• Home
• Digital Camera Deal Comparison
• Discount Voucher Codes
• Subscribe

Landscape Photography Tips – Learn to use your Digital Camera like a Pro

A landscape shot is considered to be an easy shot by most of the people as it is mistakenly thought to be just a snap of a scene as seen from a single view. Not completely wrong, though the landscape view is a piece of art since it has to be so skillfully captured to include all possible details of what a beautiful scene has to offer. A picture technically handled without overshadowing it’s natural beauty is something we should be aiming to achieve.

Literally speaking, a landscape picture is a natural scenery of land based views excluding those of water bodies since they would be called as “sea scape” , more accurately. They should also not feature people or animal as main objects but may be included in the view as a part of the scene.

Though the basic principles of photography remain the same, the techniques applied are a bit different from that of routine photography. For an ameteur photgrapher, a number of following techniques might come handy when taking snaps of a landscape:

Adjusting the Depth of Field

The most tricky business in taking a landscape sanap is adjusting the Depth of Field i.e, the extent to which the forefround or the background of the picture is to be enhanced. For a larger view when tou require the farthest and nearest details of a scene to be sharp and prominent, a large depth of field i.e, a smaller aperture is to be set. But minimizing the aperture size will result in lesser amount of light striking the image sensor so the picture may apparently appear to be dark. For this the shutter speed should be lowered so that more time is given to the light to enter the camera. This may also be tackled by enhancing the ISO of the camera.

Stabilizing the camera

Since the smaller aperture size is supported by a longer shuter speed, you will require a steady surface to keep the camera in position. You must have seen professional photographers using a Tri-pod stand or a Mono pod stand. Well that not just to make an impression, it keeps the camera sill and its focus intact. Moreover, according to the definition of a landscape, in order to have a single view of the scene, the camera must be kept steady . Like wise the photographer would have an idea of how the picture will come out to be. Even when the shutter speed is fast, a quick jolt will also result in a blurry picture, so why not use a support anyways.

Rule of Thirds

Almost all landscape views are beautiful but the real challenge is how you draw a viewer’s attention to it. Usually, skilled photographers will take an object as the Focal Point of the scene such as a small hut in the middle of a valley or a sky scraper in an urban landscape. They also use people and animals for this purpose. Here, the Rule of Thirds comes handy, according to which a view is virtually divided into three sections and then that particular focal point (a mountain or a building at one of the intersections) not necessarily in the center. This will give character to your picture and will not be just a wider view of a scene. In case of sunset sceneries, a silhouted structure proves to be the best point of attraction same as a flying bird in a sun rise scene.

Adding the effects

The Field of Depth can and should be used creatively just like you can make use of a blur. Imagine a lush green valley pictured from behind a tree; the branches blurred in the foreground and the green mountains with a gushing white spring and the sunny blue sky clearly captured in the background. You have created a master piece! Well this is all about making the picture larger by suppressing a part of the picture.

The Sky element

The landscapes look incomplete without a nicely pictured and well contrasted sky. A blank blue sky will ruin the over all beauty of the scene so for this you can place the horizon in the upper third portion of the image and if the sky is cloudy and has different shades of colours as at the time of dusk, then place the horizon lower. Also add necessary effects by adjusting the colour and contrast especially in case of shots of gardens, valleys or mountains, where the colour defines and distincts one portion of the view from the other. You can use a Polarizing Filter which adjusts the colour and contrast elements.

Turn off the Flash

In a landscape snap, make the most of the natural light; turn ff the flash since in case of a misty, dusty or foggy environment, the flash will be reflected back creating a flare of lighting. The flash, however should be used when the foreground is to b brightened or when there is insufficient illumintaion.

Inertia in the scenery

As misunderstood frequently, the landscape views are not absolutely stagnant images; there is always movement of one kind or the other in it. The motion may be slow but cannot be ignored such a windy field, birds flying or a flowing water spring. These inetrtial aspects help in dramatizing and adding more beauty to a shot. In order to capture the moving scene, the shutter speed has to be loewred which suggests that you should be having a small aperture. Since longer time is given for the shutter release, so the light factor can be controlled by shooting the pictures at dawn or in late afternoon when sun light is soft and subtle.

Wait for the right time not for the weather

Surprising as it may sound to you but a stormy or misty weather sometimes gives better results than a warm sunny day. Reason being the selection of the right time rather than waiting for the right weather. Just be sure that you apply the required settings. For a sunny day, late afternoon is a good time to capture a green field whereas in winters, the snow fall will look the best when covered by a warm mid day sunlight.

Change the Angles

Feel free to experiment; that’s the highly recommended rule! Who says that a river flowing in the middle of the mountains has to be in the middle, you may be standing at the river bank and view the mountains with the river flowing by your side. Change angles while taking pictures of the same view. Like wise you will have a better idea about the view as well as the impact different angles may create on the viewer. Its also advisable because it will allow you to have more than one snap of the same view with different camera settings so you can decide for yourself that which one suits the best.

These were some of the tips that will be helpful to beginners in landscape view capturing but the real catch is how to apply them. You can make your own rules and even if you like break them. Go beyond the limits and conventional ways while capturing sceneries. Too much technical thinking will loose the essence of landscape photograp as its all about being natural.

How to take better photos with SLR Camera – Professional SLR Camera Tips

No matter how popular and convenient the ‘point and shoot cameras’ are, the real joy of photography comes with a film or SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera since it offers semi- automatic focus and exposure services and allows the user to view an image through the lens directly rather than through a view finder thus avoiding the parallax error and other such aberrations.
As it is said; “Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder”, the finesse of the image is too dependent upon the capturer. How you perceive an image is how you photograph it. An SLR camera requires great skill to get good results, for which some simple guidelines should be followed:

Understanding the Camera Manual

It is always a wise practice to first go through the user’s guide before bringing the camera into use (make it a habbit to do this for all new gadgets that you buy, and not just the camera). Like wise you will have a basic knowledge about the features and techniques it provides and how to operate them.

Correct Lens & Film

Since, the SLR cameras make use of a lens to capture light on a film, it is highly crucial that the correct type of lens and films are used for a particular photo shooting. For e.g., using a lens with a longer focal length or high zooming power when photographing at night or at sunset.

Position of you and your camera

While taking a photograph, make sure that you are maintaining the right distance from the object. Move nearer or away if required and keep your hands steady so that the camera doesn’t shake. This will prevent blurring of the picture. Use a tripod or monopod stand if you are photographing a landscape or sunset when there is dim light since you will require a slow shutter speed. If the stands are not available, support the camera with your other hand, lean back on a support or brace yourself to keep the camera stable. Before releasing the shutter, view the scene from all angles so the best can be captured.

Rule of Thirds

Keeping the horizon horizontal, roughly divide the view to be captured into three parts both in horizontal and vertical frame and focus your object at one of the intersections. This is a useful rule but it’s not necessary to do so; your object can be standing anywhere in the frame as far as it’s in clear view, focus and lighting.

Pressing the Shutter Button

Never press the shutter button in a hurry; you are likely to ruin the picture by blurring or darkening the image. Slower shutter release i.e., taking a pause while pressing half way down will allow the camera to lock its focus on the object and then capture the picture. This is relatively a quicker way for capturing an image.

Controlling the Shutter speed

The shutter speed is crucial to the amount of light entering the camera and exposing the image on the sensor. Remember the basic rule: lesser the light, darker the image and more the light, brighter the image. The shutter speed when lowered should cause the image to get lighter, however in digital cameras, this effect is not observed because the camera correspondingly changes the aperture to equal the shutter speed changes.

Tip: You can increase the shutter speed by increasing the ISO and lower it down by using a neutral density filter.

Photo shooting at night

The most trickiest of photos are those which are to be captured in night time. Night time shots with an SLR camera may appear as black screens with coloured circles or even something more terrible. This is a result of a high shutter speed or if the camera is set at Automatic. So, first of all set the Shutter Priority. It may not give a black screen but coloured circles may appear if the shutter time is around 1 second. If the SLR camera shutter speed is set at 15 seconds, it delivers a fairly bright picture. But for such a long time, its better to have a tripod stand for support. And since you have to take care of the light factor and other factors at night, its better to lessen your work by choosing a calm weather as a windy atmosphere might result in a jolt or shake causing the picture to blur. In SLRs, the Automatic mode will calculate and set the actual shutter speed required but this will not give the required results so set the camera manually.

Handling Light

Creating shots in natural light is a real challenge. Light decides the overall effect on the snap so it’s highly recommended that the outdoor shots in daylight should be taken early in the morning or in late afternoon when the sunlight is subtle, thus produces warm pictures. However, in mid day when there is scorching sunlight, the images appear flat. Whenever, there is the issue of darkness, either use an ‘on camera’ flash unit or the exterior hot shoe Flash unit which will nullify the shadows or dimness of a scene. Usually the built-in flash units are not able to combat the problem as the picture may be ruined by the Red- eye effect so in such cases, it is advisable to use an ‘on camera’ or an off shoe flash gun with or without a diffuser. For indoor shootings, some flash guns have the option to ‘bounce’ the light off a ceiling by making the flash face upwards so it is diffused over all the vicinity.

