Monday, December 8, 2008

A Peek At Top Digital Cameras

The top digital cameras take fantastic pictures, and pictures are memories.  These cameras record so many memories that will remain treasures for generations.  The top digital cameras have improved so much that even the pros are using these great machines.  

Each person who wants to record the family memories will be happy to know that they can use the best digital cameras and get photos that pros would be proud of for their publications.  There was a time in the recent past when digital cameras took acceptable pictures, but these machines did not take great pictures.  

The Sony Cybershot DSC-600 is a great buy with 6.0 mega pixel resolution and a 3x optical zoom to boot! The LCD screen is a respectable two inches and the camera offers a great point and shoot feature that even a wet behind the ear camera newbie could master.  

The pictures with the best digital cameras that are not important to the general population will remain great photos for the family archives.  Generations to come will be able to see images of their ancestors, and they will probably recognize many of the family characteristics.  

The best digital cameras not only take great pictures, but they take these pictures easily.  Almost any amateur looking for some great pictures will be able to use these wonderful cameras.  The cameras have many advantages over the cameras from the past.  These cameras allow for mistakes.  

The photographer using a digital camera can see the picture before they take it, and they can examine the image captured as soon as the action is complete.  They will be able to instantaneously decide if they would like to keep that image.  If they are not happy with their work, the photographer can delete that photo and continue to take pictures.

The latest digital cameras can be used to print the photos as they are taken or soon afterward.  With the proper equipment, a photographer can take a picture and hook it up to a printer to see the image.  These cameras can also be used to send the pictures instantaneously around the block or around the world.  Relatives thousands of miles away can have a look at the latest family activities within seconds.  They will be able to print these out for their archives as well.  The whole family should enjoy the images captured with the best digital cameras.

To find additional information on digital cameras visit Vivitar Digital Camera as well as Sony Digital SLR Camera

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Picking a Good Professional Wedding Photographer

Finding a professional wedding photographer takes a lot of work. While not quite as much work as putting the whole wedding together, you want to make sure that you have the right professional for the job. Finding wedding photography packages doesn't need to be difficult, either. If you have a good plan and ask the right questions, you should be able to find the perfect wedding photography studio for your special moments.

You may well never have hired a professional photographer before. Therefore, it can be difficult to know what questions to ask. Yet it is crucial that you conduct a careful interview process in order to find the best professional wedding photographer for your needs. Here is a short list of important questions that apply to all circumstances. You may have additional questions based on your individual needs.

1. Will you be the actual photographer for my wedding?
It would make sense that the person you are interviewing is the professional wedding photographer. However, some companies employ a sales staff that is good at closing deals. A scrupulous salesperson will let you know what his or her role is in the company. Unfortunately, not every wedding photography studio is reputable. The salesperson might not let it slip that he or she is not actually a photographer unless you ask.

Alternatively, the person with whom you speak may be the company owner. He or she may employ a staff of trusted photographers in whom he or she has complete confidence. Nevertheless, if the person you interview will not be your actual photographer, you may want to speak to that person as well.

2. May I see your portfolio?
The only way you're going to see if a specific professional wedding photographer is for you is to view their portfolio. A portfolio is a compilation of the photographer's or the wedding photography studio's best work. Viewing a photographer's work will give you a clear idea of style and expertise and whether the professional is the right person for you.

3. What is your experience with my preferred style of photography?
Engaged couples today have more choices than ever before. Digital wedding photography is increasingly common and photojournalistic wedding photography has become a hot new trend. If you want something other than traditional posed photography on film, make sure that you choose a professional wedding photographer who is experienced in the style that you desire.

4. What possible additional fees might I incur?
Travel fees, hourly fees if your wedding runs long, setup fees and fees for additional rolls of film are all fairly common but not necessarily standard. While price should not be your only consideration, try to find a photographer flexible and willing to work with you should unexpected circumstances arise. Also, inquire about charges for converting photos to black and white or sepia tones, digitizing film photos and printing out digital photos. Some wedding photography packages cover some or all of these fees, so inquire about package rates.

5. May I have a list of references from previous wedding clients?
No matter how good a photographer's pictures are, it is also important that you click with his or her personality. The interview will give you a basic idea of personality, but remember that a wedding is stressful for everyone involved. Speak with former clients to learn how the photographer behaves under the real life pressure of the wedding.

Your wedding day is special. Your professional wedding photographer should capture the care that you put into planning the details accurately and beautifully. Take the time to shop around and select the best wedding photographer for you.

One of the most challenging tasks a person can undertake is planning a wedding. What with time constraints as well as staying within the budget concerns, some couples choose to give some of the more all important aspects out of their wedding completely. Photography should not be one of them. In this article, we will cover several basic themes on wedding photography that all couples ought to know when planning their special day.

When I book a photographer how soon in advance should I do this?

Many photographers advocate booking a photographer as soon as you get engaged, or at least until you know when the wedding date is. It is suggested that the couple who is engaged book 8-12 months in advance since many studios book wedding dates promptly. Weddings are more prominent from months of May all the way to October while the weather is most favorable. If you select to have your wedding during this period of time, the photographer you choose will in all likelihood want a non-refundable deposit or retainer fee to book the date of your wedding. This ensures that you will have this studio or photographer on your desired date, and assuring a job for your photographer. The quicker you book your personal photographer, the more likely that you will be able to work with your first choice.

What are some of the benefits of hiring a professional?

The primary advantage to hiring a professional wedding photographer is experience. Most wedding photographers have extensive experience dealing with numerous various individuals and difficult personalities.  They have confronted tough weather conditions, and have run across various technical problems. Since they specialize in photography, they are well equipped to deal with numerous wedding sizes or photo demands. Unlike a friend or relative of the couple, a professional photographer's essential goal is catching candid moments on film. Being conscious of they are expected on delivering quality photos that will be cherished for years to come, they are less likely to be carried away by facets of the ceremony. With an event that allows no second chances, hiring a professional is a good investment that will help keep your memories of your special day around for years.

What types of cameras are commonly used in wedding photography?

There are three primary types of cameras that are utilized in wedding photography. They are digital cameras, 35mm cameras, as well as medium format types of cameras. In this new age of digital technology, 35mm is still a widely employed camera when it comes to wedding photography. These are utilized chiefly for fast action wedding shots. They are valued for their durability, compactness, and ease of use. Nowadays, digital camera have become a lot more popular, even preferred in terms of wedding photography. The quality of photos is just good as film, also there is no time needed for processing, no risk of having the negatives damaged, as well as the fact that photos can quickly be adjusted for a better outcome. Medium Format cameras produce a negative that is up to three times bigger than one that is from a 35mm camera, without a loss of detail. Nevertheless, Medium Format cameras are much bigger than 35mm's as well as digital cameras. A fourth type of camera that may be used in a studio used primarily for a pre-wedding shot is a Large Format camera. These cameras are stationary due to their size and weight. They are mainly utilized for commercial studio photography. Even though these types of cameras contain an high-performance lens, the prices for photos taken with this camera can be pretty pricey.

How much should I expect to pay when hiring a professional photographer?

Expect photography by itself to be approximately 5% to 10% of your whole budget. That might be anywhere from $900 to $2,000, and even up to $10,000. This is all dependent on several components such as advertising, transportation, education, and insurance. Quotes on price include the cost of equipment such as cameras and film. Top-notch professional cameras can cost in the thousands. While developing black and white film is a lot more pricey than preparing color prints due to a long handcrafted procedure. Other things that couples have to take account into their budget for photography include the number of hours photographers devote at your wedding, additional photographers, extra prints, as well as custom albums. Additionally, expect to pay more for a professional that is in high demand.


How about photos that are black and white as opposed to pictures that are color?

There are a couple of advantages and disadvantages when it comes to shooting in both black and white, and color film. Color is the more proficient of the two formats. It furnishes you an precise depiction of the events that took place, and has the ability to quickly be converted into black and white prints. Even So, they do not last as long as prints that stem from black and white film. Even So numerous couples opt for color because it is not as high-priced as black and white film. Black and white film is the alternative for numerous wedding photographers who consider themselves photojournalists. In addition, many couples think that black and white photos have a feel of timelessness as well as elegance to them. The fundamental cause why the costs is more to shoot with black and white film instead of with color is because it is prepared by hand. In this case, each picture is an original piece of artwork untouched by technology. Opting for either black and white film, or color prints will all depend on what the photographer favors to use, what styles you are akin to, and how much you are ready to spend.

 


Click the link for more details: Stock Photography similarly Family Photography and at Photography Props

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Wedding Photojournalism - The Latest Trend In Wedding Photography

With all the reality shows on television these days, it's no wonder more couples are using wedding photojournalism to document their wedding day. Photojournalistic wedding photography goes beyond the posed photos and adds life to your wedding album in the form of a video.

