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Panasonic Lumix DMC FX550 Camera Review

The famous Lumix range of Panasonic has always proved to be an excellent choice for photographers going on a holiday or on outdoor trips since the cameras in this league are strong, robust and easy to carry. Enjoy these summers with yet another exciting offer from the house of Panasonic; the Lumix DMC FX550. It is a compact digital camera with reliable performance and options to make the user more comfortable with the latest technology.

DMC FX550 is a 12.1 mega pixel camera with a 5x optical zoom lens offering the best quality pictures and movies. Though sharing the same 3- inch 230k-dot touch screen with the Sony’s T900 and an equal price to that of Sony T90 (£294 in the UK), still DMC FX550 distinctively stands among the rest with the convenience it offers to the user. For example the Side panel of the camera at the rear end comprises of a host of buttons and keys within the range of your thumb that represent an ample control over your camera.

The screen itself is a wonder being able to adjust itself to the various types of lighting conditions, it may be exposed to and also makes use of the 11 different settings available for you to select. With the touch screen, you can not only select the proper settings but can also shoot and play back the images. In the play back mode, the touch screen can produce high resolution and excellent quality images that can be played back with the touch scroll provided.

Moreover, the Easy Organization menu gives you the liberty to organize the images, scroll them, edit, resize and customize them by adding text or titles to the images, mark them as your favorites or can just simply delete them if you desire. Every thing right under your thumb!

Coming to the image processing, the Venus Engine has enhanced the speed of processing to around 2.4x the speed of its forerunner. That’s another point of competition between DMC FX550 and T90. At this speed, it offers picture capturing at the rate of 10fps at an image ratio of 4:3. The astounding Leica DC VARIO-ELMARIT high-quality lens is an ultra-wide 25mm zoom(equivalent to 25-125mm on a 35mm film camera) having F2.8 brightness and the best possible image integration without any deteriorating effects on the image in case of extra zooming.

With the Image Stabilization option to support the image integrity and prevent blurring, the picture eminence is simply brilliant and in case of low light when you don’t want to use the Flash, the ISO sensitivity ranging from 80 to 640 comes to your help.

The camera also enables you to make High Definition movies at 30fps that can be replayed on the desktop in Quick Time. Though the maximum resolution for movies is 1920×1080 pixels, you can reduce it to 848×480, 640×480 or 320×240 pixels in order to record a longer footage in lesser memory space.

Talking of memory, the DMC FX 550 supports SD and SDHC cards. However, an optional removable media with a built in 40MB space is available, so is the optional HDTV cable. Another negative aspect to the camera is the inability to use the amazing zoom option while shooting movies. But all in all, the camera still stands higher than its competitors due to the user friendly features and its efficiency.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC FX550 is a solid 167g digi cam with a powerful look owing to the metal face plate. The traditional appearance may not make it an ultimate style statement but a slim and sleek body gives a sophisticated aura to the gadget. Available in black and silver colour, the camera is well built to firmly fit into your palm.

With features like Intelligent Auto mode that helps the camera to remember familiar faces, the agony of missing spontaneous and beautiful shots is very well avoided. It includes AF tracking for better focus and clearer image, Auto Face Detection and Recognition. Other smart features in DMC FX550 include Mega O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector, and Intelligent Exposure, so that all you have to do is target and shoot!

Nikon D90 Camera Review

Not so long ago, Nikon D80 hit the market which was much appreciated by the buyers. After two years, Nikon once again produced a master piece by releasing the Nikon D90. Similar to its ancestor, the camera has much more to offer to its fans.

To start with, the camera has all new CMOS Sensor that gives the same excellent quality results as that of D300 at ISO sensitivity of 6400. It also offers the same D3 and D300 model 3.0 inch VGA screen which has a Live View and a contrast- detect AF. For those who like to live rough and tough, the camera incorporates a special Dust removal system giving the freedom to get wild and outrageous without having to fear the consequences.

Giving the camera a traditional sensation is the 720 fps HDTV movie mode which is the specialty of the world’s first DSLR camera. Though some features are similar to D80,the camera has an all new shutter and also offers 3D AF tracking common to D3/ D300.

The 12.9 mega pixel camera offers movie making up to 1280x 720p (24fps) with monosound. The image quality is unquestionable since the ISO sensitivity range of 200-3200 (100- 6400 expanded) is present at your service. Apart from movies, still images are also commendable. A continuous shooting mode of 4.5 frames per second is there to enable you to take series of shots without missing a moment and that too in RAW, JPEG and other formats. Where the high ISO resolution reduces picture noise in low light conditions, the EXPEED processing engine ensures a quicker and better camera response.

Keeping in view the adventurous nature of its fans, Nikon has included special features such as Auto Scene Recognition, Auto Focus and Auto Exposure so that you don’t have to adjust your camera settings just when you are about to shoot someone in action or a rarely encountered wild life scenario.

The 3 inch High Density colour LCD screen (920k dot) offers a 170°wide viewing angle. It also acts as a 96% view finder. And in case you are fond of natural scene photography, the D90 has a Picture Control System that comprises of Landscape and portrait options which provides excellent colours to your image.

