Rabu, 05 Mei 2010

Capturing Every Moment With the Best Digital Camera

There are so many times wherein we take a short trip down to memory lane and just simply enjoying looking back at old pictures. Reminiscing the past is all possible through looking at pictures and videos. It feels so great looking back at what we looked like and how funny our clothes and hairstyles still were. Looking at old pictures with our friends and loved ones sure brings tears in our eyes especially when we are apart from them.

Taking pictures of every special moment we have shared with our loved ones will give us something to remember for always. We should be grateful for the developers of cameras because they have given us the opportunity to have something to cherish. We can easily recall memories from the past when we look at old pictures. Some would even place them in scrapbooks and photo albums that way it will never be misplaced. Keeping photographs is definitely a beautiful memory that will forever be cherished.

When we take pictures, we always make sure that we get the right angle and the perfect view and we can achieve that if we have the best digital camera in town. There are so many new digital cameras in the market and they will definitely give you fun and a different experience in taking pictures.

Digital cameras is just one of the many must have handheld gadget in today's growing world. Though cellular phones have built in cameras, it cannot encompass the features and the effects that digital cameras give. If you wish to buy your own camera, it is much better that you first do some little research with regards to which brand is of high quality and will last long.

You can see so many new and compact designs of digital cameras in shopping malls. But before you buy one, you need to do some researching first in order for you to know which type of equipment is best for you and within your reach. Surely, you will find best cheap digital cameras once you surf the internet or perhaps when visit a digital camera store in your town.

There are few things that you might want to think beforehand when buying a camera of your own. Things like affordability, quality, and its capacity to store numerous pictures. Cameras today are very expensive because of the high quality resolution it gives and the different features it offers. If you cannot afford one, you can still find cheap ones but are still considered the best though.

Quality is also among the concerns of consumers as well. You need to check first if the chosen equipment will last for long and will give you quality photos otherwise you will only be wasting money if the one you brought constantly needs repairs. Taking proper care of the equipment should be a must.

The camera's memory is also important because it will let us know how many pictures it can only store. The higher the memory is, the more expensive the device can get. Spending too much over a something will definitely pay off because you are assured that the device is made of the highest quality and built to last long.

Taking proper care of the equipment will be your next concern. You need to always secure it and place it inside a camera bag. The parts of a camera are very delicate particularly the lens so proper handling is a priority.

Having your own photographic equipment will definitely enable you to take and capture every moment that you have shared with your loved ones. You will have something to remember and cherish as you sail though life and not only that, it will allow you to remember the people that are close to your heart.

Move Up to the World of the Digital SLR Camera


Image : http://www.flickr.com


A digital SLR camera or a single lens reflex (SLR) camera is one of the most popular cameras amongst photographers today. These cameras not only provide high quality images but the photographer can also largely control how he wants the final product to look like. Hence, people who are extremely fond of clicking pictures have a great time while using a SLR camera. If you have a creative spark in you then you will want to consider one of these at some point. I am using a Canon Rebel right now but the Nikon F6 is next on my horizon of my purchases. These are moving into the 8 mp and up range now so the quality is quite good.

The SLR is not cheap at all. The price historically started at about $5,000 - which is very steep. So, only those who are either professionals or wannabes purchased an SLR for themselves. Nowadays however, in order to make the SLR available to a larger number of photographers, companies such as Canon and Nikon have come up with SLRs falling in the price range of around $1000 without extra lenses.

What is it that attracts people to an SLR? One of the main reasons is that an SLR produces pictures which are of much higher quality than point-and-shoot cameras. The contrast and color are extremely good since the lenses used in an SLR are of very good quality. It is an old maxim in the photography world that much of the quality in your images comes from the glass you put in front of the camera. The better the glass the better the photo, it worked in the film days and it still works in the digital age. The camera is important but don't skimp on the lens.

The photographer can change the lenses in an SLR, depending upon the shot that he/she plans to take. For example, a wide angle lens is used to take pictures of landscapes such as animals in the wild while telephoto lenses help to take extremely detailed pictures of small objects. Thus, one can pick and choose according to the environmental needs. Today some of the manufacturers have started building in image stabilization to their lenses. This really helps when taking long focal length images. While it uses additional power it can be extremely useful.

In addition to the above, the creative opportunity available to the photographer is much more in a SLR than a regular camera. This is because of the fact that a SLR has a lower contrast and image sharpening features. Hence, the photographer can do a lot of editing on his own to get the kind of effect that he desires. This can be viewed as a disadvantage as well by those who are not truly photo enthusiasts. So, for you guys, a point-and-shoot camera is the best option as not only is it cheaper but also adjusts things automatically.