Depth of Field

The focus on an object in a given scenario determines the over all effect of a picture. In case of a portrait, the foreground requires more sharpness and in case of a bigger picture, for e.g. the shot of a valley from behind the branch of a tree, the background needs more detailing whereas the branch of the tree can appear as a mere blur. This refers to the Depth of field which is reduced in the former example and increased in the latter. Smaller aperture size will increase the field depth whereas the larger aperture size will reduce it.

Full Auto Mode & Manual Mode

The Full Auto Mode allows you to set the aperture and the shutter speed; low or high without altering the exposure. Whereas in Manual Mode, you can also change the exposure setting with the added advantage that the camera will warn you if the exposure setting is not right.

Using Self Timer

The Self- timer option comes handy when you want to get into the frame and no one’s around to do that for you. First set the focus by aiming at an object at the same distance as at which you will be standing and then place the camera on a steady surface, set the timer and smile! But do not stand in front of the shutter as that will affect the focus. In SLR cameras, the self timer gives you a time period of 10 seconds to get adjusted.

Applying these basic rules will only promise a better output but for a beautiful snap, all you have to do is be creative. Your SLR camera is your companion, familiarize yourself as much as you can with the amazing capabilities of an SLR. Do not restrict yourself to one setting or situation, try different modes and effects and be prepared to make mistakes but that’s how one can master the art of photography. So we wish you, happy learning!

How to take best Snaps with a Digital Camera – Digital Camera Techniques

Nowadays, almost every other person owns a Digital camera. Advance in technology, stylish and efficient, these cameras provide the best image results. Price does matter and of course the quality of your equipment, but the most important factor is the usage of the camera. Almost all the digital cameras available in the market offer the same techniques and features so how you bring them into use decides the fate of your photos.

Highly technical as it may seem, it’s only a matter of applying common sense and following some basic rules:

Organize your camera

First things first; when using your camera for the first time or after restarting with new batteries, enter the correct date and time. Like wise you will be able to not only trace your pictures but also sometimes the time and cause of any error that may occur in your camera.

Read the Camera Manual

You should be able to clearly understand the features available in your camera and their respective functions. Carefully study the icons used for each of them and then move to the next step.

Setting up your new camera

Now check the battery status of the camera and then the settings you want to keep. Check the view finder; if it’s blurry then make necessary adjustment with the camera diopter.

Holding the camera

The most basic thing to bear in mind is that the camera is more of a tool than a machine so before mastering its operation, you first have to learn to hold it! Hold it in your right hand (and in left if you are left handed) and then support it with the other hand. Keep your hands off the lens, flash or auto focus. This will prevent darkening or blurring of the image and keeps your hand steady.

Supporting the camera to avoid camera movements

Usually, the sharpness of the image is lost if the camera is unnecessarily moved while the shutter is open. So first position yourself and take your aim where you have to shoot and then release the shutter. This can be done in a number of ways:In bright light or when using the flash, simply hold the camera in you right hand supported by the other and press the shutter button slowly and pause in the middle so that the focus is locked before the image is captured.

In case of dim light or when not using a flash while using a longer focal length lens or a high zoom, one need a tri pod stand or a monopod for stability. Another way is to lean against a wall or a tree while bracing yourself with your elbows or simply bracing the camera with your face. Any how, the shutter button has to be pressed slowly to lock the focus.

Note: You may press the button all at once but it will delay the photo capturing and the snap may be out of focus. Pressing halfway down will allow the camera to calculate the focus and exposure simultaneously thus speeding up the photo capturing.

Shutter speed and lighting

The shutter allows the light to strike the image sensor for exposure and thus the shutter speed decides the amount of light entering the camera. Follow the simple rule; lesser the light, darker the image and more the light, brighter the image. The shutter speed when lowered should cause the image to get lighter, however in digital cameras, this effect is not observed because the camera correspondingly changes the aperture to equal the shutter speed changes.

Note: You can increase the shutter speed by increasing the ISO and lower it down by using a /neutral density filter.

Foreground and background focusing

For having an object in the background or foreground focused sharply, you have to change the Depth of Field. For this the aperture size is to be altered. In case of landscape photography when a larger field depth is desired so that all the details in the foreground as well as the background are clearly visible in the snap, you should have a smaller aperture whereas if plan to capture a particular object like a butterfly on a flower bush, you should go for a larger aperture size since it will make the subject prominent with the background in a perfect soft blur.

Exposure control

The shutter speed and the aperture size are the most important parameters for the light exposure. The two should be appropriately adjusted as discussed above in order to get the best exposure of the image on the sensor. If exposure is too quick, it will result in a darker image so the tone of the snap can be selected by adjusting the exposure.

Capturing static & moving objects

Static sceneries can be easily captured if the above mentioned tips are clearly followed but a fast moving object poses the real challenge. Faster the motion of the subject, faster should be the shutter speed in order to have a sharp image. The main problem with action photos is that they get blurry and distorted; a disappointment for sports fan. The technique involves a simple calculation of the

-direction of movement
-the time of exposure of the subject on the image sensor
-distance of the subject from the camera
-the focal length of the lens

Note: When the shutter is open, try to capture the moving object from an angle from where it is either moving away or towards the camera but not parallel to it as this will expose the object to maximum number of pixels on the image sensor, thus giving the blurry effect. In this case, lower down the shutter speed and increase the focal length of the lens as this will cause the image formation on the sensor with shortest possible movement thereby preventing picture blurring.

Sometimes, using this blur creatively will add more life to your pictures, for example when taking the snap of a bullet train; the blur helps in creating an aura of the actual power and high speed of the train.

Utilize the sunlight

The best thing about out door shooting is that you can make use of the natural light. During midday or when the weather is pretty sunny, you can switch off the flash. The colours appear sharp and natural but at dawn or sunset when the light is low, increase the exposure time so that maximum amount of light can enter the lens. However, when capturing sunsets or sunrise, the main point is to get darker and richer colours to produce the effect. In such cases, under exposure will do a fine job. If the sun is not your subject to be shot, then choose the afternoon time, especially half to an hour before the twilight when there is enough sunlight to cover the surroundings while the sun is below the horizon so it also does not interfere with the image. Also when the sun is to be captured in the photo too, take the photo when its partially hidden by a cloud so it appears as a soft and warm object.

Note: At dawn and dusk, shoot with the sun behind you instead of shooting head on into it so that it illuminates the surrounding well. Do not look directly into the sun even through a view finder, since it can cause severe eye damage.

Using the White balance setting

If you are not an expert in using the natural day light, the digital cameras also offer a number of White balance settings for different situations, for e.g. the versatile Auto mode works in most of the cases, day light mode for outdoor shooting in bright light, Incandescent or Tungsten mode when shooting indoors and when a warmer effect is required. Similarly, the Cloudy mode is best for taking pictures in a rainy weather whereas the Manual mode will set the white balance by just focusing the camera on a white sheet of paper.

Versatile use of the Self timer

The Self timer option available in most of the cameras not only is used to allow the user to get into the frame but can also be used to capture pictures in dim light. Just place the camera on a smooth surface and set the timer (don’t stand in front of the shutter while doing so otherwise that will ruin the focus) and then take he picture. In case of taking a picture of your own self, set the focus on any other object at the same distance as at which your photo is to be taken.

And lastly, feel free to shoot; don’t hastate in taking risks and experimenting. As a general rule, take a number of photos of an object from different angles. And most importantly, be patient as it takes time to master the skill. With each photograph you take, you learn something new; so each time you make a mistake, you are a step closer to perfection.

SLR Cameras Explained

An SLR camera is a Single Lens-Reflex system camera in which there is a moving mirror present that tells the photographer the exact overall picture settings, mode and quality, beforehand that will be captured by the camera. An SLR system maybe incorporated in a film or in a digital camera both. Before the advent of SLR cameras, the cameras used to have a viewfinder consisting of two optical light paths; going towards the film via lens and the other to the above or to the side. This posed parallax error when a close up shot was taken though the pictures taken from a distance seemed to be fine. Plus, these non-reflex cameras were not easy to work with in low lights or when the lens was used at a wider aperture.

The imaging is made more perfect by the incorporation of a pentaprism system which aligns the light reflected by the movable mirror with the viewfinder and when the shutter is released, the mirror gets out of the light path so that it falls directly on the film or on the CCD or CMOS sensor (in case of DSLR camera).

The SLR cameras also provide accurate focusing both manually and by the Auto focus automatically. Though, these cameras do not have the facility of an LCD preview, they still have an edge over the DSLRs in terms of picture clarity and finer details made possible by the viewfinder.

Mostly SLRs have the roof penta prism system; however, other types are also available such as the waist-level finder which is an exchangeable sports finder as used in the Canon F1 and F1n, etc. A photographer can make use of the Right angle view finder as well that can fit on to the eye piece in every other SLR or DSLR camera and can view the image even without a waist- level finder. Some cameras also support an EVF remote finder that can enable the user to have a wider view.

