A Digital Still Camera Able to Shoot Video That’s Ready for YouTube

By J. D. BIERSDORFER

Published: February 7, 2008

YouTube is turning up everywhere — even on digital still cameras. Casio’s new 8.1-megapixel Exilim Zoom EX-Z80, like a few other recent cameras, features a YouTube capture mode that shoots movie clips in the site’s recommended format and resolution, and comes with software to upload the videos easily to the Web.

The camera, which sells for about $200, records video in the H.264 standard, which also makes the mini-movies compatible for iPod viewing. As a still camera, the EX-Z80 has a 3X optical zoom and a face-detection feature to help improve the focus and exposure of people in a photo. There is also a self-portrait mode that automatically snaps the picture when your face is fully within the frame.

The Exilim EX-Z80 (exilim.casio.com) comes in six colors — green, blue, black, silver and two shades of pink — and has a 2.6-inch L.C.D. screen. The camera incorporates image-stabilization technology and comes with a motion-detecting Auto Shutter feature that snaps the picture as soon as the subject settles down and holds still.

J. D. BIERSDORFER

How You Win Photography Contests Online

By David R. Cross

These days, with the advancements in technology, more and more people are buying cameras. It’s very easy to own one because of the improvements in ease of use and maintenance. We don’t have to buy rolls of film just to use a camera. It’s also easier to take great pictures, because we can preview the image that’s going to be taken and if it’s not up to standard, it can be deleted in just a press of a button. No film is wasted, and the photos come out as we want them.

It’s normal practice to bring a camera everyday, especially those that are compact and lightweight. This is so that every important moment is captured and thus, preserved throughout time. With this in mind, more and more people are getting interested in photography and enjoying it. Even non-professional photographers can take very good pictures, and there shouldn’t be any surprise if there are more people who join photography contests, whether it’s for the prize, the recognition, or just for fun.

If you’re one of the many people who enjoy photography, and someday you hope to enter and win a contest, here are some photography contest tips and advice:

• Follow all the rules of the contest

There is always a different set of rules for every contest, and you should be aware of them first and foremost. Familiarize yourself with them and follow them to the letter. You might not understand why some rules are there, but don’t assume you can just disregard them. They are there for a reason. It’s better to follow the rules rather than have your work returned to you because you did not follow the rules.

• Research on past entries

Researching on past winning entries will help you learn more about the contest that you want to join and its standards. If you know more about the standards and the judges’ basis for a good photograph, you’ll have a better edge against the other contestants. You also might get inspired from studying the past entries.

• Study the categories

There are different categories in every contest, and you must consider the requirements of each category before submitting an entry under the category that you’ve chosen. Your photograph should be focused on the category’s topic. Many entries get disqualified for not following the requirements, and it’s sad because the photographer may be talented, but the entry is not even seen by the judges because of a technicality. For example, there are categories that might require your picture to have a few items at the background of the photograph’s main focus. One missing item may hurt your chances in the contest.

• Consider your work with a critical eye

You might have a photograph that you’re really fond of. You might even consider it as your best, because of its meaning to you. Remember, your contest entry will be judged by many different people who are strangers to you. They don’t know the story and circumstances behind your favorite work, and they don’t care. They are also given a set of guidelines in choosing entries, and each of them has unique standards. If you want a good chance of winning, better submit photographs that are good on all technical factors. For your entry to stand out, your subject should be doing some actions. A subject that is doing something is more noticeable and has more depth compared to a subject that is on a pose.

• Send only your best work

There are contests that allow multiple entries, and if you plan on submitting more than one entry per category, it’s better to submit just a few of your best work, rather than submit a lot of entries that include a few decent, but lackluster, photographs. This is to protect how the judges think of your best photograph. If you include a few second-rate photographs, chances are the judges’ opinion on those photographs might dampen their opinion on your best entry. Instead of your best photograph standing out, it might get buried under the mediocre ones.

It’s easier now to take pictures, and it’s even easier to prepare for a contest if you only study how. Apply these photography contest tips and advice, and improve your chances of winning a photography contest.

The Best Time To Choose A Wide Angle Lens

When is the best time to choose a wide angle lens, and how does one choose the appropriate wide angle lens for a particular shot?

First things first, the best time for a wide angle lens is to be used is when you are planning to take a beautiful shot of a landscape.

Another important aspect of landscape photography is the selection of the appropriate light as well as the perfect location of the landscape shot. As much as possible, and depending on what it is being shot, the selection of the appropriate day to catch that landscape picture perfect landscape view is everything.

Lights, location and action

When the location has finally been chosen for the wide angle lens shot, try to notice the light effects visible on the area that you plan to shoot in over a whole twenty four hour day. This ensures that you know how the lights play over the range of mountain, sand or seas. This also helps you plan just how it is you are to go about taking that shot, when and how.

When you finally know, it is therefore time to be a little bit creative. You may include elements in your picture’s foreground in order to have an additional scale and depth to your pictures. Also, feel free to look around from other points in the area where you think the shot could just as well be taken. This may add a little bit of interest to the final picture. Also consider taking a variety of levels and positions.

Time is always of the essence

Believe it or not, in order to avoid any shadows that may appear harsh on the picture, the best time to shoot is early during the morning as well as late in the golden afternoon.

During this time, take your camera out and set it up using a tripod. Then, take a reading of any area of the shot using a light-meter. Once the appropriate measurements have been taken, adjust the speed of the shutter and the aperture.

After all these, all you need to do is to press the release button and take a beautiful picture.

Make use of natural effects

If there are any natural creations occupying your shot, try to use a backlight or side lighting that provides the leaves, – for example – grass, water or smoke an appearance that these seem to be translucent, almost ethereal.

Pictures of a beautiful sunset are best taken just when the sun has gently touched the horizon and immediately a maximum of five – count them - five short minutes just after the sun has finally set.

It is best that you use or position yourself to a geographically high point.

A filtered polarizer may also be used in order to heighten the sky’s color or tone, thus delivering a picture befitting a postcard.

A wide angle lens helps a lot in increasing the picture’s scope.

Do not forget to relax. This prevents the camera from unnecessarily shaking and helping you focus on the subject more than anything else.

Supply yourself with much needed supplies

Since landscape photos are usually taken far from the city and well into the country, it is best that you pack up a host of equipments that enables you to take pictures even during temporary obstacles. A flashlight always comes in handy, bottled water is another (to keep the photographer replenished and not thirsty), as well as a lot of extra rolls of film. This is one equipment that photographers generally can't do without.

Basically, a wide angle lens has a focal length that measures less than forty millimeters. Be aware as well as be wary that the length of the lens changes how an image is seen.

All in all, determining the best lens to use for a particular shot requires a lot of patience, skill and practice. The art of mastering landscape photography doesn't have to be difficult. And the best lens to use for such kind of photography is a wide-angle lens. Getting that that shot right takes not only skill but the strength, stamina and endurance to get to where the location of the landscape is and the energy – upon reaching that location – to get the job done. And when that moment arrives, the job has only just begun.

