Minggu, 31 Oktober 2010

Still-life Photography


Image : http://www.flickr.com


Is still-life photography one of the least exciting areas of photography? This is up to each individual and each individual's own personal interest, but still-life photography demands a great deal of care and imagination. The rewards for a good still-life photographer can be enormous.

A large percentage of the advertisement market uses still life photography images. A large portion of still-life images fall under the fine art photography class and could make a great extra source of income for an established photographer.

There are many ways to approach still-life photography - the best and most used by professional photographers is to spend days in a studio, arranging and rearranging the set up until they get it perfect. This is what it takes to create perfect still-life portraits. With practice and a great deal of patience you will find your own unique way.

Most objects can form part of a still-life portrait. Objects from around the house or in the garden will make excellent still-life subjects.

Still-life photography is a simple discipline of photography for beginners. The equipment you need is very basic and you can start off photographing a bowl of fruit or a flower. Most professional still-life photographers use a medium or large format camera, but you can get great still-life pictures using your 35mm camera.

A small studio can be assembled in a corner of a garage or bedroom, or on a fine calm day can be constructed outdoors. Some of the best still-life arrangements are quite simple to set up. The main rule to follow is to keep it simple. Placing too many objects in front of the camera will cluster the setting.

If you are interested in still-life photography try the following.

Set up your studio beside a window. First pick a simple background - a plain drape or lace makes a perfect background. Using a vase or bowl as the main subject can make for an attractive still-life image. Take some shots using the natural light from the window.

Take more pictures using low light - this can be morning or evening - place a reflector at the other side of the vase to soften the image and get rid of any harsh shadows.

Now compare the two sets of images. The difference between both images will be immense but tests like this will lead to creating a better eye and mastering the true art of still-life photography. The effort seems extreme but still-life photography requires a great deal of patience and practice. Trial and error will play an important part in developing a new skill.

Jumat, 29 Oktober 2010

Photo Retouching - Good Or Evil?


Image : http://www.flickr.com


Photo retouching has received a lot of bad press over the past few years - who can forget that infamous Dove "Campaign for Real Beauty" advertisement, showing a decidedly average looking girl receiving a full makeover and then having her image retouched to within an inch of its life? We have heard everyone from journalists to politicians and even those involved in the beauty industry waxing lyrical about how wrong it is to manipulate images and how it creates false and unattainable ideals and expectation from young people. And don't get me wrong... I am the first one to raise my hand in criticism of a ridiculously flawless magazine shoot, or a skincare advertisement in which the model's face looks like pink plastic, or like some kind of weird computer generated version of a human. There is far too much of this sneaky image manipulation going on... and we all recognize it.

We all know that there is no such thing as a perfect complexion, or a perfectly cellulite free pair of legs, but we somehow accept these image into our lives nonetheless. Why? Because they are nice to look at? Because we are used to them? Because we are in denial and secretly want to believe that perfection is possible? All of the above.

The reality is that, while we may know deep inside that these images are fakes, we appreciate their artfulness and they have become part of a visual language that we understand. While we may wish for more honesty, particularly from advertisers, when it comes to the marketing of their products (and I think we can all agree that retouched photographs are one of the more minor issues here - pseudo-scientific diagram of a skin wrinkle, anyone?) we have become so used to this visual language that is has become its own entity. It exists outside the realm of reality and as long as we realize this and do not take it too seriously... is there really any harm?

Advertisers have a long history of irresponsible behaviour and the most important thing to remember is that they do not care about anyone except themselves and their clients. In this age of Internet and television and 24-hour "news" broadcasting, we cannot escape the net of advertising and all the evil that goes along with it. Advertising manages to creep into almost every facet of our daily lives... and there is only one way to deal with it. Ignore it. While previous generations may have been overcome by new harsher methods and by a greater quantity of advertising, The X/Y generations are increasingly numb to the advertising that exists all around them. They have to be.

So what are the benefits of the incredible new retouching technologies that exist now? Simple. To make your photographs better. Digital cameras are everywhere, but the people using them spend less time than ever before really learning how to use them. There is no need to carry around a heavy 35mm camera when you can whip out your iPhone instead. We edit our photos less than ever, amassing thousand of images on our computers and hard drives, most of which never even get seen. What a shame.

So here is the future - we need to start looking at our photographs, and printing them. Every month, pick out your favourite photos and spend a few minutes really thinking about what can make them better. Sometimes it is something as simple as lighting, or removing a shadow from someone's face. Even cropping an image correctly can change it entirely and turn it from humdrum into a real work of art. Try changing the colours in your image or focusing on one small detail and emphasizing it using light and shade.

Using retouching technology for creative rather than commercial purposes is the future, and the sooner we embrace it, the sooner we can take this wonderful technology away from evil corporations and back into our own awesome, flawed, wonderfully creative hands.

Kamis, 28 Oktober 2010

Is Film Dead?

I've been called a dinosaur. It happened in a photography seminar a couple of years ago when the instructor asked for a show of hands from those still using film. Actually, I was one of two dinosaurs that he labelled. Not an encouraging ratio for a class of about 20 people.

It's no surprise that professionals (like our seminar leader) have largely abandoned film, given the breakneck speed at which improvements in digital camera resolution and color accuracy are taking place. Gone are the days of carrying packs of Polaroid film and camera backs for verification of exposure and lighting. Now, we simply check the digital camera's LCD screen and its histogram, and make instant adjustments.

One harbinger that struck home recently was when I took my 120 format film to my favourite camera store, a.k.a. my reliable old local film processing facility. They informed me that their machine was acting up and that they likely would not be replacing it if it failed. If I was to continue to make my big, beautiful transparencies, I was likely going to have to mail my film to another city for processing. Until, that is, their machines also croak.

You can't blame them. They make their money selling digital cameras to a new throng of consumers who previously couldn't have been bothered with getting films developed.

My disappointment doesn't stem from the fact that I dislike digital. In fact, I shoot largely with a digital SLR now, and started scanning my 35mm films long before digital cameras achieved their current popularity. I also license my images online. In other words, I'm firmly entrenched in the digital photography realm.

I think it's more a case of nostalgia. Only in recent years have I been able to afford quality medium format film gear, albeit used and decades old. They're built like tanks and have lenses made from high quality glass. Yes - they're heavy and awkward, but the image quality is phenomenal. After shooting grainy 35mm slides for decades, I was now ready to emulate work done by real magazine photographers. I even purchased a scanner that allows me to scan the larger format films.

So, do I now sell off my antiques and scanners, only to replace them with the best and newest digital SLR? Well, judging by the amount of used film gear being bought and sold online, I would say - not so fast! Yes, some companies have dropped out of the business of supplying films and processing chemicals (AGFA), but others like the UK's venerable ILFORD (black and white only) and film giant KODAK are picking up the slack. New film products are even hitting the market! And others, like Freestyle Photographic Supplies, are doing what they can to keep the art alive by supplying film, darkroom supplies and film cameras.

Where this is leading me is that I can continue to use my film gear for as long as I'm willing to develop my own film, if necessary. The simplest by far to process is black and white, so when push comes to shove, that's what I'll be shooting. With my scanners, I'll be able to convert the films directly to digital without worrying about printing with an enlarger.

Is film dead or dying? There is no doubt that the professional's workflow today is predominantly digital. But, there is enough film equipment still working and in the hands of both professionals and enthusiastic amateurs that I can confidently predict that film will be around for a long time.

Rabu, 27 Oktober 2010

High End Film Cameras and Filming For Feature Films


Image : http://www.flickr.com


Cameras - There are many camera options available.

Film stock cameras of 35 and 16 Millimeter are still preferred over digital by many film makers. Remember though that this is visual art so getting the emotions of your actors can be done with any camera so keep honing your skills at getting good performances from your actors.

Lighting is always important for the best quality footage from all cameras. Instead of buying an expensive camera for a production, you may consider renting one. There are many companies that also offer crew with their equipment of course at an additional cost.

In my opinion, if there is debate over whether to use Film stock or digital for your project and you want to push this as a major motion film, unless you are using a Red, a Viper or a Sony F23, go with 35mm Film stock and use a good quality lens.

The main reason for this is that unless you are a director already established and with a reputation, using digital video may be considered "Not as Professional". This is a stigma that video unfortunately still has, especially with people trying to break into the industry and who tend to only use video.

You've worked hard and done your best to make a film. If the 35MM project costs more to shoot then sell it for more when it's finished. There are deals to get 35 film stock if you are a student. Get a student ID by enrolling in a community college.

Shoot in 35mm but do the cutting/editing in digital. You can get the 35 mm transferred to digital via a process called Telecine. If you still want to use digital video go with a good(The best you can afford) high definition camera. Right now my preference under 10,000 would be the Panasonic HVX 200A.

The Sony PMW EX1 is also getting very good reviews although the HVX200A is a bit more popular.

For you who are adamant about using digital video I will mention a couple of things about some high end digital video cameras. The camera that George Lucus used on Star Wars was a Sony HDW 900 modified by Panavision with a new lens and control. Sony came out later with the HDC 950 which was an improvement to the 900.

