21 Sep 08 NEW NIKON COOLPIX L6 TAKES 1,000 SHOTS RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX
Camera technology enhancements provide consumers with long lasting photographic capability
MELVILLE, NY (August 24, 2006) - Nikon is redefining the phrase “user-friendly” with its latest addition to the COOLPIX family of digital cameras, the L6. In addition to having 6.0 megapixels, an incredible, bright 2.5 inch LCD screen and Nikon’s In-Camera Image Innovations, the L6 can take an unprecedented 1,000 pictures on a single set of the included Energizer® e2® Lithium® AA batteries, the most of any camera in its class.
“Nikon’s new COOLPIX L6 and its partnership with Energizer represent a continued dedication to improving the photography experience for the consumer,” said Bill Giordano, General Manager Marketing, COOLPIX for Nikon, Inc. With the L6, you may never have to worry about missing valuable photo opportunities again because the camera is always ready.”
In addition to having ground breaking battery life, the COOLPIX L6 offers a higher light sensitivity, up to ISO 800, than many conventional compact digital cameras, allowing the user to shoot pictures in a lower light without having to worry about their pictures being dark or blurry. The L6 has a higher shutter speed option for freezing time and capturing fast-moving subjects. In addition to these innovations, the camera boasts 6.0 megapixels for generating beautiful prints and a 3x optical Zoom-Nikkor glass lens for creative freedom and an incredible, bright 2.5 inch LCD screen for effortless composition and display.
Like every camera in the COOLPIX family, the L6 is equipped with Nikon’s In-Camera Image Innovations to fix common photo problems. This system includes Face-priority AF*, which automatically finds and focuses on a subject’s face, In-Camera Red-Eye Fix, which automatically corrects red-eye, and D-Lighting, an innovation that automatically corrects images with insufficient light. Furthermore, the L6 is equipped with Blur Warning, which alerts the user when an image is blurred and Best Shot Selector, a feature which automatically identifies and saves the sharpest image from a series.
In addition to these features, the L6 has 15 scene modes, which simplify picture taking by automatically programming the camera’s settings for great pictures in a variety of locations. Other features include color options for adding different color effects to your pictures, a date counter which visually records the number of days until a special occasion, and several white balance choices. Included with the L6 is a complimentary copy of PictureProject, Nikon’s imaging software for organizing, editing and sharing pictures.
The COOLPIX L6 offers 23 MB of internal memory and is compatible with an array of SD memory cards. The L6 uses PictBridge to easily connect to compatible printers.
The COOLPIX L6 will be available in stores September 2006 with an MSRP of $199.95. For more information about the L6 and the full line of COOLPIX cameras, please visit www.nikondigital.com.
*Face-recognition capability may be limited in some shooting conditions.
About Nikon
Nikon, At the Heart of the Image™. Nikon Inc. is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes the Nikon Total Imaging System of consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, Nikkor optics, Speedlights and System Accessories; Nikon COOLPIX® compact digital cameras; COOLSCAN® digital film scanners; 35mm film SLR cameras; Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics. At the heart of every Nikon camera is Nikon’s Exclusive Feature System, making it easy for anyone to take amazing digital pictures. Through the Nikon Spirit Initiative™, the company, plays an active role in supporting aspiring and advanced photographers through a variety of philanthropic organizations, educational programs, events and workshops. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers to the web’s most comprehensive photo learning and sharing communities.
Related posts
Tags: 35mm, batteries, Battery, battery life, camera technology, Casio, compact digital, compact digital camera, compact digital cameras, digital cam, Digital Camera, Digital cameras, digital slr, digital slr camera, digital slr cameras, film, film scanners, images, internal memory, lcd screen, megapix, megapixel, megapixels, memory, memory card, memory cards, nikon, nikon coolpix, nikon inc, nikondigital, nikonusa, optical zoom, optics, photo, photograph, photographer, photographers, photographic equipment, photography, picture, pictures, pixel, printers, professional digital, sd memory card, shutter speed, slr camera, slr cameras, white balance, zoom
21 Sep 08 Nikon’s New D2Hs Professional Digital SLR Camera Offers Enhanced Performance, Image Quality and Features
MELVILLE, NY, FEBRUARY 16, 2005 - Nikon (www.nikondigitalusa.com), the world leader in photography, today introduced the new D2Hs™ professional digital SLR camera that incorporates several new enhancements and features. Designed for photojournalists and sports/action photographers, D2Hs integrates the best technologies from its predecessors with an array of exclusive new innovations that deliver the speed, response and handling required for action photography.
The range of new features and enhancements in the D2Hs are based on extensive research and feedback from professional photographers around the world. An all-new image processing engine in the camera produces images with higher quality, finer gradations and lower noise, while a newly refined exposure metering system improves on Nikon’s hallmark 3D Color Matrix technology. The D2Hs Auto White Balance and auto focusing systems have been fine tuned to deliver precise, accurate results and an enhanced buffer now offers continuous shooting at 8 frames per second for up to 50 consecutive shots (JPEG, FINE).
“During the development of Nikon’s recently announced D2X professional digital SLR camera, the company created several new technologies and innovations that delivered breakthrough performance in that camera. These new innovations have been integrated into the D2Hs to offer photojournalists and sports photographers a camera at par with Nikon’s flagship D2X camera, with comparable performance, features and seamless workflow,” said Steve Heiner, general manager for Digital SLR and Professional Products at Nikon. “Photographers will appreciate the seamless design, transition and workflow between the D2X and the new D2Hs, allowing them to quickly switch between the two best-of-breed camera bodies, as dictated by the situation they need to photograph.”