The SLR cameras traditionally contain a focal plane shutter that is situated before the film plane. It obstructs the light path going towards the film even when the lens is not in its place but allows the light to fall on the film when the shutter is released to take the photograph. The focal plane shutters are available in different designs. The usual focal plane shutter consists of two curtains, an opening shutter curtain and a closing shutter curtain. When the shutter speed is high, the opening shutter curtain forms a horizontal slit aand the other one forms a vertical opening closely behind the first curtain.

One of the most frequently faced problems or more precisely aberrations is the image distortion. This may occur due to the nature and shape of the lens. To solve this problem some cameras provide the Perspective correction lenses usually in the 35mm and medium formats. These distortions in digital camera however, can be corrected with photo soft wares. Not only this, the SLR cameras also gives a photographer, the freedom to expand the bellow up to its maximum length while tilting the front standard and can capture microscopic subjects with par clarity and image sharpness without having to adjust the lens diaphragm.

So if comparing SLRs to DSLRs, one would have to admit that despite the plus points the latter has to offer like the LCD preview option, the former type of cameras are still the best in terms of picture quality, sharpness and also show lesser incidence of aberrations which makes them more popular among the professional photographers.

Digital Camera Features Explained

The world of photography is amazing, literally! The fact that most of us like to talk about photo shooting and video making more than we actually understand it, makes it even more interesting. Well, a hobby has nothing to do with the technicalities, especially this one, which requires only a camera and a mind full of creativity to capture the beauty around us. However, those who take it professionally and plan to take it seriously must have know-how of the technique. Modern day cameras, no doubt have made the task easier, but they still pose a challenge to a lay man like me as it is difficult and at times impossible to understand their terms and features.

There are a number of things that should be known by a person when selecting a camera and when using it so that you can make the most of the services it has to offer.

Optical Zoom

Optical Zoom is frequently used by brands when they brag about their cameras. The Camera zoom (Optical zoom) is the extent to which the camera can focus on a particular subject from a distance. Larger zoom cameras are as beneficial as the smaller zoom cameras; the former allow the user to take photos of a distant object like a bird on a tree without having to move closer while the latter will allow you to capture the whole scenery of a landscape. So when buying a camera for wildlife photography, you should better go for the larger zoom cameras and those who want to shoot picturesque scenes may choose the smaller zoom camera.

Optical Zoom in Digital cameras

The opticla zoom feature in digital cameras is an electronic sensor usually CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductors) or CCD sensors that are light sensitive chips which translate light photons into electronic signals for imaging. However in Film- cameras, the zoom is expressed as Focal Length (in mm). It is defined as the distance between the film and the optical centre of the camera lens when it is focused on infinity.

Focal Length

Usually the lenses of such cameras have a focal length of 28-55mm and 35-80mm. The lenses sold with the camera normally have values like 28-55 mm, 35-80 mm etc. The Lens, as we all know is the transparent glass or plastic piece, circular in shape which captures and focuses light rays on the sensor and creates an image. Lens having a focal length of less than 35mm are the Wide Angle lenses (suitable for land scape snaps) and those having more than 85mm are known as Telephoto lens (for wild life snaps) whereas lens with variable focal length are called as Zoom Lens. In digital cameras, the number of times (expressed as X) a subject can be magnified, is the definition of Zoom.

Aperture

The amount of light that enters a lens depends upon its Aperture which is a hole made up of a metal leaf diaphragm inside the lens that acts as the point of entrance for the light. The Aperture size may be fixed or variable and is measured in terms of f-numbers. The f- number is the ratio of the diameter of the aperture of the lens to its focal length; lower the f-number, larger the aperture size and lesser the zone of sharpness and vice versa. The aperture not only monitors the amount of light that enters the lens but also the field depth and prevents the occurrence of Aberrations. The aperture size is controlled by the Aperture Ring mechanically connected to the diaphragm. It is present behind the focusing ring of the lens and is imprinted by a set of f- numbers or f-stops.

Aberrations

Talking of the Aberrations, a number of errors may be encountered by the photographers. Technically, aberration is the failure of a lens to produce a true image. Most of the lenses, available in the cameras now days, can handle these errors quite easily depending upon their quality, and of course, the price. Though there is no term as a Perfect Lens, there is a definition of an Ideal Lens, which is one that gives a clear and well imaged photograph free from these malfunctions. In simple language, aberrations may be described as six basic types of errors. For e.g., a Spherical aberration is due to the formation of three focus points on the lens due to its spherical shape. Similarly an image may suffer from Distortion, another failure of the lens to produce the true shape of an object.

Astigmatism & Curvature

Astigmatism & Curvature of field disrupts the imaging at the rims of the lens resulting in blurring. The above mentioned are lens based errors but Chromatic aberrations refer to the focusing of the light rays of different wavelengths at different points from the lens also resulting in blurring of the image Where, the lens decides the fate of the images in terms of its quality.

ISO

the ISO is responsible for the response of the sensor to the light that will affect the quality in turn. The ISO refers to the sensitivity of the sensor to the light and is measured in ISO numbers; higher the number, faster the response to light and lesser the time taken to capture a picture. Most digital cameras allow the user to adjust the ISO setting (ranging from low ISO of 800 and 1600 to 2000, 3200 up to 6400 maximum) to select the required shutter speed and have high resolution pictures in low light scenarios but this is accompanied by Noise. Opposite to its literal meaning, noise in photography actually means the electronic interruptions one encounter in the images in the form of spots, dust or dots compromising the image integrity.

MP (Megapixels)

Linked to the image, is another term; Pixels. These are the small units of color; the whole digital picture is composed of. A million pixels make up a Mega pixel. Higher the number of pixels a camera has to offer, better the results.

Shutter Speed

In terms of efficiency, speed of the camera is the most important. The Shutter Speed is one criterion. It is the amount of time for which the aperture of the lens is opened when taking a photograph. Lower the speed more will be the time required to take a photo; faster the speed lesser the time for opening of the aperture, thus lesser amount of light enters the camera. This is useful in capturing action photos or for “Freezing” and action such as a basket ball shot. Since faster speed will allow little light to enter the lens, the size of the aperture can be increased likewise.

FPS ( Frames per second)

Another common term is Frame Per Second (fps) which is the number of frames the motor drive or the winder can bear when wound per second. The term is used in reference to videos and animations along with the pictures. You can also select the size of the pictures you want to shoot, by selecting the respective Aspect Ratio i.e, the width to height ratio of the photograph. Most commonly, a ratio of 2:3 is selected for 3.5 x 5 inches and 4 x 6 inches photos in 35mm pictures.

Auto Focus

Auto Focus (AF) that is a highly demanded feature in modern digital cameras. Through this function, the camera lens automatically focuses on a particular portion of a picture, most commonly applied to human faces.

LCD Screen

Another attribute of a digital camera that can be used as a judgmental criterion is the availability of an LCD Screen (Liquid-Crystal Display) that is a small monitor that allows the user to view the image before it is captured so that the focus and light exposure can be adjusted. Good cameras offer an LCD screen of larger size and some of them may offer Touch screen options for the convenience of the user to adjust the settings while viewing the image.

We can all appreciate the amount of knowledge it takes to understand the sophisticated terminology used for digital cameras yet a little attention to these details can really make you decide what features you should be spending your money on. Most digital cameras available on the market are efficient in functioning; however, the bottom line is that one should select the camera according to his/ her own requirements. So when buying a camera, you should look into the details mentioned above as it will help you make the correct decision and will prevent you from any post purchase disappointments.

Digital Camera Jargons Explained

A digital camera is a device that creates photos and videos using an electronic sensor and records them digitally. Usually known as Digicams, they are of various types depending upon their physical features, technique or the type of image recording.

For example, a compact digital camera is a “snap and shoot camera”; the name given because it is small and sleek and easy to carry with oneself and can create images and videos of the same quality as other digicams.

Similarly, a Bridge camera (or SLR-like camera) resembles the DSLR cameras in its built. Now naturally you may question yourself what the hell SLR and DSLR cameras are. The Single Lens-Reflex (SLR) cameras are normal film or non digital whereas the other one are Digital Single Lens-Reflex (DSLR) cameras; both have one mirror assisted with a reflex system for image capturing. The Bridge camera may have the option of live preview for framing of photos and small sized sensors just like compact digicams but they also have advanced features. One distinctive feature of these Bridge cameras is the super zoom option; up to 10:1 to 18:1 of wide range provided by the lens. The Bridge camera, due to physical resemblance may be confused with DSLR’s but they lack the single-lens reflex system.

Looking back at history of digital cameras, the attempt at digitizing image dates back to the time of Eugene.F.Lally, who worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He published the way to produce images digitally using a mosaic photo sensor in 1961. After a number of tries in the 1970’s by a number of engineers, the first an actual digital camera the Fuji DS-IP produced in 1988. Having an internal memory of 16 MB, it could record images digitally and was powered by batteries, but it was not marketed. The first commercial digicam was the Dycam model 1 also called as Logitech Fotoman, in 1990 that had a CCD image sensor and could be connected to a computer for image transferring.