In the timeless (traditional) style of wedding photography, the photographer plays a very active role. He or she orchestrates virtually the entire wedding according to a preplanned shot list. Every photo is carefully posed. Depending on the length of time for which he or she is hired, some of your most personal wedding moments, such as cutting the cake or throwing the bouquet, may have to be re-enacted or faked for the camera.

The focus of the timeless style, as opposed to wedding photojournalism, is on creating perfectly posed portraits for the wedding album. Photo time normally takes place between the ceremony and the reception and can take up to two hours. This is a long time to leave guests standing around waiting for something to happen.

There are a few major advantages to timeless wedding photography. Since the shot list is preplanned, couples can be sure that no event or family member is left out. The posed photos also look beautiful in a wedding album, creating a classic memento of the big day.

Photojournalistic wedding photography takes the opposite approach to the timeless style. Rather than posed photographs, the emphasis is on candid photography. The wedding photographer takes a much more passive role, capturing the day as it unfolds naturally rather than directing the show.

Many engaged couples feel that wedding photojournalism captures the big day in a more realistic way. They also prefer the low-key approach of the photojournalistic style, feeling that the photographer should document what actually happens rather than faking events for the photographic effect.

Wedding photojournalism does have its own downside, however. Since there is no shot list, it is possible that key relatives or friends will inadvertently be left out of the photos. The photographer's instincts must be top notch as he or she decides what to cover during the busy reception. Ambient rather than photographic lighting will generally be used, which can lead to some less than perfect photographs. Finally, your album will contain no traditional posed photos. Some parents feel that their child's wedding album is incomplete without some traditional photos. You, too, may regret the lack of posed photos one day.

wedding photojournalism is a great way for the bride and groom to see all the little things they might have missed during their wedding.  Most couples don't realize how much of the wedding they missed until they see the video of the event. A video of the wedding makes the wedding day a completely new experience. If you ask, a wedding photography studio might give you a package that includes both the video and the still shots. You might be able to take the formal portraits before the wedding, leaving you more time to enjoy the reception and your guests.

One of the most challenging tasks a person can undertake is planning a wedding. What with time constraints and budget concerns, there are some couples prefer to give some of the more primary aspects completely out of their wedding completely. One of those aspects should not be Photography. In this article, we will handle some fundamental topics on wedding photography that all couples should acknowledge when preparing for their grand day.

How far in advance should I book a photographer for my wedding?

Numerous photographers urge reserving a photographer right when you become engaged, or at least until you recognize when the wedding date is. It is advised that the couple who is engaged book 8-12 months in advance since some studios book wedding dates promptly. Weddings are more numerous from months of May all the way to October when the weather is most favorable. If you choose to have your wedding during this period of time, the photographer you select will likely ask for a non-returnable deposit or retainer fee to hold the date of your wedding. This makes certain when the your wedding arrives you will have this photographer or studio ready for you, and securing a contracted job for your photographer. The quicker you book your personal photographer, the more likely you are able to have a solid working relationship with your first choice.

What are some of the benefits of hiring a professional?

The primary benefit to hiring a professional wedding photographer is experience. Most wedding photographers have extensive experience working with many various individuals and tough personalities.  They have faced unsuitable weather conditions, and encountered various technical problems. Because they specialize in photography, they are well outfitted to manage numerous wedding sizes or photo demands. Unlike a friend or relative of the couple, a professional photographer's essential goal is capturing candid moments on film. Being conscious of they are depended on delivering high quality photos that will be loved for numerous years to come, they are less likely to be carried away by aspects of the ceremony. With an event that allows no second chances, hiring a professional is a good investment that will help keep your memories of your special day around for years.

Which format is the better choice, film or digital?

It will all actually depend on what the photographer that you choose prefers. Digital is normally less pricey than film. Yet, film has the ability to be scanned at a higher resolution when king-sized prints are preferred, and it is ideal for subjects that are fast moving in nature due to shutter speeds that are faster on 35mm cameras. Then Again, digital prints appear similar to film, sometimes even better. With digital photography there are no negatives so there is negligeble downsides, and even less chance of damaged or lost film, or photo finishing problems. Digital photos can be simpler to share with acquaintances or family through emails, as well as galleries on the internet. In addition, digital images are not likely to fade in color or detail since they are typically stored on a CD or disk. Either way, if you actually enjoy the work of a photographer, selecting which format to use for the day of your wedding should not be a huge problem.

How much should I expect to pay when hiring a professional photographer?

Expect photography alone to be more or less 5% to 10% of your entire budget. That could be anywhere from $900 to $2,000, and possibly up to $10,000. This is all dependent on several factors such as advertising, transportation, education, and insurance. Quotes on price include the cost of equipment for instance cameras and film. Quality professional cameras can cost in the thousands. While creating black and white film is much more expensive than developing color prints due to a long handcrafted operation. Other things that couples must take account into their budget for photography involve the amount of hours that photographers devote at your wedding, including additional photographers, any additional prints, and custom albums. In addition, anticipate to pay more for a professional that is in high demand.


Can I keep my wedding picture negatives?

 

Legally, the copyrights to photos taken on your wedding day are the property of the photographer when they are made. It is illegal to copy or multiply copyrighted material without sanction from the proprietor of the copyright. Many photographers select to keep the proofs or negatives since they want to sustain their control of, and protect the photos which they have taken. This give the ability of photographers to charge additional money if supplemental prints are requested. All The Same many wedding photographers do not think about selling photographs, and are more than ready to hand over whatever negatives. Each photo studio will have contrasting policies regarding who keeps the rights to the negatives and proofs. Numerous studios also like to hold negatives for individuals in the event that the particular negatives have been damaged or lost.

 


Click the link for more details: Photography Backdrops with additional useful material at Art Photography and Underwater Photography

Friday, November 28, 2008

Digital Photography for Beginners

Yes, digital photography for beginners is possible. Although if you are used to using an old film camera there are some differences with the modern digital cameras you will want to know about.

You will be able to get a lot out of digital photography for beginners once you know of and capitalize on of these differences. The truth is this stuff really isn't rocket science.

Gaining a Collection of Images

With the digital format we are now hardly limited at all when it comes to the number of photos we will be able to take. Never again will you have to pay for a whole load of prints that you didn't even want. This is all good, however you do need to get into the habit of going through your photos and editing or deleting your collection. This is because you do not want to have to go through loads and loads of useless images to find your good ones later.

Ways to save space

You can switch from a high-resolution picture to a lower resolution to save on storage space. Your high-resolution photos will take up more storage space than the lower resolution one.

Generally you'll probably only need a really high end resolution with your photographs when intending to print them out in a very large size, say like a poster for instance. For looking at on your laptop and other electronic devices you will likely find a smaller quality is more than good enough, visitors to my basic photography guide usually say this is the norm for them. It is also possible with many cameras to change the compression rate/format that your camera saves its images in. Your images will take up less room in the storage space when you compress the pictures. If there is one thing modern Day cameras are normally short of its memory space, so you really should increase it as soon as possible. This will instantly bring your level of fun down if you were planning to take photos and you cannot because you just ran out of memory.

The dreaded battery issue

Healthy batteries for your camera is simply essential.

If you are running low on battery power, avoiding overuse of your LCD digital display should help significantly to lengthen your cameras usage time. You can also turn off the flash and continuous auto focus to reduce these items from using up your batteries. If your camera doesn't use its own special power pack, make sure you are at least using good rechargeable batteries and that you have several charged replacement sets of batteries ready with you at all times. All amateurs, no matter what their level of experience, will be able to enjoy digital photography for beginners. There's no reason why you can't come up with pictures you are proud of.

you'll learn that it is easy to go from digital photography for beginners to the next level of photography, as you get more comfortable with your digital camera.

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Thursday, November 27, 2008

Two Digital Cameras For the Beginner - Nikon D60 and Nikon D40

If you're looking for a solid buy in the area of digital cameras on sale. This week I've selected two for my review. The Nikon D4 and the Nikon D40 DSlr. Both are the Slr type and they both are within the price range between $450.00 and $600.00. Depending on the sale, perks and what-knots. Nikon D40 with standard kit lens AF-S DX 18-55...Image via Wikipedia

The Nikon D60 Digital SLR Camera details:Nikon D60 w/AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR -Exclusive Black Gold Special Edition. This camera has good value for it's price, it is of high quality and pretty much does it all.

What's so fantastic about these small but powerful cameras is the user-friendly features. I'm very pleased to say that I'd recommend this camera to anyone looking for an affordable Digital SLR camera. Some people enjoy knowing the actual date each picture has been taken. The Nikon D60 allows you to turn the imprinting date feature on and off as you desire. This feature is located in the bottom right corner of the camera. Pretty much everything you would normally associate with the DSLR's are there. You'll find a super selection of choices for your manual modes, programmed modes, and even the automatic modes.