Nikon D90 is a light weight compact digital camera easy to carry with oneself on camping trips and journeys. Supported by a rechargeable Li- ion Battery EN- EL3e, it allows capturing of around 850 images on a single charge of the battery. The memory can be boosted by an optional Multi- Power Battery Pack- MB D80 that also gives you the freedom to make use of six R6/ AA size batteries.

Nikon View NX software makes browsing and image organization possible with considerable ease. Moreover, it also lightens up the burden of bad or missed shots by offering the In- camera image editing feature which includes Fish Eye effect, Straighten & distortion Control, D- lighting, Red Eye reduction, etc. So, now you can look beautiful in each of your shots. There is Built- in Flash having an astounding 18mm lens coverage and the iTTL Flash control responsible for the incredible Advance Wireless Lighting; low light or no ligh…no worries!

A wonderful camera with user friendly operation and proud owner of smart and stylish features, Nikon D90 is the best choice for those who know how to create memories out of moments.

Fujifilm FinePix Z100fd Digital Camera Review

No matter how much advanced a camera is or haw much ease and usability it offers, the buyer would think twice about purchasing it if its appearance is not appealing. But this is not a problem for the Fuji Film FinePix Z100fd which is an ultra slim and smart model.

Being only 19.8 mm in thickness, it can be easily inserted into our pocket and taken anywhere you want. Rarely seen in cameras; a two colored tone and a trendy “Z” logo on the body just adds to the style. And comes in unique colors like Shell Pink, Satin Silver, Cappuccino, Brown and Black Tuxedo-the names themselves say a lot about the camera personality. With an all-metallic body design and a diagonal slide lens, Z100fd has emerged in the market as a breath of fresh air.

The camera is equipped with a mind range Fujinon 5X optical zoom lenses (equivalent to 36-180 mm) which along with the Dual Image Stabilization mechanism enables you to take blur free images since the image stabilization is supported by a CCD sensor active at high ISO sensitivity (16001).

The rear side of the Z100fd is taken up by a 2.7 inch LD screen (approximately 230,000 pixels) which is an Amorphous Silicon TFT LCD that has up to 97% frame coverage.

This 8 mega pixel camera offers a variety of best features such as:

Cropping of favorite parts of images.

Continuous shooting mode at 1.4fps.

A 54 MB built in memory and also supports XD/SD and SDHC memory cards.

Face detection so that the faces you like are well captured in the photos. (It can recognize up to 10 faces)

Red Eye Reduction to avoid the ugly red spotting in the eyes in case of low light.

The camera is also capable of producing high quality movies in the AVI (MOTION JPEG) format. Movie image of 320X240 and 640X480 at 30fps with outstanding audio.

The special features include the IR Simple technology that makes an easy and quick image transfer to any IR Simple TM equipped device possible and too without any wires required. The Fuji Film FinePix Z100fd is also compatible with Windows PC’s and Mac’s and also has a USB 2.0 port for image transferring.

So now you can take picture, taker them and share them with everyone no matter where you are. The camera is rechargeable by Li-ion battery NP-45 and has a battery charger BC-45, an A/V cable and a CD-ROM in its package.

Sleek and slim with a scratch proof LCD screen (due to reinforced glass coating), it is a fantastic compact digital camera that ensures quality, style and user convenience all in the same deal- a rare and great combination.

Nikon Coolpix S52 Camera Review

Judging a camera is just like analyzing a person; the outside matters as much as the inside. A little discrepancy in the outer look of the camera or the quality of the image will not only let down the buyer but also gives a bad impression about the manufacturer. However, maintaining the excellent past record, Nikon once again has proved its mettle in the field of photography by offering its latest venture; the Nikon Coolpix S52.

Supporting a Nikkor lens (38- 114mm) which provides a 3x optical zoom and a 9.0 mega pixel resolution to ensure remarkable large size prints of up to 16x 20 inches maximum; this is an incredible point and shoot digital camera. The 9.0 effective mega pixels make sure that your snap covers the minute details without disturbing the image accuracy. Moreover, the image integrity remains unaltered even if you crop and enlarge it.

LCD screens may be present in every camera but it’s rare to encounter a 3.0 inch High Resolution LCD Screen that has an anti-reflection and high-contrast coating so that you can immediately share photos and movies after capturing no matter you are in bright sun light or in a dark room; say thanks to the screen that has a 170° wide- angle view. Well watching the snaps on the LCD does not sound like too much fun! So, here again Nikon gives you the freedom to enjoy the pictures as slide shows on a flat screen TV due to the VGA quality support S52 offers. And this is only a part of the offer; the new Pictmotion option lets you even assign music pieces to your slide shows both for pictures and movies. There are five music pieces already installed in the camera whereas you can install up to 10 pieces of your own choice and can also add effects to your snaps by using various visual styles available.

One of the major problems faced by photographers is the blurring of the image by sudden camera shake especially when shooting a fast moving object or when the light is low and you have to slow down the shutter speed, since in these situations keeping the camera still is a real challenge. But S52 caters this problem very smartly by offering the Optical Vibration Reduction Image Stabilization that gives clear and sharp results with a fast framing speed.