Coming back to the present day, such amazing properties does these digital cameras posses! Their best feature is the high resolution they offer. In these cameras the sensors (CCD or CMOS sensor clip) take the responsibility of film in conventional photography. These sensors turn light signals into electronic signals thus producing sharp and crisp photos and videos. This sensor is able to literally count the number of photons it is struck with. The larger the number of photons, larger is the pixel count. Usually these digicams have a pixel count of up to 12.1 mega pixels that may be more in some cameras. But the resolution of a sensor is not governed by the pixel count only. It is also affected by the size of the sensor, the lens quality and whether the camera is monochrome without a Bayer filter mosaic or it is a color camera.

What makes digicams so popular is not only the quality of the image it offers but also the various features that has enabled all and sundry to be a photographer. The smile shutter, Auto Red Eye reduction and Face detection options ensure beautiful and clearly focused pictures whereas the Auto scene modes available in these cameras allow you to adjust camera settings according to light and contrast. A varying price range and advanced features are available in the market for digital cameras. Also, a variety of color and sizes provide you the freedom to choose the one that suits your style best.

The advantages of these modern cameras over the conventional ones include the ability of these cameras to show the result you will obtain even before you take the snap plus the option to delete or edit a picture is also helpful. These cameras can be easily connected to a USB port, computer or printers so that the pictures you have taken can be transferred and shared with all and the best ones can be taken out in print. Moreover, you don’t have to wait for the film to develop to view the pictures like used to happen with the old cameras. These cameras have lush LCD screens so that you can have a quick preview of your videos and snaps.

Keeping in mind the usability and customer convenience, these cameras are so made that they are light weight, tough in nature to bear hardships of weather, usually water, dust and shock proof so they can be taken to hiking trips and camping. They are powered by rechargeable batteries and are accompanied by adopters and accessories for your convenience. Not only this, most of the digital cameras also support Memory cards to boost up the camera memory so that you can make non stop movies and pictures. Smart, intelligent and efficient, the digital cameras are the best inventions of the 21st century.

Compact Digital Cameras

A compact digital camera is a simple digital camera just smaller in size so it is easy to carry around. A digital camera is a device that creates photos and videos using an electronic sensor and records them digitally.

Due to their portable nature, you can carry these “small wonders” anywhere as they can easily adjust in your pocket or hand bag, so that you can shoot or snap and snap those spur of the moment shots. That’s why they are also called as Point and Shoot cameras. The smallest compact cameras are usually 20 mm thick or less and are also called as Subcompacts or Ultra compacts.

With the ease to handle and use the camera, you can get excellent quality pictures and movies owing to the high resolution imaging it offers. A number of compact cameras available in the market can produce images up to 12.1 mega pixel and usually are set at high ISO sensitivity.

The lenses provided with these cameras are extremely efficient. Don’t go on their small size as these lenses have a wide aperture that allows maximum light to enter the lens so that you can have bright and clear pictures.

These cameras also focus minor details with excellence thanks to the optical zoom option. They may provide an optical zoom of 4.5-10 times. The ISO sensitivity range is also very broad i.e. 64-40 usually but may be up to 16000.

The memory of compact digital cameras in superior models is enough to allow you up to 3 hours maximum continue shooting. Supported by SD cards, SDHC cards and MMC, etc. Moreover, the latest models of compact cameras are powered by usually lithium ion batteries that are rechargeable.

They may be small but do offer an LCD screen of around 2.5 inch for a quick preview of the photos or movies. Some compacts have a variety of Scene Modes installed to suit the type of environment you are shooting.

Most of these cameras have a low power built in flash for illuminating a limited area. Though they may limit movie making but allow sharp and accurate imaging. Usually, 8 ounces in weight (with batteries and media included) they are stylish and handy to take to road trips and camping. There may be a problem of noise in these cameras and they may have lesser advanced features installed but then in moderate prices and cool designs, mostly, compacts are desired by the people.

The camera also come with face detection, an option that recognizes human faces and focuses them. Usually cameras can detect up to 8 faces, some can even record their names and in some cameras, a smile on your face is the indication to the camera to release the shutter! These compact cameras also have the features such as anti-blur, in the form of Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S) and Auto red eye reduction to avoid the irritating red eye effect. Small in size, simple to use and carry, compact digital cameras also come incorporated in your cell phones. Plus, the prices are so reasonable that you just cant ignore the deal since they have all he modern features one require for good quality imaging.

Olympus SP-510 UZ Ultra Zoom Review

In this modern era of compact and ultra sophisticated digital gadgets, there is a tough competition between cameras as well, that has made all the top notch companies to produce amazing models of digital cameras keeping in mind the advance technologies and user affordability. One such example is the Olympus SP-510 Ultra Zoom that offers the highest image resolution ever given by any 10x optical zoom digial  camera  available on the market.

Olympus was the first brand to launch the Ultra Zoom camera in the market back in 2000 and this time it has entered the market with a very user friendly digi cam.

This camera is cool and classic as an Olympus ED Zoom Lens with a large 2.5-inch LCD is provided to enhance picture quality. It also has a 7.1 Megapixel CCD imager that can produce up to 3072×2304 pixel images. The image integrity is kept intact with a precisely developed Extra Dispersion (ED) and high-refractive-index aspherical lens elements that ensures images of par clearness and lucidity. The focal length of the lens is equivalent to 38 to 380mm; f2.8 – f3.7 (in 35mm photography) which gives ultra sharp results.

Now, not only landscapes are captured beautifully but the finer details of an object can be recorded with excellence and accuracy thanks to the Super Macro Mode. Weather you want to shoot the patterns on a butterfly’s wings or the texture of a flower’s petals, the camera allows the user to zoom in the camera to as close as 1.18 inches without blowing out the pixels. And while shooting such fine details, one might have a hand shake that destroys the picture by blurring the image but features such as Digital Image Stabilization takes care of it all so you only get what you want! This helps in capturing fast moving objects as well and that too with high ISO sensitivity (ISO 4000).

A very , rather romantic feature in Olympus SP510 UZ camera is the freedom to capture images in low light as when on a candle light dinner or when for more dramatic effects, subtle skin tones are desired, in such cases the . Olympus’ Bright Capture Technology allow the user to view the pictures in LCD low light and then take the snap in the limited illumination after locking the focus. The unique True Pic TURBO Image processor incorporated into this camera helps you create shots closer to reality with almost natural skin tones and contrasts. This processor also makes sure that the overall starting time and shutter release lag time is short; being 15 seconds to 1/1000 seconds, thus speeding up the photo capturing. Also it offers Noise reduction in case of high shutter speed of ½ second. Along with the 7.1 million pixel the TURBO processor and the “pixel micro smoothing” enables the user to get clearer and crisper image results.

The camera has the ability to transform your snaps from just any ordinary picture to something beautiful. You can add frames, titles, fix the Red eye effects, crop images, and edit those using computers and editing soft and what not! There are also options available for further dramatizing your snaps by using various modes such as Sepia, Black and White, etc. and can also convert these joyous memories into calendar prints. The image is also supported by the new Lighting fix function that will adjust the lighting balance in the picture making even the finer details in the image, more prominent.

The Olympus SP-510 UZ has a Help Guide, a pre installed built-in manual that shoes the user how to use apply different scene modes and settings and the shooting Guide helps you include those particular effects that make your picture stand out. So, photography is made all so easy!

This camera is not just user friendly but is “gadget friendly” as well. It can be connected to a computer through a USB 2.0 cable without requiring any software, thanks to the USB Auto Connect feature, which connects directly via and requires no software. And if there is no computer available, no worries at all! The PictBridge function allows you to have your snaps printed via a PictBridge-enabled printer directly without having to use a computer. OLYMPUS Master™ software and a user interface incorporated are other such functions that make digital imaging easy and simple for you. The Calendar view available allows the user to sort pictures by date or a key word. With all these hosts of features, the camera is still affordable at a price of US $329.99 and the deal includes all the accessory items you require; a Neck Strap, Quick Start Guide, Basic Instruction Manual, WIN/Mac USB Cable, Warranty Card, OLYMPUS Master Software CD-ROM, Audio/Video Cable, Advanced Manual CD-ROM and 4 AA Batteries.

All in all, if you are looking for a stylish camera with the latest features and a user friendly nature, then the Olympus SP- 510 is the right camera for you.

Sony DSLR A900 Review – Whopping 24.6 Megapixel SLR Wonder From Sony

In September 2008, Sony launched its one of the finest ventures so far, The Alpha DSLR A900 a camera with a lot of firsts! It is the full frame SLR camera that also allows digital photography. Unique in style and functions, this camera has 35mm frame CMOS sensor, it is powered by two BIONZ® engines that make the functioning quick and perfect and has 24.6 mega pixel resolutions which is, by the way, the maximum resolution any camera in the world offers. Producing fine, clear and bright images, this camera is the first ever designed to incorporate an anti shake system in tit which is mandatory with large sensors. The optical performance is supported by a field coverage of 100% that produces images with beauty and perfection.

Talking of the Exmor™ CMOS sensor, it has two unique properties; one is that it allows viewing at wide angles and the other one is the lenses that permit high power resolution. The sensor has an ultra flat surface making use of Sony pulverization technologies that allows the 600 on chip column parallel A/D converters to reduce noise production by converting analog signals to noise resistant signals. The two processing engines enable the camera to shoot large amount of data and the resultant photos are outstanding in quality.