I'd give the Nikon D60 a thumbs up for both the novice and semi pro's. If you can find this digital camera on sale, that's a nice bonus. The next camera I've chosen for my review is the Nikon D40 DSlr. The details of this camera are as follows: 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor lens.

Perhaps you are finding yourself wanting to dive into the world of photography. The Nikon D40 is easy to use, takes wonderful pictures in automatic mode and is quite an impressive digital camera.

Comfortable controls, easy to use and it's of a nice strong construction. It is lightweight, but a little heavier than some. It is also great for the casual hobbyist or someone becoming a little more serious in digital photography. A nice camera for scrap-booking, close up or full body portraits as well as scenery pictures. You are in full control for taking the perfect picture for your particular needs.

Easy manual modes make this one of the better digitals camera on sale for the beginner. It may be a little bit larger than some prefer in a digital camera. While you're in the store, hold it up and take a few shots to get a better judge of the weight. Some people may find this just a tad to heavy for their taste. This is why I do recommend you take the opportunity to visit your local electronics outlet. This way, you can pick it up and play with it a bit before you make any long lasting decisions.

These are not the cheapest digital cameras on sale, but they are some of the better buys for the somewhat serious beginner or the more casual digital photography hobbyist.

Sales come and go fast, so hurry on down to your local electronics outlet to check these two little digital cameras for sale out. I wouldn't classify either of these cameras in the discount digital camera field, but discounted merchandise is sometimes along the lines of the, 'you get what you pay for' buyers plan.

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Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Canon Powershot SX10IS 10MP Digital Camera Review

Are you considering photography as a hobby? But you don't want to spend to much in an SLR before you can be sure that you like photography.

This is where Canon Powershot SX10IS camera comes in.

Power SX101S is making its foray into the range of Canon digital cameras. It is an upgrade on the S5IS. The enhanced digital SLR camera now has upgraded DIGIC4, letting you to snap continuous photographs for subjects in motion, and magnified resolution of 10 mega pixels.

Taking remarkable range shots is no longer a problem. Thanks to SX10IS's large 20x optical zoom. Taking natural photographs is impressive enough that the subjects don't know they are being filmed.

The wide angle of SX10IS is pretty impressive. It has a range of 28mm to 560mm. It makes a breeze for any photographer to capture photographs at close ups or far away.

The Powershot SX10IS can distinguish human faces at any angle. Upon finding the faces, you will notice a focusing rectangles on the faces. Don't you think you can focus better on faces with this feature?

The optical image stabilization (OIS) and motion detection benefit you when you attach the long lens on the Canon Powershot SX10IS.

Compared to its predecessor, Powershot SX10IS is bigger. If you are a newbie, then you may find it bulky. But after using it a few times, you'll find that you can take shots more steadily because of the grip. Also, you won't drop the camera easily.

The improved design makes easier for you to reach the buttons on the Canon Powershot SX10IS. With easy reach you can change any setting such as Manual exposure, Program AE, Custom mode, Aperture priority AE, and Shutter-speed priority AE.

You'll be amazed with the quality of the images. Its 10 mega pixels could take amazing details when you shoot for close ups. Its i-Contrast also helps you to capture shots under natural lighting without blowing out the light areas.

Of course, you can't compare the quality of the pictures to the ones you take with a standalone DSLR lens. Overall, it is easy to use. It starts up fast. I think Canon Powershot SX10IS it is an ideal digital camera for those who can't afford DSLR camera.

I wouldn't be surprised if you have visited the reviews at CNET or DPREVIEW. But the best comments actually come from the users themselves. We took the liberty of extracting some quotations of the users from digital camera discussion boards, Shopping.com, and Amazon.com. Following this Canon Powershot SX10IS review, it would justify the purchase of Canon Powershot SX10IS.

"In initial testing, the face detection technology seems to work well. I can take a self portrait now and the lighting comes out very good. I think the technology has gone from buzzword marketing to true usefulness."

"This camera's 28-560 mm is what makes this camera like no others. With the 100 or so pictures produce for me so far, it looks a feels like a winner."

"The flip-out and rotating viewfinder has always and continues to set this camera apart from its peers from other companies. It allows for less intrusive candid photos and has many other advantages."

"28mm-560mm is one heck of range to have at your finger tips."

"I feel the lens is the best of the ultra zooms in its range."

"Build quality is amazingly solid, though. Video recording is intuitive and the quality looks good - plus you have full use of the camera's very quiet lens."

"If you are looking for a camera that takes really good sports photos or any photos, I would recommend this camera."

"Functionally, I'm very impressed so far. This is a significant reworking of the S5, rather than a previous model lightly warmed over."

Now you have decided that this is digital camera you're looking.

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Friday, November 21, 2008

Basic Digital Photography

Enjoying the Basics in Digital Photography

Basic digital photography is easy for people of all ages to learn. These cameras are more sophisticated with great options that can help people capture special moments in their lives. Any wonderful picture taken is always going to be one the photographers will keep for a long time. Basic Digital photography is not difficult to learn. Photographers of all ages do not have to be brilliant to take wonderful photo with a digital camera. Basic photography means learning how to operate one of these special cameras.

Basic digital photography includes capturing and saving the desirable photos in the memory of the camera. With just a click of a button any undesirable photos may be deleted. After learning to take good photos with basic digital photography, you can download them to a printer or computer. Some people like to print out their photos while others like to keep the photos on their computers available for viewing. Using digital photography you can easily share all the photographs you have taken with others. Photographers can quickly send their photos with a simple push of a button to relatives, neighbors and friends around the world.

Taking Basic Digital Photography is a Great Beginning.

Photographers need to have a good knowledge of basic digital photography to take pictures, after which, many continue learning to improve their skills. Learning to go further than the basics, photographers will start to work on the arrangement of their photos. They are motivated to make their photographs much more than just ’good enough’, they want them to be exceptional. There are some incredible examples of photos that are considered not to be good compositions. For example, if a picture was taken without the photographer realizing the background area had a pole behind the person they were taking the picture of, then, there may be an unexpected object that could appear in the photo sticking out of someone’s head.

There are some great tools that photographers can use to move beyond basic digital photography. You can find any number of computer software programs the will help you make the photographs you take even more beautiful. If the picture you took is too dark or too light you can fix it with one of these computer programs. If you have an area in a picture you do not want to show or keep, then you should use a cropping tool to remove it. Once you are proficient in digital photography, you can begin to explore how to enlarge photos or part of one. Almost everyone likes to have photos of their favorite people in their homes and offices. After learning basic digital photography, people can print out some of their favorite photos and place them in frames for home or office display.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

How to Buy the Perfect Camera

The latest digital cameras are brimming with technological features,this often leads to people buying something that doesn't suit their needs. So what are should you look for if you are looking to buy a digitalcamera? To get you kick started there are some useful tips outlined in this article. The most important question you need to ask yourself is: what sort of photography do you intend to use the camera for?

Will you be using it every day? A point to remember when you are looking at buying a digital camera is what type of batteries it uses because ideally they should be rechargeable,long term it will be less expensive to use this type of battery. If you are using you home pc to carry out photo editing you will need to think about whether you pc is up to the task.Other features such as diopter adjustment for people with poor vision, a remote control and a tripod socket can all be considered when you look at different models. If you don't already have some proprietary image editing software then do not worry because it will usually be included when you buy a digital camera but a photo printer will have to be factored into the equation if you don't already have one.

Most people with computers will have a printer but you must check to see if it can be used for printing photos. The megapixel resolution of the camera will ideally need to be adjusted as high as it will go if you want to produce decent size images. When buying your digital camera, look for a large LCD screen version which many newer cameras have as standard,this screen allows for greater shooting flexibility in addition to making it easier to view them afterwards.

With a little luck this article has cleared up a number of points you may have been unclear on and should make buying a digital camera a little easier. Take note of how easy it is to operate because although functions are important, if it isn't easy to use, it won't be! Many newer digital cameras come equipped with large internal rechargeable batteries but if not you shot invest in a couple of sets,not only are these extremely cost effective, less batteries means less are disposed of which helps the environment. All digital cameras have a LCD screen which is a small screen located at the back of the unit,large screens make taking the picture so much easier.

Often you will find that smaller compact types are only made without a viewfinder to reduce the size but include a large, by comparison, LCD screen. If you enjoy close up pictures then you need a model with an optical zoom. If you are serious about buying a digital camera then you should try to avoid purchasing one with only a digital zoom. Two other things to look out for are diopter adjustment for people with poorer vision and a tripod socket because both are very useful. Now that you are looking to buy a digital camera, do you know what to look for.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

5 Easy Ways to Improving Digital Camera Photography

Whether you are adopting your digital camera for recreational use or are taking a trip into the world of professional photography, you will find it helpful to understand a few important tips to improving the overall quality of each picture that you take. 