Not only this, but a host of other features collectively called as the Nikon Image Innovations is incorporated in the camera only for your ease and delight including the Face-priority AF that is workable outside the scene modes and is able of focusing around five faces in a group photo, the Red Eye Fix and the D-Lighting option which will eliminate red eye effects and will enhance the dark areas of an image respectively. In case of improper illumination you don’t have to activate these options every time you plan to take a snap, the One- Touch portrait Button present at the top makes it easier for you so that you can capture the moment with just a click.

The camera also provides a High ISO sensitivity of up to 3200 which comes into action automatically whenever there is deficiency of light. It is made possible by the New Expeed Image Processor that ensures high quality image production in no time.

The camera records movies of TV- quality with an amazing sound feature. The length of the movie depends upon the space provided by your SD/ SDHC memory card. The camera makes sure that your movies and pictures capture the right object and therefore, it makes use of the Face Detection features.

Coming back to its exterior pattern, the Coolpix series by Nikon comprises of the wave-surface design that gives it a neat look. The slim, smart and stylish apparel with an all metal body and two really unique colors; Crimson red and Midnight Black makes this camera stand out high amongst the rest. Being small in size, it can easily slip into your pocket or purse and can be carried along every where so any time you feel like capturing the moment, its all a click away!

Kodak Easy Share V1273 Camera Review

Combine a 12 MP still feature, a 3 inch touch LCD screen, and a 3X optical zoom lens and you get an astounding point and shoot compact digital camera right from the house of Kodak known as the Kodak Easy Share V1273.

The camera proudly stands out with a Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon lens offering a 5X digital zoom and a focal length of 37-111mm-f/3.1 to 5.7. An amazing image stabilizer range of 64-3200 and a shutter speed of 8-1/1164 seconds are just the right features one would expect from a compact digital camera.

But when it comes to buying a camera, one would definitely look for the one that offers the best still image. After all what does a camera suppose to do! Well V1273 is a smart digicam that captures still images in the JPEG/EXIF V2.21. In the Smart Capture Mode, the camera takes different sized pictures at variable exposures so that the picture always comes out perfect. Similar is for the Program Mode.

In the former mode, the stills can be captured over a range of 12 MP to 2.4 MP whereas the scale for the latter mode is between 12 MP to 1.2 MP. The snaps can be made more dramatic by bringing into use, the various color modes i.e. High, Natural, Low Sepia and Black and White. You can also adjust the color sharpness by using the 3 tones; sharp, natural and soft.

And who says editing is so hectic. Now available in Kodak Easy Share V1273, the on-camera crop, Kodak Perfect Touch Technology allows you to select the favorite part of your photo and crop it simply by touching the LCD screen. So where other cameras use an LCD screen just as a viewer, Kodak gives you the freedom to use it as your editing page and organizer.

OK! So the picture capturing is good, but what about movie making? Kodak, as always has made every effort to make it a perfect camera. It makes HD movies in the MPEG-4 format so that minimum memory is consumed. And it allows the user to select special spots in the video and share with others via e-mail.

So much for the name Easy Share! You can also save a simple frame from a video and get it printed or trim it to a book mark. Moreover, videos can be played, paused, fast forward and rewind, viewed as slide shows and can be tagged with text and icons. What else one wants?

The Kodak Easy Share V1273 is available in two fantastic colors; Bronze and Dark Grey that gives the camera an elegant look. The dedicated buttons for power, shutter, zoom and menu etc. make photography so convenient and simple.

Apart from all the above mentioned features, V1273 gives an outstanding picture quality and an ease with which one can capture those beautiful moments without worrying about the results.

Samsung NV24HD Camera Review

I never fully agreed with the saying; “Never judge a book by its cover”. That’s why when I first got my eyes on Samsung NV24HD, I couldn’t resist but check out its features and man! This is one compact digital camera that’s worth having a shot at. Elegant both in looks and in performance, this camera is my proudest possession.

A simple and slim compact, the 10.2 mega pixel camera makes crystal clear videos and photos because it owns a 24mm ultra wide angle lens which is the reason you can have the finest of details in your photos and videos without much hassle. It enables the camera to give a quick response, a broad view and greater quality imaging.

NV24HD is equipped with a 2.5 inch AM-OLED Screen through which I can view the images after shooting. The camera allows me to create 720p High Definition movies at 30 frames per second and then I enjoy viewing slide shows of stills or the videos on HDTV making use of the HDMI port available. The fast movie making is due to the all new image processor technology of the DRIM engine, incorporated in the cameras for the first time by Samsung.

As always, Samsung doesn’t disappoint its fans in terms of over all image quality; it utilizes a combination of electronic and optical stabilization system which helps in integrating both the digital and optical picture stabilization and produces blur free images no matter what is the exposure setting. The camera offers ISO 3200 which along with local contrast control evens out any shadows and highlights the details in a picture making it more real.

And in case if you want to shoot at exceptionally low light, you will have to reduce the shutter speed which may pose the possibility of camera shaking or blurring of image. So this problem is well attended by the Advanced Shake Reduction option (ASR) which is upgraded to 0.7 seconds. Even Image noise is not a problem since the Noise Reduction feature is active up to ISO 3200 and the already mentioned local contrast control ensures a bright picture by compensating the dark areas in a backlit scenario.