The camera has a specially designed body that has an anti shake system, the steady shot inside which prevents blurring of image when shooting an object moving with high speed. The view finder has 100% field coverage and 0.74Xmagnification that provides a sharp and accurate preview. It also offers a revised Auto focus system which has a wide area sensor and 10 assist points to help you capture wonderful shots of the fast moving object.

The RAW preview function allows the user to take premature shot in desired Settings to have an understanding about the image results that prevents wastage of time on taking various shots. An LCD screen is present to display the preview on which you can adjust the white balance, light exposure and other settings without actually taking a shot. However, the preview image is not saved by the camera hence it keeps the memory card free for more images.

One of the very important features of Sony DSLR A900 is the Dynamic Range Optimizer (DRO) that has 5 levels of scene analysis and correction that can be selected by the user. Making photography more fun are 13 creative styles available and 26 mode setting to beautify the shots by balancing color, contrast, sharpness and brightness. There is also a RAW file processor and Image Data converter SR3 software that ensures quick transferring of the files as well as simple and easy camera adjustments along with the Peripheral Illumination function that compensates for the lighting imbalance.

You can also view your masterpiece on a compatible HD TV thanks to the camera’s HDMI output and Photo TV HD mode available. This gives the photos a look of printed sharp, well contrasted and brightly coloured images even on the TV. The camera is built of magnesium alloy so its not susceptible to corrosion or rusting so can be fearlessly in heavy rain or at beach, assisted by the moisture resistant rubber seals for buttons and dials. The camera is also light to carry and has an anti- static coating to prevent settling of dust on it. The 3 inch, Extra fine LCD screen (921 K) allow you to have accurate focus and imaging. An LCD panel is given on top of the camera which contains the display key settings so you can select the common functions without discontinuing the photography session.

The Sony HVL-F58AM flash unit is provided along with the camera which is assisted by its novel Quick Shift Bounce system to ensure an awesome output with 58 guide number, and a wireless auto flash ratio control making it possible to create pictures and videos closest to reality. Not only this, the Sony® VG-C90AM vertical grip enables the user to take snaps or shoot movies both vertically and horizontally owing to the suitable button layout and the shutter-release button given at a lower position. Its powered by two InfoLITHIUM® batteries (not included in the kit) that allows endless shootings for hours and playbacks. Well, if that’s the case then I think Sony has once again not only surprised its fans world over but has also done an impressive job.

The A900 currently retails around £2000 which is a price tag certianly out of reach for many but worth every penny for true photography enthusiasts who seek the finest technology which comes at a special price.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC T900 Review – Bargain 12.0 MP Digital Camera

Ever wondered about the complexities associated with the latest technologies in present day appliances especially cameras since require special care and techniques in order to obtain excellent results. Here’s a solution to all the problems one has to face when going for advancement in case of good quality cameras. And that’s the Sony Cyber- shot T900 digital camera. Giving 12.1 mega pixel and 4x optical zoom, it has more to offer. The classy 3.5 inch LCD screen is the real attraction that shows the on- screen icons for you to choose the required features just by touching.

One of the brilliant features is the focusing of the image just by touching the screen so that you can adjust the point of focus. Where the Auto Smile Shutter ensures that you are captured only in your nicest of poses, the Auto mode enhances the picture quality and integrity by automatically fine- tuning the colour, brightness and skin tones. This also prevents any blurring or distortion of images. The Face Detection allows the camera to focus up to 8 faces in the frame and also takes care of the Flash, exposure of light, focus and White balance with special precaution to avoid the infamous Red eye effect. Though the sliding lens cover adds to the drawbacks such as the awkward square shape, still the camera makes up for the negative points with the high quality movies of High Definition at 720 fps.

Being only 16.33mm thick, the slimmest camera around can easily be adjusted in your hand bag or pocket. The light weight owes to the fact that the built is composed of half metal and half plastic so its easy to carry around. The thumb rest is not so comfortable and makes the thumb slide over to the screen but here’s where the camera acts smart. If the Flash mode is not active then the touch screen is deactivated automatically in case of any unintentional screen touch….

And weather you are photo shooting in bright day light or at sunset, at the beach in Hawaii or in cloudy weather of London, the Intelligent Scene Recognition mode will help you select from the 11 already installed scenes to suit your camera settings. It can recognize up to 8 scenes all by itself so regardless of the surrounding parameters the camera gives excellent results.

Moreover, the HD bmo9vies at 720 fps, as mentioned before can be captured in th MPEG4 format that is the best suited format for uploading and viewing these videos on web so you can share it with others. Its assisted by a Stereo microphone that records clear and highly audible sound. Making the still shots better are the options to make them more personalized as the camera offers a wide range of frames and stamps. The supplied stylus allow you to write on the pics any funny captions, dates, names, etc. making it a lot more fun. And its not difficult to find these images as well; the Image Management fjunctyion is there for your ciovinience.

And all this is available in a very suitable price. The price range of this hot shot camera is between £325.99- £379.00. Attractive, stylish and with a classy silver colour, Sony Cyber- shot DSC T900 is light and nice though its slightly larger than the T-77. a double textured black colour is also available however, you may not find the brown version in UK. So, looking at the deal atleast I find it worth going for as the Sony Cyber- shot DSC T900 offers advancement, versatility, convenience and cost effectiveness all packaged together.

Panasonic Lumix DMC FT1 Review – Budget 12.1 MP Digital Camera

In January 2009, Panasonic introduced an exciting deal in the market. An intelligent combination of advanced technology and improved user compliance, Panasonic DMC FT1 is a smart wonder.

Giving you the freedom to shoot anywhere and that literally means “anywhere”. Built to bear tough and rough conditions, the camera is water resistant up to 3 meters in water owing to the rubber padding, reinforced glass and carbon resins present inside the camera and an airtight body so you can take photos and while you are way deep in water.

Making video and photo capturing more fun, the camera also proves to be a tough sport! Where there are risks of water damaging the machinery, chances are also there that dust might enter the camera and cause problems. But hey! This camera is dust proof too. And if that was not enough, Panasonic DMC FT1 is also shockproof. You don’t believe it? Go, drop it from a height of 1.5 meters and see the strength of the camera. This is possible due to the additional coating of shockproof material over the surface and the extra protection given to the lens unit so that it can absorb the shocks from a hit or a drop. These features make the camera ideal for adventurous trips. The LCD screen is intentionally thickened so that it can remain intact even under high pressure and shocks and also enables the user to view images underwater.

Coming to the technical features, the camera offers a 28 mm wide angle lens, a 4X optical zoom and the ability to shoot HD movies with ease not only in JPEG mode but also in AVCHD Lite that gives brilliant audio and visual quality. A host of other amazing features are also incorporated in this master piece, such as the Auto Face Detection and Auto Recognition mode that not only detects human faces but also records frequently shot faces into its memory so that whenever your friend or family are in the frame, the camera automatically focuses them. You can also tag those faces with specific icons like cute hearts for your loved ones. Other than names, you can also specify a particular age group. For example using the baby mode, if the baby under 3 years of age is detected in the frame, the camera automatically switches to the specific mode. The category playback will show only the photos of registered faces so that you can compile all the images of the desired person. The Auto Face tracking is also something unique since it lets you keep track and clear focus of objects that are fast moving in order to ensure perfect imaging. You just have to aim at a particular object, lock the mode and you are free to shoot! And don’t worry about the image blurring due to a sudden handshake as the Optical Image Stabilizer takes care of it all. The ISO control also adjusts the ISO sensitivity so that excellent images are obtained free from blurring plus you don’t miss any shots.

Another elegant feature of Panasonic DMC FT1 is the Backlight compensation that automatically comes into action as the focus object moves to backlight. Moreover the Intelligent Scene Selector is available to provide Night Portrait, Portrait, Scenery, Night Scenery and Macro Modes which are selected according to the requirement.

The ever efficient Venus Engine HD gears up in this camera to perform faster and better than before so that powerful and perfect High Definition AVCHD Lite movies are easy to make. The high speed of the Engine is due to the incorporation of a dual CPU system that has increased the speed of the camera operations and processing up to 2.4 times approximately. The camera itself saves time and thus energy; it starts within 1.3 seconds with the shutter release lag time of only 0.005 seconds approximately. This makes it ideal to shoot spur of the moment snaps such as a basketball shot or an embarrassing fall of a friend. Keeping the full 12.1 mega pixel resolution, DMC FT1 can take around 2.3 shots per second in the burst shooting mode whereas the ultra fast High Speed burst shooting mode allows 10 shots per second. Also you can shoot without any pause until the memory card is all consumed so a whole day out with friends or a wedding ceremony can be captured without having to worry about the space or energy failure.

Another unique feature of Panasonic DMC FT1 is the Wind Cut function that is usually found in camcorders. It reduces the noise from the background as encountered in out door shooting or extremely windy weather. With the audio in the movies polished by this function, the visual integrity is not neglected too. The FT1 offers over 16 different scene modes other than the scene modes given for stills which give the perfect setting to your movie making with only a single mode selection. There are 3 different levels available for movies recorded in AVCHD Lite; SH (17 Mbps), H (13 Mbps) and L (9 Mbps) so that you can select the one you think suitable. The built in LED light comes into action automatically as you start making motion pictures if the surrounding area is not well lit. The Panasonic DMC FT1 just pampers you to such an extent that you only have to press a button while aiming at the object of your desire and there you have created another beautiful memory in the form of a photo or a movie. The Panasonic Lumix DMC FT1 retails around £250 which makes it a highly recommended deal for those who want to relive the happy moments of life!

