface for connecting a hard drive to system board, which is used mainly in older computers.

SATA interfaces come in several versions, the difference being in data exchange speed: SATA Revision3.0 (SATA 3, SATA 6Gb/s or SATA/600), SATA-II (SATA 3Gb/s or SATA/300), SATA (SATA 1.5 Gb/s or SATA/150).

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that motherboards supporting the SATA 3 hard drive interface began to be produced in early 2010. Therefore, if your computer was released before this date, then a SATA 3 drive will not work for you. SATA 2 and SATA interfaces are compatible, the connectors of these hard drives are exactly the same.

Volume
Modern, new hard drives produce up to 10 terabytes. The most popular storage disk sizes for home computers are 500, 320 and 250 gigabytes.

When choosing the size of the Hard Drive, you need to take into account that the actual capacity is slightly less than that indicated by the manufacturers. After all, it is known that 1GB is equal to 1024MB, but this number, for some reason, is rounded up to 1000MB, and this rounding is not in favor of the buyer.

Speed
The standard hard drive speed indicators are 7200 and 5400 rpm.

Professional computer scientists recommend not to strive for high speed. Very often, disks with high performance do not have high performance, but they heat up faster and more strongly, consuming more electricity, as a result of which, due to overheating, they fail faster.

Cache size (memory clipboard)
The clipboard is RAM the hard drive itself. The higher the volume, the faster the data exchange. The size is 32, 16 and 8 megabytes.

Attention. They have their own parameters that differ from conventional drives.

Perhaps these are all the main parameters that should be considered when buying a hard drive.

Setting