The NV Digital camera range by Samsung no doubt deserves all the appreciation for it has offered some really good models recently. The NV24HD appeals to photographers of every age and class, the reason being its innovative style and a fantastic profile. Attired in a piano black glossy finish and a matt- black frame work, the camera is something to show off! Making a style statement with its unique body structure, Samsung NV24HD is slightly raised on the right hand side while offering a thin rubber strip running through out the course of the frame; it enables the user to have a firm grip on it.

The distinction doesn’t end over here; NV24HD has a whole revised set of Menu buttons. The top of the camera bears two dials; one on the left is the Photo Style Selector and the one on the right represents the different shooting modes. This is so nice since I am excused from the hassle of going through the lengthy menu to choose the shooting mode I need then and there.

However, the camera may not prove to be the perfect one as there are certain limitations such as absence of the AV or USB connectors but there is a proprietary port found at the bottom. In some humid regions, the metallic parts of the camera may tend to rust and damage, other than that there is no reason why one shouldn’t have this ultimate piece of art. And why not? It’s only for £249, as compared to other cameras of the league, its highly appropriate. So, go buy now!

Olympus MJU 1030 SW Review

Olympus MJU 1030 SW is a great addition to the budget range of digital cameras offered by Olympus.  Its not that there are no cameras available in the market that are resistant to shock, dust and water but the ever growing competition and advancement in technologies has forced camera makers to update their profile with models both well equipped and durable. Same is the case with Olympus which has added another gem in its collection i.e. the Olympus MJU 1030 SW.

Talking about tough and steady, MJU 1030 SW is the right choice. It can bear a fall from a height of 2m and remains intact under water up to a depth of 10m. And for those who are always worried about the camera life, this one comes with a 2 year warranty (only for UK).

Having a beautiful metallic body, the camera may not be the first one having 10.1 mega pixel CCD sensors but it has something that is not so common and that is the 3.6X wide zoom lens with a focal length of 28-108mm which is unique in design. The zoom works internally and does not protrude out like other lens giving 1030 SW a stylish peri scope like look.

The Auto ISO resolution ranges from 80-1600 and a 24 scene mode collection just adds up to the features.

Face detection, Shadow adjustments and Digital Image Stabilizer are yet some of the functions that only make shooting easier and better. The videos can be viewed on the 2.7 inch Hyper crystal II LCD, 30,000
pixel screen and the imaging is made more efficient by the True Pic Turbo III processor which is the same as that of Olympus E-3.

It takes care of color contrast, sharpness, noise reduction and makes multi-burst shooting at a faster

rate possible. Now you can shoot up to 11 frames in 3 MP High Speed Mode 5.2 fps) whereas in the Sequential Mode at maximum resolution, you can shoot at 0.7 fps on over 7 frames. The Digital Image Stabilizer is for the better since it prevents camera shake in case you extend the exposure time when there is no light.

The camera is available in fantastic colors of black, platinum and British Green that gives a vibrant feel to it. The case is scratch proof and the camera is able to bear weight of around 100 kg, talking of
toughness, eh? The robustness of the physique, its ability to bear high freezing temperatures of up to -10 degrees Celsius and being dust proof, water proof and shock proof, the camera is a wonder. Available at a price of just around £229.99, Olympus MJU 1030 SW has a full box of accessories with it.

Though a larger memory card and a more appropriate case would have made the package more appealing, a number of other equipments such as a wrist strap, a lithium rechargeable battery, a battery charger Li-50c and an AV and USB cable makes up for them.

Olympus master 2 software CD ROM and a basic printed manual along with a CD are all there for your help! All in all, it’s an amazing deal that is both unique and stylish in performance.

Travel Photography Tips – Expert Digital Camera Advice

Travel photography is a very broad field of Photography that encompasses image capturing of landscape views, people, cultures, rites and rituals as seen through the lens of a photographer. Different from routine pictures, travel photographs are an amalgamation of a natural shot taken with careful planning.

Weather it’s your last year’s vacation trip in Hawaii, a couple on honeymoon or a wild life fan in the jungles of Africa; every pictures has a story to tell and how interesting is your story is totally dependent on how you have captured it.

Giving tips to shoot a picture is just like teaching a child how to walk; one can only guide a photographer, but the first step has to be taken by you no matter you fall after the first attempt. Following are some tips that will always help you photograph your trips:

PACK YOUR BAG!

The worst nightmare for any photographer on a trip would be disability to shoot due to power failure or failure to open the files due to unavailability of the right software. So before resuming your journey, make sure that you are all equipped.

It is advised that you take a laptop with you on the tour which can load the image processing programs like Photoshop and/or Aperture/Lightroom with the latest RAW Plug-in or application updates so that the files can be opened when needed. Take an AC Power Strip so that your lap top and camera battery both can be charged easily.

