Digital Cameras & Digital Photography

Anmol Taneja asked:


So you have finally decided to go out and get that digital camera that you have always wanted. But how can you be so sure about which one to by? Sony, Nikon Coolpix, or a Digicam, the list is endless, what matters is, how you decide that the model that you are going in for, isn’t just big on words and empty on performance. Well, there are certain basic factors that you need to know before you choose the type of camera that you buy.

Megapixels: The higher the better, and more expensive too. This is one of the key factors behind choosing a digital camera. It defines the number of pixels and the more the number, the clearer the resolution of the picture you take. If you just want to share pictures over the computer, then a 2 megapixel camera works just fine. 3 megapixels will let you print for normal use, while 5 or above is professional quality.

Optical Zoom versus Digital Zoom: This one’s simple; digital enhances the image size more, but hurts the picture clarity whereas optical zooms allow enlarged pictures with good clarity.

Memory Storage: How many pictures will you be taking at a time? A 2 megapixel camera with 32Mb of memory stores up to 35 pictures. Although most cameras come with 8 – 16 Mb of built-in memory, external memory cards are available for more flexibility. Only thing to be careful about here is that these cards that you buy for you digital camera, may not be “hot-swappable”

Computer Compatibility: Ensure that the digital camera is compatible with the computer that you are going to plug it into for regular use.

Microphone: Check to see if there is a microphone to enhance your video mode. Will you be using it if there was?

Night Mode: if you are a creature of the night and will be using the digital camera in poor light conditions then it is useful to buy one that has a night mode feature.

Pre-programmed features: these allow you to have pre-determined settings for special light conditions in your digital camera.

Hold one: Hold the digital camera in your hand and see. A camera should feel right in your hands and should be comfortable to hold.

So before you rush out there to buy a digital camera, it is advisable to research a few models over the web and check for features, size and user friendliness. Buying a digital camera is an important investment and it is the key to a long list of memories. So make sure that when you go for that next family picnic, your ideal camera resides in your hip-pouch.

Alex Don asked:


The digital camera is one of the must have gadgets in this modern world. Now more and more people own digital cameras aside from their mobile phones that are also capable of taking digital pictures. This is because the digital cameras usually known as digicams can take high resolution and high quality digital pictures than the mobile phones. High quality pictures are best for quality prints and for online gallery compilations. When taking pictures using a digital camera, it is always recommended to use the best quality settings. This could mean a limited number of pictures that can be taken by the camera, but having an external saving device at hand could solve this problem. Another important thing in having a high quality digital photo is the knowledge in image manipulations such as photo enhancing, enlargement, cropping, image resizing, and others. Several special photo-enhancing software offer these services but more practical options are available online such as the reshade.com website that offers free services for online image resizing, enlargement and a photo gallery.

Travelers who love to take pictures of every place that they visit can take more advantage of these free online image resize applications. Picture resizing is needed to change the picture into a particular size that can fit their saving destinations such as email, blogs, photo galleries and others. Special resizing such as shrinking of regular-sized pictures is needed when the pictures will be used as wallpapers or screensavers on mobile phones and for use as avatars in online instant messaging services. The pictures that will be used for desktop applications must also be resized to have high-resolution desktop wallpapers. Such picture resizing and enhancements can be easily done on any computer. There are several computer applications that are readily available for simple enhancements such as the Paint program and other photo enhancers such as Photoshop. Several special photo enhancing software are also available for use in these services. The worldwide web also offers free online image resizers that you can use if you have an internet connection.

The use of these free online tools is more practical than the use of installable software such as the Photoshop. The online image resizers do not require installation thus saving more disk space. A computer or laptop and an internet connection are all you need to resize pictures online. The websites offering these free online photo enhancement services include the resize2mail.com, shrinkpictures.com, etc. The reshade.com is the most famous of these sites offering enhancements, picture cropping, and image resizing that preserve the best quality of the original picture. Their resizing service makes use of the advanced resizing methods available exclusively on reshade.com.