1) If you are taking a picture of a person or your favorite pet, make sure that you place the camera at the subjects eye level. If you are photographing a child sitting down or your cute kitten playing on the ground, you will need to stoop down to their level. The subject of your picture is not required to be looking directly into the camera. The thought here is simply to place the cameras point of view at the same level of your subject. 

2) The best pictures will be those without a lot of buzy background movement. Instead, a plain background will bring more attention to your subject and less to what is going on around it. When you look through the viewfinder, also take a moment to scan the surrounding area in an effort to make sure there are no distrations in the background. 

3) Did you know that using your digital camera’s flash outdoors can greatly enhance the quality of your image? If you are taking photographs on a sunny day, especially, shadows are often very problematic and can sometimes lessoned or eliminated altogether with the use of the flash. This was one digital camera tips I learned by accident. 

4) Don’t be afraid to move in close to your subject. You can use the zoom feature if you are unable to get as close as you would want because your goal should be to fill the entire picture with your subject. If you get too close, however, the photo may end up blurry. If you are in doubt, take several pictures just to make sure you get the perfect one. 

5) Get creative with your digital camera pictures. Take both horizontal and vertical photos. Most people simply point and click and never give another thought to the option of taking vertical photos, which can greatly enhance an image of tall subjects. From {taking pictures of dogs} to lakes or mountaintops, vertical photos are often the best way to capture a lot of detail in your subject. 

When you are taking photos, no matter your location,pay attention the lighting. Cloudy days often provide optimal photo opportunities, but you will need to be aware of much more than just the what’s happening in the sky as given in the tips above. If you are using your digital camera indoors, the lighting does become an important factor so you will want to try to avoid anything that may place a glare in the photo. 

After all, the hightlight of your photo should be your Best buddy, family member, or the wide open spaces. And of course, that would be the subject.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Discount Digital Cameras Can Be Acquired

Quality digital cameras can be expensive and you may be reluctant to purchase a new camera for this reason. There are many venues where less expensive digital cameras can be purchased, but people are often unaware of this.

Online consumer services provide sales of overstock items and it is one of the best ways to find discount digital cameras. As the name suggests, overstock items are items of stock that have not sold. The cameras are not inferior it is just the demand did not meet the expectations of the stock purchased.

In order to move them so as to have more shelf space the store will drop the prices drastically. Now, since the number of people who visit the actual store are limited in number, the store may seek the services of an online overstock seller who will gladly handle the facilitation of the sale for them. As such, these online overstock services can provide excellent deals for the thrift minded shopper.

Going from store to store in your city looking for these discount digital cameras can be very tiring. The Internet is actually a great place to shop for discount digital cameras because you can easily compare product features and prices without having to move from in front of your computer.

It is not surprising that some consumers may have misgivings in regards to purchasing discount digital cameras through an overstock distributor because the cameras are not new releases. These cameras are not new releases but they are not second hand or reconditioned either. The cameras are factory sealed and are untampered with, they simply did not sell in the store at full price. The only difference between an overstock discount digital camera and a brand new one is the price.

Ultimately, there is always a risk when it comes to purchasing any product that is not brand new, but the risks associated with overstock sales are generally minimal. The other benefit with most overstock online distributors compared to a site offering second hand cameras is there are often refund options available.

The advantages of purchasing a discount digital camera far outweigh the disadvantages, so your purchase would be an investment, and any savings on the purchase price will surely be appreciated.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

The Special Marine Digital Camera

The art of underwater photography is only carried out using special marine digital cameras operated by professionals from many scientific disciplines. Using an marine  camera requires skill as you are operating in a foreign environment Many waterproof cameras are ok but they cannot be submerged for more than a meter below the surface of the water

Buying one of those marine digital cameras isn't really likely but you could buy one of the cheaper options if you are only going below the surface for a short while and not to deep.

You see, water pressure is the real problem for these cameras as well as water leaks Of course quality camera manufacturers have overcome this problem by creating watertight plastic cases that encompass the digital camera. Cases like this, inexpensive in comparison to a real marine digital camera, can for a while make you believe that you too are some kind of underwater photographer.

If you are shooting with your marine digital camera, you need to take note of a few things to help you come up with the best underwater images.

Water diffuses the light and the farther down you go the more this diffusion occurs. The result of this is a darkening of the captured image so adjustments to the white balance are needed. You will also notice when you see the pictures taken underwater that they appear larger than they should; this is part of the magnifying effect water has. You will have to pay more attention using the viewfinder to make sure you are achieving the shot you want.

You don't want to have a camera that leaks when you go underwater so before you dive, check that the case is waterproof by holding it below the surface for a few seconds. Especially check the seal to make sure that a grain of sand or even a hair hasn't broken the seal. Small silica gel packs can be useful if they can fit in the case without causing an obstruction.

Optional lenses are often available so if you can add these to your marine digital camera then do so. It is possible to get really close to some subject for great close-up shots using a macro lens.

When you have finished using your marine digital camera be careful to wash it thoroughly to make sure all the salt water is removed as the salt will crystallize and this can cause leaks. The best way to rinse of an marine digital camera where grains of sand are present in particular is with a flow of clean water.

 

Get more ideas on digital cameras visit Discount Olympus Digital Camera

 

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 Digital SLR Camera Pros and Cons

The Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 Digital SLR Camera is the follow-up model to Sony’s first DSLR model, the A100. This new model is faster, lighter and much easier to use than it’s predecessor. It also provides noise control and AF acquisition times.

FEATURES

The A200 includes a 10.2 mega pixel Super HAD CCD sensor and Sony’s pivotal BIONZ processor. This option produces dynamic range, minimal noise and improved picture detail. It also enhances images with rich tonal reproduction, improved white balance and exposure control. This model utilizes Sony’s Carl Zeiss lens.

This camera features six primary shooting modes:

Scene: With this option, the user can select six different presents with camera setting optimized for each scene
Manual: With this option, the user manually selects shutter speed and aperture
Shutter priority: User selects shutter speed and camera sets aperture
Aperture priority: User selects lens aperture and the camera sets shutter speed
Program: With this popular option, the camera utilizes automatic exposure while retaining custom settings
Auto: With this option the camera uses default settings to easily and effortlessly shoot any subject under any conditions.

Pros:

-Great image and color quality. Awesome range of adjustments
-Dust reduction sensor with stabilizer
-Accepts a variety of mainstream lenses
-Good shutter and AF response

Cons:

-The plastic construction is questionable in terms of durability

The image and color quality are great and there’s plenty of inputs available to customize image parameters if the default shots aren’t to your liking. The shutter is standard DSLR quick and the auto focus performance is great in normal lighting environments. The camera comes with a 2.7 inch LCD monitor and there are a total of five brightness settings available. The monitor works great even if there are smears on the screen.

The  high mega pixel range offer room for professional photographs. The A200 has the D-Range Optimizer feature with standard and advanced digital settings. The D-Range Optimizer preserves detail in both shadow and light in pictures. The advanced setting places the image into small sections and analyses the contrast of light and shadow between the subject and the background, producing an image with optimal brightness and gradation.

The Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 has a variety of different scene presents including portrait, landscape, macro, sports, sunset and night portrait. The A200 is a great camera overall and there are some wonderful entry-level features such as dust reduction, in-camera stabilization and the ability to use Sony and Minolta lenses. The A200 should be even more attractive since Sony has recently dropped it’s MSRP to $500 USD.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Wedding Photography Tip – Saving Memories That Can Last Forever

Wedding Photography Tips

Wedding pictures are meant to last forever. As a gift for this special event, the most beautiful shots should be given to the newlyweds as a gift for this reason. Every wedding moment is a happy one, so you wouldn't really have a hard time capturing photographic memories that are worth keeping.

If you have a passion for photography and you are going to a wedding, why not bring a camera and practice your skills? To prepare for the weddding day you can always get a helpful wedding photography tips book to guide you through the day.

Wedding Photography Tip – What To Do Before The Event

Before the event, it is a helpful wedding photography tip to ready all the materials you need. If you take great pictures of scenery or sports for example, don't let that be a hindrance to taking great photographs at weddings. Like sports, you can always take the "active" moments of the wedding and you will see how you can create the funnier side of the event.

Obviously, you'll need your camera and an extra battery as well to get you through the entire wedding day. Of course, you need to put them inside your camera bag so you won't miss bringing any of them at the church or at the reception area. You can also choose to bring your tripod with you for still and perfect photo moments. During you own wedding photo shoot there are not many other useful items that can be helpful other than these two.

Wedding Photography Tip – Taking Your Shots

A good wedding photography tip would help you take good shots both at the church and at the reception area. Try to stay in the center aisle of the church when inside because here you can capture the best pictures. Of course, you wouldn't want to block the main wedding photographer since he is the one assigned by the couple to take neat shots of the wedding. For closer views, you really need to get up close to your subjects. Portrait style of photography is always best for wedding photos. This will help the couple identify the guests at a later time, and this can also be a good shot for the members of the entourage.