Since a SLR is comparitvely more expensive than other digital cameras, it is very important that you get yourself a proper insurance for the camera. Especially if you plan to travel a lot with your SLR, insurance is extremely important. And also make sure that damage protection does form a part of the insurance deal as some insurance policies do not provide it. So, read the fine print before signing on the dotted line!

Selasa, 04 Mei 2010

Slide Scanners - The Basics

Memories last forever, so the saying goes. However, humans still prefer something tangible to remember certain moments by. The advent of the digital camera is perhaps one of best things to ever happen in the world of consumer electronics. This nifty electronic device allows us to take as many pictures as we want and easily store them digitally.

But what about pictures and slides that come from the past? In those days when the digital camera was not an item commonly found practically anywhere, the good old 35mm camera was the norm. Film had to be bought, processed, and developed before we could view the results. The trend is to scan those pictures. There is a three-fold reason behind this. One, digital storage allows for less space. Two, digital storage allows for easy access and viewing. Three, digital storage allows for practically perpetual storage.

There are a lot of scanners to be found in the market today, of which slide scanners are the standard. They are easy to use and are quite convenient as well. They give you the power to bring back old pictures and film strips to life. More than simply converting hard copies of photos into digital format, most of them come with software that allows the user to edit the scanned image. This means that traditional problems like red eye, glare, and the like can easily be fixed, making the image picture perfect. It is good to note, however, that there is only so much that the software can do. Blurry pictures cannot be made "un-blurry."

One type of slide scanner is the digital slide scanner. This type of slide scanner can normally make use of 35mm film only. However, some the scanners are compatible with film strips and slides. Most of these digital scanners come with USB connectivity, which means that you simply plug it into any USB port of your computer, and you are good to go. Even better, some scanners do not need a computer connection. These scanners will take in a memory card and transfer scanned images directly onto the card.

As mentioned earlier, digital slide scanners come with accompanying tools. The software is usually very intuitive and easy to use. The scanned digital images can reach more than 5 megapixels after conversion, which means very high quality images.

Another specific kind of slide scanner is the Imagebox Film Scanner. It does everything outlined above plus it has the ability to scan existing photo prints (up to 4x6 in size). This slide scanner also comes with Adobe Photoshop Elements, allowing you to play around with your digital images more. As for the OS compatibility, it works well with Windows XP and Vista.

Whichever slide scanner you decide to purchase, you should take a look at the image resolution and the speed at which it can carry out the scanning procedure. Slide scanners are the perfect way to convert your old photos into digital images, turning them into tangible memories that will last more than a lifetime.




Visit http://www.35mmslidescanner.org for more info on Slide Scanner.

The Benefits of Underwater Digital Cameras

Underwater digital cameras are fun and easy to use under the water and great above the water as well. Use your underwater digital camera in all kinds of weather, for many activities and in a variety of locations that could be either wet or wild.

Are underwater digital cameras better than the film underwater cameras? It's up to you to decide. The digital camera cannot run out of film. It has the ability to delete bad shots or change to a lower resolution if you need extra shots.

They have better (up to 4 times) depth of field. This is also great for wide-angle photography in low light conditions. Shooting with film at f4 would typically produce fuzzy backgrounds and edges. The same scene shot in digital will give you sharp photos

When using a strobe, most film cameras are limited to shutter speeds of 1/60th - 1/250th of a second. The new consumer digital cameras don't have mechanical shutters and will sync at speeds up to 1/800th of a second. Therefore, you can shoot in bright shallow water where high f-stops would make strobes ineffective. Higher shutter speed options allow you to keep your f-stop at a better setting. These high shutter speeds are also great for freezing light rays and fast action.

35mm zoom lenses don't do well underwater. They are bad at close-focus. The built-in lens in the new digital systems offer a large zoom range with minimum focus ability to 8 inches or less. So if you had a new digital camera and a high quality aspheric housing port, you could take a 100degree wide-angle shot and zoom into 1:3 macro shot without changing lenses. Who likes to change lenses all the time?

Underwater digital cameras are small and lightweight, and the quality is comparable to film if you go for the higher resolution shots. Scans and digital camera images require a small amount of sharpening in Adobe PhotoShop®. Just apply the ""unsharp mask"" filter for an instant improvement.