Take the camera manual with you; you never know when you would need it in a foreign country. Also take a Polarizing Filter with you, especially in winter vacation trips because a polarizing filter helps in reducing the reflection of flash light that may result in an over blown picture as happens in rainy or foggy weather.

Similarly, the same filter enables the user to shoot under water scenery while standing outside since it reduces the reflection of light by water surface to the degree that it appears to be transparent. And if you want to shoot vast green fields or valleys, use the polarizing filter when the sun is to your right or left but its not helpful if the sunlight falls directly from behind or from the front.

The filter may alter the amount of polarized light that passes through it which at times is quiet beneficial since it enhances the colour of dark coloured objects and likewise makes white coloured objects appear more white. This is useful when capturing scenes with a blue cloudy sky.

HIRE A GUIDE

This whole earth is equally magnificent and picturesque; it’s only a matter of finding the right place. When traveling abroad, do hire a native or guide who can show you the sites that are both physically and historically important. When capturing monuments and land marks, you should be aware of the fact that they are not mere buildings, but they have a history to tell. Such sites are usually so maintained and facilitated by the state that tourists coming to visit can take snaps both for leisure and for records. An authentic picture will automatically look appeal to the viewer; it does not have to be exceptionally beautiful to be a part of your album.

SHOOTING UNDER WATER

Surfing, swimming or just chilling at the beach is so much fun but the joy ends when you realize that the best under water shots are all ruined by the light limitations. Always remember that water is a different medium than air and so natural light and visibility is also limited under water.

First of all, choose a water proof camera specifically one with rubber padding. Also evaluate the site; it should be safe for you to shoot under water without risking your life. For proper illumination camera sets are equipped with Strobes of different types. Main Strobe cast the outer rim of the light cone on the scenery and provides greater illumination.

This is ideal for Deep Ocean filming. Fill Strobe gives feathered light and just provides enough illumination to make the subject visible. This is useful in capturing the beautiful bright colored sea plants over the dark blue background. Whereas the Contrast Strobe will help you adjust the contrast and texture of the sea life around you.

It is also important that you have developed diving skills and having a buoyancy control so that you remain completely still under water while capturing a picture. Water tends to suck up the light so shoot as close as from a distance of 24 inches in water but make sure that your subject is not a shark! Moreover, shoot upwards, likewise your subject will look large and clear in the vast blue water body.

THE ISO SETTING

Traveling is not limited to a particular time and so is the case with photography. But the issue of proper lighting may leave you with no option other than to wait for the right time. However, with a little effort and smartness you can take photos even at night. In very low light conditions, when our eyes are adjusted naturally to an ISO setting of 800, Mid- range DSLRs can provide a high ISO of up to 1600 and some high end DSLRs have upto 6400 so that you can shoot even at night time and still get the best results.

PANORAMIC EFFECT

When traveling by road or by train, there are times when you just cant resist taking shots of the beautiful scenes you come across. While in motion, photography can be a real challenge. For such shots, adjust the f-stop and the shutter speed for an appropriate exposure time.

A shutter speed of 1/8th of a second will be the best. Use the accessory or the built-in flash in the TTL (fully automatic exposure) mode and while taking the picture, move your camera slowly from right to left or vice versa as you release the shutter button. This will give good panoramic effect.

WIDE ANGLE ZOOM LENS

As a general rule, use a wide angled zooming lens if you plan to take snaps of landscapes and wild life since they will allow you to capture objects that are at a distance and will enable you to take broader views with less blurring.

Having read and observed all these basic rules, one must keep in mind that traveling is supposed to be fun and therefore, the snaps you take should be able to do justice with the real experience you had. So, don’t just take pictures, try to create them with pleasure and excitement.

Casio Exilim EX FC 100 Digital Camera Review

Almost every day, a new digital camera hits the stall bragging about how something unique it has to offer. But most of the claims fail to satisfy the customers. What a buyer needs is not only the latest technology or features but also quality and user feasibility.

Casio has just made the right statement with its latest compact Digital Camera Casio Exilim EX FC 100 that is a remarkable piece. A 5x optical zoom, 2.7 inch LCDE screen and 9 mega pixel sensor in a pocket size easy to carry camera is just the highlight of this model. This camera has a high processing speed; making it possible for you to shoot 30 frames per second at 6 mega pixel and a slow motion video at 1000fps. Not only this, it also allow you to shoot HD movies at a resolution of 1280x 720 pixel and capture images at 6 mega pixel simultaneously.

Available at an amazing price of around £225 in it’s smart metallic apparel of steel grey and white, this is one cool camera which is not easy to carry around owing to its compact size but also is simple to use since a list of menu options is there to help you out with the settings.

The lens has a focal length of 37-185mm offering an aperture size of f/ 3.6 at the wide end and f/4.5 at the other extreme of the zooming range. However when turned off, the lens goes into the socket reducing the camera thickness to just2.3 cms so that it can easily fit into your pocket or rest in your palm. It’s also light in weight, around146g without battery or memory card incorporated.

Talking about user convenience, ask techno-phobic people how confusing and nerve wrecking a digital device can be! Taking care of it all, EX FC 100has clearly labeled its 13 external controls with standard terms and symbols and for the few buttons specific to Casio cameras, you can always read the manual.