Starting A Photography Business

Do you love taking pictures? Are you considering making some money out of it? Starting a business out of photography is relatively easy, as long as you have the right equipment.

You can start a photography business with only a few bucks, or possibly nothing at all if you already have the right camera equipment. You can even start your business in the comforts of your own home.

You can probably find a small space in your house or a room dedicated for your business. That will serve as your “office” space.

With the advent of digital SLR (single-lens reflex) cameras, you don't even need a dark room to develop the pictures you have taken. All you need is a personal computer with above average specifications and photo editing software such as Adobe Photoshop.

If you want to make your hobby a business, you should not only have your basic camera unit but the additional equipment as well. Of course, you would want your pictures to stand out and be more appealing to potential clients. You would need different zoom lenses and camera filters to make your shots clear, sharp and even have some special effects.

Starting with a few of them will do, then just gradually increase them as your business progresses. You don't even have to make this a full time business right away, especially if you don't have a client base yet. Doing this part time would be sufficient enough while in the start up stage.

Even if you only do this on your free time, make sure you are still dedicated and serious. You won't be able to get enough clients to sustain yourself if you don’t take this business seriously.

Since you are going to make this engrossing hobby a business, there will be some legality that you need to take care of. First, you need to have your business registered and have a name and logo to be able to operate legally. Once registered, you can issue receipts and file taxes for your business.

Also, it would be good to write a business plan. Having one will help you identify your goal for your business and keep focused with this goal. This way, you will know if the business that you start up is worth all your time and effort.

With your business plan, you can also define the different strategies that you can do to make your business more profitable. You can change the business plan from time to time as needed. Having a business plan will surely help your business increase earnings, as well as help you to find ways in financing your business.

Your business plan should include your business’ objectives. This is important because it will help you stay in focus on how you want your business to turn out in the long run. It should also include a marketing plan, how you intend to advertise and market your services to get customers. Also, the price you intend to charge on your services should be included. You may want to change this as your business grows.

With regard to marketing your services, who else can help you better than your relatives and friends. At first, you may want to volunteer your services for free for birthdays and other occasions of your relatives and close friends. For sure, once they have seen your good shots, they will recommend you to their own circle of friends and colleagues.

And it will go on and on until you realize that you are now having difficulty arranging your schedule because of so many appointments. Of course, doing some marketing and advertising techniques would help. You can probably give away flyers or brochures to your neighbors. Or maybe post an ad in your local newspaper.

There are many ways to gain clients. Many people now consider photographs as a very important part in special occasions. Companies also rely on good photos to market their products.

Starting a photography business may be easy to do but it should be taken seriously. For anyone who wants to make serious money, dedication is important. You should also be responsible for all your actions. After all, wouldn’t it be nice to earn decent income with something you love doing?

The World Of Modern Photography

After the invention of the camera and the growth in popularity of photography, it is only natural that mass production as well as dissemination of photo prints will follow. Because of photography, personal as well as public history, time, and the perception of man himself has notably changed. The idea of privacy became altered as more and more well known public figures and that of the common man were recorded. Photographs became the unchallenged proof of any experience, event, and even a state of being.

Photography as an art
Certifying photography as an art form was a hard thing to undertake during its early stages. It was challenged by artists as well as critics and focused on both the chemical and mechanical facets of photography. They considered photography as a craft and nothing more.

Taking away the restrictions
When musuems and art schools finally opened up themselves to photography, the resulting trend was carried up to the present. Photographers began to set themselves free from the strict impositions made by the norms of the straight aesthetic mode as well as the documentary modes as forms of expressing their individuality. By the 1960's photography became a major force in visual arts. This art form has been combined with other types of expression including computer imaging as well as mixed media.

Practical applications of photography
Photography has many practical applications. It has evolved to become a vital tool used in diverse fields like education, medicine, military activities, and commerce. Science has greatly benefited from photography, including aerial mapping of areas, geology, surveying, archeology, meterology, and anthropology just to name a few.

The digital age
With the onset of the 21st century, images can be manipulated and altered in so many ways with the help of digital imaging and computer utilizing techniques. Digital photography started a change in photographic techniques and its nature. The conventional method of photography involved the passing of light into a lens then to an emulsifying agent or digital photography, where color filters as well as sensors are used to create an image. There are two kinds of techniques used in digital photography. The first one involves the use of 3 layers of filters. Each one only allows one color like green, another red, and the last one, blue.

These are some of the notable things with regards to modern photography. Photography has been present for more than a hundred years and yet more and more innovations are taking place. Looking at it, one can surmise that more things are yet to come in the world of modern photography.

Aerial Photography

Viewing photographs which are taken from a good, unique point of view is one of the most fascinating things in the world of photography. This is what we refer to as aerial photography.

Origins

Aerial photography is formally defined as photograph taking from an overhead viewpoint by using cameras that are mounted on an airborne tool such as a balloon, an aircraft, a kite, a skydiver and other similar tools. The art of aerial photography was first developed by Nadar, a French airman back in 1858. During the Second World War, aerial photography found a niche in military operations. Aerial photographs were used in spying and in the assessment of the battle ground. These photographs provided updated and realistic impressions of the topography and current situation in a certain area.

Uses of Aerial Photographs

There are many conceived and actual uses for pictures which are taken from above. Aerial photographs are actually used in the construction of topographic maps, in cartography, planning land use, archeology, production of movies, espionage, environmental studies, commercial advertising and in other fields.

The use of technology has also crawled into the field of aerial photography. Advances in radio technology has allowed for the use of aircraft models which are controlled by radio in the conduct of low-altitude photography. This is mainly used in advertising for the real estate business. This is because manned aircrafts are not allowed to fly low altitudes in populated locations. This task can be done by these radio-controlled aircraft models and they do the job very well.

Public Domain

Aerial photographs are considered public domain, because the pictures are taken from aerial views which are considered public places.

There are many ways to view aerial photographs on-line. One of the most popular ones is the Google Earth by Google. Google Earth provides satellite imagery as well as aerial photos of the planet. You can actually use the service to be able to search for different places in a certain area such as parks, restaurants, schools and hotels. It can also be used to be able to track down the best routes for reaching a certain location. You can also view the aerial photographs in different angles by tilting and rotating them.

These are some basic things about aerial photography. If you are interested in learning more about this topic, you can browse through some basic materials at the local library or use the Internet to get more information about it. Technorati Profile

A Guide For Newbies In Photography

Photography is one of the most popular hobbies today, and a lot of photographers progressed from being a photo hobbyist to a professional who gets paid to do what they love. Being a great photographer requires a lot of patience, an artistic eye, and technical know-hows. To help those who are interested in becoming a photographer, here are some tips that will surely help them in creating beautiful, interesting pictures.

1. Choose the right camera

A photographer eats with his camera and sleeps with his camera. The camera is his life. Therefore, it is but very important to choose the right camera to shoot those perfect photographs. There are many kinds of cameras that aspiring shutterbugs can choose from, catering to different kinds of budgets. It goes without saying that the best cameras are the priciest ones. A good camera is a large but justifiable investment.