In addition to Nikon’s exclusive 4.1 megapixel DX format JFET image sensor LBCAST (Lateral Buried Charge Accumulator and Sensing Transistor array), the D2Hs features the following new technologies and enhancements:
- Advanced new image processing engine produces high quality images
The new image processing engine adopts advances from the D2X to further improve overall image quality in the D2Hs, producing images with finer gradations, lower noise and consistent, smooth transitions.
- High-speed continuous shooting at 8 fps for up to 50 consecutive shots
The speed achieved by the LBCAST sensor and the camera’s image processing allows the D2Hs to shoot continuously at 8 frames per second for up to 50 consecutive JPEG or 40 RAW (NEF) shots.
- 3D-Color Matrix Metering II
Refinements to Nikon’s hallmark 3D Color Matrix exposure metering system in the D2Hs result in optimal exposure calculations from the data supplied by the 1,005-pixel RGB Exposure/Color Matrix Metering Sensor, even when shooting under challenging conditions.
- Precise white balance
The D2Hs uses refined Auto White Balance (AWB) and Auto Tone Control (ATC) systems to deliver precise white balance settings when shooting in tricky or mixed lighting situations.
- Faster, higher precision 11-area AF system
Refinements to the camera’s AF and lens drive algorithms further improve focus precision, subject acquisition, and subject tracking. The high precision and speed of the D2Hs’ AF system also contributes to achieving high-speed continuous shooting.
- High-speed wireless data transfer and camera control
The D2Hs is compatible with the Wireless Transmitter WT-1/1A as well as the new Wireless Transmitter WT-2/2A, which supports both IEEE 802.11g (for faster transfer speeds) as well as IEEE 802.11b networks. The WT-2/2A also strengthens wireless security options and supports a wider variety of network protocols, including the new PTP/IP protocol that realizes wireless Capture Control from a computer running Nikon Capture 4 (Ver. 4.2.1 or later).
- sYCC color space support
Added support for sYCC color space produces JPEG files that can fully exploit the output capabilities of the latest color printers and use a gamut wider than sRGB to achieve optimum print quality.
- GPS connectivity expands applications
The latitude, longitude, altitude and UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) at which a shot is taken can be recorded from a GPS unit to the image’s metadata. GPS units that comply with the NMEA 0183 (ver.2.01) interface standard can be connected using the optional GPS cable (MC-35).
- High-resolution 2.5″ LCD
A new large 2.5-inch LCD monitor with a higher resolution of 232,000 pixels adds an all-digital interface for clear, flicker-free display of images and information. Displays include preview images at up to 15x magnification, an improved histogram display, and new selectable RGB histogram displays, making exposure confirmation quick, easy and accurate for each of the red, green and blue color channels. Other useful displays include the World Time function and the chronological Recent Settings list.
The D2Hs comes with PictureProject, an easy-to-use software application for managing, editing and sharing image files. The D2Hs is also compatible with Nikon’s optional Nikon Capture software package that delivers a unique, powerful and expandable environment for full control over RAW(NEF) files. Nikon Capture 4’s Remote Camera Control function can control most shooting settings and trigger the camera’s shutter release remotely, either connected via the USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface, or using the optional Wireless Transmitter WT-2/2A. (PTP/IP wireless camera control requires Windows XP or Mac OS X.)
As part of Nikon’s Total Imaging System, the D2Hs is compatible with Nikon’s growing family of digital-exclusive DX Nikkor lenses as well as the lineup of high-quality Nikkor AF lenses. When used with the SB-800 or SB-600 Speedlights, the D2Hs maximizes the potential of Nikon’s Creative Lighting System with high precision flash performance, including i-TTL flash control and support for Nikon’s Advanced Wireless Lighting system.
The D2Hs will be available in March 2005 for an MSRP of $3499.95.
Related posts
Tags: 3d color matrix, action photography, auto focus, camera bodies, capabilities, consecutive shots, digital slr, digital slr camera, flash, image quality, image sensor, images, lense, lenses, megapix, megapixel, nikkor lenses, nikon, nikondigital, photo, photograph, photographer, photographers, photography, picture, pixel, printers, professional digital, professional photographer, professional photographers, quality image, quality images, resolution, slr camera, sports photographers, transistor array, white balance
21 Sep 08 Canon Digital Camera: Express, Shoot and Share
Author: Nicholas Tan
Canon is well known across the country as an imaging equipment and information systems. Their many products include copiers, printers, lenses, camcorders, semiconductors among others, and of course Canon digital cameras.
The latest high end canon digital camera is the PowerShot S2 IS. This is a 5.0 mega pixel Canon digital camera that features a 12x optical zoom and a 4x digital zoom. This baby is furnished with Optical Image Stabilizer (that is what the IS in S2 IS stands for) that eliminates camera shakes for people who have shaky hands or for taking camera shots. The UD lens found in this canon digital camera provide amazing color accuracy throughout the whole zoom area.
As with many digital cameras nowadays, this certain canon digital camera can record moving pictures. Now with another first, the S2 allows you to record moving pictures, and there no use for missing a perfect image incorporated with that moving picture. With the Movie Snap feature, just snap away when you see that perfect image, and it will be saved in your canon digital camera along with the recorded video.
This canon digital camera is also equipped with the DIGIC II Image processor that is designed to increase processing speed and image quality. It instantly says that with the DIGIC II, your canon digital camera has faster start-up time, playback and auto focus while giving your images the absolute brilliance.
The S2 also support USB 2.0 Hi-speed standard, so you will always have the easiest time transferring your files to and from your computer. With the USB 2.0, you can take advantage of your super hi-speed SD card.