Fujifilm FinePix S5700 Review – Cheap Digital Camera With Optical Zoom

There has always been an inverse relationship between the advancement and enhanced features in a camera and its price. The market seemed to be bursting with those no doubt, stunningly hi-fi cameras with all the latest technologies but price was one major factor. That presented problems until Fujifilm entered with amazing offers. Barely a year has gone by when Fujifilm FinePix was launched with 10Xzoom and 5 mega pixel features under a mere price of £200 and yet Fujifilm has shocked its fans and echoed the market with the next venture in its FinePix range i.e. FinePix S5700 with additional 7.1 mega pixel resolution and 2.5 inch screen and all that only within £150. Shocked, right?

Fujifilm FinePix S5700 is not only better in functions and performance than S5600 but is also quite different in appearance from its former family. It is more like the Fujifilm Super Zoom cameras such as S7000Z or the S20 Pro. With dimensions of about 106.1X75.7X80.7mm and weight of 306 grams excluding batteries), it is much lighter and easier to handle than S5600. The 2.5 inch LCD screen has 230Kpixels and produces sharper images than that of the previous models. It is powered by 4 AA batteries.

The camera came into the market in 2007 and became a super model because of its high sensitivity of Iso1600 and an intelligent Flash System that solves the problem of darkness or inappropriate lighting. The camera has a lot to offer since its improved Menu System and buttons layout helps the user to create beautiful memories without having to worry about the technicalities. Easy to use, comfortable for hand grip, lightweight and compact, what else do you want? The inclusion of a Graphical User Interface makes it possible for the user to operate the camera through pop-up prompts.

The camera has a high sensitivity which gives clearer and crisper images. You don’t have to worry about the memory since it has a built in 27MB memory and also supports the picture card and the secure digital format which enhances the memory. The camera is also quick in action. It takes only 1.1 seconds to start and has a shutter lag time of 0.01 seconds only so the picture is taken without any delay or missing any shot.

The Fuji Film FinePix S5700 is a classic example of something made for people simply to have fun as well as best results. Highly user compatible and friendly, with its ultra fine design and light weight, it enables a person to shoot pictures at unconventional angles, of subjects at different distances and in different places; thus giving you the freedom to capture anything and everything! Availability of Special Scene modes in the Fujifilm FinePix S5700 gives you the convenience of selecting the right set of settings with only one mode selection. The camera also gives the ease to use it in dusty environment and thanks to the Integrated Fuji non lens; there is no problem of dust settling on the sensor. Lens is more compact than the previous model but has a more flexible zooming property so that you can shoot from varying distances and angles and the fixed lens is also fast enough to capture a shot in just 1.1 second. The ISO 1600 sensitivity and the high speed shutter release and anti- blur mode makes imaging just perfect.

This package is highly recommended for those who are looking for a good quality camera with user compatibility and ease. And all this is possible in a very small price so every one can afford the happiness and joy of photography.

Panasonic Lumix DMC G1 Review – Digital Camera Review

Going beyond the conventional approach has always been the prime target of Panasonic. Take the example of Panasonic Lumix G1; a camera privileged to be the first one to possess an electronic view finder and an electronic inter changeable lens. In appearance, it is like a small version of an SLR, however it’s not! The typical camera look was opted for intentionally by the manufacturer, since the main market of this camera was originally Japan where people still want the conventional looking camera. The 5-mirror view finder has been replaced by the latest and highly technical view-only system offering high resolution that can be viewed on the large screen at the back of the camera with an aspect ratio of 3:2.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC G1 is the first Micro Four Third digital camera. Unlike other DSLRs, it is more user friendly, compact and simple in function. The quality and a fantastic adaptability make it better in terms of digital photography than other cameras available.

The usual technical aspects include a 12.1 mega pixel resolution, the option to shoot 3fps with 800X600 megapless pixel resolutions, 3.0 inch LCD screen and an electronic view finder with 60 fps of imaging with the view finder. The camera is also very tough since it has supersonic wave filter dust reduction that makes it usable in dusty climates. This gives you the freedom to take your camera everywhere; from deserts to forests, it is capable to bear the tough climates.

Now photography in the dark is made easier thanks to the built in flash and the image is supported by high ISO sensitivity ranging between 100-3200: The camera also features 23 point high speed contrast detection Auto Focus System that enables the camera to focus on people and keeps tack of fast moving objects.

This camera is no doubt one of the fastest performing devices with a power-on time of 1 second and shutter long time with full Auto Focus being 0.35-0.37 seconds. The unique lens provides a wide angle with a negligible 0.4% distortion and view finder with 98X73 mm accuracy.

Summarizing the whole deal, Panasonic G1 has a high quality imaging system with a flip and twist screen and conventional camera look; it looks like an amazing combination of something classic and chic. It supports secure digital memory card, SDHC and multi media cards. A lithium ion battery is available for the power supply. You can connect the camera to USB very easily and can share your happy memories with others.

The gadget is available in brilliant red, blue and black colors, so pick a colour that suits your personality the best! The Price range is between £450 – £550 which is not bad at all if you keep in view the unique and intelligent features that it incorporates. Some downsides are encountered in this deal like the accident prone jog dial, large size and disability to shoot videos but these are acceptable looking at the quality results that it has to offer.

All in all, you are suely going to love Panasonic Lumix DMC G1 camera for its versatility and amazing functions; may it be high speed, the ease of changing the lens or the ultra fine image quality, it’s simply perfect!

Samsung Pro815 Camera Review – Huge LCD and Optical Zoom

In the modern age, when smaller is considered the smartest-Samsung dared to go otherwise. With the world’s largest LCD screen (3.5 inches) in a digital camera, the largest 15x optical zoom in a high end camera and the largest capacity lithium-ion battery, the Samsung Pro815 has created history. Having 8.0 million pixels CCD, a Schneider-Kreuznach lens and RAW mode, TIFF and JPEG shooting facilities, this is a real gem!

It’s an ideal deal for those who want every shot to be perfect like an SLR camera but don’t actually want an SLR. Having a nice body made up of plastic and metal both to lighten the weight, the camera has dimensions of 135.5X87X144.6mm with the lens included. It weighs around 910g with batteries quiet heavy to carry around which I think is its only downside. So keeping in mind the load of the appliance, the camera is provide with a rubber hand grip and a thumb grip at its rear end so that holding the camera with one hand is not totally impossible.

And then which camera offers such a magnificent lens and battery not tot mention the 8.3 million pixel sensor that produces world class pictures and videos. The mechanical zoom and the flash hot shoe connector that makes it a treat to photograph.

The large lens provides a wide aperture that allows more light to enter and thus the resulting shots are sharp and bright. Larger lens also increases the chances of chromatic errors. That may spoil the image but this lens is very smart. It has low dispersion glass and spherical elements to reduce any image distortion. The aperture is as wide as f2.2-f4.6 but is very fast, even faster than any equivalent SLR lens. Another great feature of this camera is the top LCD screen with the help of which you cannot only take snaps at waist level but can also shoot at different angles. The top LCD is 1.4 inch wide colored TFT screen which has dual functions. One being that of image preview for waist level shooting and the other is that of status LCD. This shows all the data about shooting an object on the screen and thus allows quick decisions that which function should be selected.

And then there is no such problem as having to stop shooting since you can take about 500 shots in one single charge of the lithium-ion battery. That’s a relief for all those enthusiasts who spend all day long outdoors looking for that perfect shot as now they don’t have to be disappointed if there is battery failure and when no power supply is available.

The price of Samsung Pro815 is around £520 that’s not too much to ask for since the camera comes with a whole kit including Lithium ion battery rechargeable SLB 1974, Charger and Optional AC adopter to sustain the power needs whereas the package also contains Battery charger, Battery Pack and a Compact flash card. An optical remote control is also provided so that you can fix the settings if the camera is positioned away from you such as in case of wild life photography; it will allow you to adjust the settings from behind the bushes as you wait for your target…isn’t it cool! You can easily transfer your pictures and videos to any PC or storage device since it can be connected to a USB 2.0, A/V out (stereo) and DC-IN.

The Samsung Pro815 is better in performance than the ancestor model having 500 mega pixel and 1/ 2.5 inch CCD as it has a larger 2/ 3 inch CCD that improves the sensitivity. As for with its large 2/3 inch CCD, is superior in sensitivity to the previous 500 mega pixel model with the 1/ 2.5 inch CCD. And that’s not it; it also prevents camera shake in case of tracing a fast moving object such as an animal as it supports high sensitivity and a very high speed shutter mode. So this makes it a master piece and justifies its price and value to quiet an extent. With all the advanced technologies that it has to offer its not at all a bad bargain.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 – Digital Camera Review

The market is over flowing with compact digital cameras of all sizes, prices and kinds. So, what’s new with Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18? Externally, almost the same as DMC-FZ8, it is the “super zoom” model added to the Lumix range of Panasonic. However, it offers better zoom, enhanced pixels and some intelligent features that its predecessor lacked.