For the ease of shooting, you will find the on/ off button, zoom in/ out lever and the shutter button at the top and the battery and SD card slots at the bottom. The camera also has a tripod mounting compartment at the lower side so that you can capture wide view or images in low light conditions without shaking your camera since in such situations; a slower shutter speed is required and there is a chance that you might get unsteady and blur the image. Some controls and the usual navigational set of keys are present at the back side of the camera along with the LCD screen.

The navigational pad, o clicking down shows the Flash option whereas moving upwards will help you select from the various Display modes. In the centre of the pad is the Set button that gives access to the Control panel as well as help you select the menu settings. The keys on the right side of the LCD screen will help you select the image size, ISO speed, white balance and the exposure setting.

An exciting feature of Casio Exilim EX FC 100 is the Prerecord Movie Best Shot mode which allows you to record a movie beforehand up to 5 seconds. You can also shoot 10 still images by pressing the shutter button while recording a movie. However, there are some down sides to the HD movie recording feature.

If movies are shot in the AVI format, the length of the movie extends to only 10 minutes since the file is so large in size that it takes up all the memory space. The audio effects are not that good too. The camera has a mono sound and produces the irritating background noise during video shooting but the positive points of the package cover them all; the Anti-shake option and the Best Shot mode improves the over all quality of the videos and stills both.

You can even pre-record up to 5 seconds of footage using the Prerecord Movie Best Shot mode, and shoot up to 10 still images (6 mega pixels) whilst recording a movie simply by pressing the shutter button.
A high speed, user comfort and the 20 scene modes provided make Casio Exilim EX FC 100 the best point and shoot camera available in the market.

It is a hard choice that what one should prefer, high technology or price effectiveness when it comes to digital cameras; the catch is to go for the over all quality because without quality performance, both technology and cost will have little impact on the customers. Well Casio Exilim Ex FC 100 certainly meet all the parameters; advance technology, reasonable price, excellent image quality and customer satisfaction.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Review

What’s the best thing about a compact digital camera? Obviously, the small size which enables you to carry it anywhere weather it is a vacation on a hill station or your camping trip with friends. But what’s the best thing about a Panasonic compact digital camera? Well! For Panasonic, customer convenience is as important as the quality of the product. Once again, proving its excellence, Panasonic has come up with the exciting new compact digicam, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3.

Following the footsteps of its predecessor Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2, and upgrading its features, LX3 offers the ultra sensitive CCD sensor i.e., 1/1.63 inch bearing a lower pixel count of 10.1 mega pixel. Reason for this “downsizing” is the fact that maximizing the pixel count results in higher picture noise; a problem frequently faced by compact digicam users. Moreover, LX3 consists of modified peripheral circuits that further support noise reduction.

The second upgraded feature in LX3, is the F 2.0 LEICA DC VARIO- SUMMI-CRON ultra wide angle lens (24mm-60mm focal length) that produces sharp and clear images with three sets of Aspect ratios available; 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The additional option of Multi-Aspect allows the photographer to take a shot with all three aspect ratios and then choose the one that is the best. Though LX2 had F 2.8 lens, Lx3 has the lens which is twice as bright as the older one. And it also gives better image quality with faster shutter speeds up to 60 seconds even in low lighting situations.

Another magnificent feature in LX3 is the 3.0 inch LCD screen that makes both viewing and shooting easier and better than before. The advanced LCD panel and the intelligent LCD mode provides brighter and wider angle of viewing plus, it adjusts the LCD backlight according to the surrounding conditions, making it feasible for the user to view the images.

The 2.5X optical zoom lens, 720p HD movies and ISO 3200 sensitivity are the usual options that any compact camera would have but what makes Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 stand out is the command it gives the user over the various technical features of the camera. The manual mode gives you full freedom to shoot with different settings while exploring the features of camera whereas the Auto Focus function will mark a number of focus points in the image and after the image capturing the same button will allow you to view the focused area in the imaged more closely so as to check its precision. The customized setting function enables the user to assign a set of features to an independent button provided at the back of the camera.

For a quick retrieval of any of the settings that you have selected, the Mode dial comes to help. By the way, you can store up to 4 sets of functions in the memory. So, now you don’t have to go through all the settings in order to select the one you want.
Just a click and shoot! An efficient Venus Engine IV (in contrast to Venus Engine III in LX2) present in LX3, offers the faster continuous shooting feature of 2.5fps for 8 frames, and 2fps for 5 frames. The improved battery life and a boost up 50 MB internal memory just adds to the overall package. With a flash hot-shoe to provide for illumination and a USB 2.0 Hi Speed interface, Lumix DMC-LX3 has only the best to offer.

The advancements don’t end up here, Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 has the optional wide conversion lens, and ND filter and a PL Filter which makes photo shooting more creative and something to be amazed of! The optical viewfinder and the mega O.I.S (optical image stabilizer) makes imaging simple, easy and fun.

Bringing the colors to life, the LX3 model offers you the freedom to capture the beauty around you at a mere price of just UK £330. Available in cool silver and black colors, Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 is a piece of art; classy and technically chic. You must own one!