This canon digital camera is also supplied with a 1.8 inch LCD power saving and fold out screen that’s 115,000 pixel resolution. S2 shoots at 30 frames per second; this shooting rate can be reduced when taking pictures in night display, to give you the brightness that you need when taking pictures.
On the other hand, the latest point and shoot canon digital camera is the PowerShot SD500 and the PowerShot SD400.
The SD500 is the first 7.1 mega pixel canon digital camera that gives amazing images and absolutely to die for details. It has a 3x optical zoom that enables close up shooting with a 37-111mm equivalent with a 35mm film camera. This is one of the new perpetual curve design for a canon digital camera that fits the hands perfectly.
Sporting a very slim design, you would marvel at its 2.0 inch LCD that gives easier frame and play back use.
This baby is also equipped with the same DIGIC II Image Processor found in canon digital cameras that gives you amazing features. Also USB 2.0 compatible and works with the same high-speed SD card.
Even better than most digital cameras out there, this gadget can shoot moving images to up to 60 frames per second- perfect for moving objects (especially in sports) and a 30 frames per second for shooting still images. Furnished with scene modes like portrait (blurs the background and focuses on your subject), foliage (perfect for foliage, greenery or blossoms), beach (sunny shots without the dark faces), underwater (reduced background scatter. Tip: you can always buy waterproof case for shooting underwater images), fireworks, night snapshot, kids and pets, indoor, snow and digital macro (larger than life images).
This canon digital camera even enables you to customize and correct as you shoot. With modes like lightening skin tones, positive film, darker skin tones and others, you can never go wrong with using a canon digital camera.
These are just some of the many features of the SD500. There are more to the SD500 that has yet to be discussed. Check canon’s website at www.usa.canon.com for a full profile of the SD500 and to other latest releases and products.
Related posts
Tags: 35mm, auto focus, camera shots, Canon, canon digital, canon digital camera, canon digital cameras, color accuracy, digic ii, digital cam, Digital Camera, Digital cameras, digital zoom, film, film camera, gadget, image processor, image quality, image stabilizer, images, imaging equipment, lense, lenses, mega pixel, moving images, moving picture, moving pictures, optical image stabilizer, optical zoom, perfect image, picture, pictures, pixel, pixel resolution, powershot, powershot s2, powershot s2 is, powershot sd400, printers, resolution, sd card, sd400, shaky hands, zoom
21 Sep 08 Digital Camera Buyers Guide
Author: Michael Malega
Time to get started on this topic. Take a few moments to read every aspect of this paper hopefully it will be of great help.
We use cameras to take pictures of a diversity of things. These can be special events in our lives or marvellous sights that we want to see time and time again. To take these pictures we can use a diverseness of cameras. These can be of the normal cameras where you wait for the picture to develop or they can be digital cameras. To buy a good calibre digital photographic camera these days it helps to look at a digital photographic camera buyers guide.
There are many unlike types of digital photographic camera buyers guide magazines that you can buy. While they will look unlike in styles and formatting they are all configured to help you select the best digital photographic camera for you. These digital camera buyers guides should not be that expensive and sometimes you can get one for free with a picture taking magazine.
When you look at a digital camera buyers guide cover you will be able to see the versatile products that will be reviewed and if they can be of any use to you in your photographic pursuits.
You will be able to see purchasing selective information about digital cameras, compact cameras, camera printers, lenses and some of the accessories that are requisite for photography. You will also see the types of digital cameras that are presently “hot”.
You can also find tips for purchasing these cameras as parts of kits in the digital photographic camera buyers guide. The table of contents of the digital camera buyers guide will show you the main articles and product features that you can expect to read about when you buy this magazine.
Sometimes you will get worthful purchasing data about the newest digital cameras and the best types of camera lens. These articles will cover in-depth the assorted features and procedure abilities of the unlike devices. You will be able to see which digital and compact cameras are well thought out to be good value for your money and what you can expect to see from these products.
With a digital camera buyers guide you will be informed about the cost of the different compact cameras, digital cameras, lenses and even the latest photographic camera printers. Also looking at the purchasing advantages and prices of these products a digital camera buyers guide will also let you know what are the high end digital cameras and what can be reasoned as bargains… to find more on this subject, please check our web site by clicking on our link below…
I hope you enjoyed reading this article and found the information useful and interesting.
Related posts
Tags: camera lens, compact camera, compact cameras, digital cam, Digital Camera, digital camera buyer, digital camera buyers guide, Digital cameras, digital photograph, high end digital cameras, lense, lenses, photo, photograph, photographic camera, photography, picture, pictures, printers
21 Sep 08 Digital Camera Buying Guide
Author: Monty Alexander
Planning to buy a digital camera? Not sure how to get started?
Read on to discover how…..
What do you need the camera for?
If you buy a simple one that can be used at home, you will not get interesting capabilities that you need for taking really good photographic pictures. On the other hand, it would be a waste of your money if you have the latest digital camera only to be used for personal photos at home.
Based on the purpose one can choose from the following main three types.
· Point and shoot: - reasonably compact, with features and size like 35mm cameras.
· Lifestyle: - with moderate features, it’s sleek and compact, so you can carry it around with ease.
· Professional: - with interchangeable lenses, flashes and other accessories, this camera is robust and feature laden, just the right choice for a professional or serious photographer.
These are the important features to look for?
Digital images are made up of dots called pixels. The higher the number of pixels in your image, the better will be the quality of the image. This will therefore enable you to enlarge your image to higher pixel dimensions without creating a pixilated (broken) image.