Currently, Sonys highest standard for shooting feature films with digital is the F23. Another two exciting digital cameras are the Red and the Viper. The Red is advertised to be the cheapest of the three and boasts to have the highest quality.

For the pro line of lower end camcorders you may consider a 35mm lens to give you a good depth of field. Because cameras go out of date so quickly, do to ever evolving technology, you may consider renting for a project.

From entry level up to high end cameras keep in mind that due to many people having access to large screens, high Definition (HD) is becoming the norm. Standard Definition can appear a bit grainy on these larger screens.

If you are going to try to sell your video project to a TV company, some are only accepting High Definition. Go get your film made.

Selasa, 26 Oktober 2010

Bargaincell Portable Folding Stereo iPod Speaker

If you are looking for an iPod speaker that is very low-priced but does not compromise its capabilities and features then this is the speaker you might have been waiting for. This handy multimedia speaker has a smooth color black finished making it well suited in any iPod or mp3 colors like red, green or even pink. The good thing about this speaker is that you can carry it wherever you go because it is foldable and you can set it up easily anywhere if you want to listen to music.

This Classic stereo speaker is simple to use because it only has two control panels; the On/Off switch as all of us know is used to make the item to function, and the optional volume control for sound level adjustment purposes. It also has a device holder that matches almost all iPod devices and has a 3.5mm standard headphone jack which makes it compatible to most mp3 devices.

The sound quality is also good with the help of the two aluminum speakers. By the way, aluminum helps amplify sounds to make it much better and it is also economical that is why most manufacturers preferred it if they wanted to create an inexpensive yet sufficient enough product just like this one. Aluminum is also one of the most abundant metals in earth, it is lightweight and has the ability to resist rust; it is good to have a very reliable material in an accessory like this.

You can power this stereo with the use of USB power cord (included in the package) or if an electric socket is not available, you can operate it with the help of triple-A batteries (four batteries needed).

You can purchase Bargaincell Black Portable Folding Stereo iPod Speakers online at a regular price of $16.97 or you can save $15.11 when you purchase it on Amazon ($1.86).

Samsung Metro S5350 Metro 3G Review

Samsung shark 5350 is quad band 3G supported candy bar type phone from Samsung.  This Samsung 5350 features 252k TFT display, FM radio, Micro SDHC card slot, integration with social networking sites and surprisingly 3.2 megapixel camera. This S5350 phone is smartphone which falls under middle segment.  This phone is one of the new phones released with shark series.



 Samsung S5350 is comes with round corner and metallic backing. This smartphone interms of design is streamlined. It look good and gives the comfort in hand. Only a bit annoying is the screen size. It is 2.2 inches.

When it comes to camera, this smart phone S5350 features 3.2 megapixel camera. The quality of the camera is good.  It can take sensationally beauty shot. S5350 also comes with latest photo editing software, Using this software one easily edit the photos like removing wrinkles, patches, pimple marks.

The user interface is quite good. The improved phone book, and the navigation gives a good feeling while operating the phone.  The buttons of S5350  are large enough and able to control it well.  It is 3G enabled phone which enables the user to access the internet in speed.

Overall it is good phone in the price range it falls and it contains beautiful features. The 3.2 Megapixel camera, social networking applications, improved user interface makes this this S5350 more intuitive than before.

Specifications of S5350:
Model:5350
Released Year: 2010
Internal phone memory: 100 MB
External phone memory: Microsd(Transflash) expandable upto 16 GB.
Camera: Yes. 3.2 Megapixel
3G: Yes. HSDPA 3.6 Mbps
Bluetooth: Yes. v2.1 A2DP.
OS: Java
FM radio: Yes with RDS
MP3: Yes.

Senin, 25 Oktober 2010

Karbonn K30 Review

Karbonn K30 is a Dual sim phone with QWERTY keyboard, Social network application and quadband GSM network. This K 30 comes with large display with a dimension of 320*240 pixels. It is Java OS based phone. It also features regular features like FM radio with RDS, SMS, MMS and Bluetooth.

Pros:
  • Very budget friendly. Value for money.
  • Memory expandable options.
  • User friendly navigation.
Cons:
  • Signal clarity is not good.
  • Phone get restarting if two speed dial number set.
  • Video recoder quality is not good.
  • Bundled head phone voice clarity is not good.
Overall: Being priced at around 4000Rs it is a value for money. Its big screen is useful for browsing. Its wap and social networking applications are good. However this phone lags in some aspects like poor bundled headphone, Bad video capturing.

Specifications:

Phone Basic:
  • Model Name: K30
  • Brand: Karbonn
  • Internal Phone Memory: 81MB
  • Memory slot: Micro SD. Expandable upto 8GB
  • Colors Available: Black, Black+Red, Black+yellow
  • Form Factor: Bar.
 Camera:
  • Camera Pixels: 2 Mega Pixels.
  • Video Play Back: Yes.
  • Video Capture: Yes.
  • Zoom: 3x Digital Zoom.
  • TV output: No
Messaging:
  • SMS: Yes
  • MMS: Yes.
  • IM: IM-GSM
  • Email: Yes. Pull Mail.
Music: 
  • MP3 Player: Yes.
  • FM Radio: Yes. RDS supported
  • Ringtones: Polyphonic, MP3, AAC.
Connectivity and Network:
  • 3G: No
  • Bluetooth: Yes. v2.0 with A2DP.
  • Wifi: No
  • USB: Yes.
  • GSM: GSM/ EDGE 850/900/1800/1900.
Technology and Software:
  • OS: Java
  • Streaming: Browser Compatible.
  • Games: Downloadable.
  • Browser: WAP 2.0
Karbonn k30 box contains:
  • Battery
  • Headset
  • Manual
  • Karbonn K30

Minggu, 24 Oktober 2010

Canon Digital Camera - From Humble Beginnings to World Class Company

Started in a single-room by three Japanese men in the year 1933 under the name of Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory, Canon has come a long way today. It all began with the phantom prototype camera called the 'Kwanon'. At that time, Germany was considered to be the leader in camera production. German cameras were extremely expensive. So, Goro Yoshida, along with two others tried to produce a 35mm rangefinder camera at a cheaper price and came up with "Kwanon'.

However, at that time, one of the problems faced by the company was that it did not have a lens of its own. So, it decided to tie up with Nippon Kogaku Kogyo (who was to become the founder of Nikon) and acquire lenses from them. With the use of these lenses, Canon came up with its first commercial camera called the "Hansa Canon" in 1936 which became a hit. However, the company still had to go through hardships due to the War.

After the war, the company officially adopted the name "Canon" as its name. Up till then, the lens was under a different name, the camera had a different name and the company had a different name. So, in order to unify all these three, Canon came into existence on September 15, 1947. Slowly the company started to expand, and many historical cameras were created such as the Serenar 50mm f/1.8 lens in 1951, Canonet in 1961, AF35M (Autoboy) in 1979 and the EOS 650 in 1987.

The first Canon digital camera was the PowerShot 600 in 1996. Then, after making several advances in digital technology, Canon launched the EOS D2000 digital SLR camera in 1998 for professionals. In addition, the XL1 digital video camera was introduced. Due to its superior functionality and reliability, the XL1 became the official digital video camcorder of the NASA.

In order to provide the market with a cost effective camera along with superior functionality and performance, Canon introduced the EOS D60 in 2002 and the EOS 10D in 2003. These two cameras made Canon the market leader in digital technology. Then, the EOS Kiss Digital was introduced in 2003, which became a big success.

Today, Canon has introduced several digital camcorders. Starting with the FV30 and the FV200KIT in 2002, Canon went onto launch the FV M1 and the IXY DV M2 in 2003 in the mid range segment. As the company progresses, Canon continue to strive to provide its consumers with better and better technology at the lowest price possible. They have been known as a choice of the pros for many years in the world of photography but now with a broad line of products Canon is firmly positioned in the consumer market as well.




Kevin Rockwell worked as a network TV cameraman for 20 years shooting news and sports. Now a devoted fan of digital photography and video he works to gather information, tips and news for digital camera users. Oh and he loves to shoot pictures of his kids playing sports using his digital cameras. (http://www.greatdigitalcameras.info)

Nokia N8 Review

Nokia N8 is a new smart phone released by Nokia mobile.  This N8 features 3.5" touch screen , 12 megapixel camera with xenon flash and 720p video capture at 25 frames per second, HDMI output and Video on demand through Ovi store.  This Nokia N8 is the first phone to use Symbian 3 OS. It has large 16 GB internal memory, FM transmitter, Wifi, GPS and many features.
Nokia N8

Nokia N8 Features:
  • Symbian 3 OS.
  • Large capacitive touch screen.
  • 12 MP camera with Xenon flash.
  • 720P video capture with 25 frames per second.
  • Large internal memory of 16GB.
  • FM transmitter.