With the giant optically stabilized zoom of 18X (28X504ram) DMC-FZ18 has joined the race with Fuji film’s Fine Pix 5800fd and Olympus Sp 550 UZ. The ½.5 inch sensor allows 8.3 mega pixels beating the Olympus model which offered only 7.2 mega pixels. And when the optical zoom is this large and the sensor is ultra

sensitive, then one would expect noise production in the images but Panasonic once again taking the lead has reduced noise by 5 levels whereas the Olympus model offered up to 3 levels only.

This Lumix camera has a 28mm wide angled LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens that with it’s bigger aperture allows maximum light to enter and brings out beautiful images. Variable numerous image sizes are available from 640X480 to 3264X1840. Movie clips can be made at 640X480, 320X240 and 848X480, all at the rate of 30/10 fps. This versatile camera is a cross between compact and digital SLR which enables the user to shoot outside home and boundaries without changing the lens. The JPEG and Quick Time motion file formats are available for your convenience, but the actual comfort comes from the smart functions DMC FZ18 performs. The features are modern, enhanced and efficient to such an extent that you only have to smile in front of the camera, and the rest is taken care of by the Intelligent Auto-Mode that automatically activates Face detection, intelligent ISO for motion, Shake Detection Mega O.I.S and Scene detection for any kind of situation so the user does not have to bother about adjusting the settings and the picture can be taken in a single click with ease. The Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S) prevents the blurring of image in case the user’s hand shakes when the position of the camera is changed. Auto scene selector option further enhances the image quality by adjusting itself to the various scene modes such as night scenery, portrait, etc. and also makes a focus and detects faces all by itself. The Auto Face detection can recognize up to 15 faces and make them prominent in group photos. Unlike other cameras you don’t have to press the shutter button half way to focus on the subject, the Auto focus does that for you thus reducing the time.

Another stunning feature of Panasonic DMC FZ 18 is the Venus Engine III which speeds up image processing and let you record images at ISO 1600 with maximum resolution. It allows the user to take consecutive shots at the rate of 3 frames / sec and is capable of taking continuous photos until the whole memory is consumed, so that you can record all the fun without facing the disappointment of memory failure.

In addition to noise reduction, the chromatic noise is also lowered allowing you to get clearer images. The Venus Engine III has also improved the picture quality. Even in pitch darkness, now you can shoot without using the flash as the Highly Sensitive Mode lets you shoot at ISO 6400 owing to the efficiency of the Venus Engine. This processing unit also reduces power consumption and allows the user to shoot 400 shots in only one charge. Good for picnics and camping trips.

The price of the camera is around £270 and has a finely textured body of metal & plastic that is certainly commendable. The previous model DMC-FZ8 had a joystick for some manual functions which is also incorporated in FZ18 model too all for the ease of the customers and with the smart feature of AF/AE locking the settings, the camera offers convenience with style. The lock button will ensure that your desired settings remain untouched and they are not changed by accidental pressing of a button. It also keeps the focus intact so all you have to do is click it! The Custom setting is your personal set of options that you most commonly apply to pictures or videos and so by just selecting the option you don’t have to adjust them all over and over again so it saves you the time and energy.

Panasonic DMC FZ18 is simply a stylish wonder that helps you retain those beautiful memories on truelife quality pictures, so that each time you view them, its like reliving those happy moments!

Pentax Optio W60 Review – Digital Camera with optical zoom

Ever experienced the disappointment of missing the fun at the beach or a pool side party because you cannot take pictures as your camera is not waterproof? Well! Not any more. Because with Pentax Optio W60, you will only experience the joy of photography from now onwards.

This camera is one tough gadget. Waterproof, dust proof, anti-freeze; you name it. Pantex W60 can be your pal on any adventure. It is highly compliant even in extreme temperature of -10 degrees Celsius and is also JIS class 5 dust proof against dirt, sand and dust. Not only this, it is resistant to water up to 13 feet (4 meters) under water and allow you to shoot for 2 hours while you are fully immersed in water. This means, weather you are tracking in the snowy mountains, enjoying the Desert Safari or just chilling out with friends on beach, no sport can keep your camera away.

A body made to bear the weather rifts is not the only unique feature of Optio W60; it is loaded with the latest technology. Extremely light weight, it has 10.0 mega pixel imaging and equivalent to 28-140 mm accompanied by a 5X optical zoom lens having SP coating. A superior design with air tight joints and better shutter buttons makes this camera a remarkable choice.

And what is the use of a digi cam if it is not supported by an LCD screen. A 2.5 inch LCD screen with 230.000 pixels is provided in Optio W60 which is viewable even in bright sunlight with In Plane Switching (IPS) functioning and has the advantage of anti-reflecting coating. The camera makes high resolution and good quality HD movies at 1280 x 720p 1/5 FPS; the recording is as smooth as silk due to the Movie Shake Reduction option whereas the Digital Shake Reduction makes it easier to capture stills without blurring them, free of any Shakes. Advanced face detection, Blink Detections and Smile capture, all make the photos livelier. The camera can detect and focus up to 32 faces so that your loved ones bright and shine in the snap.

The colour proportioning and overall image details remain as clear as water uptil ISO 6400, and there is no problem of blurring at all. The settings are adjusted all by themselves when you are shooting under water or when there are lighting issues. No camera can be more accurate since Optio W60 can focus and bring out the detailing in small objects even at a micro measurement of 1 cm thanks to the Super Macro mode. And all this is right within your range. the bulky camera has a 5x optical zoom refractive lens which has a focal length in the range of 5mm to 25mm (approximately 28mm to 140mm in 35mm format) which enables the user to shoot vast areas like oceans and landscapes in expanded shots as well as in confined frames while focusing a single object. One different and a very helpful function is that of the Green mode which automatically switches the camera settings to the default mode and locks the Menu & mode system so that in case of any unintentional button pressing, the settings remain intact for the photo shoot especially when someone else is using your camera. Moreover, around 14 digital filters are given which along with the sharpness and contrast can be changed accordingly.

The camera has a two layer polycarbonate plastic and Aluminium plated body that saves the camera from harsh weather and any kind of erosion or corrosion. So, if you want to simply have fun while recording thesehappy moments in your life then Pentax Optio W60 is the camera for you.

Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera Review – 6X optical zoom

Canon PowerShot G9 has three major functions that distinguishes it from its former counterpart i.e., The Raw mode, the LCD screen and its sensor. The Raw image recording when supported by RAW and JPEG recording allows the user to have better image processing.

Around 3 years back, Canon launched its amazing Canon PowerShot G7 that created havoc in the market. In 2007, Canon astonished its customers with another similar camera; the Power Shot G9 that was found to be more advanced and efficient in performance.

Canon PowerShot G9 has three major functions that distinguishes it from its former counterpart i.e., The Raw mode, the LCD screen and its sensor. The Raw image recording when supported by RAW and JPEG recording allows the user to have better image processing. Raw Image Task available in the zoom Browser software takes care of minor effects in the image such as setting of white balance, color tone and temperature and exposure of light in various areas of the scene. Moreover, the Raw images can be converted to JPEG or TIFF file as you may like it. As for the LCD screen you can’t ask for more! The camera has a magnificent pure color 3 inch LCD II screen providing high resolution in photos and clips. And the larger than before 1/1.7 inch sensor offering 12.1 mega pixel resolution and an exceptionally broader viewing angle will enable you to take beautiful shots and then crop the image according to your convenience. Not only this, they can be printed up to a maximum of A2 size print. The photo shooting is made easy and fast by the DIGIC III processor and ISAPS function ensures better picture integrity and noise reduction. Further improving the results, Auto ISO shift and ISO 1600 is present that gives a new life to your photos.

Canon G9 has around 25 shooting modes and two white balance custom settings and has full manual control thus giving you the power to shoot according to your will. The new Face detection option will make the camera automatically recognize a human face and focus it to produce a snap with perfect settings. And those red eye effects are now history since the Red Eye Correction function can be used in the playback. Other common problems observed while taking snaps or recording movies are the annoying blurring or shaking of the camera. But with the Optical Image Stabilizer function, the problem is solved in no time.

Coming to the optical performance, the lens offers a 6X optical zoom with a 35-210 mm focal length equivalent to 35 mm. The chromic observation is corrected by the SR coating whereas the double sided lens with a spherical surface prevents lens distortion. The 3.0 inch LCD screen gives around 230,000 pixels which is a very large count i.e., aided by the safety zoom option which avoids interpolation. The optical zoom can be increased to 15X with the resolution of a satisfactory level to give a 10×15 post card size prints, which are easily obtained by any Picture Bridge printer without requiring any PC. And don’t worry about the memory/space as the camera has a built-in memory card of 32MB and supports SD, SDHC and MMC cards in addition to MMC PLUS and HC MMC Plus formats which has a capacity of up to 32GB. Wow! Now you can shoot a whole wedding or a surprise birthday without any stop.