Compression
Compression shrinks a photo’s file size, thus accommodating more images in the memory card. However compression causes a small amount of data loss. If you need the absolute best-quality images, you have to consider buying a camera that takes uncompressed photos but will accommodate less number of images.
A camera’s memory size will decide the number of images that can be stored. Memory of 128MB will be good enough if you want to use the camera mostly at a social do or a party. If you are on a vacation or when you cannot download images for days at a stretch, a memory of 512MB to 1GB will be most favorable.
Most digital cameras come with at least an optical viewfinder but many digital cameras also come with an LCD screen built into the back. For a digital camera, they vary from 1.5-2.5 inches.
Lens
It is the length of a camera’s lens that determines how much of a scene will fit in a picture. A “Normal” lens is about 50mm, most closely approximate to what your eye sees.
Optical zoom
This enables the photographer to zoom in on an object without any problem in picture quality. Depending on the magnification number, you can zoom in more.
Digital zoom
This feature enables the photographer to zoom in on the centre of the picture by removing the edges of the image.
Focus an exposure
In most cameras, the correct exposure for the lighting conditions is automatically determined. A camera rated ISO 100, has approximately the same light sensitivity as that of a traditional film camera loaded with ISO 100 film. A higher ISO rating means that the camera is more sensitive to light and is potential enough to take pictures in darker settings.
Audio and Movie capture
This feature allows you to record sounds and moving images at the same time, in exactly the same way that a camcorder functions. Some digital cameras provide the facility to record a few seconds of audio with each shot, thus letting you add a personal sound bite to your photos.
Movie mode
This is a feature that lets you take short film clips with your camera. The total record length is typically limited to 10 to 90 seconds.
Most digital cameras come with an in-built flash. Some cameras however include additional features, such as red-eye reduction or night portrait mode.
Image erase
Most cameras also let you select pictures to erase. This handy feature gives you the chance to edit out the photos you don’t want in order to create space in the memory.
Self-timer
A self-timer allows your digital camera for a delayed exposure, usually giving you about 10 seconds before the picture is taken.
Computer connections
Most high-end cameras have software and connections for both Mac and PC computers. However it is necessary to make sure the digital camera you want is compatible with your platform before you buy it.
This feature enables the photographer to capture still images of something moving very fast.
Printing
Nowadays you can buy special printers, depending on the compatibility of your camera, to print off your pictures without connecting it to a PC. This applies both for digital and SLR Professional cameras.
How important is size and portability to you?
Size is another very important factor to consider. If you are to use the camera for non professional purposes the size has to be small as you cannot afford to carry huge sized cameras when you are enjoying a trip.
What is your budget?
Based on the budget the features will vary and the overall offering of a camera. Today’s digital cameras run anywhere from Rs 800 to Rs 30,000, depending on resolution and features. While the initial expense of a digital camera is still high you may find that the added convenience and savings in film and processing costs are worth it.
Related posts
Tags: 35mm, 35mm cameras, capabilities, digital cam, Digital Camera, Digital cameras, digital image, digital images, digital zoom, film, film camera, flash, image compression, image stabilization, images, interchangeable lenses, lcd screen, lense, lenses, memory, memory card, memory size, moving images, optical viewfinder, optical zoom, personal photos, photo, photograph, photographer, photos, picture, pictures, pixel, pixel resolution, printers, professional camera, professional cameras, quality image, quality images, resolution, sized cameras, traditional film camera, viewfinder, zoom
20 Sep 08 Digital Cameras in Todays Society
Author: Nigel
Digital cameras have become mainstream cameras because they are extremely easy to use and offer a host of wonderful features. Digital cameras connect to PC via USB so you can transfer your photos easily for archiving, editing, and printing. Digital cameras make it easy to share pictures both online and in print. Digital cameras with resolution in the four to five megapixel range are capable of producing professional-quality images.
Cameras
The major advantage of digital cameras is the ability to take multiple pictures at no extra cost and then printing only the best ones. Cameras meant for automatic point-and-shoot photos, with a 3x zoom lens, will serve casual shooters as well as dedicated hobbyists much of the time. Digital cameras with less than one megapixel are inexpensive, but they usually lack key features. Cameras with higher resolutionsof 7, 8, 10 or even more megapixels give you the latitude to create largerprints, or to crop and manipulate images with photo-editing software without degrading them. All digital cameras have a built-in computer, and all of them record images electronically. Since film still provides better picture quality, digitalcameras have not completely replaced conventional cameras. All the fun and interesting features of digital cameras come as a direct result of striving to improve customer needs for high quality, low cost photos.
Images are made up of tiny cells (also called pixels). Images taken at higher resolutions will look much clearer and sharper when printed, and large prints will look better. You can even select only the best and copy them from your computer back onto the camera’s storage device so you can give an edited slide show of just the best images. Once images are in digital form, you can start to take pieces from various images and paste them into other images. Digital photography now makes it possible to put all of your images on the Web and bore the entire world instead of just your friends and family. One nice thing about digital cameras is that you can show your images on a TV set.
Memory Most digital cameras support some type of removable memory card for storing your images. You should buy as large a memory card as your camera can accept, as the memory cards that are included with the cameras are usually not nearly big enough to hold a good number of high quality pictures. Two popular memory card types are CompactFlash and SmartMedia cards. Both types of memory are similar in price and performance but CompactFlash cards are more widely used. How many pictures will fit in the memory. The exact number depends on the size of the memory card (or other type of storage used), the camera’s resolution, the compression quality setting, the exact type of camera, and even the type of pictures taken. If you can’t fit enough pictures in the memory, you should buy a higher capacity memory card instead.