Price of Nokia N8: Nokia N8 price in India is  25000Rs

Pros and Cons of Nokia N8:
Pros of N8:

  • This Nokia N8 with Symbian 3 OS offers better and enhanced user experience than previous models.
  • Excellent camera and video quality.
  • High Speed 3G support.
  • Very Good Built quality.
Cons of N8:
  • It is bit expensive.
  • QWERTY keyboard is available only in landscape mode.
  • Nokia N8 can be bit sluggish.
Overall Performance of Nokia N8:

This Nokia N8 smart phone comes with excellent built quality and very good camera and video quality. The improvements in Symbian OS makes this smartphone one of the best smart phone from Nokia till date. Even though its price is bit expensive, this phone is value for money.

Nokia N8 Specifications :

Phone Basic:
  • Model Name: N8
  • Internal Phone Memory: 16 GB
  • Memory slot: Micro SD. Expandable upto 32 GB.
  • Colors Available: Dark Grey, Silver White, Green, Blue, Orange.
  • Form Factor: Bar.
  • Released Year: 2010
  • Talk time: 720 Mins
  • Standby Time: 390Hours
  • Display Type: AMOLED. Capacitive touch screen 16M colors.
N8 Camera:
  • Camera Pixels: 12 Mega Pixels.
  • Video Play Back: Yes.
  • Video Capture: Yes.
  • Zoom: 3x Digital Zoom.
  • TV output: Yes.
N8 Messaging:
  • SMS: Yes. Threaded.
  • MMS: Yes.
  • IM: IM-GSM
  • Email: Yes. Push Mail.
  • Push Mail: MS Exchange Server.
N8 Music: 
  • MP3 Player: Yes.
  • FM Radio: Yes.
  • Ringtones: Polyphonic, MP3, AAC.
N8 Connectivity and Network:
  • 3G: Yes. HSDPA, 10.2 MBPS; HSUPA, 2.0 MBPS.
  • Bluetooth: Yes. v3.0 with A2DP.
  • Wifi: Yes. Wifi 802.11 b/g.
  • USB: Yes. Micro USB v2.0. USB On-the-go support. 
  • Remote: Yes.
  • GSM: GSM/ EDGE 850/900/1800/1900.
N8 Technology and Software:
  • OS: Symbian 
  • Streaming: Browser Compatible.
  • Sensors: Accelerometer. Touch.
  • Interface: Icon Grid.
  • GPS: Yes. Ovi Maps 3.0.
  • Orientation: Portrait and Landscape.
  • Games: Downloadable.
  • Java: Midp 2.1.
  • Browser: WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML RSS feeds.

Sabtu, 23 Oktober 2010

A Collectible Camera

In the early days of 35mm cameras, Zeiss was looked upon as the quality leader in lenses as well as in camera design.

When I started in wedding photography in 1960 the camera to have was the Rolleiflex. While extremely expensive, the Rolleiflex F model boasted a five element coated Zeiss Planar lens of 80mm. the sharpest lens in the world at the time. Using Panatonic X 120 film, I could enlarge the negatives to six feet wide without loss of sharpness or showing grain. The F model used 220 color negative film with 24 shots per roll. The loading was so fast that I once exchanged a finished roll with a new one between the time it took for the Maid of Honor be photographed coming down the aisle and in time to photograph the bride and her father entering the aisle.

One day in 1969 I saw a wide angle Rolleiflex in a camera store for $350. I should have bought it because now it would be worth $2000.

Zeiss also made excellent folding cameras. They were designed for the well-to-do masses and took excellent pictures. The epitome of folding Zeiss cameras was the Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta IV produced in the late fifties and early sixties. For a pocket able camera (side coat pocket), it used 120 film (6cm x 6cm), featured a match needle selenium meter, a Synchro Compur shutter with speeds up to 1/500 sec. The coated Zeiss Tessar 4.5 lens was extremely sharp to the corners Costing the equivalent of $250, it now is worth about $600.

The first single lens camera to use a between-the-lens shutter, (the highest performing configuration), was the Zeiss Contaflex Super. This luxury camera used a coated Zeiss Tessar four element lens of 50mm length, a match needle sensitive selenium meter (needs no battery), and a Synchro Compur shutter which synchronized with flashbulbs as well as electronic flash. It was the first to use the program system of shutter speed and f stops, allowing the photographer to change the aperture or speed without changing the light exposure.. Accessory lenses of a wide angle (35mm) and a short tele (105mm) were available. As a collectible it is worth about $100 in good condition.

Jumat, 22 Oktober 2010

What Accessories Do I Need For My Nikon Cameras?

Honestly, I don't think it matters what cameras you are buying — whether you're looking at Nikon cameras or Canon SLR cameras, you still are going to need the same types of accessories when you shop digital cameras online. These accessories are manufactured to make your life that much easier when taking photographs, and this is true for amateurs and professionals alike. I think most people can take a good picture, but if you want to take a great picture, there are things out there that can help you do so!

Let's begin with the camera itself. This is going to depend on what you can handle and what you want to use the camera for. If you are a professional photographer, for example, you need something like a large format camera. On the other hand, if you are just starting out, you should be satisfied with a simpler SLR like the Canon SLR cameras or Nikon cameras. Not only are these great cameras to use and buy, but they have super names behind them as well. Nikon and Canon are actually the top two bestselling camera brands in the world. Price also might be a factor as well. Usually with a compact, you can expect to pay between $50 and $100, or more. For an SLR, you could spend anything from $150 to $1,000 depending on the features.

After you get the camera you want, now it's time to look at accessories. I would really suggest getting yourself a camera bag or camera case — this is especially good if you plan on taking your camera with you everywhere you go and you want to keep it safe. Even though your camera will come with a lens cover, it's still a good idea to store your camera when not in use, as there are other parts of the camera that can get ruined from dust.

Next, you should take a look at tripods. These are great if you plan on doing a lot of still photography and you don't want the picture to come out blurry. When a photo is taken and even a small amount of movement comes from your body, the picture is always going to come out blurry. It doesn't matter if you have the noise reducer on or off or the macro on or off. The camera can only do so much for you! Tripods are three legged stands that you place your camera on and lock into place. Then, the camera is safely secure and you can take photos without causing blurriness. There are also newer tripods with two legs and four legs as well, and they come in various brands, colors, designs and types of materials. A few brands you should be looking at are Slik, Gitzo, and Manfrotto.

Next in line, you need to figure out if the lens that came with your Nikon cameras or Canon SLR cameras is the only lens you're going to need. Again, I think this depends on the user, not the camera itself. If you plan on taking a lot of photos and you want to do things like wide-lens, panoramic and macro shots, your camera might have these options, but buying a lens dedicated to these types of photos is key. Of course, compacts won't have interchangeable lenses. Only medium format SLR and large format cameras do.

Last, if you plan on printing these photos out, you will need a photo printer. A lot of the good and popular name brands out there like HP and Sony have printers that are specifically designed for printing photos, so they are another option to consider when you shop digital cameras.

Kamis, 21 Oktober 2010

Camera Buying Tips - Digital Versus Analog


Image : http://www.flickr.com


In my experience as a photographer I came across countless of cameras, both digital and analog. This article is meant to explain the differences between the two technologies and serve as a camera buying guide for the undecided shopper.

Digital and old 35mm film cameras look and are operated almost the same: you look through the viewfinder, frame your shot and push the shutter button. However, the great difference between them lies in the way they capture and process the image. While the 35mm predecessors used the film to capture the image, their digital successors use a charge-couple device (CCD) known as the image sensor. This silicon chip, not larger than a letter key on the keyboard you have in front of your now, contains several grids of photosensitive diodes called pixels and each one of these will store exactly the information contained in one pixel from the picture that will be rendered so nicely on your desktop.

So, when the shutter opens to take the shot, each pixel will memorize the intensity of the light that fell on it. Milliseconds later, after the shutter closes, this value is converted to a digital number, and the sequence of the several millions of numbers representing the pixels in the picture is compressed, then stored in the memory of the camera (be that internal or the memory card). When switching the camera in playback mode, this sequence is decompressed, and every single digital value is translated into a pixel on the LCD screen. So, in fractions of a second a lot of calculations are made, and this happens with every photo we take or replay.

There are two separate devices / media involved in the process: the image sensor, that captures and digitizes the image, and the storage device, similar in functionalities with the hard disk drive on your computer. With traditional 35mm cameras, the film is used both to record and store the image.

The technology behind digital cameras allows users to view the images on the built-in LCD screen (or TV set, if the camera has such an extension). Also, once captured, digital photos are already in a format we are all familiar with: you can insert them in Word documents, send them to your friends over your favorite instant messaging client, upload on Facebook, burn on DVD's or simply store them on your hard drive for later usage. This is not the case with the old 35mm-ers, where you had to drive downtown to have the pictures developed, then use a scanner to get a digital version.

To wrap it up, if you are to choose between buying a digital camera and an old film one, there are lots of reasons why you should go for the latest technology.

Micromax Smart phone modu T

Micromax modu T is the lightest smart phone launched by Micromax in collabration with Isrel based modu limited.The 3.5G modu T was awarded the Guinness World Record for being the lightest touch phone in the world and priced at low price of 12000Rs.  It will be available to the consumers from Oct 22nd.