These are the type of cameras available in the general market:

1. Disposable camera
2. Compact camera
3. Single lens reflex camera or SLR
4. Digital camera

Beginners are recommended to use the medium price range cameras such as Minolta, Pentax or Canon, which can take great-looking pictures almost as good as the top-of-the-line ones.

2. Select suitable lenses

Beginners can start off with two lenses, the first one from 28mm to 80mm and the second one from 80mm to 270mm. There are different kinds of lenses, the normal the wide-angle, the zoom and the macro lenses.

3. Distinguishing film types

Obviously, film is very important since the images taken are stored here. The most general kinds are colors are black and white films.

4. Choosing the right film speed

The general rule is, the higher the ISO number, the faster the film. Faster ISOs are for fast actions like sports, or for shoots where there is less light. For shoots with an abundance of light, a 100 0r 200 ISO will do just fine.

5. Balancing of color

The film should always be matched to the source of the light in order to produce desirable pictures. Unlike the naked eye, film sees different light colors, and if the light and film don't match, the colors will come out all wrong.

Photography is a great hobby that is recommended for everyone, men and women or young and old alike. Studying the right techniques is essential if you want to become good at it. Just following these guidelines and anyone can create great-looking pictures in no time.

Teach Yourself A Digital Photography

Nowadays, it appeared that digital photography is really preferable by home users, not only in the business industry. For all those who have shifted from film cameras, it is essential that you know the different terminology related to it.
The first portion of the digital photography will emphasize on general parts and terminology you need to know. Below are the common terminology you may come across.

1. Pixel- stands for the tiniest part of the digital image. One photo image can comprises more than millions of pixel.
2. Resolution- this term suggests the quality of an image. By adjusting the resolution would make the photo become sharper. This means that more pixels are needed to attain a better image quality.
3. Dots Per Inch (DPI) - this term is used to describe the quality of the printe and computer monitor. The laser printers have more dpi resolution than monitors. Thus, the higher the dpi resolution, it suggests the superior of quality.
4. Mega pixel- an image with four to five mega pixels will have a better quality than an image with only one mega pixel.
5. JPEG (joint photographic experts group) – it is another variation of an image stored in a digital camera.
6. Memory Card- this is where the digital files are kept. Memory sticks come in different capacity and sizes. A memory sticks with higher storage capacity would be really handy.
7. LCD (liquid crystal display) – the digital cameras nowadays are equipped with this specification. The LCD is designed for the photographer to be able to view their subjects before shooting any images.

Now you will be really familiarized with your digital photography device, the second portion will discuss on the proper handling of your device. Correct handling of digital camera is the next significant step in digital photography. This is because the success of a digital photographer depends on the picture turnout. And the key to attain quality photos starts in the way you use and manage your digital camera.

You should start with how a digital camera works, understanding strategies used in taking images, both outdoor and indoor. Below is will deal entirely about techniques to use in taking photos.

1. Pay Attention to The Subject

One of the most fundamental in digital photography world is that you should be able to use the frame to assist you in taking photos. Play with your camera, and explore different shots. Avoid positioning your object at the centre of the photo, as it may result to dead centre image.

2. Try New Ideas

Be creative by take photos from the top of a hill, or off the side of the animals. Get outside and explore your surroundings. You’ll surely have fun taking those once in a lifetime photo shots.

3. Try Close Up Images

Take great images by shooting at them in an extreme close up. By doing this, it will spice up your life and creativity. In addition to that, this will really enhancing your way of seeing your subjects.

4. Make Use of A Tripod

More frequently images produce by digital cameras will be blurry, this is because photographer’s hands are shaking, even a little. By acquiring a tripod will certainly save your effort from taking undesirable images and preserve otherwise great photos.

5. Sign-up A Class or Training

You must not only learn through your own experience but learning from an expert would also help to improve your skills greatly. Join a photography class in your area, or online is advised too.

Becoming a professional digital photographer is a time consuming process. You need have guts and keep on trying new techniques. Start by learning this digital photography lesson as it will serve as a stepping stone for your future career to be.

by anattar Article Source : www.articlephotography.com

Strategies For Portrait Photography

Photography is one of the most popular hobbies and professions in the world. There is nothing like capturing fragments of reality and preserving it on film. There are many kinds of photography, but one of the most in-demand is portrait photography.

A good portrait is described as a picture with a quality image that captures both the physical features and character of the subject. Taking good portraits is very challenging because a photographer needs a subject with an upbeat personality that also reflects sensitivity and liveliness.

There are lots of factors that photography enthusiasts need to know in capturing the perfect portrait.

1. Revelation of the subject's character

For a portrait to be considered good, it must capture at least one element that shows the features and traits of the subject as well as one that captures his or her individuality. The image must reveal an important part of the subject's character that can be identifiable by those who know them. Therefore, it is quite challenging for a portrait to show the character of his subject if they have only met for the first time.

2. The right moment to take pictures

Definitely, the photo shoot should start when the subject is comfortable and at ease with his or her appearance and surroundings. Never shoot if the subject is tense or uneasy, because it will reflect in the pictures. There is no rule that says a conversation should stop when shooting starts, it can still continue especially if it makes the subject open up more to the photographer.

Remember that the subject does not need to smile to make the portrait look good. Oftentimes, a thoughtful or a serious expression is preferred since it reveals more of the subject's character.

3. Preparedness of the photographer

This is important since it is the photographer who takes control of a photo session. The subject must feel that the person behind the camera knows what he's doing and is experienced enough to tell the subject how to pose. The photographer himself must be prepared and relaxed throughout the session.

4. Right kind of lighting

Probably the best light that can be used for capturing the personality of the subject is natural daylight. The variety of lighting choices brought about by outdoor conditions gives more creative leeway for the photographer. Having the subject sit near the window can also produce great effects. The only disadvantage of natural light is that it's not always consistent. This is the reason all photographers must utilize artificial lighting. All photographers must have studio flashes. Also, the position of the photographer in relation to the subject can also be shifted in order to maximize the light available.

5. Appropriate background

Simply put, a bad background can destroy a picture. Always pay close attention on the scenery behind the subject when framing shots. There are many creative options that be used when shooting outdoors. The subject can be made to pose beside or in front of colorful flowers or leaves, the sea or the sky. To reduce the effect of a distracting background, a photographer can make use of long lenses or an expansive aperture. For indoors, one can use black or grey cloth for the background, then adding colored transparent plastics over the flashes to modify color.

6. Usage of costumes and props

Portraits usually are a rare photograph of a subject, and good costumes can make the portrait more interesting and valuable. You don't always need to use a full costume, sometimes a hint of it will make wonders, such as hats or scarves. Props should be used very carefully, and should not distract from the main subject of the photograph. A prop should establish the natural pose and mood of the one being photographed.

7. Framing

The kind of framing can already create the image desired by the photographer. It is recommended that photos be cropped before shooting. The image should be checked a few seconds before clicking the shutter. Images that are not needed should be excluded from the shot.

Producing the perfect portrait may seem hard at first but these tips can help novices so that they can shoot better pictures.