Underwater digital cameras are not perfect, however and like video, the cameras have a tough time with high contrast scenes. Also, it's fairly expensive to transfer your digital files to slides if you are interested in having your images presented in slide shows. However, most digital cameras allow you to plug directly into a television for image display. And there are digital projectors on the market that produce brilliant images and even professional presentations complete with audio tracks.

Unfortunately the underwater digital camera has not fixed the one worst digital camera problem: when you press the shutter release, the camera will not immediately take the picture. This shutter delay could be a problem--fish swim fast.

If you're just starting with underwater photography, it would probably be best to purchase a digital underwater camera instead of a film underwater camera. The instant feedback of digital imaging will take years off your learning curve. With the 5 megapixel cameras, print qualities are great.

Regardless of your photo experience, think about your goals with underwater imaging. Shooters looking for instant results, quick web posts and prints of 11 in. x 14 in. and smaller will be thrilled with digital. Digital is probably the best solution for all new shooters that are comfortable with computers. Instant feedback is always great.

If you are still not sure, however, try out the equipment before you buy it. Take a class with demo gear and instruction. Then buy something wonderful and go out and have a great time with your new digital underwater camera.

Eee PC 1101HA Review

Eee PC 1101HA (Seashell)
 
This netbook belongs 11 inch netbook family. This netbook is seemingly crafted by nature itself, the Eee PC™ Seashell draws its inspiration from seashells and its opalescent and glossy exterior is crafted by the innovative in-Mold Roller technology. It's so light and compact, you can take it anywhere with you! And with sleek curves and smooth lines hugging its lustrous shell, the Eee PC™ Seashell will easily charm passers-by wherever it goes.The main feature of this netbook is HD. A netbbok with a battary back up of 11 hours and HD.
This product is launched by ASUS. Below are some the features of this netbook.
  • Genuine Windows® XP Home
  • Elegantly Beautiful Seashell-inspired Design
  • 11.6” HD Widescreen Display(LED)
  • This netbook comes with 11 hours of battery backup.
  • Capacious Hybrid Storage Comprising 160GB HDD and 10GB complimentary online Eee Storage
  • Easy Mobile Connectivity with built-in 802.11n and Bluetooth V2.1
  • Exciting multimedia enjoyment: SRS Premium SoundTM True-to-life 5.1 surround audio & Eee Docking intuitive shortcut
  • Multi-touch pad of easily zoom in/out
  • Ergonomic keyboard for unsurpassed comfort
  • Eee Docking: Intuitive Software Suite (XP only)
  1. Eee Docking - Intuitive shortcuts for easy access to digital content, services, and useful software.
  2. Eee Sharing: Share/sync messages and data with other Eee PCs, notebooks, or desktop PCs without entering into the Internet
  3. Eee Xperience: Applications that enhance visual and acoustic* performance
  4. Eee Tools: A suite of useful tools including Live Update*, Parental Control* and Font Resizer

Senin, 03 Mei 2010

Eye vs Camera - Different Perceptions of the Same World

How many times have you took a picture and then when we saw them, they got disappointed because it's not the beauty that you looked at the time of shooting? But the scene you filmed the scene and you saw were the same. This is not surprising, because the camera sees the world differently than our eyes. Now I will try to summarize the main points. This will help you make the reality more accurately from your photos or taking advantage of these differences in creativeartwork.

For starters, we have two eyes, while the camera has just one lens! Thanks to our stereoscopic view, we can perceive depth. This is because we can see the world from two slightly different points of view. Each of our eyes sees reality from a slightly different angle (parallax angle). Our brain then elaborates the information coming from both of our eyes permitting us to perceive depth. This is impossible for a camera, and that's why pictures tend to be "flat" (actually they are). If you try to cover one of your eyes, you will get the point. In this case, of course, your reasoning will still tell you if an object is nearer than another (e.g. a nearer car will appear bigger than a further away one). However, you will not perceive depth as before. Try catching a ball someone has thrown to you: you will probably miss it!

Depth of field is something unknown to our eyes but always lurking in the camera. When we look at something, be it near or far away, we instantly focus it. The camera usually can focus either the near objects or the objects far away, but not all of them contemporarily.

Another striking difference between the eye and the camera is their ability to see contrasty scenes. In each scene we look at, there are some parts darker and other parts brighter. Our eyes are usually able to see correctly both of them, virtually simultaneously. But the camera can't. If Have you ever tried to photograph a subject in the shade with a bright background (see example), you noticed that the person was rendered too dark underexposed () or the background is too light (overexposed). It was not your fault: it is used in the middle, take the picture, was a classic film or a CCD sensor.