This 2.2 inch touch screen phone comes pre bundled with 2GB memory card. The phone comes with two "fy" devices, jackets, which when connected, add new features to the phone. The "camerafy" jacket converts the phone into a camera with a 5 megapixel resolution and LED flash. Alternatively, you can also "sportfy" your modu T phone and turn it into your exercise companion.

modu is a modular phone, which operates on Qualcomm's Brew operating system, offers a variety of applications such as YouTube, Google Search, Twitter, Facebook Flickr, TuneWiki, eBuddy and Snaptu.

Rabu, 20 Oktober 2010

How Do I Know Which Digital Camera to Buy?


Image : http://www.flickr.com


This is a major question that many photographers may ask. The decision however is based on how much time you are willing to put into reviewing the cameras and what they offer, what you intend to do with the camera, and considering the options as they come your way.

Questions to Consider:

What are my intentions?

Am I creating Web Pages?

Am I ultimately attempting to go pro?

What type of camera would suit me best?

Do I need high-resolution or low-resolution?

What do the pixels matter?

Do I want film or digital?

What are you intentions? If you merely want a camera to perform a few tasks here and there, such as taking your own family photos, you might try out the line of SLR low-end models or else the standard compacts.

If you are off to the journey of pro photography, you will need an interchangeable camera, to produce the types of pictures desired, especially if you are going for sport photography. If you are venturing to snap wildlife shots, or create, documentary pictures then you will need to consider the rangefinders or the wide-angled cameras. As for documentaries, you may want to toss in a high-quality camcorder, since you could possibly go on air with your doc. Hey, a moment of wishful thinking, but it could happen. One thing you want to keep in mind is that at what time you consider a camera for high-quality pictures, you want to stay in the range of medium formatting cameras since many will deliver quality. You will need a large frame camera if you are considering films, yet other cameras have proven to work wonders.

If you are creating web pages, a low-resolution camera will do just fine. The resolution for web page images should remain at 72dpi (dots per inch). If you use a higher resolution it will only slow the process of page downloads.

Now is the question, are you going pro or are you flying so low? If you are going pro, you may want to research the line of AF SLR cameras in 35mm logic. On the other hand, if you are thinking so low, you can view the Direct Vision lines, Digital and Film Compact, and the likes.

What type of camera would suit you best depends on you. You will need to consider your budget, compatibilities of your systems, film, or digital, and the like.

Do you need high or low resolution depends on you again. At least to a degree, the decision is yours. If you are creating web pages then a standard camera with low-resolution is your best bet. Most times, you can find cheaper cameras for website creation.

The pixels do matter. Since if you are going to work as pro off the web then you will need the highest pixel camera to achieve high quality photos. On the other hand, if you are designing web pages you will need the lowest pixels, say at around 72dpi for the best results.

Well do you want film or digital? Digital works off a scanner, printer, and computer, or even from a card or camera. While some of the film, cameras require that you purchase a roll of film to snap shots. If you want to keep investing in film that may be outdated someday as digital takes over, then go for the film. On the other hand, go digital and produce your own photos on a software program and computer. The pictures may come out more to your likings.

Micromax X505 psych review

This Micromax X505 psych or just X505 is a fully touch screen mobile phone release by Micromax recently. It has many features and many more added applications.  This phone is released with collaboration with MTV music channel.  This Micromax mobile phone is a quad band  GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz network.

This phone main feature are 2 MP camera, stereo  FM radio,  Opera mini, Nimbuzz, Snaptu with Java as operating system.  It has good battery backup as well as good expandable memory option. The memory can be expanded upto 8GB. As this is a Java enabled phone you download free mobile games and applications.

Specifications of Micromax X505:

Form Factor: 

Bar Style

Band: 
GSM/EGPRS/ 900/1800/1900

Dimensions:
104.8mm*56mm*12.9mm

Display: 
7.1cms TFT QVGA(240*320)

Full Touch Screen
Camera: 
2.0 MP

Music:
Multi Format Music Player

3.5mm Jack: 
Yes

Opera Mini:
Yes, integrated

Nimbuzz: 
Yes

Snaptu: 
Yes

Stereo FM Radio :
Yes

Video Player: 
Yes(AVI/3GP/MP4)

Video Recorder :
Yes

Messaging: 
Yes, SMS /MMS/EMS

Games: 
Yes. You can download more games. For free mobile games download click here 

Bluetooth(A2DP): 
Yes

Email: 
Yes

JAVA: 
Yes

EGPRS/WAP/MMS: 
Yes

Phonebook Memory: 
2000 (per SIM)

Expandable Memory: 
MIcroSD (upto 8GB)

Battery Type: 
Li-ion 900mAh

Talk Time: 
Up to 3 hours*

Standby Time: 
Up to 5 days *

Selasa, 19 Oktober 2010

How Digital Cameras Work

The basic working of the Digital camera and Film camera is one and the same. Both use the shutter, lens and aperture. The Lens captures the light and then it passes it into the aperture, which controls the light and the shutter opens and closes to control the duration of light, which enters.

The major difference is the technology of capturing the image. Digital camera does not use film to store the image. In digital camera an image sensor is used to capture the image. It is a computer silicon chip. On the surface of this chip there are millions of pixels, which are photosensitive diodes.

The shutter button of the digital camera activates a metering cell, which manages the shutter speed and aperture according to the amount of light coming through the lens. When a person clicks on the camera shutter each and every pixel of the image sensor stores the intensity of the light, which falls on it by gathering an electrical charge. When strong light hits a pixel, it generates high charge and weak light generates low charge.

After the shutter closes charges from every pixel is converted into digital numbers. This series of numbers creates an image on a computer screen.

Senin, 18 Oktober 2010

Underwater Camera Reviews

Underwater cameras are designed to capture the beautiful life that exists beneath the oceans. They are designed for still and video photography of marine life. Generally, they are housed in a device that protects them from the water and ocean pressure. They are available in different designs and at varying prices and they can be rented.

One of the best-known brands of underwater cameras is Canon. It has proved efficient in all kinds of underwater activities. Canon underwater cameras come in a lot of designs that offer different features. Each of the cameras has certain advantages and special features. They are expensive and the gadgets are of finest quality.

Most of the underwater cameras in the market are point and shoot digital cameras. They provide resolutions between 2 and 4 mega pixels. These cameras are the digital version of a typical 35mm camera. A point and shoot digital camera is designed to take snapshots.

A semi- professional digital camera is designed to form a more sophisticated version of a point and shoot digital camera. It provides resolutions between 5 and 6 mega pixels. It also offers the user additional settings and better control over the camera. The image quality of these cameras is very good and they produce clear prints of 8 x 10. The conventional digital and film cameras have waterproof housings. On placing the camera inside the housing, the camera becomes an underwater camera.

There are many varieties of underwater cameras available in the market. They help to add to the beautiful memories of an underwater experience. People may purchase them without surveying the market. In order to buy an ideal camera, the person needs to know the basic techniques. There are cheap underwater cameras that are simple and disposable. On an average they take about twenty to thirty pictures.

Minggu, 17 Oktober 2010

Scanning Negatives and Slides

If you have a drawer full of negatives or slides, don't throw them away! You can purchase a negative film scanner and create new photos. If you have old photos that are damaged and/or ruined instead of spending a lot of money to retouch an old photo, invest in a scanner that will allow you to recreate your photos very easily. These machines are very easy to use and are worth the investment. You will not only be able to create photos from any negative and slides you currently have but you will also be able to retouch these prints using the design software of your choice. There are many benefits to owning a negative scanner and learning how to use one correctly will ensure that you get the most of your machine.

Negatives and slides can be scanned to create to photos and prints of your liking. These photos and prints can be altered or rearranged for use in other programs. Scanners used for negatives and slides are pretty simple to operate. There are different types of scanning methods per the type of scanner used. For the best results it is necessary that the negatives and slides are in good condition prior to the scanning process. It is recommended that you take the time to clean your slides and negatives thoroughly with a clean cloth and make sure that they are free from any smudges and fingerprints before scanning. Debris and smudges on the negatives and slides can distort the image during the scanning process. Make sure that your items are properly cleaned and prepped for scanning.

You scan your slides and negatives with a flatbed scanner that has the capability of reading transparent objects or a special negative scanner. The special negative scanners are very popular amongst those that own 35mm cameras. These scanners are made with slots or a tray that allow you to place the negatives in the scanner and easily scan more than one set of negatives or slides with just a push of a button. Most of the scanners are fairly simple to operate. The fact that many of them can scan and produce images of an entire row of negatives at one time is very convenient and one of the reasons why these machines are good to own.

Scanners for negatives and slides provide an individual with so much control over the picture making process. The investment of a couple of hundreds of dollars allows you to create pictures anytime you want and you don't have to pay expensive costs from a photo processing center. Instead of spending lots of money having your old photos transferred into digital images you can do it yourself. The process is very easy and not at all time consuming. If you want edit your photos this can also be achieved by scanning them into a multimedia software package that will allow you to amend your pictures like you want to.

The process of making your negatives and slides into high quality prints is easy with a negative film and slide scanner.




Please visit scanner for negative film or scanner and printer for more information.