Photography Tips : Lenses Idea

Simply owning a camera is not going to get you the best pictures. Almost of us who take photos are amateurs in the art world, but with the right gear our picture taking can be lifted to a new height. Lenses are crucial particularly when you settle on a medium you will train in. Most photographers decide one area of photography to specialise in. There are numerous types of lenses, the standard 35-80 mm, telephoto, and panoramic lenses.

Most cameras have a 35-80 mm lens, even the point and shoot type. Oftentimes when you buy a camera casing they will sell you the standard lens with it. All lenses are interchangeable. You do have to adhere to the same brand of lenses as your camera and be sure the diameter is the same. The diameter of most lenses is the same as long as you keep to the same brand. The 35-80 mm lens assures you the extent of reach. While you can take shots a few miles away with a standard lens you will not have the distinction of features in the print that you need. The standard lens is great for close up pictures, like flowers, spider webs, people, and pets. To gain more distinct shot miles away you need a larger lens.

There are many telephoto lenses in photography. One is the 75-300 mm lens. While this is not as large as other telephoto lenses you may notice a professional walking around with it is a great step up for mountain and wildlife photography when your target is some distance away. When you begin to move from the 35 mm into something larger it is best to have a stabilizer with the lens. A stabilizer will help you hold the camera steady for clear pictures even if your hand moves a little bit. When you enter the world of the telephoto lens you can purchase accessories to help with angles and light.

Photography in the world of panorama is another mean to take breath taking landscape shots. The panoramic lens permits you to extend the photograph, particularly with a digital camera. If there is a mountain range or glacier that you wish to acquire the whole picture without gluing them together in Photoshop the panoramic lens is the best way to do. I’m sure you have seen landscapes with a panoramic view and wished you could have that option. Even with film cameras you could have a panoramic lens to widen the photograph.

All three lenses are just the icebergs on the use of lenses in photography. Whether you are an amateur photographer or a undeveloped professional you will want to maximize your photo taking skills. The next gear you may want to buy to help you with the bigger lenses would be a tripod to stabilize the camera even more. Tripods are really simple and lightweight pieces of equipment and work great for portrait photography. All mediums in photography demand moderate to top of the line camera gear to bring forth a photograph with quality. Photography also depends on the photographer’s skill and eye. Lenses are simply a small part of the photography world when you start to examine the art. If you have any questions on lenses the best places to find answers are your local photography shop. Article Source : www.articlephotography.com

Tips Tricks for Photography Beginners - Better Composition

by katatdhd

In this article we will briefly touch on a few areas that will help you take better photographs concentrating on the composition or your photographs - from a beginners viewpoint. I am assuming that you have basic knowledge of your camera at this point which is vital to your photography skills.

1. Keep It Simple
Simplify your photo as much as possible, remove unwated elements and be aware of the background. A photo with too much going on wont grab the viewers attention and keep it. If the eye wanders around the picture trying to look at all the elements that are there, it will loose its effectiveness. Make sure your subject is the most prominate feature of the photo and the background is not distracting.

2. Get in close
One of the most important lessons I ever had was to get in close to the subject. My mentor kept saying closer, closer, closer. I thought he had lost his mind. In fact he was dead on and I think that was the most valuable lesson I learned. 'Fill the frame' with you subject. (Note:Try not to cut of the edges of the subject unless ofcourse you are focusing on a specific area of your subject.) Filling the frame helps to make the subject of your photo unmistakeable and also helps to remove those unwanted distaractions from the background.

3. Composition
One of the most valuable things you need to learn to help take your photos to the next level is how to compose you photos. The most talked about 'rule' is the Rule of Thirds. This is much more simple than you would really think.

A. Rule Of Thirds
Imagine your frame with imaginary lines forming a tic-tac-toe board, Dividing it into 1/3 sections from top to bottom and also from left to right. This rule is helpful when composing shots with horizontal and vertical lines. Landscapes are the perfect example for this rule. Placing your horizon along one of the horizontal lines will make your photo have more impact. If you want the sky to be more prominant place the horizon on the bottom 1/3 if you want the sky to be less prominant place the horizon on the upper 1/3. Getting the idea?

B. Golden Section
Applying the Rule of Thirds to your frame, find all of the intersections of your tic-tac-toe board. Those 4 spots are your 'sweet spots' so to speak. When the center focal point of your subject is placed on or near one of these spots your photo will seem to have more impact and be more appealing. Using these 4 areas will keep you in the rule of thirds as well.

C. Framing Your Shot
A neat way to add depth and impact to your shot is to frame it with something in the photo. Using a tree branch to one side of your photo, or taking a photo threw an archway leaveing the archway as the frame.. Take a shot threw a window frame using the window as a frame. This takes practice but the results are well worth the effort.

D. Leading Lines
Threw the use of leading lines, you can bring the viewer into your photograph. Strong lines, like roads and foot paths can draw a veiwer in as well as other items, like a row of trees, flowers, buildings etc. Placing these kind of items along the rule of thirds or on a diagonal are great places to start while experimenting with leading lines.

E. Diagonal and Triangular Lines
This is one of my favorite types of compositions. Placeing the items of intrest using the golden mean, and leading lines to form a diagonal across the frame will give a photo great impact. This works well with most items.

Now that I have went over the most common 'rules' of photography, I am going to say RULES ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN! Experimentation can lead to many a wonderful photograph! Article Source : www.photos-of-the-year.com

A Guide To Digital Cameras For Beginners

Key Considerations

Unlike traditional, film cameras, digital cameras employ a light sensitive sensor, known as a CCD (“Charge Coupled Device”), or CMOS (“Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor”), to convert incident light into an image in electronic, or digital, form. The “resolution” and physical size of this sensor are important factors in determining the quality of photographs taken with a digital camera.

Resolution is often quoted as the total number of “pixels” (“picture elements”), or “mega pixels”, of which the sensor, and, therefore, the final photograph, is composed. The more pixels an image contains the higher the level of detail that you can expect in that image, so, all other things being equal, the higher the resolution of a digital camera, the better. As a rule of thumb, a basic, entry level digital camera, with a resolution of 1.0, or 2.0 mega pixels (MP), is likely to be adequate for standard, 6 inch x 4 inch prints, or the equivalent, but for larger, 10 inch x 8 inch prints, a resolution of at least 3.0 MP is likely to prove more satisfactory. Advanced digital cameras, amongst them SLR, or “Single Lens Reflex”, models are, of course, available with resolutions of, perhaps, 10 MP, or more. The Mustek DV5200 Digital Camera, for example, features a maximum resolution of 5.4 MP.

Almost all digital cameras have some form of zoom capability, and this is often quoted as the level of magnification provided, so you will come across figures such as “3x”, or “4x”, for both “digital”, and “optical” zoom. It is important, however, to differentiate between these two types of zoom. Optical zoom involves, the physical, or mechanical, movement of the camera lens to produce a close up image, and produces highly satisfactory results. Digital zoom, on the other hand, is controlled by software alone, effectively “cropping” a portion of an image, and enlarging that portion to the size of the viewfinder. This can result in grainy, unsatisfactory photographs at all but the lowest levels of magnification, and claims of huge digital zoom capability should be treated with caution.