Wedding Photography Tip – After Wedding Photos

Moving along the reception, there is one helpful wedding photography tip that can aid you in producing pictures that bring delight to the newlyweds. Since the main photographer would focus on the main events of the wedding like the slicing of the cake and wine drinking, you can always choose to capture other moments like the reaction of the guests or the children playing around the bride and groom during this time. There are so many different tricks you can do at a wedding. However, getting support from this wedding photography tip list alone would help you sufficiently enough in taking the best shots at the wedding.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Researching A Digital Camera

Digital camera technology moves forward so quickly these days that it often alienates its potential customers. Finding the best digital camera should really be quite simple with all the consumer reports and comparisons available both online and in written periodicals. Drawing the money to pay for it out you decide on a top of the range 10 megapixel resolution, 12 times optical zoom compact camera with a two and a half inch LCD screen for excellent viewing of the images afterwards. Can you imagine your surprise when you find that the camera you have researched so diligently and have set your heart on has been usurped from its position of best model with a newer more expensive version.

So we have a dilemma because now there is this new version, we simply must have this latest best digital camera. However, the decision to purchase the best digital camera has been made for us because why would we now want second best. If you are new to digital cameras and photography the tips below might be useful and point you in the right direction. First off try and search out a model with a higher number of pixels, referred to megapixels; you ideally need over 5 although with today's cameras it would be hard to find one under that anyway.

You normally find that the higher the number of pixels, referred to as megapixels, the camera has, the deeper the colors and clarity of the image will be which helps the final printed version. The resolution of your image is based upon the megapixel property of your camera which means that as you enlarge the picture, you would get more detail and less blurry colors. Good quality models are now using large LCD screens around the 2.5 inches area which is great for viewing them afterwards and for framing the shots perfectly. Many of the best quality digital cameras now have special functions enabled so the image can be edited to a degree on the screen itself without the use of a computer.

However, if you remember that a large screen equals higher power consumption, smaller screen, lower power consumption you can't go wrong so just carry a spare set of rechargeable batteries with you everywhere. More and more digital cameras are coming equipped with an optical zoom and this is the sort to try for even if it is only a three times power. Low spec cameras that only cost a fraction for their quality cousins will only have a digital zoom; unless you really aren't at all fussy about your shots you would be well advised to stay clear of buying a digital zoom only camera. As there are so many types of storage card available you will have to ensure you buy the correct one.

Memory cards are used in all sorts of electronic gadgets and you may already have heard of the main ones: Sony's Memory Stick, compact Flash, Secure Digital and XD cards for example. Purchasing a large memory card means you can store larger resolution images and many more of them but sometimes the larger capacity cards might not be compatible with your model. Prices for the large gigabyte cards now are almost the same price as one that was only 64mb only 2 or 3 years ago. Your life and interests should really be the ideal measuring stick for the type of digital camera you ultimately buy. Whether you use your camera for fun or for serious photography, as long as it is used it will be worth the financial outlay.

 

To find additional information on digital cameras visit Vivitar Digital Camera

Friday, November 7, 2008

Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 Digital camera

Sony’s Alpha DSLR-A700 Digital camera is extremely streamlined, offers comfortable shooting design, broad functional features, sensor-shift image stabilizer, excellent photo quality and extremely fast picture-taking performance.

This is a top of the line amateur digital SLR camera that will make an excellent choice if you don’t already have a chosen lens system. The Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 Digital camera offers SLR resolution at 12.24 mega pixels and a display type: 3 in LCD display.

The DSLR-A700 offers several bundles: body only, a kit with an 3.5-5.6, 16 mm-to-105mm lens, a kit with a 3.5-4.6, 18mm-to70mm lens, a kit with an 3.5-5.6, 18mm-200mm lens and a dual-lens kit which offers the aforementioned 18mm-70mm lens and a 3.5-6.3, 75mm-to-300mm lens.

The body itself is dust and moisture resistant with a tough aluminum chassis and magnesium shell. Weighing in at 1.75 pounds, the Sony A700 feels solid and well-crafted. Sony also includes a solid set of practical features, such as Steady/Shot sensor-shirt image stabilization, dual memory-card slots and a built-in wireless flash transmitter.

Here’s a brief outline of Sony’s new “Advanced Amateur” camera:

-HDTV output
-Creative styles and lot of new parameters to play with
-Advanced Graphical User Interface and a huge range of new features and functions
-Brand new 40 segment honeycomb metering
-12 Mega Pixels CMOS sensor
-High speed shutter with high sync speed
-Big screen with high resolution
-Fast, 5 frames-per-second continuous shooting capabilities and better buffering

The zoom lens kit costs approximately $1900. Buying the body alone reduces the price by $500. The number of lenses and accessories to this camera is limited. It has far more exposure controls than any other DSLR camera to date. That being said, the camera’s ease of use is exceptional. Like most DSLR’s, it has easy-to-find selector dials for quickly changing shutter speeds, exposure compensation and aperture values.

The best feature by far is the Function button on the back of the camera. In shooting mode, this feature displays a summary of your exposure settings on it’s 3-inch LCD screen. The function button, along with joystick and selector dials, will allow you to change any of the display settings right on the screen. This camera is very intuitive and super-fast!

With it’s incredibly sharp, 12 mega pixel imaging and more exposure controls than most camera’s, this finely designed camera is on par to near professional level photography, making it worth the overall price. The only minor limitation is it’s narrow range of lenses and accessories but overall this camera gets 9 out of 10 stars.

See more digicam reviews and find out how to get the camera you want for less cash at our website Best Digital Camera Reviews

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Portrait Photography

Professional portrait

Do you just snap pictures of friends without a thought to how it my turn out?  Executive portrait photography takes you a step up from people photography.  It gives you elements to notice such as the angle you take the photograph, the lighting you will use, and the expression of emotion on a persons face.  While you may be an amateur photographer deciding to take Christmas photos without the expense you will need to have some basic knowledge of techniques used by the professionals. 

First when taking a photograph of a person you need to study their face.  The face is important to the angle you will shoot from.  Though it is a cliché, it is true some people have a better side.  This could be in relation to scarring or acne breakouts or even simpler.  For instance my left eye is larger than my right by just a bit, and looking head on into the camera will cause a horrible portrait, however if the photographer comes from the right side and angles up a little the light and shadows will help even out the features while keeping the distinctions that make me who I am.

Portrait lighting photography is about capturing the essence of the subject, the personality.  The little nuances of a face add character to the portrait.  You will want to loosen up your subjects.  If you are becoming a professional portrait photographer you will want to learn about your subject as you are taking pictures or perhaps meet them before the session.  If they are just your family then you should know what would get their personality captured on film. 

Lighting is the next important step to portrait photography.  A lot of photographers prefer natural light to artificial.  Your subject will in part decide this for you.  Remember you will use the light you have.  Natural light will often require setting the aperture to compensate for the cameras lack of definition.  In other words you need to create the contrast with the light and shadows for the effect you want.  Often artificial light is harsh and not directed properly unless in a studio.  Again you will need to use the manual settings on your camera to create the perfect portrait. 

The background is also important when discussing light.  In a studio a photographer will pick a background that will not wash your features out or your clothing.  They want to have a distinction or contrast between you and the background.  This is also important of home portrait photography.  You will want a background that gives color to your subject rather than taking it away.  Finding a nice spot with a tree to sit on and mountains in the background can be a great portrait, but you will want to make sure the background is not too busy to distract from the subject.  Make the subject seem apart of the picture rather than outside of it.

The type of camera and film you use will also determine the quality of the photography.  Once you combine techniques such as lighting, angles, and understanding your subject you will be able to create a near to professional if not professional portrait for your friends and family no matter the occasion.  Just snapping a picture is possible, but it would be great to have a better portrait?

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Don't Be A Loser ... Backup Your Photos and Data

Just One Of Those Days?

Honey!?! Why won't the computer boot up?
What's that smell? Is something burning?
Weren't all your pictures on that computer?
Oh, no!

Don't be a loser ... like me.  I am talking about loss, data loss.  In terms of digital photography I am talking specifically about the pictures of your life that are more than likely all stored in one place only: the hard drive of your computer. 

Life gets busy and it is easy to just collect data, take pictures and make movies, write documents and put our financial data in our checkbook program. We just collect all that stuff in one place (our PC’s) and just think its always going to be there for us forever, just like a good friend. Well, just when you least expect it your technology can turn on you.  I've lost important pictures and let me tell you huge gaping hole in my heart that I experienced.  I was a looser.  My first thought was, do I have my stuff backed up?  My response was “no”, then “OH, NO!”