Sabtu, 16 Oktober 2010

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-L1: Their 1st Ever Digital SLR Camera with Interchangeable Lenses


Image : http://www.flickr.com


Panasonic has announced the launch date for the DMC-L1, its first digital single-lens reflex (SLR) camera with interchangeable lens. From 22nd July 2006 this camera will be available in Japan and already looks set to be a firm favourite.

Leica D Lens provides a superior optical performance and matches perfectly with the digital SLR camera body

The DMC-L1 has a new LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT 14-50mm/F2.8-3.5 lens equipped with an aperture ring, focus ring and zoom ring, for easy, direct aperture setting. The focal length range is equivalent to 28mm (wide) to 100mm (medium telescopic) on a 35mm film and provides exceptional results.

The lens also provides outstanding macro shooting due to a 29cm minimum shooting distance (0.32x maximum magnification, 35mm equivalent) across the entire zoom range.

Superb image rendering with MEGA O.I.S

The DMC-L1 comes with Panasonic's Optical Image Stabiliser feature which minimises jitter from shaky hands. Thanks to the gyrosensors and Venus Engine Plus LSI built into the lens, the system detects camera movement at a rate of 4,000 times per second

O.I.S features two further corrective modes. Mode one constantly and continuously compensates for movements, ensuring that the image in the LCD and viewfinder is always clear. Mode two only stabilises the image the instant the shutter button is pressed. Both modes work with the DMC-L1, providing consumers with outstanding benefits. Mode one will be available for Olympus users if they are using the new Leica D lens.

Refined design makes the camera a pleasure to hold and use

This new camera features a shutter speed dial on top of the camera body, enhancing the sense of camera control. Combined with a classic design this ensure the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 is distinct in both design and operation. The body periphery and grip are covered with textured, simulated leather ensuring a secure and comfortable hold.

Complies with Four Thirds(TM)* Standard

The DMC-L1 incorporates a live MOS sensor that conforms to the Four Thirds standard and offers 7.5 megapixels. It can be used with lenses made by a variety of manufacturers, giving users a host of equipment options. Noise is minimised by a special processing technology the runs on voltage as low as 5V.

*Four Thirds? is a registered trademark.

The power of the Venus Engine III LSI

The Venus Engine III is a newly developed image processing LSI which maximises the performance of the Live MOS sensor. Offering high resolution, superior colour reproduction and detailed gradation, the Venus Engine III also reduces noise to the level expected from a digital SLR, thus achieving stunning picture quality. The Venus Engine III also improves camera responsiveness supporting high-performance consecutive shooting and a short shutter interval. The Venus Engine III requires only 80% as much power as its predecessor and when combined with the Live MOS sensor's low energy consumption results in longer battery life.

Full-time Live View for a whole new style of Digital SLR shooting

The heart of a digital SLR is the mirror box unit, which integrates a quick-return mirror, viewfinder, and AE sensor. This, combined with the full-time image output function of the Live MOS sensor, achieves a full-time Live View function that displays the image on the LCD directly from the sensor signal. This incredibly useful function can be selected in both Auto Focus and Manual Focus modes. In Manual Focus, photographers can enlarge an image within the frame and then select the area focusing, making it easier to check the focusing condition on the large 2.5inch, high resolution, 207,000 pixel LCD. It is also possible to check the depth of field by pressing the Aperture button.

Shake off dust with the Supersonic Wave Filter system

A big problem with digital SLRs with interchangeable lenses is the possibility of dust getting inside the camera during the lens changes and contaminating the image sensor. If this happens, professional cleaning is often required. The DMC-L1 manages this problem by incorporating a Supersonic Wave Filter dust reduction, which uses supersonic vibration to shake off dust that might otherwise affect the image.

A Digital SLR offering home networking capabilities

As with all Panasonic Lumix cameras, the DMC-L1 is uses SD memory and is also compatible with mass-storage SD standard based on FAT32. This includes the upcoming super-high-capacity SD Memory Cards allowing more than 2GB (SDHC).

Jumat, 15 Oktober 2010

The Difference Between Digital Camera And Film Camera

Basically a digital camera is a device use to capture pictures without the use of film. Unlike the conventional camera, it does not rely on mechanical and chemical processes. Since the images captured are in electronic form, this is a language recognized by computers. Although the image looks exactly the same as that of a normal photograph, they are stored as pixels.

Many similarities exist between the two types of camera because lenses are still required to capture light just the same as a film version. The only difference between a digital camera and film cameras is how they capture this light inside the camera itself. A charge couple device is the light capturing device in the quality models that is used to convert light into electrical signals and as far as the user is concerned, an image is saved just like an ordinary device. Less expensive cameras us a complementary metal oxide semi-conductor or CMS device which does the same work of capturing an image and although some believe it could replace the CCD, this is not likely.

The CMOS device is this reason that many models have come down in price so much as they are easier and cheaper to produce than their CCD cousins. A digital camera works where millions of tiny solar cells, each of which forms a part of the whole image; both CCD and CMOS do this task using different methods. If you find yourself in the market for one of these marvelous cameras then some useful information is detailed in this article. Look for models with over 6 megapixels and you won't go far wrong as they will provide decent images; they can also provide prints that are larger without any degradation.

Many people rave about a digital cameras zoom power but the image is being artificially magnified so always try for an optical zoom even if it is one with only a low magnifying power; portrait shots that require 'framing' are so much easier with a an zoom facility. Today's nickel metal hydride rechargeable batteries are very powerful and last for around a 1,000 charges so always use these if you want to save money. most models come equipped with some sophisticated software that can create interesting shots; functions like those listed here for instance:

*Macro (close up shots)
*Continuous shooting
*Self timer

You will also need something to store the captured images on especially with the high megapixel models available today. Although larger storage cards have plummeted in price, a 1GB card should be enough for most peoples needs; some cameras won't accept very high capacity cards anyway. Unless you intend to use your camera for serious photography there isn't any need for a bulky very high specification version.

There is no longer any need (even for keen amateur photographers) to carry around large, heavy models if you don't have to. These are just the basic things you have to look for in a camera when you buy one. Digital cameras have very quickly become the way to take photos and have reinvented photography for those who had no real interest before there introduction.

Kamis, 14 Oktober 2010

Olympus E510 SLR - The best of the bunch


Image : http://www.flickr.com


I bought an Olympus SLR camera some time ago, the Evolt E510 model to be more exact. My advice for those that are buying a SLR camera for the first time would be to be careful how they choose it. If the auto mode is the only thing that you'll be using, then you should stick with the cheaper versions. The E510 for example is not made to be great in this area, and a very good point and shoot might be better. For example, if you choose to use auto mode with a SLR, the photo will be bad if the sun is behind you. With a DSLR you need to use either spot metering or the P mode. What I like about this camera:

1. I can take shots that are sharp at 1/30 while the focal length is set at 300mm in 35mm equivalent.

2. The ISO is clean and high. The noise reduction is very small when the ISO is up to 800. If you're using ISO 1600, the results will be even better.

3. The quality of the photos is good , with good sharpness and color, even if the noise filter is turned off. There are cameras out there with better dynamic range, but it shouldn't be a problem if you use Lightroom and RAW files.

4. SSWF. While other brands have problems in this department, the dust buster works well. Even though I change lenses quite a bit, I didn't see any dust.

5. The weight, size and ergonomics. The lenses that come with the camera will cover the 28-300mm range, something that doesn't happen with any other camera.

What I don't like about it:

1. The viewfinder is a bit on the small side, but at least it's bright compared with other models from Olympus. Using the Live View will help you a bit. If you have good eyes, that's not a problem.

2. Using lenses with manual focus for confirmation of the focus. It's something that I wished it had, since other cameras from Pentax and Panasonic have it. Since it should be fixable through the software, they could probably do that through firmware.

The problems that I'm not so bad with him, and the second can be easily resolved. If you have some 'experience, then you can take great photos with. If you look at it again, then there could be a challenge at first. Until they are disturbed by the fact that he did in China, this is to have a very good camera.

Rabu, 13 Oktober 2010

Choosing the Film Scanner That Best Suits Your Film Negative Scanning Needs


Image : http://www.flickr.com


Using a film negative scanner has several advantages over a traditional flatbed scanner and is a sound investment for anyone who does even a small amount of this kind of work. Before upgrading to a film scanner, it helps to first understand the different kinds of scanners available.

For those who only scan from 35mm film strips, a low-end film scanner is adequate. These are cheaper in price and generally smaller than their more robust counterparts. Medium and high-end scanners are more expensive, however, it's necessary to purchase one of these models if the type of film scanning you do involves the use of either 120 film or individual slides. Some very high-end scanners even interchangeable film loaders that allow for the use of different kinds of slides. Verify that the model you're purchasing is clearly marked as processing these types of film or you may be left with a scanner that doesn't fully accommodate your needs. If you're concerned about your ability to choose the correct scanner, websites can serve as a great source of information.