Many digital cameras can operate on standard, disposable AA, or AAA, batteries, or rechargeable batteries. Rechargeable batteries are more expensive, in the first instance, but may actually prove to be more economical in the long run; digital cameras do tend to be quite “battery hungry”, and the cost of constantly replacing disposable batteries may soon become prohibitive. The Mustek DV510V Digital Camera, for example, operates on two, 1.5V AA batteries.

Conclusion

Before you start shopping for a digital camera, try to make an assessment of how you intend to use one, now, and in the future. You may, for example, be looking for a digital camera that is easy to use, without constant reference to its user manual, in the first instance; if you also require larger, better quality photographs, at some point in the future, investment in a higher specification digital camera, with a higher resolution, will allow you some room for expansion.

Josh Taylor is a freelance writer specialising in consumer electronics, financial and business subjects.

Author:Josh Taylor

e-tailers such as 3 Wisemonkeys now offer a guide to buying digital cameras & camcorders. As well as producing quick guides such as the one above, 3 Wise Monkeys will respond to individual queries and offers detailed buying advice over the phone with no pressure to purchase.

Nikon D80 Digital SLR Camera

Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body only) 10.2-megapixel effective recording * APS-C-size CCD image sensor (23.6 x 15.8 mm) * 2-1/2″ LCD screen with brightness adjustment and 170-degree viewing angle * 3D Color Matrix Metering II evaluates your shots for accurate exposure * top-mounted LCD panel with green backlighting displays camera and exposure settings * built-in i-TTL pop-up flash * hot shoe for Nikon Speedlite flash accessories * continuous shooting mode: 3 frames per second up to 23 frames in JPEG (Fine/Large) or 6 frames in RAW (NEF) *
Customer Review: The controls are intimidating at first but it becomes intuitive and the telephone tech support is SUPERB !
First let us say we aren’t professional photographers and this is more than just an amateurs camera.

Rest assured, it comes with a “soccer mom” switch and I use this term with reverence because you can just switch the upper dial to “Auto” and the camera essentially goes on autopilot and does everything possible to deliver a balanced and focused shot.

If you have problems, you can just call tech support at their toll free number and our call at 1:00 AM Eastern Time was answered in less than 4 rings and we got a hold of an extremely competent individual who was more than patient and placed us on hold only so he go pull an actual D80 and the same lens from a supply closet and walk us through it while holding it himself.

In working with him, you could tell he was an owner and a loyalist and tech support like this you typically have to pay for as a separate line item. Whether or not we already paid for it as just part of the retail camera price or if Nikon just differentiates themselves this way….. the support is one of the reasons Nikon stands apart.

Bill Gates doesn’t even get this great tech support when he calls Microsoft himself and gives them his name.
Customer Review: BIGGEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCKS !
FANTASTIC !
It does everything the specs call for, without compromise.
Rugged. Reliable. Flexible. Extrermely high performance.
Everything in my Nikon digital system works with it.

The price was attractive. I bought one body to try out.
The next day I ordered a D80 body for each of my staff photographers.

Looking for Digital Camera? Find exactly what you want today.

Article Source : digitalcamerasreview.wordpress.com

Kodak EasyShare Z1275

Very Good Camera
Kodak Easyshare Z1275 is better than others more expensive, has a good performance, y takes hagh quality pictures

EasyShare Z1275 is a great camera
I think this camera is a good buy, worth every penny. It is very versatile as well.

The Kodak Z1275 has the exclusive Color Science Chip. Advanced algorithms and hardware acceleration along with the Color Science Chip perform split-second analysis to identify and adjust multiple factors to determine the correct exposure, capturing natural details, accurate flesh tones and rich colors. User-friendly features let you use 12 Megapixels and high ISO so bad lighting won’t be a problem anymore. The 12 Megapixel sensor allows you to print up to 30×40″ pictures so you can crop and enlarge while maintaining great image quality. Capture MPEG4 QuickTime Videos in HD at 30 fps with sound limited only to the size of your memory card. The Z1275 is part of the Kodak EasyShare System so sharing your pictures is amazingly simple; just press Share. View pictures with brilliance and clarity on the wide-angle, High-Resolution 2.5 (6.4cm) color display White balance - Auto, Daylight, Tungsten, Fluorescent and Open Shade Scene modes - Portrait, sports, landscape, close-up, night portrait, night landscape, snow, beach, text/document, fireworks, flower, manner/museum, self-portrait, children, backlight, panning, candlelight, sunset and panorama stitch 5 color modes - High, Low, Natural, Black & White and Sepia 1/4 standard tripod mount System Requirements - Windows XP OS or later, Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher, Macintosh OS X 10.3 or higher, Safari 1.1 or higher, 600 MHz processor or greater, 128MB RAM, 200MB free space, CD-ROM drive, Available USB port, Color monitor, 800600 display and 16-bit minimum Dimensions - 3.5 2.5 1.2 (89.564.531.6 mm) Weight - 5.7 ounces (161 grams). Article Source : digitalcamerasreview.wordpress.com

Sensor Cleaning Tips for DSLR Camera

I would like to share my experience of cleaning the sensor of the 5D camera which has a full-frame sensor. I have found that you whatever you do you are going to get dust eventually. Even if you do not change lenses regularly that some dust will appear on the sensor even after a shoot with no lens changes.

I have bought various cleaning items. I have tried various items including sensor swabs, lenspens, brushes and blowers, lens cleaning tissues and cotton buds. You are never going to escape dust so you may as well learn how to deal with it.

How to minimize dust:-

1. Switch off camera before changing lenses. This reduces charge on sensor which helps reduce dust attraction.
2. Hold camera downwards when changing lenses to stop heavier dust floating into the chamber.
3. Hold the lenses downwards after removing from camera for the same reason.
4. Put a dust cap on lens as soon as not in use.
5. Keep camera bag clean if you keep lenses in your camera bag.
6. If you keep lens caps in your pocket then do not attach them to body caps without dusting them first as this will eventually transfer lint and dust in your pocket to the sensor.
7. If you keep lenses in your pocket during a shoot then clean your pockets first.
8. Generally keep your gear clean. I wipe my gear clean with a damp cloth after each trip.

How to check if your full frame sensor is dirty:-

Please note that this test may make you unhappy! It may well be that you have a dusty sensor but it has made no difference to your shooting and now you find out you obsessively try to clean the sensor.

I find I cannot actually see the dust on the sensor and this is why a photograph is necessary. Dust tends to show up as small dark round patches in photographs. The smaller the aperture you shoot at the more they become obvious. Also they tend only to show up on light backgrounds. This means some people may not see them at all whilst others will. For example landscape photographers usually have the sky in the top part of the frame where dust will show up if in this area of the sensor.

1. Stick on a telephoto lens. Select f22 aperture. Select the maximum telephoto if a zoom lens. Focus to infinity.
2. Point the camera at a white wall. If no white wall try a clean piece of paper.
3. Let the camera select an auto shutter speed. It does not matter if you have camera shake, 0.5 to 2 seconds is fine. The idea is to have a blank subject and have the camera exposure meter turn this medium grey.
4. Transfer the photo to your computer. View the photo at around 1600 x 1200. You should see any dust and marks easily.