The online image resizing process is just a very easy task to do. It just requires browsing and uploading of the image or images for resize to the website and selecting choices from the online image resizing template then click resize and presto you have your new resized photo. You can resize your photo from a regular size to a different size without affecting the quality. Special shrinking tools are also available for creating high quality thumbnails and avatars from your regular-sized photos. Online image resizing can be done one by one or by groups as these photo-enhancing sites offer batch resizing and unlimited resizing for their members. Non-members can also do the online image resizing but their works will not be posted in the online galleries and they will be unable to crop images unless they login as members.

Tom Bonner asked:


In the early days of digital photography, the only way to transfer images from the camera to a computer was with a cable. The interface was usually USB, but some early digicams used SCSI or Firewire connections as well. As reusable memory cards became popular, card readers appeared, allowing users to quickly move images from the card to their hard drive.

Surprisingly, even today, many digital photographers still transfer their images to their computer via a USB cable. Card readers are inexpensive, faster and more reliable, yet many digital camera users still haven’t acquired one.

1: Card readers offer speedy transfers

Undoubtedly, the biggest advantage to a card reader is speed. Images transfer at a rate several times that of a camera USB connection. Obviously, It is advantageous anytime you can shorten the image acquisition period. As memory cards increase in capacity and cameras offer greater pixel density, however, transfer speed becomes a major issue. My first digital camera only had 8MB of storage memory, and I felt it took a long time to transfer the images to my hard drive by USB cable. Today a single raw image could be twice that size. A card with thirty or forty images of that size would take an eternity to transfer by cable.

2: When reliability is a priority, choose a card reader

While speed is important, reliability is crucial. The problem with connecting a camera to your computer is that the camera has to be on all the time the transfer is being executed. If the battery dies during the transfer, the current transfer will be lost. Even worse, there is a danger that the memory card will be corrupted if the power goes down during a read. It’s true that many newer cameras have longer lasting batteries, but memory cards are also getting larger, so that might not be much help. Some camera manufacturers actually recommend that the camera be powered by an AC cord during the transfer, in order to alleviate any problem of the battery dying during the copy.

There are no power consumption worries with a card reader. Power comes directly from the USB or Firewire connection. Unless there is a major power outage or the computer crashes, the power to the card reader will remain stable.

3: Digital camera connections are plug and pray

Connecting a camera to the computer is fairly simple, but I have experienced many instances where the computer refused to recognize the camera. Rebooting the computer typically fixes the problem, but that is still an annoyance.

In contrast, card readers are generally found immediately by the computer. Plug the reader in, insert the memory card and you can start transferring your files.

4: Card readers allow you to walk away

Once you’ve begun a transfer, you are free to do other things. Eat dinner. Watch TV. Take a walk. Even go to bed for the night. You don’t have to “baby-sit” the file transfer process. I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving my digital camera unsupervised in the “on” mode for an extended length of time. Maybe I’m being too conservative, but leaving my camera on overnight just doesn’t seem wise. With a reader, there is no off or on. When your file transfer is completed, everything just waits until you return.

5: You are free to use your camera while your files transfer to the computer

If your camera is tied to your computer, transferring files, you obviously can’t be off shooting. In contrast, you can load a memory card into your reader, start a file transfer and then load a fresh card into the camera and continue making images. The ability to transfer pictures while you are off shooting new ones is yet another major advantage to a reader.

So what are you waiting for?

If you are serious about digital photography, I suggest you ditch that USB cable and get a good card reader. You’ll soon wonder how you ever got along without one!

Peter Smith asked:


Anyone who already owns a computer has a good idea of what his or her computer needs are. However, people new to the world of computers can get lost in the multitude of choices. Here you will find some tips to what a newcomer to computers should do and why.

1. Purchase Basic Peripherals

First your computer must include all the basic peripherals. There are four major components to most computers, these are the; mouse, keyboard, monitor and the CPU unit. You will have to purchase a computer that includes all of these components, and then at home all you have to do is to plug the components into their designated sockets. Many computers also come with color-coding, so that each component is easily identified and assembled into one computer.

2. Determine What The Computer Will Be Used For

Basic components as described above will be adequate for a computer intended for performing simple word-processing and spreadsheet tasks, sending email or surfing the internet. If on the other hand the computer is used in your multimedia career, you will require the use of a digital camera, printer, tablet, digicam and a scanner. If again your career is in music, you will require a set of quality speakers and microphones.