Once you decide on the sophistication level of the film scanner you'd like to purchase, you need to understand how to best equip your scanner to resolve any issues you have with the film negatives you're working with. If your negatives have any level of damage, particularly dust, it's important you understand photo restoration techniques that can adequately resolve these issues. Dust is a challenging issue for those who use a film negative scanner as the resolution is much higher than that of a regular flatbed scanner. The advantages of the film negative scanner over the flatbed are numerous, however, the same features that make them a more attractive option are the same ones that can hinder the process.

When attempting to restore negatives damaged by dust, be sure to research fully the options available. The simplest technique involves "despeckling", which is sometimes offered in the software package that comes with the film negative scanner. For simple dust particle issues, this should resolve the issue. However, for anything more complex, the user may need to do an infrared cleaning. This shouldn't be done without first consulting a professional or doing careful research on this restoration technique.

Senin, 11 Oktober 2010

Canon PowerShot SD1400IS Review


Image : http://www.flickr.com


The natural and attractive pictures are supported with Purecolor II screen that reflects the livelier pictures. This Purecolor II also gives other advantages for you such as more enhanced visibility and features a special glass layer for better look under the bright sunlight.

This digital camera is likely designed both for beginners and professionals. Beginners will find it easy in operating the camera because it has a smart automatic setting. Automatic setting is able to access the correct scene. It also has the ability to perform intelligent exposure and motion detection technology so you can focus totally on composure. However, if you are a professional photographer and take a serious touch in photography, this camera allows you to customize the features such as shutter speed, white balance, exposure compensation, and ISO sensitivity.

Furthermore, Powershot SD1400IS is equipped with a genuine Canon 35mm equivalent lens. An image stabilizer is also another valuable part included. When you are about to shot a far away object, the camera supports 4x optical zoom to help you get clearer images. The wide aperture is also offering you the full range cover of the shots. The unique capability of Smart Shutter technology is presented through smiles, winks, and blinks detector. Also, the more enhanced face recognition technology is able to identify more than thirty five faces at one time shot.

Moreover, Powershot SD1400IS supported a 14.1 megapixels sensor. The Canon DIGIC system enables you to have a fast focus that will give a quick response from the shutter to shoot a moving object. With these specifications, Powershot SD1400IS can produce the clear picture up to 4320x3240 millimeters in size. Speaking of the camera's flash, it has the ability to adjust and sense the amount of light needed. When you take pictures at the dark room or at night, the flash will reduce glare and unnatural colors.

Powershot SD1400IS also presents the video recording utility. This camera has a large video capacity so you can make your own high quality HD video clips with more than an hour in length. The recording rate is 30 frames per second. To transfer the video to external monitor, an HDMI connection is provided. In addition, Canon Powershot SD1400IS is seriously designed as a high quality product. The high quality it presents will suit those who like traveling. Moreover, you will receive a waterproof case for protection in the package. This waterproof case is able to be used in 40 meter of underwater depth.

Minggu, 10 Oktober 2010

A Simplified Guide To Quickly And Easily Understanding Your Digital Camera

A digital camera can appear complicated, but there are certain basic points that can be quickly learned and will help you become a better photographer. It is worth it to spend some time thinking about your camera's pixel count, white balance, sensor, sensitivity, optical zoom, digital zoom, etc. These features will improve your pictures and increase the enjoyment you get from your digital camera.

A digital camera's basic unit of measurement is its number of pixels. The clarity and resolution of your pictures improve with the number of pixels per square inch your camera has. Each pixel contains within it three color channels (red, green and blue) and carries a numerical value of between 0 and 255.

Digital camera manufacturers use the pixel count as one way to describe their product. The pixel count of low-end digital cameras are usually around 1 million, a number that seems large, but is strictly for beginners! Better digital cameras and those used by professionals range in the 14 million to 22 million pixels-per-image.

Pixel number also determines the quality of your pictures at a given size. For example, a 3MP camera can give you beautiful 4"x6" prints, but would not give you the same quality at 5"x7" or larger. A 4 or 5 MP digital camera is necessary for excellent quality bigger prints.

You should also be familiar with your digital camera's digital sensor. The sensor element in most digital cameras is small, about the size of a fingernail, which is much smaller than a 35mm camera's negative. Again, high-end cameras have the larger sensors, which produce better quality large prints.

Another helpful feature of your digital camera is the white balance. This is adjusted to suit the light source and keeps your colors true, ensuring that whites are pure and not yellow or blue looking. Generally, your digital camera adjusts automatically, but for a really beautiful shot, you can manually adjust to get results exactly as you want them.

A digital camera's sensitivity setting is similar to ISO ratings on film. Generally, the sensitivity settings of digital cameras compare to ISO100 and ISO 200. Some have a setting for ISO 400. A few digital cameras with large sensors (and large price tags) have a setting for ISO 3200 or ISO 6400.

Another very important feature to be familiar with is optical versus digital zoom. Both are important, but for different reasons. Digital zoom physically crops the image to a smaller size; this cropped image expands to fill the frame. This cool feature allows you to cut out ugly background or focus on a particular object in the frame that might not be centered. Depending on the amount you "zoomed" out, there may a significant loss of quality in your pictures. The optical zoom lens actually changes the magnification and focal length, drawing subjects in and out depending on your desire.

Picture image storage can also be an issue and it's important to familiarize yourself with the manner in which data is stored. Each pixel generates three bytes of data. A photographer using a modest 3MP will need an amazing nine million bites to store each picture! Compressing an image using a format called JPEG significantly reduces the file size, which causes a corresponding loss of quality. For some purposes, this loss is not important, but as a rule, it is not preferable. Digital camera manufacturers have come up with different storage format designed to minimize this data loss. The format is not uniform; for example, Nikon calls its process NEF, while Canon calls its format RAW.

Sabtu, 09 Oktober 2010

Panasonic Digital Cameras - The History Behind Their Cameras

Panasonic is a world-renowned consumer electronics company today. Its digital cameras have recently entered the market. In this article, we will view the story of Panasonic and some of the latest cameras which have been launched by the company in the market.

The inception of Panasonic took place in the year 1918 on a small work table in the house of Konosuke Matsushita. At that time, Matsushita invented the two-socket light fixture. This product became a success and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. was established.

Panasonic is the largest manufacturer of consumer electronics in the world today. The firm produces a wide array of products which cater to several needs of consumers. Its policy of achieving hundred percent customer satisfaction and providing optimal quality goods, has led Panasonic from strength to strength. In fact, the name Panasonic is synonymous with innovation, quality, performance and ease of use.

As far as digi cameras are concerned, Panasonic has got several types of digi cameras which can cater to various audiences depending on their budget and needs. In fact, Panasonic has also entered into an alliance with German camera maker, Leica to develop still digital cameras. The reason for this alliance is the fact that Panasonic is a small player in the digital market today. This alliance will help both Leica and Panasonic to take over an estimated ten percent of the digital camera market share.

Panasonic's latest line of digi cameras consists of mainly three series. One of these is the Lumix digital camera series. The Lumix camera makes use of lenses provided by Leica. This helps in getting images which are extremely clear and bright. The Lumix is a highly advanced camera and also comes with manual control options. Its shutter interval is also less than 0.04 seconds, hence allowing the photographer to take shots quickly.

Another series of digital cameras are cheaper and smaller, known as the D-Snap digital camera series. These cameras are trendy and small. They are super-slim and come in different colors. These cameras can also record videos and play music. The D-Snap digital camera is aimed at teenagers and youngsters who are looking for something smart and trendy and which also fit into their budget.

Slowly and steadily, Panasonic is establishing a name for itself in the digi camera world. This company, which has always believed in putting the customer's needs first, is sure to make a mark in this arena as well.




Kevin Rockwell worked as a network TV cameraman for 20 years shooting news and sports. Now a devoted fan of digital photography and video he works to gather information, tips and news for camera users. Oh and he loves to shoot pictures of his kids playing sports. Great Digital Cameras

Jumat, 08 Oktober 2010

Digital Cameras for Bird Watching


Image : http://www.flickr.com


Birds are notoriously difficult to great photos of. For avid bird watchers, are digital birding cameras the way to go?

Some photographers think so. Birds make difficult subjects because they are often spotted from quite a distance. In order to get a good quality shot, a lens capable of zooming must be used. However, it can be difficult to get a very close shot that looks crisp and clear when birds are often in almost constant motion. Digital birding cameras must not only be compact, lightweight, and able to withstand the elements but they must be able to zoom in without distortion and have a very quick shutter rate to capture quality photographs.

While a "point and shoot" camera will work well for capturing your children and household activities, it won't work for birding. If you are serious about capturing photographs of the birds you see, you will want to invest in one or more digital birding cameras that meet specific criteria. First, it is best to find a camera which is built to accept several different lenses. This will allow you to select the best lens for the type of photograph and subject you are photographing. Cameras should be well-built and as sturdy as possible. Digital cameras tend to be less durable than their film counterparts, but there are quality digital birding cameras which will hold up in outdoor conditions. While you want to make sure your camera is tough, size is also a consideration. The best digital birding camera is one that combines durability and compactness. In fact, many quality cameras are small enough to fit in the pocket of your pants or vest.