Please don't panic. Remember your camera is probably cleaner than most other peoples! Reference for good cleaning information:

Recommended sensor cleaning:

1. Wet clean

You should use wet cleaning when you have smears or blobs on the sensor. Smears are caused by skin oils, using too much cleaning fluid, using cheaper quality cleaning fluid, and by grease and oils sometimes coming from elsewhere in the camera.

I have found the trick with the 5D is to clean with two sensor swabs instead of only one and also clean carefully at the edges of the sensor.

On a cropped sensor you do not normally have to worry about the edges because the swab will overlap the sensor. With the 5D the sensor is fairly flush with the chamber wall making it hard to clean.

Because the 5D sensor is larger relative to the chamber you need to clean the edges. This is achieved by ensuring you swipe the edges, one edge on each sweep.

I contacted various sensor cleaning companies and I was advised that they use the 'Wet' method that is a swab and alcohol or methanol fluid.

Although an expensive method it is very useful to get the sensor spotless the first time it is used.

I found SensorSwabs from Photographic Solutions a good method used with Eclipse fluid also by Photographic Solutions. There are also other companies offering similar solutions. If these are too expensive then these can be made up more cheaply using the 'Copperhill' method by using 'PecPads' wrapped around a spatula.

SensorSwabs are expensive because they are produced in a 'Clean Room' free from airborne contaminates. Please note that Photographic Solutions do not promote the 'Copper Hill' method and say that their SensorSwabs use another material other than PecPads. However as SensorSwabs are so expensive about $5 each, some users prefer to roll their own.

Photographic Solutions guarantees that your sensor will not be damaged by using sensor swabs. They now also recommend use of the original Eclipse fluid on their website and not the new E2 Eclipse fluid.

Please note that Canon only recommend blowing, however with this guarantee from Photographic Solutions I am happy to use this method.

Also note that Canon may offer a free cleaning during the first year so do try this as an option.

A. Preparation

To start select sensor cleaning from the camera menu. This lifts up the mirror giving access to the sensor.

I hold the camera up and tilt the camera down so as to avoid collecting dust while cleaning.

Warning: Do not switch camera off accidentally whist cleaning or allow batteries to become dead, otherwise the mirror may flip down and it may be damaged.

Do not believe Canon technical support when they tell you that the SENSOR CLEANING menu selection will self-clean the camera. This is nonsense! All the menu selection does is lift up the mirror and turn off the sensor.

B. The Edges

The edges of the sensor are very hard to clean on the 5D and in fact many outlets offering sensor cleaning charge more for the full frame sensor. In fact some go so far as to take the camera apart to more easily get at the sensor.

Place only 2 drops (3 at most) of Eclipse fluid on a SensorSwab. Place on the tip which will be in contact with the sensor. More will cause streaking.

First use a horizontal sweep LEFT to RIGHT ensuring top edge is swiped. Then use same swab tilted the other way and use a horizontal sweep RIGHT to LEFT ensuring the bottom edge is swiped.

Second use a new swab and give the sensor a vertical sweep UP to DOWN ensuring left edge is swiped. Then use same swab tilted the other way and use a vertical sweep DOWN to UP ensuring the right edge is swiped.

The first time you clean the sensor yourself you may like to use a third swipe horizontally either using a new swab or reusing the second swab once more.

You may have heard from suppliers that the extreme left and right side edges of the swab do not clean efficiently because the material is not supported inside the swab. This is incorrect and it is actually these edges that are needed to clean the edges of the sensor in a full frame sensor. In a cropped sensor these SensorSwab edges float over the edge of the sensor and only touch air so it become less relevant on a cropped sensor compared to a full frame sensor.

To ensure the edges are cleaned you may find it useful to twist the swab slightly (around the vertical axis of the swab) during the sweep to ensure that the one corner of the swab is slightly forward at the end of the sweep and touches the edge and corner of the sensor. Remember the trick is to lift up impurities at the edges and not to push it into the corners and sides where it is hard to access.

I keep swabs and the eclipse fluid in a small wallet that came from Photographic Solutions.

C. Check

I then test the cleanliness of the lens. See 'How to check if your full frame sensor is dirty' above. I sometimes find one or two dust particles have arrived during cleaning or immediately afterward. In this case I simply give the sensor a blow as described below. Often a second blow is necessary if the first blow did not do the trick.

When blowing remember that the dust photograph is reversed left to right and inverted top to bottom in relation to the camera viewed from the back. So if for example you are looking at a speck on the top right of the photograph it will appear on the bottom left of the sensor when camera viewed from the back. This will appear on the bottom right if camera viewed from the front while actually cleaning. This is less necessary to know while swabbing as the whole sensor is cleaned when swabbing. With blowing you can concentrate where the actual dust is.

2. Large Blower.

For regular dust, and not smears, use a large hand blower.

This is recommended by Canon. Anything else may void their warranty.

I use the large black blower that came in a sensor cleaning kit from Lenspen. It has a small soft rubber snout to protect lenses and sensors and a double valve. The rubber part is four inches long and two inches diameter and the nozzle is an extra two inches.

To start select sensor cleaning from the camera menu. This lifts up the mirror giving access to the sensor. I tilt the camera down so as to avoid collecting dust while cleaning.

I stick the tip halfway into the chamber and blow by squeezing. I make sure not to touch the sensor.

I keep it in the soft leather case that came from Lenspen. I keep a smaller blower handy in the camera bag to blow dust away from the lens and lens caps.

I have found that blowing removes all loose dust. Sometimes I have to blow twice checking between each time.

3. Lenspen

I have tried Lenspen SensorKlear. I found it is excellent for dust but hopeless for removing the last of smears and grease etc.

I have decided not to use this method as the Sensorklear tip is not designed to be cleaned by the user. My concern is that particles from a previous cleaning may be rubbed over the sensor. Instead the dust is removed by twisting the closed cap which moves the chamois on the tip onto a sponge in the cap and reintroduces non-liquid carbon compound to the chamois. The instructions say use only 50 times then dispose. However the Lenspen is simple to use and is marvelous for cleaning lenses.

4. Brushes.

This method works. The method uses positively charged brush hairs to gently lift dust by being in contact with the sensor.

I bought a sensor brush from Copper hill Images called SensorSweep II. This works by blowing a small jet of air, using the supplied battery operated blower, through the bristles of the brush. Note it is not the power of the blowing that increases the charge, but the bristles rubbing against each other building up static electricity, rather like rubbing a balloon on a jersey.

The brushes with many hairs work best. The Arctic Butterfly from Visible Dust seems a reasonable method on the go, however it has less bristles than dedicated brushes. In fact some cleaning service companies recommend this method to customers between their cleaning as it is fairly easy to use even for people afraid of cleaning their sensors.

I must admit as the blower method is working for me I have not bothered to continue the brush methods.