How much are your digital photos worth to you?  A hard drive failure could cost between $300 and $3000 to recover the data depending on the severity of the hard drive crash, if in fact your data is even recoverable.

Here is a short list of things you can do to protect your valuable photos, videos and other personal data:

Buy and Keep Your Antivirus Software Up To Date

Malicious viruses can erase your hard drive.  Use a system that is updated automatically every day with the latest virus definitions.

Service Your PC Regularly

When dust collects in and around your hard drives, they overheat and that will shorten the life of the drive.  Your PC is one big electrostatic air filter. Have it serviced by a professional at least once a year and keep them off of the carpeted floor, away from dust and pet dander.

I recommend getting an air filter and keep it in the room with your PC.  Your PC will not breathe in as much dust, and as an added benefit, the air will be fresher and you will breathe less dust at the same time.

Backup Your Photos and Data

Backing up your photos and data over the web is becoming a very popular choice for data backup.  It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.  This is a great, cheap insurance policy.Online backup is like buying an insurance policy for your digital photo archives.

Here are the advantages of backing up to the Internet: 

You can backup securely over any high speed Internet connection.

Since your data is stored on a server offsite, you are covered from events such as PC theft, fire or hard drive failure. You might consider what would happen if there is an earthquake, flood or other natural disaster wherever your backups are stored.

The best way to regularly back up your data and keep your data backup offsite is to open a free account with Mozy.com. With MozyHome you can backup 2 Gigabytes for free, and for $4.95 per month (even less with an annual subscription) you can back up an unlimited amount of data from your home computer.  They have great prices for business computers as well.

Many online backup companies offer a low cost data backup only to charge you on the back side to restore your backup data.  Not so with Mozy.  They have no hidden charges!  When I asked their tech support to confirm, they told me "We don't hold your data for ransom."

So, don't be a loser. You've invested hours and dollars in your digital photo library.  It is literally priceless.  One day (maybe even tomorrow) you will be glad you did, or sorry you didn’t.  Save early and save often, and make data backup a critical part of your digital photography processes.

You might even encourage your friends to back up their data (send them a link to this article!) You may become one of their biggest heroes the next time they experience a data loss event.

Sign up for a free digital photography tip of the week at www.photonack.com. If you shoot in camera RAW (you should be), please visit www.rawconverterreview.com for news and reviews about popular RAW converter programs.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Medium Format: Do You Need It?

You, as a photographer, are looking for the perfect image. In addition to a good, well composed photo, you want the best technical quality. You want your photos to be as detailed as possible, showing on the subtle colors and sharp edges of your real world subjects. You want the ultimate image.

If you need this type of image, medium format is here to help. As you may know, medium format photography uses a film format that is significantly larger than the standard 35mm format that we all know and love. By using a larger film area, medium format cameras, such as the famous Hasselblad 500 series can capture significantly more information, and therefore a much sharper, more vibrant image. A larger slide or negative will always give a better image, all other things being equal, as it simply allows for that much more information to be stored.

Medium format gear is "professional" gear, meaning the quality is very high. Some of the best lenses ever made have been for medium format cameras. You're not going to find much cheap, low quality consumer grade glass in the medium format world, though TLR cameras like the Yashica TLRs can be a little cheaper. Rather, the finest lens makers of all times have tasked their best engineers with the mission of creating amazing lenses for their medium format cameras. Most of these lenses will create images of the highest quality possible.

All these factors add up to give you an amazing quality image that will blow away any 35mm image taken under similar conditions. If you look at a medium format slide (or negative) through a magnifier, you will be amazed at the level of detail you'll be seeing. It's hard to describe, but the difference is immediately visible and striking. This is not a small quality improvement that is visible to only an elite few, this is a radical change in the quality of your photos.

Indeed, it is this quality that leads many professionals to deal with the added cost, size, and weight of medium format gear. To be sure, its not the most convenient and affordable of formats. The larger negative requires a larger, more complex camera to deal with. A larger lens is required to focus enough light to expose the medium format film pane. These larger, more complex cameras and lenses are also significantly more expensive than 35mm cameras. Medium format cameras are not for the average photographer, but rather for the professional or amateur who demands only the best looking images possible, while still allowing for some flexibility and portability, which large format lacks.

So, should you go out and buy a medium format camera today? Typically not, given the way medium format is so complex. However, if you're looking to greatly improve the quality of your images, and you're not too daunted by the complexities and expense involved with a medium format camera, you should start shopping for one today, as nothing else will fulfill that desire as well as medium format camera can.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Your First Digital Camera

Best Price for Your Digital Camera

Finding a digital camera best price can be a little difficult at first. However, outlining what you are looking to do with your camera, your level of experience, who it is for, may help determine the digital camera best price you seek. There are places to go like stevesdigicam.com that provides extensive reviews on just about every digital camera available on the market today. Also, do not just settle on one place to shop for the best digital camera price. A good place to go is digitalcamera-hq.com or buy.com.

You will need to be concerned not only about the right digital camera best price but about digital camera features and accessories as well. I would advise not to jump on the most inexpensive digital camera, as that it may not have the features you want. Carefully review features, like memory, shooting speed, megapixels, zoom, focus, image stabilizer, lighting, and especially download capabilities to your PC.

Next, determine what you are going to be photographing with your digital camera. Are you shooting landscape, people, action sports, your kids, or are you going to be using it for school? Are your kids going to use it? That is a big factor here.  So, not only waht you are shooting, but also who will use the digital camera. You may want to buy a cheaper camera that you are not afraid to let get used and abused if you will.

Those who are beginners at this may want to buy the most expensive camera, unless you are going to photography school like the Art Institute. otherwise, look for a camera that will meet your immediate needs and will give you a first hand experience. The digital camera best price for you would be on low end.

Finally, there are many brand names and models to choose from. Obtaining the digital camera best price can be found if you apply the principles listed here versus just jumping out of the boat to purchase a digital camera. A little research can save you hundreds of dollars.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 Digital SLR Camera Reviewed

The Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 Digital SLR Camera raises the resolution from 10 mega pixels to 14.2 mega pixels. The auto focus function in Live View is as fast as it is in optical viewfinder mode. This is the major breakthrough of all of Sony’s SLR cameras.

The A350 has a new “pop-up” flash rather than the older “pull-up” variety. This camera can deploy flash in auto mode when necessary. Sony’s 14 mega pixel Alpha A350 has a MSRP of $800 for the base model , $900 with the optional 18-70 mm lens and $1090.00 with the advanced 18-70 and 55-200 lens.

The Sony Alpha A350 measures 5.25x4x3 inches and weighs about 24 ounces or 682 grams with memory card and battery.

Sony A350 BASIC FEATURES:

-14.2 Mega Pixel HAD CCD with resolutions of up to 4,592 x 3,056 pixels!
-Lithium-ion battery
-Compact Flash Type I, II and Microdrive
-Optical viewfinder
-3.88x lens kit, 18-70 mm (27-105mm equivalent)
-ISO sensitivity: 100:3,200 seconds
-Dimensions 5.25x4.0x3.0 inches
-Weight: 24 ounces(including lens, card and battery)

Sony A350 Advanced Special Features

-Live View Mode
-Tilting LCD
-Super SteadyShot in-camera image stabilization
-BIONZ image processor
-Anti-Dust Technology
-External, flash hot-shoe
-Auto pop-up flash with four main operating modes and a variable slow-sync function
-Dynamic range optimizer
-Built in support for wireless TTL flash exposure with certain Sony flashes
-Eye-start auto focus system
-Auto and manual focus options with Single and Continuous AF modes
-A wide selection of scene modes including: Portrait, landscape, sports, macro, sunset, night view and night portrait
-Creative style settings
-Raw and JPEG file formats
-High-resolution thumbnails for Photo TV HD viewing
-Continuous burst mode
-USB 2.0 High-speed cable interface for fast downloading of images
-NTSC or PAL selectable video output signal; cables included
-Optional wired remote control accessories

HIGHLIGHTS:

-LCD screen allows comfortable s hooting from above or below
-Live View mode does not affect AF speed
-14.2 mega pixel sensor
-Awesome grip
-Easy to use, simple navigation
-Great on-screen menu design for quick selection of options
-Dynamic Range Optimization preserves full details of images in highlights and shadows

The only real challenge presented to individuals interested in this camera is selecting which one to choose. The A350 has a very fast AF in Live View mode with a nice tilting LCD. The Sony A350 offers a well-rounded package, delivering the best of all world’s in terms of resolution, design and of course, usability.

Visit Best Digi Cam Review to find out how to buy digital cameras cheaply

Friday, October 31, 2008

Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS 8.0MP Digital Camera

This year, Canon rolls out the Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS 8.0MP Digital Camera. This camera is an updated design from the PowerShot SD1000 from last year. So what has changed? First of all, the aesthetic design, switched to a slightly different zoom range and most importantly, the added optical image stabilization feature. The mega pixels has also been raised from 7.1 to 8 mega pixels. The camera also features from refines features.