Make sure the digital birding camera you select has the ability to be set up to the specifications you need. You should be able to manually adjust the aperture. The aperture is basically where the lens opens. The diameter of the aperture is called the f-stop. You can become more familiar with these settings as you become more proficient with your camera, but you need to make sure that your camera allows you to set these yourself, rather than only having an "auto" setting. Adjusting these will allow the speed of your shutter to increase, which will let you take pictures much more quickly. You want the time that elapses from when you press the button to take the picture to when the camera actually takes it to be as small as possible. This will let you capture those birds who are in motion.

There are a few other things to look for when selecting a digital birding camera. Many cameras come with the ability to take rapid fire shots. You simply press the button once, and the camera will take multiple shots, one after the other. With a little practice, you can capture beautiful motion studies this way. Being able to adjust light settings is also crucial as you will not always be working in direct sunlight.

Although it may seem like common sense, perhaps the most important advice given to someone new to digital birding cameras is to be prepared. When going out into the field, bring plenty of spare batteries and memory cards. When you return home with your photographs, make sure you do a backup onto a disk or portable hard drive. Backing up your photographs is something that should be done each time you retrieve the photos from your camera so that you do not lose your shots if your computer should crash.

Kamis, 07 Oktober 2010

Should I buy the new Nikon D800 DSLR?

Nikon D800 Nikon is set to launch the D800 as the successor to the full-frame D700 DSLR (pictured) early next year, if online details of a D800 handbook are to be believed.


The 320-page D800 handbook will be published on 9 February 2011, according to an entry which appears to have been posted on an Amazon page. Written by Jean-Baptiste Guges the book is entitled Obtenez le maximum du Nikon D800, which loosely translates as 'getting the most from the D800'.


Details of the 17x21cm book, published separately, suggest that the D800 will carry a 24-million-pixel sensor (double that of the two-year-old D700) and will cost between Euros 2,000 and Euros 2,500.

Any such online postings should be treated with caution. It remains unclear as to why the upcoming launch of a handbook would appear more than three months before the suggested launch date of the camera. A Nikon UK spokeswoman told Amateur Photographer: 'Unfortunately we can't comment on potential future product.'

It appears that the relevant website links were taken down within minutes of Amateur Photographer exposing them.

Should you buy a D800 from Nikon? We just can say – yet!

Digital Photography Vs Film Photography - What's the Difference?

There was a time when film photography dominated the market. As digital photography has advanced film is starting to fade into the background. Film isn't completely extinct by any means. There are still a few professional photographers that use film. Let's look at the difference between the two.

The main difference between film and digital photography is the way the image is captured. In digital photography light is reflected onto a sensor. The sensor then converts the that image into digital information. Once the image is captured it can easily be viewed on the camera's LCD screen.

When you're using film cameras for photography the image is captured on film. Once the entire roll of film is used it must be processed in chemicals to see the image. Once the film is processed the image can be transferred to light sensitive photographic paper and viewed. When you're using a film camera you can't see the image right away.

The ISO setting on a camera helps control the sensitivity the camera has to light. When you're using a digital camera you can change the ISO setting in between every shot. You can preview your picture on the LCD and if you don't like the way it turned out you can change your ISO setting and take the picture again. You can do this again and again until you get it right.

When you use a film camera the ISO is determined by the speed of the film you're using. Film comes in speeds like 100, 400, and 800. These numbers show how sensitive the film is to light. The higher the ISO number the more sensitive the film. When you put a roll of film in your camera you must take pictures with the camera at that same ISO setting until the film runs out. You can't change ISO settings between pictures.

When you use a digital camera you can download your pictures onto your computer to print them or simply plug your camera directly into your printer and print them from there. The entire process can be done by anyone at home. If you don't want prints of your pictures that's fine too. You can email photos to family and friends. There are also plenty of website you can use for sharing your photos.

When you use a film camera pictures have to be developed in a darkroom. You need to take your film to a store that processes film. You can't do it at home unless you have a darkroom full of expensive equipment for processing pictures. It could take anywhere from one hour to a few days before you see your pictures depending on where you take them to get developed.

It was once thought that film photography was of much higher quality than digital photography, but digital cameras are advancing so quickly that is no longer the case. You can get lovely, high quality images from a high-end digital SLR camera. A good quality digital camera does cost much more money than film cameras though.

Rabu, 06 Oktober 2010

Nokia C2(C2-00) Dual Sim Phone Review

This Nokia C2 or Nokia C2-00 is another dual SIM phone released by Nokia. Nokia C2 comes with bluetooth, Expandable memory (Micro SD), FM Radio, MP3 player,3.5 mm audio connector. The standard sales of package of  C2_00 comes with Nokia WH-102 wire headset. This Nokia phone is based on series 40 OS. Let us have a Nokia C2-00 review on its specifications,features. The price of the Nokia C2_00 is discussed in later part of the post. Below are the some of the images of Nokia C2.

Nokia C2

Nokia C2 (C2-00) Features: 
  • Keep one SIM card inside the phone.
  • Swap multiple cards using the second hot swap-enabled SIM slot.
  • Use the shortcut keys to swap quickly and smoothly between active SIMs.
  • Manage the cost of your calls by choosing the right SIM card for you.
  • Take the web with you - connect to the internet through GPRS.
  • Browse, search, shop and share online with the mobile web browser.
  • Get the information that matters to you from Nokia's Ovi Life Tools.
  •  Keep the conversation going using the Ovi Chat IM application.
  • Stay in touch with Ovi Mail – your free email account from Nokia.
  • Capture special moments with the built-in camera.
  • Share photos and videos via email, Bluetooth or microUSB cable.
  • Store more with support for up to 32 GB of memory on a microSD card.
  • Build your collection on a microSD card, expandable to up to 32 GB.
Specifications of Nokia C2(C2-00):
          Display:
                    Screen Size: 1.8"
                    Resolution: 128 x 160 pixels
                    Up to 65,000 colours.
          Memory:
  • microSD memory card slot, hot swappable, max. 32 GB
  • Internal memory: 64/16 ram/flash
Applications:
  • Email (SMTP, IMAP4, POP3), SMS, unified editor
  • Data: Calendar, Contacts, To-do, Notes, E-mail
 Music features:

  • Nokia music player
  • Music playback file formats: .mp3, .wma, .aac, eAAC, eAAC+
  • 3.5 mm stereo headphone plug
  • Nokia Music Store support
  • Ring tones: mp3, aac, WMA
 
Radio:
  • Stereo FM radio (87.5-108 MHz/76-90 MHz), RDS
  • Radio recording feature
 Standard Sales Package of Nokia C2:

  • Nokia C2-00
  • Nokia Battery BL-5C
  • Nokia Stereo Headset WH-102
  • Nokia Compact Charger AC-3 (AC-8C in selected countries)
  • User guide Price
Nokia C2 (c2-00) price in India: The price is not yet disclosed. However the price of C2 is expected to 2500Rs.

Nokia C1 Dual sim Phone Review

One of the biggest mobile phone manufacturer Nokia released its first Dual Sim phones. It was much expected earlier. However better late than never. The New Dual Sim phone released By Nokia are Nokia C1-00 and Nokia C2-00 series phones.  In this we will go through the specifications and review on Nokia C1-00.Nokia C1 is a GSM dual SIM phone from Nokia.

The main specialty of this Nokia C1-00 or Nokia C1 is that it has two SIM cards running at same time in one phone. However you cannot use both SIM simultaneously.By pressing a key one can switch between the two SIMs.

Full Specifications of Nokia C1:
  • Network: GSM
  • Dual Sim (GSM+GSM)
  • Band: GSM 900/1800 MHz
  • Display: 1.8″ inch TFT 65k Color Display
  • Symbian Series 30 Platform
  • FM Radio
  • Torch Light
  • 3.5mm Audio Connector
  • Polyphonic Ringtones
  • 500 PhoneBook Memory
  • Battery: Li-Ion 1020 (BL-5C)
  • Standby battery time of up to six weeks
  • Weight: 72.9 grams
Content of the sales Package of Nokia C1:
  • Nokia C1-00
  • Nokia Battery BL-5C
  • Nokia Compact Charger AC-3
  • Nokia Stereo Headset WH-102
  • Compact user guide
Nokia C1 price in India is 1700Rs.

Digital SLR Cameras - What's New For Military Photography


Image : http://www.flickr.com


DSLR cameras are highly valued by military photographers because of their resolution, sensitivity, versatility in the field, availability of a wide variety of objective lenses and because they allow an accurate preview of framing close to the moment of exposure. Many photographers also prefer dSLRs for their larger sensors compared to most compact digital cameras, now available with image sensors the same size as traditional film formats. These large sensors allow for similar field-of-view values to film formats, as well as their comparable sensitivity.

Over 80% of the dSLR cameras sold today are models from Nikon or Canon. As a result of their predominance, an abundance of lenses and accessories are available for these two camera bodies, resulting in an excellent selection and remarkable pricing. These accessories include: objective lenses that are fast, lightweight, optically stabilized, autofocus, as well as night vision modules and other camera accessories that increase overall camera performance. Note that while there are other camera manufacturers that provide excellent products worthy of consideration for certain applications, only Nikon and Canon cameras are mentioned in this article.