Sony Cyber Shot DSC-HX1 Review

The market is bursting with all the latest and improvised cyber shot cameras; one having a super zoom lens, the other featuring high ISO sensitivity and some offer a splendid LCD screen but Sony steals the show with its latest model Sony Cyber Shot DSC-HX1.

This camera is not just any other digital camera; it is an awesome device featuring a 20X lens that offers a focal length ranging from 28mm up to 560mm at the telephoto end which is equivalent to the new “G” lens available in the most sophisticated of cameras.

A 3 inch tilting LCD screen and the newly incorporated CMOS sensor in the camera are just the highlights of this model. The real joy comes when one finds the high speed of shooting high quality HD movies, around 30 frames per second at 1440X 1080 resolution whereas the ultra fast shooting mode gives 10fps of continuous shooting.

The sensor is the most sensitive part of any camera. Sony Cyber Shot DSC-HX1 has a 1/24 inch Exmor CMOS sensor that gives around 9.1 million pixel exposure. The fast speed is not only due to the sensor but is also dependent on the shutter speed; the Auto Shutter speed being 2 seconds or 1/400. The aperture Priority is set at 8 seconds-1/200.

Sony Cyber Shot DSC-HX1 is a really unique piece. If you doubt that then checkout the 3 cool shooting modes, it provides. The Sweeping Panorama Mode which allows the user to shoot a panoramic view and then joins them in a queue to let you see them in motion.

The Anti-Motion Blur gives the freedom to capture a fast moving object without blurring the image since it shoots 6 images in a row and combine them to eliminate any blurring effect. The third mode is the most amazing one; it reduces image noise in low light situations.

It is the Twilight Mode which joins 6 images together to lower the noise in the image. Apart from 3 noise reduction settings, there are the manual modes, white balance and a revised Menu mode all for your convenience. The camera supports JPEG format for stills and MPEG4 and MP4 format for video clips.

The HX1 is equipped with a HDMI port so that you can transfer your videos and view them. Also, it can be connected to USB 2.0, Microphone, stereo and to Mono-Video output. It has an internal memory of approximately 11MB that gives you the freedom to shoot nonstop and a 0.2 inch view finder that will make aiming at your subject easier.

The additional features of Auto Red Eye Reduction and different options for Flash (ON/OFF/AUTO/SLOW SYNC) and self timer (ON/OFF/2 Seconds continuous shooting at 10fps/5fps or 2fps (10 Shot maximum) or 10 seconds) make Sony Cyber Shot DSC-HX1, a wonderful gadget.

So now you get a high quality image as these features take care of the minor details and prevent your picture from being ruined by red eye effects, mistimed shots or over blown light areas in the snaps. And all this is available in just under £330, keeping in mind the shooting convenience and altogether an improved infrastructure, it is not a bad deal at all.

How to take good snaps of people – Digital Photography Advice

The best thing about the field of photography is that it’s a beautiful amalgamation of creativity and technology. Giving real meaning to the beauty around us and making it possible for us to capture that beauty on an electronic sensor, photography is truly an art and not everyone’s an artist! I am saying that because being an professional photographer myself, I try to bring my pictures to life by applying the golden rules of photo capturing that every other manual or guide has to offer. But if it was that easy then every camera owner could be a pro snapper!

Take the example of people pictures which are basically of two types; Candid and Portrait. Both can be captured either with or without the consent of the subject. Here, your subject is not a huge valley or a cute puppy just hopping around but your object of desire is a human; full of emotions and natural instincts. So do keep in mind some basic points:

Make yourself comfortable

As much as being comfortable is necessary for the subject, it is equally important for the photographer to be at ease around the person who’s being captured. This is required for a certain level of closeness that would be essential to take the snap.

To be comfortable, you just have to introduce yourself professionally to the person, if a stranger and if possible involve them in your task. For starters, first try out with people you know. In any case, being nice and friendly to your subject would only add a happy face to your collection.

The distance

An appropriate distance is the most vital factor governing the over all quality of a picture especially when capturing a person; too far from the subject will lose the viewer’s interest and also the point of the picture. Too close a distance would sometimes fail to relate the face to its surroundings.

Choose a distance from where your subject’s expressions and actions are clear and he/ she is well oriented with the environment. For e.g. a snap showing a girl smelling a flower should portray the face expressions and the flower more clearly than the background but in the snap of a lonely man leaning to a pillar on a busy subway, people passing by and a zooming tube should be visible in the picture.

The surrounding setting

Pictures with people in them are not just random snaps; they tell a story or give information about the subject. As described above, the distance as well as the nearby settings is very important.

A snap showing a person engrossed in work would be more meaningful if the person is sitting on his office desk and a sad woman sitting on her house porch at sunset would be more close to reality.

Light and colours

For a picture to have an impact, it is highly important that the right amount of light falls on the subject and the colours are bright or subtle according to the mood. A happy playful child would look dull in low light or if the colours are not brilliant.

On the contrary, for a child in a deep slumber would look more peaceful if the illumination is understated and colours are warm and soft. It’s also important that the subject is dressed according to the setting. A playground snap can bear bright colours but a lady in an opera should be in an elegant and sober evening gown.