The camera comes in a wide variety of different colors, including silver, brown, blue, pink and gold. The different design is just slightly thicker than last year’s and this year’s model offers more rounded edges and a slightly curved indent on the right-hand side that provides a perfect placement for the middle finger when taking pictures with the camera.

The slider lets you switch to video recording, still image capture and of course, playback mode. Three dedicated buttons for Menu, Display and Direct Printing are still there, including one more control for the circular four-way rocker with a Function/Set button in the middle.

The SD 1100 includes a face-detection feature also. Flash output with white balance is a standard feature on this camera. To help with ISO settings, the SD 1100 IS includes Motion Detection Technology, which helps the ISO settings establish if there is a moving subject at hand when you have the camera set to High ISO Auto Mode. This also helps the camera shoot as a faster speed.

This Canon model also includes a 38-114mm-equivalent 2.8-4.9 3X optical zoom lens in contrast to last year’s 35-105 mm lens. What’s nice about this newer model also is the optical image stabilization feature, which should help if you shoot stationary objects in low lighting conditions. The Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS 8.0MP Digital Camera is a great choice for a relatively inexpensive ultra compact camera.

The good? The Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS 8.0MP Digital Camera offers great image quality, minimal shutter lag, high speed performance, a great optical image stabilization feature, face detection technology and an optical viewfinder.

The bad? The camera has no manual exposure controls and offers a slow flash recycle time.

The final word: The Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS 8.0MP Digital Camera  adds optical stabilization to last year’s SD1000 and still delivers just as impressive picture image quality results. What makes this camera even more appealing is it’s ultra compact design, 8 mega pixel output and optical 3X zoom lens. At $240 MSRP you can’t beat it! Visit our website for best deals on Canon Cameras.




Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Canon PowerShot A470 Digital Camera - What Makes It Worth Buying

The Canon PowerShot A470 Digital Camera is the perfect example of paying less for a pretty good digital camera. Great solid digital camera models are becoming less expensive each year. And most of these budget-options are offering better performance each year. The Canon PowerShot A470 Digital Camera is no exception. This camera is an ideal example of this trend. With a price tag less than $150, this camera produces surprisingly good pictures. It’s not the most beautiful camera around and it doesn’t even have flashy features, but you can’t get a better deal for it’s price.

The Canon PowerShot A470 Digital Camera comes in four different color choices: blue, gray, red and orange. While all the color options are beautiful, they still can’t hide from the camera’s bulky, unattractive design. It’s rather large, measuring about 4 inches long and 2 inches thick and more than 1.5 inches wide. The camera weights 7.6 ounces with an SD card and two AA batteries. This makes it quite a hefty option for a budget camera. The lens and LCD screen eject from the body, giving it an uneven, awkward feel. Compared to other low-budget digital camera’s, the A470 is just outright huge. On the bright side, the bulky size makes it quite easy to hold and handle. The advantage here is also that the buttons and simple controls can be used easily.

The A470 features a 38-132 mm equivalent, 3.0-5.8 lens, offering a longer than usual reach for a camera of this class. The 2.5 inch LCD provides a 115,000 screen that is the only method of framing your shots. This screen makes it a bit difficult to shoot on sunny days. The A470 lacks advanced controls, but still offers adjustable ISO, exposure controls and manual white-balance settings for some flexibility when shooting. A  handful of scene preset modes are also included, along with a movie mode that can record QVGA(320X240) movies at 30 framer per second or 640x480 VGA movies at a slower 20 frames per second.

The A470 also features advanced features such as face-detection  auto-focus and auto-exposure that’s quite surprising to find on such an inexpensive model. Altogether, this camera features inexpensive, fast performance. The bad? The pictures are a bit noisy and the design of the camera is a bit chunky.

The bottom line: You can’t beat the price of this model digital camera. You’d really have a hard time finding a camera like this for the price that’s loaded with the features included here. See all our offers on the Canon PowerShot A470 Digital Camera

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Full Frame vs. Crop DSLRs: What You Need to Know

The topic of sensor size always comes up when shopping for a digital SLR. As you probably know, the sensor in a digital camera is responsible for capturing the image. Since DSLRs have much higher quality sensors than digital point and shoots, SLRs are able to achieve much better image quality. In general, the bigger the sensor, the better the image quality.

However, a larger image sensor also means higher cost, so SLR manufacturers had to compromise. Ideally, a digital SLR sensor would be exactly the same size as a frame of 35mm film. However, the cost of producing a sensor like this is so high that most manufacturers decided to create a smaller sized sensor, one that is a fair amount smaller than a full sized sensor. This creates the so called "crop factor"

This crop factor is usually a number around 1.5. Basically, this means that if you were to look at a full 35mm frame, the crop sensor would only capture a 1.5x crop of the frame. This means that you're basically getting a "closer" view with an equivalent focal length. This means that your wide angle lenses will be less wide, and that your telephoto lenses will have more reach. For every given focal length, be sure to note that the depth of field will remain the same.

For many photographers, these crop sensors work great. If you're into sports, wildlife, or any telephoto heavy photography discipline, the extra "reach" you get from the crop sensor really comes in handy at times. You can also get extremely affordable crop frame bodies, such as Nikon's D40. These cameras are a real boon to amateur photographers.

However, full frame sensors still hold a serious advantage in many real world situations. As I said before, bigger equals better when it comes to image quality. Full frame sensors can deliver a much sharper, smooth image at higher ISOs than a cropped sensor can. This is great for those working in low light conditions. Also, for photographers who love wide angle lenses, full frame camera bodies offer the widest degree of options.  New cameras such as the Canon 5D Mark II make it easier to afford these cameras, as well.

Overall, choosing your sensor format shouldn't be the only factor that you take into account when choosing a new camera, but it should be a major one. The image quality and dim light capabilities of a full frame sensor will blow you mind, if you can handle the price. Otherwise, you might be better off saving your money and getting a cropped sensor camera. Either way, you can still take great pictures.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Facts About the CANON EOS Rebel XSi

The CANON EOS Rebel XSi offers two different body designs. An attractive solid black and a less-attractive two-tone silver and black model. Both models comes in a body only or single lens kit with the EF-S 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens. The XSI is slightly larger than the XTI, the XSI takes off a couple of ounces, making it 1 pound and 2.5 ounces. The plastic body gives it a feel and appearance of a cheaper brand camera. The grip is not entirely desirable either. The larger 3 inch LCD screen provides some necessary changes to layout control over the XTI model. Almost all the buttons are easily accessible with your fingers, making it ideal for easy picture taking. There is no two-hand operation needed with this camera. With one hand you can fully navigate between changing ISO, white balance, metering and so on. The menu makes navigation very easy.

Regardless of the XSI’s pros and cons, it still delivers the best in it’s class photo quality, which is quite a surprise, given the high-resolution sensor. One nuisance is the tendency to underexpose photos. You might just need to kick the sharpness settings up a notch to deliver better quality photos. The color accuracy, dynamic range and consistently good noise reduction profile clearly puts this model in front of similar class cameras. This camera also features internal and external flash and the lenses render extremely good edge-to-edge sharpness when taking pictures.

The CANON EOS Rebel XSi will deliver slightly better performance and picture quality than it’s competitors, making it a worthwhile consideration. In tests, the XSI just edges past its competition for shooting speeds. It powers to photo in no more than 0.2 seconds. The XSI’s JPEG shooting lag is a tad bit longer than it’s competitors. The norm is 1.2 seconds between takes in dim conditions. Shot-to-shot time takes about 0.4 seconds for a raw JPEG and adding flash recycling time bumps this time up to only 0.7 seconds.

Let’s take a look at some of it’s advantages at a glance: Excellent photo quality for it’s class and price and a better-than-average shooting speed.

Now let’s take a look at some of it’s disadvantages: First off, the maximum ISO is 1600 and the camera has a huge spot-for-spot metering response.

Overall, this camera does not stand out for it’s feature set or design, but the CANON EOS Rebel XSi does deliver on performance and excelled photo quality. Overall, this camera gets 8 our of 10 stars. The price of this camera ranges from $625-$899. Find out how to buy the Canon Eos Rebel XSi cheapest.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Digital Camera - Going Ultra

Ultra Compact Digital Camera 

Everything is getting smaller these days even the digital camera. Going from compact digital camera to the ultra compact digital camera is not surprising. To the photographer who wants to always have his/her digital camera about them, without the hassle of all the baggage, the ultra compact digital camera is a perfect fit. You can have it in your pocket or purse it is so small. Some boast of sizes at 3.6 x 2.2 x 0.8 inches and around 5oz. in weight. These go anywhere type of digital cameras may cost more than other cameras but the convenience makes up for it.