5. SpeckGrabber

This is a small stick with a man made washable permanently sticky end. You can lift off difficult to remove items without rubbing the sensor. You simply press down and lift. This was invented for mirrors and focus screens and lenses. It works OK on sensors provided it is kept clean. It comes in a small tube which I keep in a wallet with the sensor swabs. You can clean with soap and water or Eclipse fluid and a PecPad.

6. Cotton buds

I tried these and found they introduce specks to the sensor. Reference for good cleaning information:-

http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com
http://www.kinetronics.com
http://www.visibledust.com
http://www.kinetronics.com
http://www.lenspen.com/403/377/

In the next generation 5D maybe in 2008 I hope the chamber walls will be made slightly larger so that the sensor becomes easier to clean. They may also invent some method to prevent the charge on the sensor that attracts dust in the first place.

Full frame owners may like to know that most auto cleaning methods in other cameras do not work. Read Here: http://photography.about.com/b/a/257910.htm

I hope you find my experiences useful. Source : www.photos-of-the-year.com

Lens Care: Cleaning and Changing Lenses

For those of us who use interchangeable lens cameras, changing lenses soon becomes habit, something we do without thinking about it. For those new to such tools, it can seem intimidating, and even for us habitual users, a change of system can bring out new problems. It is an area where not all systems are equal - I’ve worked with numerous different marques over the years and in different formats, moving from Leica and Pentax screw systems to 57 varieties of bayonet. Two systems seem to me to have stood out from the rest as giving fast, easy and positive changes. Not surprisingly, one is the Leica M system, and the other the Olympus OM series. Both have sensibly placed lens release buttons and positive locking systems, enabling fast lens changes, even one-handed. It’s only now I do most of my lens-changing on Nikon or Hasselblad XPan, neither outstanding in use, that I really appreciate their good design. I can’t quite work out why, but several times I’ve found an XPan lens falling off in my camera bag or coming off in my hand.

Rear Lens Caps

Camera lens and body flanges are generally fairly well engineered, with machined metal surfaces, but a third important element in lens changing is the plastic lens end cap. Some of these - even from major manufacturers - are poorly thought out and produced, and they often soon begin to suffer from wear. Sometimes I feel the manufacturers treat these small plastic pressings as unimportant, even almost disposable, when in fact they are a vital part of the system. If they do get too worn or you lose one, good dealers will stock replacements, though it is galling to pay $9 or so for a poorly designed few cents of plastic.

Visible Markings

To ease the changing of lenses, you may find it worth putting a clear white (or other colour) spot on the plastic end caps. It would help if all manufacturers marked these clearly, preferably with a clear raised mark that could easily be felt in low light. Some - including Nikon - have the kind of mark that you can see if you know where to look in perfect lighting, frankly pretty useless. Since most caps are black, a small spot of white paint, or, perhaps better, a line down the edge, helps greatly. Mark it precisely where it needs to line up with the spot on the lens.

Digital Differences

Moving to a Digital SLR (dSLR) system has caused particular problems, as lens changing allows dust to enter the system. A much more careful and systematic approach is needed to cut down the chances and thus avoid either the need to clean the sensor or the tedious job of retouching all your images in Photoshop or other imaging software.

Cleaning sensors

I’ve dealt previously with the problems of dirt on dSLR sensors (see Digital Dirt and Noise in Related Resources), with some suggestions about simple and cheap methods of cleaning them. You take the advice in my feature entirely at your own risk, and it may well invalidate your warranty, but it has worked without problems for me. Recently I’ve been using a new and apparently safer cleaning method involving a specially designed brush which is prepared using an air blast. This is said to be safer and more effective and my review of the Visibledust Sensor Brush(TM) (see Related Resources) confirms that it works. Source : www.articlephotography.com

How A Digital Camera Works

Digital cameras come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. Different brands of digital cameras also offer users an array of features designed to make each and every shot fantastic. Despite the numerous features offered by digital cameras, manufacturers still manage to create products that are simple enough for a child to use.

Day by day digital cameras are becoming a well-known fixture in most homes across the globe. In fact, most of the people around the world own one and use it on a regular basis. Digital cameras have also been incorporated into a variety of technical gadgets that have been integrated into the lifestyle of people everywhere.

PDA devices as well as cellular phones are just some of the technological devices that have a digital camera feature. Despite being an add-on feature, the digital camera device installed in these gadgets fair relatively well compared to detached models.

As a matter of fact the memory used for digital cameras, detached models or otherwise, can easily be upgraded using memory cards. The added memory will certainly come in handy because most digital cameras can also be used to take video clips.

There are numerous brands of digital cameras available on the market today. Mainstream electronic brands like Nikon, Kodak, Canon and Olympus are just some of the manufacturers of conventional 35mm cameras who have jumped on the bandwagon to create their own lines of digital cameras. Other famous brands that manufacture digital cameras include Panasonic, Casio and Sony.

Basic Features of Digital Cameras to Consider

Regardless of brand names, digital cameras have the same basic features that any consumer should know and consider before buying one. Even though digital cameras are generally a point and shoot device, certain features can often single out a particular brand or model. A good example of this is the term megapixel, which became known when digital cameras were introduced in the market.

Megapixels, which means millions of pixels, measure the quality and size of a digital camera. Pixels refer to the dots that make up a picture. Therefore a digital camera that has about a 5-megapixel resolution will produce better quality pictures compared to a 3-megapixel digital camera.

Moreover, photos taken with a digital camera that offers greater megapixels can be enlarged safely without sacrificing the quality of the picture. Average digital cameras with less than 3 megapixels often forfeit the clarity of the picture once it is enlarged. Unfortunately, there is a downside to using a digital camera with greater megapixels as they consume more of the camera’s memory.

The zoom function of a digital camera is another feature that most consumers should consider. There are generally two types of zoom features for many of the digital cameras on the market today. The optical zoom feature is common in devices without permanent lenses. The user can simply zoom and focus on the subject to be photographed.

A digital zoom feature is similar to using an editing software program for images. In most cases, a digital camera may offer both types of zoom features. Most digital camera users recommend concentrating on the optical zoom feature to validate the quality of the device.

What to Look for In a Digital Camera

A digital camera generally has an LCD screen. This wide screen replaces the small aperture in conventional cameras through which you look into before taking the shot. The LCD screen allows the photographer to view the picture while taking it to see how it would appear in reality.

Digital cameras have memory stick slots where memory sticks are inserted. Unfortunately, memory is another major consideration that many consumers often overlook. For the most part it is because digital cameras that require larger memory can be quite expensive.

On the whole, many of the digital cameras of today make use of rechargeable batteries. Consumers should check if the particular brand they wish to purchase comes with a charger. If not, then you need to purchase it separately.

Downloading pictures taken with the digital camera is another factor that need to be considered. In most cases, many digital cameras can easily be connected to a desktop computer using a USB port. Through this connection, a user may download the pictures taken with the camera into the computer’s hard drive for printing or editing.

5 camera technologies that will dominate 2008

Megapixels are so over. They've lost their marketing mojo. Now that sensors have stopped growing exponentially in terms of megapixels, new cameras don't even bother advertising their size.