Digital cameras are distinguished by their resolution—how many pixels, or picture elements, the image sensor contains. Digital cameras give you extraordinary control over images. Digital cameras are perfect for learner photographers as the images can be displayed immediately. Digital cameras generally need a computer to manipulate and print images, but the technology is evolving rapidly, and photo printers that work without a computer are now mass-market items. Digital cameras have high power requirements, and over time have become increasingly smaller in size, which has resulted in an ongoing need to develop a battery small enough to fit in the camera and yet able to power it for a reasonable length of time. Digital cameras emerging popularity is attributed to the vastly improved photography experience they afford, through instant viewing, deletion, annotation, and control over reprint size and quantity.
Related posts
Tags: Battery, compactflash, compactflash cards, conventional camera, conventional cameras, digital cam, Digital Camera, Digital cameras, digital photograph, digital photography, film, flash, image sensor, images, megapix, megapixel, megapixels, memory, memory card, memory cards, photo, photo editing software, photograph, photographer, photographers, photography, photos, picture, pictures, pixel, printers, professional quality images, quality image, quality images, resolution, resolutions, storage, zoom
19 Sep 08 Looking at a Digital Camera Buyers Guide for That Invaluable Info
Author: Muna wa Wanjiru
We use cameras to take pictures of a variety of things. These can be special events in our lives or fantastic sights that we want to see time and time again. To take these pictures we can use a variety of cameras. These can be of the normal cameras where you wait for the picture to develop or they can be digital cameras. To purchase a good quality digital camera these days it helps to look at a digital camera buyers guide.
There are many different types of digital camera buyers guide magazines that you can buy. While they will look different in styles and format they are all designed to help you select the best digital camera for you. These digital camera buyers guides should not be that expensive and sometimes you can get one for free with a photography magazine.
When you look at a digital camera buyers guide cover you will be able to see the various products that will be reviewed and if they can be of any use to you in your photographic pursuits.
You will be able to see buying information about digital cameras, compact cameras, camera printers, lenses and some of the accessories that are needed for photography. You will also see the types of digital cameras that are currently “hot”.
You can also find tips for buying these cameras as parts of kits in the digital camera buyers guide. The contents of the digital camera buyers guide will show you the main articles and product features that you can expect to read about when you purchase this magazine.
Sometimes you will get valuable buying information about the latest digital cameras and the best types of camera lens. These articles will cover in-depth the various features and performance abilities of the different devices. You will be able to see which digital and compact cameras are considered to be good value for your money and what you can expect to see from these products.
With a digital camera buyers guide you will be informed about the price of the different compact cameras, digital cameras, lenses and even the newest camera printers. Besides looking at the buying advantages and prices of these products a digital camera buyers guide will also let you know what are the high end digital cameras and what can be considered as bargains.
These are just a few of the products and services that you can find when you look at a digital camera buyers guide. These magazines are jam-packed with lots of information that is essential for the person who wants to buy a quality digital camera and needs good advice, and these guides can be considered invaluable.
Related posts
Tags: best digital camera, camera lens, compact camera, compact cameras, digital cam, Digital Camera, digital camera buyer, digital camera buyers guide, Digital cameras, high end digital cameras, lense, lenses, muna, photo, photograph, photography, photography magazine, picture, pictures, printers
19 Sep 08 Digital Revolution With Canon Digital Camera
Author: Saris Hunsanugrom
There were times when cameras were considered to be a rich man’s luxury but nowadays, clicking pictures with camera has become an important part of our daily events. With the constant improvement of technology, cameras have undergone a sea change and it was in the late 1970’s when digital cameras saw the light of the day.
The first digital camera was Sony Mavica, an analogue camera that used video floppy. However, since then, various brands launched digital cameras such as Nikon, Kodak Casio, JVC, Sony and Olympus to name a few. However, Canon Inc. Japanese MNC specialized in the manufacturing of computer printers, photo copiers and cameras. Canon started its operation in the year 1934 with Kwanon camera.
Ever since Canon started manufacturing its camera operation, it became a hugely successful company and a cynosure of camera lover across world. Presently, Canon digital camera is well known for its state of the art technology and advanced features that make it a well known brand name. Some of the high end Canon digital camera includes Powershot series like Powershot G9, SX 100 IS, S5 IS and TX1.
Canon digital camera EPH services include Powershot SD 950 IS, SD 890 IS, SD 790 IS, SD 870 IS, SD 770 IS, SD 1100 IS, SD 750, SD 850 IS, SD 800 IS and SD 1000. Canon digital camera’s A series includes A 460, A 550, A 470, A 560, A 580, A 570 IS, A 630, A 710 IS, A 590 IS, A 720 IS and A 650 IS to name a few.
Apart from Canon digital camera, Canon is famous for its Canon EOS camera system that comes with Single Lens Reflex (SLR) technology. However, for amateurs who love to shoot and capture moments of love and joy, the Canon digital camera Powershot series is the best digital camera that comes with DIGIC processor and state of the art design.
Some of the highly rated Canon digital camera include Canon Powershot SD 1100 IS that supports 8 mega pixels and 3X zoom. Some other quality features include image stabilization, auto focus features for perfect shot. It supports JPEG file format and has a 2.5″ LCD display with 32 MB of internal memory as a part of Secure Digital Memory Storage feature.
Canon Powershot SD950 IS comes with 12 mega pixel and 3.7 optical and 4X digital zoom feature. It also supports movie and sound mode. Its basic features include image stabilization, auto focus, 2.5″ LCD display, Secure Digital Memory of 32 MB. Canon Powershot A590 IS includes image resolution of 8 mega pixels and optical and digital zoom of 4X, face detection focus, movie mode and manual and auto exposure along with 32 MB memory and 2.5: LCD screen.