As small as the ultra compact digital cameras can be, like the Casio Exilim EX-S10, they pack some power and punch. Boasting as high as 10 mega-pixels, fast shooting speed and incredible durability. However, they take getting used to due to their ultra size. Be sure to read up on reviews of what other users are saying concernig their ultra compact digital camera, before purchasing one.

You will also want to pay particular attention to battery life. It is good to know when you need to charge the digital camera and how long it will last and any other accessories needed for your ultra compact digital camera.

There are many brands and models and all seem to fall in price ranges between $200.00 and $500.00. This can go up and down based on where you get it from and what features and accessories it has and you want. My friend bought one for his trip to China. It was impressive and small. The video it was able to take, the picture quality, and neat auto zoom lense, yeah, convenient at best.

Popular brands for the ultra compact digital camera include Panasonic, Canon, Cascio, Olympus, and Sony. remember to read the reviews and do a little leg work. The best ultra compact digital camera price will be obtained by doing some comparisons across several brand names and model types.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

CANON EOS Rebel XSi 450D NEW Digital Camera

Canon’s new EOS Rebel XSi 450D NEW Digital Camera includes quite a few features new to the EOS brand of Canon camera’s. This camera once again exceeds the abilities of Canon’s intermediate SLR digital camera, the Canon EOS 40D.

The Canon EOS Rebel 450D has a 12.2 mega pixel CMOS sensor, a nice 3 inch LCD screen, an improved 9 point auto focus sensor function and a DIGIC III processor that is capable of taking 3.5 frames per second. The new Live View mode offers an improvement over the 2007 models, offering both advanced features in contrast detection and phase detect modes. The EOS also offers an integrated cleaning system that removes dust in both pre and post image capture modes. Picture styles are also included , with a slightly updated interface.

The overall weight of the camera is quite low also , at 19 ounces. This is thanks in part to a new advanced battery and the switch to SD/SDHC storage compartments. The cost for the body of the camera alone is $799 and with the IS lens kit it will go up to a MSRP of $899.

BASIC FEATURES INCLUDE:

-12.2 Mega pixel, 22.2x14.8, 14-bit RGB CMOS sensor that delivers 4,272x2,848 pixel images
-Single-lens reflex digital camera with interchangeable lenses
-Variable ISO
-TTL optical viewfinder with detailed information display and in-depth-of-field preview
-3 inch TFT LCD with 230,000 pixels with Live View display mode
-Shiftable Program AE, Automatic, Shutter Priority, Depth of field AE, Aperture Priority and Manual exposure modes, plus Landscape, Portrait, Close-up, Night-Portrait, Flas Off and Sports programmed modes
-Variable white balance with automatic, six manual presets and custom settings
-Color correction function with bracketing function
-Flash exposure lock function
-Adjustable exposure compensation
-Auto exposure bracketing
-Image storage on SD or SDHC memory cards
-Electronic self-timer with a fixed duration of 2 and 10 seconds
-Shutter speeds from 1/ 4,000 to 30 seconds
-Bulb setting for longer exposures

SPECIAL FEATURES

-Live View mode with two focusing modes: Quick, phase-detect mode and Live, contrast-detect mode
-Dust reduction technology
-Picture Style menu with six different presets plus settings for contrast, saturation, sharpness and tone.

This digital camera’s features will help you get better images in all kinds of situations. Canon has once again, created an impressive camera. The image quality, performance and utility makes the Canon EOS 450 Xsi a top pick for great value and great-looking pictures.

Find out more about digital cameras at Best Digi Cam Review

Friday, October 24, 2008

Know The Fundamentals: Good Photography Tips

Before using a camera, you should learn whatever you can about photography so that you can be sure of the results of your efforts. There are many resources you can use as photography tips – there are myriad books available, there are specialized camera/photography magazines and, of course, there is the internet. You can get many photography tips from any of these sources, skipping the topics that do not interest you. The basic fundamentals of photography tips are that you should know how to take the best shots, what you should keep in the background, what kind of lighting you should use, where necessary. If you are interested only in certain photography subjects like wedding photography tips, you should ideally concentrate only on that.

That Great Shot – A Great Photography Tip

Everybody wants to take that great shot, one which will be composed well and everybody looks good in it. There are three things you should keep in mind before you actually press the shutter button on your camera. Firstly, select the right background, taking out any extraneous items which may mar the picture – this is an important photography tip. Then see that the person or people or any subject/s in the picture are clearly visible, go nearer them if required, at the same time making sure that there the distance and dimension are right in the photograph. Check out the surroundings. Many times surroundings make or mar a picture. Whether you are taking everyday pictures, just for memories, or trying to produce some fine art, or trying to make an occasion more memorable, make sure that you keep this photography tip in mind.

Another Photography Tip – Never Take A Bad Picture Again

How often does it happen that you have lost a memorable moment simply because your photograph did not come out all right? One photography tip is to realize what error you committed while taking the picture. Once you find that out, you can correct your mistakes in future so that you never take a bad picture again. Another photography tip is to check out the lighting you are using for the picture, whether it is indoors or outdoors; check the distance of the camera from your subject; check the shutter speed.
Photography tips will be of great use whenever you use a camera, and why should you waste pictures or spoil the moment or mood which will not be recaptured even if you are using a digital camera. If you are shooting indoors, make sure that your subject is getting sufficient light? At the same time check the exposure of your camera – over-exposed pictures lack clarity and often white-out the subject. If it is getting dark, you may need to use a flash, but if there is sufficient light, you may just need to zoom to get a clear picture. If you are taking shots in the sunlight, remember that too much sunlight needs to be corrected by exposure, shutter speed or placing the subject in a shady place. All these photography tips will help you take better pictures. In the worst case scenario, you can always edit your photos using a photo editing software, so that they become better. Once you become adept at photography, you will be able to take great pictures, and also have no hesitation in putting them on display.


Thursday, October 23, 2008

Finding The Best Digital Camera: Tricks of the Trade

FINDING THE BEST DIGITAL CAMERA

It seems that every month, if not every week, different manufacturers are coming up with the latest digital cameras to entice potential clients. And it's just not working for us!

After spending sizeable amount of time at the mall figuring out which is the best digital camera for us, we finally have enough money to buy for that eye-popping, 7 mega pixel, 10x digital zoom, potable, candy colored, up to 512MB expandable memory of super hi-speed SD memory card and not to mention very portable, (that will be the envy of almost everyone we know). We march to the mall armed with our life savings and lotsa pride in ourselves, when we pass by a new display - an eight mega pixel, up to 1G expandable memory, with built it mic and stereo surround, video playback capable, with 22 scenic modes kind-of-camera. And we sigh because the producer of this amazing gadget claims that this is the best digital camera yet out in the market. Since we'd like to get the best, we attempt to buy such a camera." But then again, that doesn't last too long, after two months or so, there's another "best digital camera."

And so it confuses us. What makes a digital camera, the best digital camera?

When looking for the best digital camera, there are certain features we can choose from to help us make a good choice

MEGAPIXELS. One of the most important features of digital camera to make it into the best digital camera category is its mega pixel property. The higher the mega pixels the better the actual photograph will come out. A mega pixel is equivalent to one million pixels. The resolution of your image is based upon the mega pixel property of your camera. This means that as you enlarge the picture, you would get more detail and less blurry colors.

LCD SIZE. Having a large, bright LCD makes it easy to frame your subject well. Some cameras have touch up and image editing features accessible from the LCD. A 1.5-inch display is average, a 2-inch LCD display is good, but the best LCD size would be 2.5 inches or higher.

ZOOM. Digital and optical zoom comes standard on most digital cameras. You should always try to get a higher optical zoom rather than a digital zoom. Digital cameras are usually furnished with optical of between 3x to 10x. The better the optical zoom, the higher it climbs up to the best digital camera category.

CHOOSING A MEMORY CARD. Be sure that you get the right type of memory card for your camera. There are different types of memory card like the xD, SD, Flash card and the likes. Be sure you get the right type of card for your camera. of course memory storage is also up there in choosing the best digital cameras. Choose the size of memory that you need, if you're a photo junkie, you might need more than 32MB. You can get memory cards in sizes up to 8 gigs, and growing every day.

To find a good digital camera, you need to find one that fits your needs and lifestyle. Don't just buy the latest or the one that claims they are the best digital cameras out in the market. You wouldn't want to buy a digital SLR and use it with your home activities or family outing and have to lug it around?! Or you don't want to buy the latest point and shoot camera when you're serious about being a professional photographer. (Of course, you can use this for starters, but if you're not a novice photographer anymore, you wouldn't want to get this kind of camera.)

Getting a camera that you actually enjoying using is the best choice. Not the type that you'll just leave rotting in its box or after a few weeks of usage or so, up there in the attic.