If you are considering to buy a digital camera then you should seriously consider this great camera. The price of this master piece is a bargain deal around £300 which is quite affordable keeping in view the functions it performs. In addition to the suitable price, one can’t refrain from admitting the comfortable features it offers in holding and taking great photos. Almost identical to the G7, Canon Power shot G9 has an anti reflective textured coating that protects the camera from sun, rain and tough climatic conditions as well as physical harm. The lens has a black alumite ring that not only acts as protective but also adds to the classy look. The camera is no doubt heavy, but a nice thumb rest ensures that you don’t get tired of holding the camera. All in all, Canon Power shot G9 is a wonder to have…so go own it now!

Nikon Coolpix S630 Review – Compact Digital Camera – Deals,specs,features

Nikon Coolpix S630 is the camera with a high definition resolution and a portable size to carry around easily. So what is new? Well! You may think that it’s the same as other cameras available in the market but it’s not. Offering an exception 7X optical zoom though the zoom control may seem to be a little rough, and an apt ISO range, this digital camera has something new about it. Though the 7X zoom lens may make the camera a bit bulky than its competitors, nevertheless it is able to fit in small pockets of shirt or bags so you don’t have to miss the fun anywhere.

The camera provides ISO sensitivity at full resolution of 12 as Auto and Fixed range auto (ISO 64-200 & 64-400), 64; 100; 200; 400; 800 & 1600, however one will agree that the best quality photos are obtained up to ISO 400. It has a 12 mega pixel CCD that offers image stabilization due to its sensors. Equipped with a 2.7 inch 230k LCD screen, it allows the user to view the videos after shooting.

One good thing about this appliance is the simplicity of its menu and function keys. The shutter button at the top is surrounded by the zoom ring and below that there are the Mode and Play buttons. Instructions are simple and easy to understand so even a naive soul like me can operate it! There is a scroll wheel/directional pad and buttons for menu settings and deleting photos, operable while shooting or after the video or photos have been captured.

The smart functions that the camera offers are something that makes it a must buy. While Motion Detection is no new feature that tracks a moving object and adjusts the shutter speed, the camera wouldn’t have been fully efficient if Optical VR Image Stabilization option wasn’t included. No matter how good the camera follows a fast moving object, camera shakes ruin the overall beauty of the image so the Image stabilizer compensates the effect. This also helps in capturing a sharper and cleaner video or photo in unbalanced lighting conditions.

The Portrait System in Nikon eliminates the Red-Eye effect most of the time automatically. Improved and highly efficient Face-Priority Auto Focus option can recognize upto 12 faces in a frame and focuses them by itself without you having to choose the function and to ensure that you get only the happy poses, the Smile Mode releases the shutter by mechanically detecting the smile on your loved one’s face. And to prevent mishaps during photo sessions, the new Blink Proof function takes two photos at a time, and records the one in which the eyes of your subject are opened. And you don’t have to fuss over proper light and brightness required since the D- Light function is there to adjust the image details weather you are shooting in pitch darkness or in a brightly lit room; the resulting photos and videos appear next to real.

The unconventional curved shape of Nikon Coolpix S630 provides a firm grip for the thumb and proves to be the most comfortable-to-hold compact cameras ever offered. Talking about the physical aspects, the unique half-plastic and half-metal built of the camera cannot be ignored. It is available in many cool colors; black, blue, purple, silver and red, however only red and black are available in UK.

Features like White balance; auto, daylight, incandescent, fluorescent, cloudy, flash, manual, etc. help you create images close to natural supported by various intelligent recording modes such as Auto, scene, scene auto, sport, continuous, high sensitivity, smile and movie to make them more special. And they can be made more dramatic and classic by using the Scene Auto Selector tells the camera to choose a particular setting required in that kind of situation for eg, in case of a sunny beach or a closed room where light is medium. New Sports Continues Scene Mode can shoot up to 11fps, maximum 20 frames, when the resolution is equal or lower than 3 mega pixel thus allowing you to capture unpredictable basket ball shots as well as quick shots in golf or base ball.

The Coolpix is really cool since it ensures high picture quality with the help of New Expeed Image Processor ensures high quality pictures and has an ultra sophisticated digital imaging system that makes it a smart camera for people of all ages. The price range is also feasible… something to brag about! Think of the oohs and aahs you will be listening to when you show off your trendy camera around in your friends so don’t miss the chance!

Casio Exilim EX-FC 100 Camera Review – Delivers 9.1MP, 30fps Videos

Casio for the past ten years has generated the best quality digital cameras. This latest venture is no different. People still remember the world’s first digital camera having the LCD screen; the OV-10, introduced by Casio and then in 2002, it came up with the EX-S1, camera having the size of a card.

In 2008, EX-F1 and EX-FH20 emerged in the market that could offer faster burst shooting, and then in 2009, the Casio Exilim EX FC100 made its entry giving its customer what they needed…a high speed camera that has the ability to picture objects with par clarity whereas maintaining the over all image properties.

Casio Exilim FC 100 is a small sleek and stylish camera with features that outshine all the other gadgets of the league. Successor to Casio EX-F1, Casio’s new venture Exilim FC 100 is a palm sized camera that has the ability to shoot videos at a non stop frame rate. It has a 9.1 mega pixel resolution supported by a CMOS sensor that enables you to make a high quality video at 30fps which is the highest speed available in any pro-DSLR camera…how’s that! The camera also takes care of the illumination factors and adjusts the lighting according to the situation so that you get better images.

The only downside to the deal is that in order to take 30 shots in one second, you will have to set the resolution at 6.0 mega pixel. Otherwise FC 100 is a phenomenal addition to the F-series by Casio. Take the example of the special function that tracks the moving subject and allows you to view it in slow motion so that you can select the shot in which the subject looks the best and this also eliminates the condition of shooting 30 frames per second at 6.0 mega pixel. So that fast sports like football and swift golf games can be recorded without missing the best shots. Not only this, it also captures high definition videos of 1280x 720 that takes the bar of performance once step ahead of the other cameras available.

Though larger than the FC 10, FC 100 is better than the former since it has 5x lens and a 2.7 inch display LCD screen. This model is still not that bulky and is easy to carry and use. Simple functions and less hassle in the area of functional control is another plus point. It has an edge over other models in the area of costing. FC 100 is available at a modest price of $399 which is appropriate with the type of functions it offers, not forgetting the high definition videos.

On sale in market from March 2009, Casio FC 100 is presented in a number of colors to suit different temperaments. It is compact and handy and can be easily carried along in your pocket or bag. Weather going out with friends to the beach or having a luncheon with colleagues, the camera suits all formal or informal events.

Toshiba Camileo S10 Review – Digital HD Video camera

Last year, the electronic market witnessed a stunning hit by Toshiba when it launcher it’s cool and hi-tech venture Flip Mino camcorder. Keeping its former reputation in view, Toshiba has attempted at impressing its customers again and has succeeded to quite an extent. The Toshiba Camileo S10 is a nice combination of Flip Mino camcorder and a portable camera with more advanced features.

As compared to other models such as Kodak Zi6 which captures a high resolution video of 720 fps, this mini camera has a better performance in sense of image quality. Since it captures video at 1080p, the small dimensions of the mini camcorder doesn’t effect the detailing and colors of a photo as observed in other mini cams because it has a relatively large sensor that heightens up the picture profile.

The Camileo S10 gives a digital 4X zoom and has a 2.5 inch LCD screen. Though internal memory is small; only 128 MB, it can be increased by loading SD cards. So, now you can shoot longer duration videos with better results. Another edge over the Flip Mino is the availability of HDMI so that after making videos you can easily transfer them to your HDTV and view them. The memory can further be enhanced by using a 4 GB SDHC card that will cost you only £15 approximately, but will enable you to record 60 minutes of clips and high quality. It also offers a very easy way of uploading videos on You Tube, thanks to the proficient ArcSoft software available.

Cheaper than Camileo H20 (around £50) Camileo S10 also is faster in photo shooting and transferring. No light or low-no problem at all. Camileo can fix the light problem with the far-reaching settings available including 20 cm macro mode, White balance, Exposure, etc, as well as the famous Night Mode which allows you to capture videos and photos without worrying about the illumination. With such functions available, it is now possible to create HD movies and pictures with clarity and brilliant colours. The focusing and light adjustment is just fantastic.

Though the market is buzzing with all kinds of latest mobile phones that offer high definition shooting modes and pocket sized camcorder properties, the stylish Flip-out LCD though may act as a drawback since it’s a bit difficult to hold, it makes Camileo a classic piece. It has an 18mm thick shiny metallic cover that gives it a sleek and lustrous look. At least that justifies the price.

The camera gives you the best quality HD movies and pictures owing to the Auto Focus service that provides quick focus of the subject though you may find the Zoom button a bit sticky! Another major problem with this piece is that it has fussy assortment of keys and controls such as separate buttons for video and picture recording which only adds up to the hassle.

What Camileo S10 has better than the Creative & Flip Mino, is the 2.5 inch LCD Screen that allows the user to view the clips with ease. The black coloured suits all ages and its pocket able size makes it handy to take anywhere. Most of you might want to go for something classier but then at this price it’s not at all a bad deal.

Next Page »