Going Candid

For pictures in which you want people to keep doing what they are supposed to for e.g. a crowd in a stadium cheering, a market full of vendors busy with bargaining customers or a group of youngsters laughing around, the simplest and easiest of tricks is to use a lens with a longer focal length so you can shoot from a distance without alerting the subject.

Another way is to hang around for a while so that people get familiar to your existence and then you can start your work. But in doing so, you should know what and where you have to shoot so that you are finished before any unwanted or unfriendly interference.

Focus and wait

Sometimes the picture is supposed to be candid and sometimes the subject is aware but in both cases the snap would be a waste if the timing is not right or the subject moves out of focus so first set your focus and then wait for the right moment. This is helpful in situations when the subject is unaware.

You can use a wide angle lens and set it for the person and when she/he makes a stupid face or blows the nose, you just have to click a button but be sure to do this quietly and from a distance!

Set the shutter speed and aperture

Setting the shutter speed and the aperture size beforehand will be handy for unintentional snaps. For this you should have knowledge of the type of setting you would require. For e.g. in a market place, a wider aperture and slower shutter speed would help capture a better picture of the crowded area whereas a small aperture and faster speed would enable you to shoot the valuable smile on a baby’s face when in the mood.

Don’t forget the details

The wrinkles around an old woman’s eyes, the messy clothes of a child playing in mud and the hands of a potter at work are the finer details that make your portraits more real. Try to focus them as clearly as the face of the subject because the face is just the title; these minutiae tells the actual story.

Respect the person

Don’t forget that the subject is a human; he/she may not like to be shot especially in portraits. Different cultures and for that matter, different people, may have different opinions about being so closely photographed.

Your aim is to capture the spirit or the mood and this should not in any case be offensive to others. Ask their permission before taking their pictures and avoid taking shots that may misinterpret your intensions regarding someone’s religion, culture, race or integrity.

If you make yourself clear to the subject, he/she may give their consent and let you shoot with ease. Sometimes people may agree to be your subject for a small amount of money.

The capturing of people on a film or an electronic sensor is just like painting them, only in photography your mind is the canvas and your camera is the brush. Right colours, right effects and the right camera settings will ensure a beautiful picture.

Red Eye Reduction – Digital Photography Tips

Red Eye is a common problem caused in compact digital cameras causing the pupils of a person to appear red, or if you are taking photos of your pets, makes the center of the eye appear red.

The problem occurs for a simple reason, as the light from the camera’s flash unit is reflected back from the retina of a your subject’s eye thus creating a direct hit back to the camera lens and causing ‘Re Eye’ effect in your photos.

It is also very common when using smaller cameras with a low range flash. In order to take better snaps and make your flash light reach the subject, you may tend to take photos from a short distance which makes this problem even worse.

How to avoid ‘Red Eye’

In order to avoid this problem try to take snaps from a distance, or use internal lighting when taking pictures indoors, if you are taking pictures outdoors and there are no light sources, sadly there is very little you can do to avoid this problem.

Another solution to this problem is to use cameras with ‘Red Eye’ reduction features which helps reduce this effect.

Humans or animals with bigger pupil can make this problem even severe, so bigger the pupil; more are the chances of getting a red eye in your snaps.

The flash unit in these cameras triggers twice, first with a small burst of light to reduce the size of pupils; of the subjects eye.

The disadvantage of using this features is the delay caused in shots which sometimes may blur the images making the subjects to believe the photo is already taken and they start to move away soon after the first small flash. It’s always a good idea to tell the subjects to wait a little longer for the second flash, when the photo is actually taken.

The best solution to avoid the ‘Red Eye’ problem is by using cameras with external flash units, which causes the light to disperse in to the environment and reduce the chances of getting a direct hit back from the subject’s eye.

Digital Camera Zoom Explained

If you are looking to buy a digital camera then digital zoom is an essential feature which is often used as a tag line to highlight how good a camera is. The digital zoom is stated in multiples of the number of times the camera is capable to magnify the size of an image such as 3X, 6X or 8X.

Typically digital compact digital cameras are capable of producing more than 4× and ranging up to 15× in SLR camera lenses some advanced digital cameras can deliver up to 24X zoom.

Calculating the Zoom Ratio

All digital cameras have a description of their focal length. Focal length defines the distance from the optical center of the camera’s lens to the camera’s focal point. For a camera without a zoom lens can be said to have its focal length fixed.

On the other hand for a camera with a zoom lens the focal length is variable, which means the position of the lens changes as you zoom in and out.

The focal length of a camera is usually measured in millimeters and as a standard the lower value of the stated focal length such as 35mm, or 28mm is normally the focal length of camera without using the zoom feature. Depending on the zoom lens capability, digital cameras are capable of delivering different outputs such as 85mm, 115mm or 140mm.

In order to calculate the zoom ratio you can divide the two values of the stated focal length(high and low) to get the precise digital zoom capability in any given camera. For example a Canon IXUS 100 IS has the focal lengths of 35mm to 100mm, so we can now divide 100/35=2.8, this tells us the camera has a digital zoom close to 3X.