Canon Digital Rebel XTi / Canon 400D comes with 10.1 mega pixel, file format of RAW and JPEG, DIGIC II processor, 9 point CMOS auto focus, micro drive support and automatic vibration and dust reduction. Apart from it, there are
Related posts
Tags: auto focus, best digital camera, camera operation, cameras canon, Canon, canon digital, canon digital camera, canon digital rebel, canon digital rebel xt, canon eos, canon eos camera, canon inc, canon powershot, canon powershot sd, Casio, CMOS, digic ii, digital cam, Digital Camera, digital camera canon, Digital cameras, digital memory, digital zoom, dust reduction, face detection, image resolution, image stabilization, internal memory, jvc, kodak, lcd display, lcd screen, lens reflex, mega pixel, mega pixels, memory, memory storage, nikon, olympus, perfect shot, photo, picture, pictures, pixel, powershot, powershot g9, printers, resolution, secure digital memory, Sony, sony mavica, state of the art technology, storage, zoom
19 Sep 08 Guide to Buying a Digital Camera
Author: Andrew Gates
The digital camera market today offers buyers a large number of choices, with products in widely differing price ranges, sizes and degree of operational complexity. From miniatures the size of a credit card, to fully functional professional SLR (Single Lens reflex) systems, you can buy a digital camera from manufacturers including traditional camera brands such as Canon, Olympus, Nikon, film companies such as Kodak and Fuji, and consumer electronic companies like Sony. Then there are other options that include the mobile phone manufacturers, and webcam suppliers.
The advantages of digital photography are numerous. Topmost is the fact that there is no film processing: expensive both in cost and time. But there is also the advantage of smaller sized equipment, portable media and instant picture viewing. And if you don’t like what you see, you simply delete it and shoot again: no wastage.
If you like to take pictures, being a digital photographer makes a lot of sense. But which camera is the best one for you? In a field of excess abundance, how do you narrow down what you need? How much to pay? How many megapixels? (What are they anyway?) Which brand? How much memory?
Digital CamerasEvery shopper is different.
At MyShopping.com.au we recognise this fact, and so we list practically all brands and models from hundreds of suppliers. These listings include the cold hard digital data facts about each camera and a range of comparative pricings offered by different suppliers. But just as every shopper is different, every photographer is different too. And just having the facts may not make you feel any more knowledgeable about which camera is right for you.
You could begin with the question: What sort of pictures will you take with your new digital camera? This is a valid starting point because from here you can begin to qualify your requirements in terms of technical capability and price. What sort of pictures will you take with your new digital camera?
Is it simply for happy snaps whenever you get together with friends and family at weekends and holidays? Or are you a serious bird watcher and you want to capture nature at its finest? Perhaps you want a camera for work to record your inventory, or recording information from a client. Maybe you’re a PI on a mission. The point is, you need to begin by recognising that your reason for buying a digital camera may not be the same as that of your best friend who is recommending the model she bought.
Once you’ve figured out the sort of pictures you are going to take, you can then set about deciding on the type of camera that will meet your needs. If you need something highly portable that fits in your shirt pocket or your handbag and lets you take it anywhere you go, make size a big consideration. If you want to take seriously good photographs, and you want to pursue an artistic endeavour, make image flexibility your main concern.
It might also be worthwhile considering your own position in the digital photography experience. Are you a novice about to buy your first camera, do you have some intermediate experience, or are you an advanced user?
Someone new to the market will likely not want to spend a lot of money, nor have a lot of mind-boggling features that leave you confused. There are cameras ideal for beginning users that have basic ‘point and shoot’ features including optical and digital zoom lens, flexible storage media and built in flash. There is a huge range of cameras available with simple features at low cost.
If you consider yourself an intermediate user with some operational knowledge of digital camera technology, you may want to consider more advanced features that give you more control over the pictures you take. These features usually come in a range of automatic settings and manual settings for capturing the image and different storage options in terms of resolution and picture type (raw data, jpeg, tiff). Naturally there is some cost attached to additional features when compared to more basic cameras.
For advanced users, there are a lot of professional options you can consider; such as SLR view finding and lens interchange ability. Cameras in this range provide much greater control over the image, both before and once it is captured. These options include shutter speed and aperture adjustment, and many cameras offer the ability to manipulate images ‘in camera’, such as cropping, and brightness and contrast adjustments.
After the picture is taken
A further main consideration is what are you going to do with your images once you have them? The great beauty of digital photography is the simple fact that you can store them on digital media such as CDs and media cards, and view them on computer screens and in many cases, your television. You need print only when and those you want to see, or show to others. Digital photography also gives fantastic opportunities to manipulate your images using popular image manipulation programs, resizing them, altering brightness and contrast characteristics, and correcting problems such as red eye, or removing skin blemishes.
Most digital cameras are computer ready, able to plug directly into your PC or Mac using USB connectors. They usually include proprietary software allowing you to easily and instantly manage your image files in photo albums or slide shows. Many digital cameras also include a video capture facility enabling you to take short motion pictures.
What you want to do with your images after you have them can have an impact on your choice of camera. If you want to make enlarged prints for example, you will want a high megapixel capacity (also talked about as ‘resolution’). If you want images for website use, you will want to get the best quality images that can be reduced in resolution without severe degradation.
Beauty is in the “I”
Great pictures usually come from great conditions. You capture a great moment, the light is just right, the subject is at the perfect distance, the image is perfectly framed. But not every digital camera offers the flexibility to make the best of existing light conditions, or position. Most digital cameras (certainly at the budget end) come with a built in automatic flash, which is terrific for happy snaps in darkened environments. And the automatic flash automatically does not ‘go off’ in bright sunny conditions. But in those times when you want to use the existing light, you need a camera that gives you manual control over the operation or not, of the flash.