What color? The colors are different, even seen. Also find various film or CCD color differently. Even our field of view is different from that> Room for camera field of view depends on the lens mounted.

At the end of all that these differences are good or bad? Depends. If you're struggling to make the scene are to appear, as does eye, you have to work hard to overcome these different properties. On the other hand, if you want to be creative, these differences are the same as a golden opportunity.

Minggu, 02 Mei 2010

Digital Vs Film Photography?


Image : http://www.flickr.com


The choice between digital or film cameras is an extremely personal choice. Digital technology has made photography cheaper in the long run and easier than ever before.

There is an instant gratification with using a digital camera to take photographs. You can shoot the image, review, and know immediately what needs to be changed. This can be a lifesaver with landscape photography; imagine being in a once in a lifetime location or having an especially delicate light. If you have made a mistake with film photography, you may not discover it until the roll has been developed. With digital, you know instantly.

Digital cameras are also useful if you are a beginner. If you can identify a problem with your photograph instantly, you can then go ahead and correct it, or at least try to. With film there must be a development stage, and by then, you may have forgotten what settings you used, and what the problem was.

Also the developing is cheaper and easier, provided you have a computer and printer. Images can be downloaded, emailed and adjusted on programmes such as Adobe Photoshop in an instant. They can be printed cheaply in a professional or online lab, or you can print them at home on photo paper. There is no need to print every image, just the best of the bunch.

The downside to digital?

Firstly there is the issue of preservation; there are many tales of hard drives crashing or being stolen, or of CDs that held thousands of images being damaged. Unlike film, where there is the negative to rely on, digital images are intangible and most of the time, stored on computers.

The answer to this is to always create back ups of your work. Another good idea is to upload them onto an online server or photo sharing site - this means that if all your computers broke and you sat on all of your CDs, a copy of the images still exist in cyber space.

With a digital camera you have to be careful that you do not spend so much time editing an image, or deleting unsuitable ones that you forget to actually spend time taking a good picture. It is always worth keeping images you think are poor at the time and take a good look at them on a full screen monitor as you cannot always see the small details on the camera's LCD screen.

Another important point with digital cameras is that there is a 'magnification' factor. This means that if you use a film lens with a digital camera, you may not necessarily get the image you expect. This is because digital SLRs have a smaller sensor than that of a 35mm film camera negative (which is 24x36mm). So using a film lens which covers the 24 x 36mm format on a digital SLR which has a 15 x 22mm sensor effectively makes the image slightly cropped, or appears longer in focal length (more of a telephoto look!).

Different brands have different multiplication factors. With a Nikon, you need to multiply the lens length, which is written on the lens (we will learn more about this later) by 1.5, with a Canon it is multiplied by1.6. You can check online or with the manufacturer of your camera to see what you need to multiply your lens length by.

This is more of a problem with wide-angle lenses for digital cameras, as a 28mm wide angle becomes smaller once the multiplication sum has been done. There are new, made for digital lenses being released to address the wide angle issue, but for now, they are expensive to purchase.

When it comes to film cameras, there are still those that prefer the look of film images to digital. This is a personal preference, although film purists say they love to zoom into an image and see the grains of silver as opposed to a mush of pixels!

With a film camera, there is the excitement of receiving a set of prints back and seeing how well you did. If you have a manual SLR camera, which does not require heavy rechargeable batteries, there is the benefit of not having to carry spare power sources, as digital photographers have to do. You can easily go to a local store and buy standard fit batteries for your film SLR camera.

Memory cards, which digital photographers must buy to store their images on, can become corrupt without notice, which means that their images are irretrievable. There is unlikely to be this problem with film, although developing labs do make mistakes and develop a roll badly.

Also, when you are choosing a roll of film, you must pick an ISO rating (more on this later). If you have a roll that has 36 frames and the weather conditions suddenly change, you cannot just swap the film over to a more suitable type - you have to finish the entire roll first.

Summary.

To be realistic, at the time of writing (2008), digital is the way that many photographers are turning and the way the consumer market is going. Digital offers instant feedback and is easy to edit and easy to share. Film takes longer to process and processing charges are going up since it is less profitable for companies to run labs. Film is unpredictable and although the element of surprise can be nice, in a professional environment you may not have the second chance if your shots do not work out. A digital set up may cost more initially (since you would need a computer), so consider both pros and cons before deciding.