Pixels: How many? How Big?

The most noticeable change in the evolution of digital SLR cameras has been the steady increase in the number of pixels that makeup the image sensor. Commercial cameras have seen the number of pixels in the camera's sensor grow twenty times in as many years, from 1MP (1 million pixels) in 1990 to over 20MP in 2010.

Are cameras with larger sensor arrays better? Not necessarily. It depends on the application. There's more to understanding the impact of larger array sizes than merely the number of pixels. There are two other important considerations that are considered here: the physical sensor array size and the physical pixel size.

Impact of Physical Array Size

The first dSLR cameras used image sensors that were significantly smaller than traditional 35mm film formats (36mmx24mm). As shown in Figure 2, today dSLR image sensors are available in several distinct sizes. The smallest image sensors are about 2/3 the size of the 35mm format. They are available from both Canon (known as APS-C format) and Nikon (known as the DX format). Canon also provides cameras with a slightly larger size sensor, APS-H which is approximately 28x19mm. The largest sensors (known as "full-frame" sensors) are now available in cameras from both Canon and Nikon and have the same size sensor as the original film SLR cameras, 36mmx24mm.

For cameras having an image sensor that is smaller than full-frame, a digital crop factor has been defined (also known as the focal length multiplier or magnification factor) which can be calculated by taking the ratio of the diagonal dimension of 35mm film (43.3mm) to the diagonal dimension of the camera's image sensor size. As should be obvious by the term focal length multiplier, multiplying the lens focal length by the crop factor gives the effective focal length of a lens that would yield the same field-of-view if used on a full-frame camera. For the military photographer, the concept of having a crop factor >1 is normally regarded as a benefit. For long distance viewing, a narrower field of view is quite desirable and the crop factor provides photographers a "boost" in long-focal-length enabling them to fill the frame more easily when the subject is far away. For example, the focal length multiplier for a Nikon DX-format camera is 1.5. Using a 200mm lens on a Nikon DX-format camera will deliver the same field-ofview as a 300mm lens on a full-frame camera. However, while there are benefits for long distance viewing, the narrowing of the FOV is sometimes a disadvantage to photographers when a wide FOV is desired. For example, a 24mm lens on a Nikon DXformat camera will result in the same field-of-view as a 36mm lens, possibly too narrow for the application necessitating the use of expensive ultra-wide lenses to deliver the desired FOV (16mm in this example). Obviously, cameras having "full-frame" image sensors that are the same size as the 35mm film size, there is no crop factor (crop factor is 1).

Impact of Physical Pixel Size

In order to better understand the impact of the pixel size, compare the performance of two cameras that have the same physical array size but a different number of pixels (and consequently different pixel sizes). For this example, let's compare the Nikon D3X (fullframe image sensor with 24MP) and the Nikon D3S (full-frame image sensor with 12MP). For the D3X, the physical pixel dimension is about 6 micron whereas the D3S has pixels that are about 8.5 micron, about 40% larger. In this example, if the military photographer is performing surveillance at a distance, identification of objects will be related to the number of pixels on target. Hence, if the same lens is used on the two cameras being compared, the standoff distance for the higher resolution model will be further than for the lower resolution camera. Explained differently, in order for the lower resolution camera to deliver the same resolving capability as the higher resolution camera with a 300mm lens, the lower resolution camera would either need a 420mm lens or the photographer would need to move closer to the target by about 25% of the distance.

As far as resolving capability goes, smaller pixels are better and the advantage goes to the high resolution camera which can use lenses that are lightweight, easy to hold and essentially "faster". Unfortunately, more smaller pixels aren't always the best thing for a surveillance photographer! All things being equal, as pixels get smaller in size, they also become a lot less effective at gathering light resulting in lower sensitivity for the camera. Pixel sensitivity is related to the area of the pixel, so in our comparison, the pixels that are 40% larger will likely deliver twice the sensitivity (1.4x1.4~2). This means that to obtain the same light sensitivity will require an extra F-stop or double the exposure time. Alternatively, the camera's processor will have to gain-up the signal. (More on this in the next section). Nikon probably realized that for some photographers, more resolution isn't always better. Adding pixels means making them smaller and the smaller the pixel the worse the light sensitivity. Fortunately, noise reduction techniques have improved considerably in the past few years, making it possible to increase resolution while keeping sensitivity about constant. So what if you applied current noise reduction strategies to an existing sensor, without adding more pixels? That's certainly what Nikon intended with the design of the D3S, leaving the resolution at 12.1MP allowed them to increase the sensitivity for those customers that need it. For photographers who absolutely need more resolution, Nikon has the 24.5MP D3X.

Low Light Photography

For the military photographer, some of the most demanding situations occur at night when there is little ambient light, or scenes are at a distance. Today, dSLR cameras have unique capabilities and accessories are available that help the photographer make the most out of night-time imaging circumstances.

Aperture and Exposure Time

The primary factors that impact imaging in low-light are still fundamental to photography - lens aperture and exposure time. For night-time photography, since depth of field is not normally an important factor, it makes sense to select an objective lens that has the largest possible aperture. Selecting an objective lens for a specific application may be as important as selecting the dSLR camera. In fact, one may select either the Nikon or Canon body because of the specific objective lenses that are available. Similarly, exposure time for night-time imaging should be set as long as possible but still to avoid blur due to observing objects in motion or from camera jitter.

Enhanced ISO - Higher gain with drawbacks

Aperture and exposure time directly impact the amount of light that impinges on each pixel in the image sensor and affect the sensor's output electrical signal. In addition, dSLR cameras permit the photographer to adjust the gain (i.e. amplification) of the sensor's output electrical signal. (This is distinctly different from the ISO definition for film cameras which was to be adjusted to match the film sensitivity). For dSLR cameras, increasing the gain will amplify the sensor signal. Like all electrical circuits, image sensors are not perfect, and with the image signal, they also produce some noise in the form of unwanted random errors in the signal. Noise in digital images appears as graininess or specks of false color. To avoid too much noise, the night-time photographer adjusts the camera's ISO to a value that is high enough to brighten the image while still maintaining acceptable image noise levels. Today, the maximum value is typically 1600, but some cameras deliver perfectly usable images at ISO 3200, 6400 or even 12800.

In addition to the standard ISO settings, digital cameras now perform noise reduction on digital images. As a result, some additional gain-up is enabled on these cameras, sometimes one step (H1), or effectively two times the maximum ISO setting, but also two steps (H2, 4 times) and three steps (H3, 8 times). This Enhanced ISO setting is now available on most digital SLR cameras. For example, both the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV and the Nikon D3S permit three levels of enhanced ISO which results in an equivalent ISO setting of 102,400! It is important to note that images adjusted as such normally have a great degree of noise and exhibit significant degradation in resolution because of the noise reduction techniques. Apparently, as with all electronic circuits at high gain, image noise can significantly degrade image quality.

Night Vision Modules

Today's digital SLR cameras offer the photographer full control of aperture, shutter speed and ISO settings enabling the capture of excellent usable images in low light that were not otherwise possible. However, in many situations such as photographing scenes at night with very little ambient light, or telephoto photography at night at a distance, even the best digital SLR cameras simply do not have sufficient sensitivity to capture adequate images. In these situations, night vision modules are the ideal accessory.

The night vision module accessory fits between the SLR objective lens and the camera body. Simply remove the objective lens, attach the night vision module to the camera body and attach the objective lens. AstroScope night vision modules are designed to seamlessly integrate with the camera and lens combinations, maintaining all the electronic functions of the SLR objective lens (including image stabilization) via the camera's hot-shoe. The night vision module is powered directly from the camera and conveniently turns on with the initiation of the shutter release button.

The night vision module features an automatic gain control that assures that its output is relatively constant. As such, camera settings are relatively easy to configure, as follows:

• Exposure time 1/30 sec (no need to make it shorter since the intensifier has its own lag)

• Manual aperture (so that lens F-stop setting stays put)

• F-stop at widest aperture (intensifier automatically adjusts light level)

• ISO setting adjusted to a level where camera noise is not apparent

• Autofocus Off (image intensifier scintillation can confuse autofocus sensors)

• Image stabilization On (to maintain stable images while camera is in motion)

Summary

The evolution of the digital SLR (dSLR) camera continues with impressive features being added at a steady rate. For the military or law enforcement photographer, the new dSLR camera models and new features can be quite useful for portable observation and in-the-field news gathering, both at night and during the day. Some of the benefits are:

• Image sensor arrays continue to grow in physical size, now available with full-frame formats the same as the traditional film SLR cameras.

• Pixels continue to be packed more densely, increasing overall resolution and the ability of dSLR cameras to detect, recognize and identify objects at a distance.

• Sensitivity of cameras is improving, with cameras having unenhanced ISO settings up to 12,800.

• Night vision modules are available to improve light gathering by 8-10 F-stops while still permitting electronic lens functions to continue to function, including image stabilization.

DSLR cameras continue to be highly valued by military photographers over other camera styles because of their large sensors, resolution, sensitivity, versatility in the field, availability of a wide variety of objective lenses and night vision modules.