Moreover, most digital cameras in the lower and medium price ranges are highly automated. If you are moving from a traditional SLR film camera where you have maximum control over shutter speed, aperture and ISO speeds, it may be frustrating to not have easy access to the same range of tools to take advantage of existing light conditions.
In the more advanced (and therefore more expensive) range of digital cameras, most lens and aperture functions are available in exactly the same way as other SLR systems. What differs is how the colours and light of the image is translated through pixel capture compared to the chemical processing systems.
You may want a wide range of focus options. Most digital cameras have two different types of image magnification, lens magnification (zoom) that may be equivalent of a 35mm to 150 mm lens, and a digital magnification that may be to ten-fold (expressed as x10). This provides you with zoom lens capability, which may be limited in its depth of field control and is subject to soft focus and movement if the conditions aren’t just right, and a digital magnification of the pixel image. If being able to capture magnified distant images is important to you, you need more megapixels, and a lens system that gives you some control over its focus and aperture management.
A final word on accessory
Digital cameras are electronic equipment. That means they run on batteries, and if you use your camera a lot, you will find that you will be frequently replacing batteries. Some cameras have rechargeable batteries; others simply use dry cells (AA), which you can of course load with rechargeable ones. It pays to have spare batteries so that you always have a charged power source. Some cameras have docking stations to help manage the connection with computers. Many digital SLR cameras have interchangeable lens systems, some of which may be compatible with traditional film SLRs.
You can also print your own pictures at home with special printers that handle standard photograph paper, and connect directly to your camera. Although it may be less expensive to simply take your camera’s card, or a CD to your local camera store, and now many supermarkets and department stores, and use the automatic printing machines to print the images you want.
There is a lot you can do with a digital camera, and you can pay les than $200, or more than $10,000. It all depends on how you see yourself as a photographer, what you’re shooting, and what you want to do with your pictures. At Myshopping.com.au you can very quickly compare specifications and prices.
Related posts
Tags: 35mm, automatic flash, batteries, buying a digital camera, camera brands, camera technology, Canon, digital cam, Digital Camera, digital camera market, digital camera offer, digital camera technology, Digital cameras, digital photograph, digital photographer, digital photography, digital slr, digital slr camera, digital slr cameras, digital zoom, film, film camera, film companies, flash, Fuji, how many megapixels, image manipulation program, images, kodak, lens reflex, megapix, megapixel, megapixels, memory, new digital camera, nikon, olympus, photo, photograph, photographer, photographs, photography, picture, pictures, pixel, printers, professional slr, quality image, quality images, rechargeable batteries, red eye, reflex systems, resolution, shutter speed, slr camera, slr cameras, slr systems, soft focus, Sony, storage, storage media, storage option, traditional camera, zoom
19 Sep 08 Consumer Reports - Digital Cameras
Digital cameras, which employ reusable memory cards instead of film, give you far more creative control than film cameras can. With a digital camera, you can transfer shots to your computer, then crop, adjust color and contrast, and add textures and other special effects. Final results can be made into cards or T-shirts, or sent via e-mail, all using the software that usually comes with the camera. You can make prints on a color inkjet printer, or by dropping off the memory card at one of a growing number of photofinishers. You can upload the file to a photo-sharing Web site for storage, viewing, and sharing with others.
Like camcorders, digital cameras have LCD viewers. Some camcorders can be used to take still pictures, but a typical camcorder’s resolution is no match for a good still camera’s.
WHAT’S AVAILABLE
The leading brands are Canon, Fujifilm, HP, Kodak, Olympus, and Sony; other brands come from consumer-electronics, computer, and traditional camera and film companies.
Digital cameras are categorized by how many pixels, or picture elements, the image sensor contains. One megapixel equals 1 million picture elements. A 3-megapixel camera can make excellent 8×10s and pleasing 11×14s. There are also 4- to 8-megapixel models, including point-and-shoot ones; these are well suited for making larger prints or for maintaining sharpness if you want to use only a portion of the original image. Professional Digital cameras use as many as 14 megapixels.
Price range: $200 to $400 for 3 megapixels; $250 to $400 for 4 and 5 megapixels; $300 to $1,000 for 6 to 8 megapixels.
IMPORTANT FEATURES
Most Digital cameras are highly automated, with features such as automatic exposure control (which manages the shutter speed, aperture, or both according to available light) and autofocus.
Instead of film, digital cameras typically record their shots onto flash-memory cards. CompactFlash and SecureDigital (SD) are the most widely used. Once quite expensive, such cards have tumbled in price–a 128-megabyte card can now cost less than $50. Other types of memory cards used by cameras include Memory Stick, Smart Media and xD-picture card. A few cameras, mainly some Sony models, use 3 1/4-inch CD-R or CD-RW discs.
To save images, you transfer them to a computer, typically by connecting the camera to the computer’s USB or FireWire port or inserting the memory card into a special reader. Some printers can take memory cards and make prints without putting the images on a computer first. Image-handling software, such as Adobe Photoshop Elements, Jasc Paint Shop, Microsoft Picture It, and ACDSee, lets you size, touch up, and crop digital images using your computer. Most digital cameras work with both Windows and Macintosh machines.
The file format commonly used for photos is JPEG, which is a compressed format. Some cameras can save photos in uncompressed TIFF format, but this setting yields enormous files. Other high-end cameras have a RAW file format, which yields the image data with no processing from the camera.