But we're cool with that, since it lets other camera technologies take center stage. At the Photo Marketing Association's annual trade show this week, there were certainly plenty of new cameras and photo gear from the likes of Canon and Nikon, but the it's the technology within them — innovations like wireless and GPS — that's the real star. Click Continue to read how technology is changing how you'll take photos in 2008, from the seasoned pro to the most casual point-and-shooter.

1. Geotagging

Geotagging is the process of adding latitude and longitude coordinates to photos. For most of us, this means a hassle-tastical adventure in clicking and dragging around in Google Earth or Yahoo Maps to manually mark the location where we took our photos. The new trend is towards adding a GPS unit to the camera either at the manufacturing stage or as an option later on. There were a number of solutions on the floor on PMA, and each with its own approach.

The most novel and innovative being ATP's GPS PhotoFinder ($100). As a standalone device, it tracks and logs up to 550 hours of GPS data and then uses its SD slot to automatically add the geotags to the JPEG images on the card. Unfortunately, it does not work with CompactFlash and it can't do anything with RAW images, but for the point-and-shoot set, this thing is crazy simple.

Geotate, a newly formed subsidiary of NXP, provides hardware and software solutions to OEMs. Their new chip, which costs about $3, can add built-in geotagging capability to cameras. They also had a hot-shoe mountable reference design that would enable users who already have DSLRs to add the ability to their cameras. Jobo released a similar version this year, but based on its own hardware.

Geotagging can also be done with an existing GPS device, so long as the time is properly synced between the camera and GPS device and you have the software to extrapolate the data. Merax's PhotoFinder GPS (not to be confused with ATP's GPS PhotoFinder) does basically that. Rather than hooking to the camera or syncing with a card directly, it just gathers data as one cruises around, and then adds the geotags to the images upon import to the computer. As an added bonus, the device can be used as a navigation device with its built-in Bluetooth connection.

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2. Increased Dynamic Range

One of the big fads in digital imaging right now is tonemapping of HDR images. In essence, this means taking, say, 32 bits of color data and adjusting it to fit within an 8-bit color space, which is what our monitors and papers are capable of reproducing.

It was only a matter of time before camera manufacturers started looking for a way to get the most out of their sensors, which are 12- and 14-bit these days. Raw imaging is one way to preserve all the data, allowing for post-processing on the computer, but doing it on the camera appeals to many people. Nikon introduced D-Lighting as their way of getting more detail into the shadow areas of their photos. Panasonic recently added similar functionality to their point-and-shoots under the moniker of Intelligent ISO. Samsung threw all caution to the wind and just called theirs HDR.

This technology has a long ways to go, but with camera resolutions where they are today, it seems logical that some of that resolution could be thrown at getting different ISO sensitivity readings from a single frame and actually create a full 32-bit file. If HDR turns out not to be a passing fad like Sepia toning, perhaps this will be something to look for in the next few years.

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3. Face Recognition

This really seemed like a gimmick when it got big last year, but with cameras being able to track up to 15 faces, detect smiles and recognize the photographer when he steps into the frame for a self shot, it takes on a whole other level of creepy usefulness. FotoNation is the primary driving force behind the embedded software that does this.

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4. HD Video and 16:9 Aspect Ratio
Consumer cameras wind up being used to create content for consumer use. With the HD revolution nearly upon us and the overall move to widescreen everything, it just makes sense to fit the camera format into the mold. The downside comes with printing, but that's probably something that will be dealt with too. Maybe 4 x 7.77-inch photo paper will be the new 4 x 6. The newest point-and-shoot cameras are all outputting 720p video.

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5. Wi-Fi
Nikon's been doing it right for a while. Samsung is trying to do it right-er by adding the functionality to virtually all of their consumer electronics. Panasonic is in on the game too. For everybody else there's Eye-Fi, a 2GB SD card with a Wi-Fi controller that automatically beams the images from the camera to the computer. Is it a gimmick or is it a necessity? Time will tell.
Article Source : http://dvice.com

How A Digital Camera Works

Digital cameras come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. Different brands of digital cameras also offer users an array of features designed to make each and every shot fantastic. Despite the numerous features offered by digital cameras, manufacturers still manage to create products that are simple enough for a child to use.

Day by day digital cameras are becoming a well-known fixture in most homes across the globe. In fact, most of the people around the world own one and use it on a regular basis. Digital cameras have also been incorporated into a variety of technical gadgets that have been integrated into the lifestyle of people everywhere.

PDA devices as well as cellular phones are just some of the technological devices that have a digital camera feature. Despite being an add-on feature, the digital camera device installed in these gadgets fair relatively well compared to detached models.

As a matter of fact the memory used for digital cameras, detached models or otherwise, can easily be upgraded using memory cards. The added memory will certainly come in handy because most digital cameras can also be used to take video clips.

There are numerous brands of digital cameras available on the market today. Mainstream electronic brands like Nikon, Kodak, Canon and Olympus are just some of the manufacturers of conventional 35mm cameras who have jumped on the bandwagon to create their own lines of digital cameras. Other famous brands that manufacture digital cameras include Panasonic, Casio and Sony.

Basic Features of Digital Cameras to Consider

Regardless of brand names, digital cameras have the same basic features that any consumer should know and consider before buying one. Even though digital cameras are generally a point and shoot device, certain features can often single out a particular brand or model. A good example of this is the term megapixel, which became known when digital cameras were introduced in the market.

Megapixels, which means millions of pixels, measure the quality and size of a digital camera. Pixels refer to the dots that make up a picture. Therefore a digital camera that has about a 5-megapixel resolution will produce better quality pictures compared to a 3-megapixel digital camera.

Moreover, photos taken with a digital camera that offers greater megapixels can be enlarged safely without sacrificing the quality of the picture. Average digital cameras with less than 3 megapixels often forfeit the clarity of the picture once it is enlarged. Unfortunately, there is a downside to using a digital camera with greater megapixels as they consume more of the camera’s memory.

The zoom function of a digital camera is another feature that most consumers should consider. There are generally two types of zoom features for many of the digital cameras on the market today. The optical zoom feature is common in devices without permanent lenses. The user can simply zoom and focus on the subject to be photographed.

A digital zoom feature is similar to using an editing software program for images. In most cases, a digital camera may offer both types of zoom features. Most digital camera users recommend concentrating on the optical zoom feature to validate the quality of the device.

What to Look for In a Digital Camera

A digital camera generally has an LCD screen. This wide screen replaces the small aperture in conventional cameras through which you look into before taking the shot. The LCD screen allows the photographer to view the picture while taking it to see how it would appear in reality.

Digital cameras have memory stick slots where memory sticks are inserted. Unfortunately, memory is another major consideration that many consumers often overlook. For the most part it is because digital cameras that require larger memory can be quite expensive.

On the whole, many of the digital cameras of today make use of rechargeable batteries. Consumers should check if the particular brand they wish to purchase comes with a charger. If not, then you need to purchase it separately.

Downloading pictures taken with the digital camera is another factor that need to be considered. In most cases, many digital cameras can easily be connected to a desktop computer using a USB port. Through this connection, a user may download the pictures taken with the camera into the computer’s hard drive for printing or editing.