Digital cameras typically have both an optical viewfinder and a small color LCD viewer. LCD viewers are very accurate in framing the actual image you get–better than most of the optical viewfinders–but they use more battery power and may be hard to see in bright sunlight. You can also view shots you’ve already taken on the LCD viewer. Many digital cameras provide a video output, so you can view your pictures on a TV set.
Certain cameras let you record an audio clip with a picture. But these clips use additional storage space. Some allow you to record limited video, but the frame rate is slow and the resolution poor.
A zoom lens provides flexibility in framing shots and closes the distance between you and your subject–ideal if you want to quickly switch to a close shot. The typical 3x zoom on mainstream cameras goes from a moderately wide-angle view (35mm) to moderate telephoto (105mm). You can find cameras with extended zoom ranges between 8x and 12x, giving added versatility for outdoor photography. Other new cameras go down to 24 or 28 mm at the wide-angle end, making it easier to take in an entire scene in close quarters, such as a crowded party.
Optical zooms are superior to digital zooms, which magnify the center of the frame without actually increasing picture detail, resulting in a somewhat coarser view.
Sensors in digital cameras are typically about as light-sensitive as ISO 100 film, though some let you increase that setting. (At ISO 100, you’ll likely need to use a flash indoors and in low outdoor light.) A camera’s flash range tells you how far from the camera the flash will provide proper exposure: If the subject is out of range, you’ll know to close the distance. But digital cameras can tolerate some underexposure before the image suffers noticeably.
Red-eye reduction shines a light toward your subject just before the main flash. (A camera whose flash unit is farther from the lens reduces the risk of red eye. Computer editing of the image may also correct red eye.) With automatic flash mode, the camera fires the flash whenever the light entering the camera registers as insufficient. A few new cameras have built-in red-eye correction capability.
Some cameras that have powerful telephoto lenses now come with image stabilizers. These compensate for camera shake, letting you use a slower shutter speed than you otherwise could for following movement. But an image stabilizer won’t compensate for the motion of subjects.
Most new 6- to 8-megapixel cameras come with full manual controls, including independent controls for shutter and aperture. That gives serious shutterbugs control over depth of field, shooting action, or shooting scene with tricky lighting.
HOW TO CHOOSE
The first step is to determine how you will use the camera most of the time. Consider these two questions:
How much flexibility to enlarge images do you need? If you mainly want to make 4×6 snapshots, a camera with a 3- or 4-megapixel resolution will be fine. Such a camera will also make an 8×10 print of an entire image without alteration that looks as sharp as one from a 6- or 8-megapixel model. But to enlarge the image more or enlarge only part of it, you’ll want a 6- to 8-megapixel camera.
How much control do you want over exposure and composition? Cameras meant for automatic point-and-shoot photos, with a 3x-zoom lens, will serve snap shooters as well as dedicate hobbyists much of the time. The full-featured cameras in the 6- to 8-megapixel range offer capabilities that more-dedicated photographers will want to have. Two of the more important capabilities are a zoom range of 5x to 10x or more, which lets you bring distant outdoor subjects close and also lets you shoot candid portraits without getting right in your subject’s face, and a full complement of manual controls that you determine the shutter speed and lens opening. ‘
Once you’ve established the performance priorities that you need from a camera, you can narrow your choices further by considering these convenience factors:
Size and weight. The smallest, lightest models aren’t necessarily inexpensive 3-megapixel cameras. And the biggest and heaviest aren’t necessarily found at the high end. If possible, try cameras at the store before you buy. That way, you’ll know which one fits you hand best and which can be securely gripped. In our tests, we have found that some of the smallest don’t leave much room even for small fingers.
Battery type and life. All digital cameras can run on rechargeable batteries of one of two types: an expensive battery pack or a set of AA batteries. In our tests of the cameras, neither battery type had a clear performance advantage. The best-performing cameras offer upward of 300 shots on a charge, while the worst manage only about 50. We think it’s more convenient to own a camera that accepts AA batteries. You can buy economical, rechargeable cells (plus a charger) and drop in a set of disposable lithium or alkaline batteries if the rechargeable run down in the middle of the day’s shooting.
Camera speed. With point-and-shoot cameras like the ones we tested, you must wait after each shot as the camera processes the image. Most models let you shoot an image every few seconds, but a few make you wait 5 seconds or more. They may frustrate you when you’re taking photos in sequence.
Your other cameras. If you’re adding a camera to your lineup or trading up to a more versatile model, look first for one that’s compatible with the other cameras. If it is, you can share memory cards and batteries. Designs within a camera brand line are often similar. So staying wit the brand you have lowers the learning curve on the new camera for family members who switch between cameras.
Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.
For the latest information on this and many other products and services, visit www.ConsumerReports.org.
Related posts
Tags: 35mm, automatic exposure control, automatic flash, available light, batteries, Battery, Canon, capabilities, color inkjet printer, compactflash, digital cam, Digital Camera, Digital cameras, digital image, digital images, digital zoom, exposure control, film, film camera, film cameras, film companies, flash, flash memory cards, flash mode, flash range, flash unit, Fuji, Fujifilm, image sensor, image stabilizer, images, kodak, lcd viewer, lense, lenses, megapix, megapixel, megapixel camera, megapixels, memory, memory card, memory cards, new camera, olympus, optical viewfinder, optical zoom, photo, photograph, photographer, photographers, photography, photos, picture, pictures, pixel, pixel resolution, printers, professional digital, professional digital cameras, rechargeable batteries, red eye, resolution, securedigital, sharpness, shutter speed, snapshots, Sony, still camera, storage, telephoto lens, traditional camera, typical camcorder, viewfinder, zoom