3. Create A Budget And Stick To It

Decide how much you can afford to spend on a new computer. Remember to purchase a computer where all the basic peripherals can be included in your budget when you first start out.

4. Shop By Comparing The Various Models With Each Other

Comparison-shopping is useful when choosing a computer, e.g. you may want to go with the fastest modem and processor as well as the largest hard drive and dynamic memory that fit into your budget. Having a computer with large spare reserves will cut the price to upgrade the computer system at a later stage.

5. Buy Brand Name Items

When purchasing a computer you want a model from a computer manufacturer with a good and long market presence and with a reputation of quality service and products. The manufacturer must also be financially viable since computer manufacturers tend to have a very high turnover. Only the best manufacturers make it over the long run. You want your manufacturer to be able to fulfill its servicing, warranties, trades and returns. Brand name computers are a bit more expensive, but it is in your best interest to buy well known brands.

6. Where to Buy a Computer

Once you have determined what you require in a computer as well as what kind you want, all that is left is to decide where to buy the computer. Computers are available from several sources such as, online stores, computer store outlets, used computer stores, auction sites and your local yard sales. It is highly recommended to buy your computer from a physical store, where you can see the computer and ask questions before purchasing. Buying a new computer from a physical store offers the benefits of store warranties and services as well as trades and returns.

Follow these suggestions and you will find the best computer hardware for your needs. All that remains now is to move on to the software you require for your computer.

Roger Thompson asked:


Smartphones

If you haven’t heard of smartphones, we’d like to learn where you’ve been hiding all this time. Smartphones have been all over the news and chances are, you do know what they are - only you know them under a different name. Smartphones are mobile phones with computer like capabilities and internet search.

What’s that? Aha! Yes, you’ve not only heard of them, you’ve probably seen them as well. Packed with Internet access, email capabilities, address books, and a whole lot more, cell phones have come a long way since their first debut.

Sandbox devices are tools that come pre-loaded with things like calendars, calculators, and a notepad. What differentiates them from smartphones is that users can add (download and install) additional programs to smartphones and they seemingly become good portable computers for the people who use them. That - and the ability to edit the content that sits on them - is what makes these phones “smart.”

Some of the more popular brand names include the Blackberry, PalmSource, Nokia, and Windows CE. Yet the craze is extending to even some unknown company names. Today, it’s hard to find a cell phone that doesn’t offer some sort of “smart” technology because it’s in such a high demand. The convenience of having information at our immediate access is phenomenal - so much so that thousands of programmers have jumped on the opportunity to build unique applications specific to these small machines.

As a result, you can find tons of games, databases, GPS systems, weather reporting programs, and even small encyclopedias on these things - each accessible not at the click of a mouse - but at a few presses of a free thumb. Of course a small keyboard is available for the text-messaging fan or for the poor fellow who can’t seem to get away from the office. In the latter case, don’t be surprised if you find the entire Microsoft Office suite displayed within a screen no bigger than a matchbook.

Is this a phase? That’s highly doubtful. The market for these devices extends from the highly technical and professional all the way to the pre-teen socialite. The product crosses all demographics and thanks to decreasing expense - it sees no economic boundaries as well. The Wikipedia encyclopedia claims that “Out of 1 billion camera phones to be shipped in 2008, Smartphones, the higher end of the market with full email support, will represent about 10% of the market or about 100 million units.”

But what is it that makes smartphones so appealing? As I told earlier, smartphones give us the ability to not only carry our data around with us where ever we go, it also gives us the ability to edit that data any place - any time. In today’s “reality” based generation, we’re always looking for the opportunity to capture and relive a moment. And we want to share that moment with others. At best, smart phones give us the opportunity to express ourselves impromptu with entertaining results.

Attempting to do the same with a bulky regular computer or laptop is to cumbersome. Even some of the smallest peripherals (digicams, digital cameras, etc.) don’t give us the same opportunities that smart phones do. Being able to carry around a device for communication, creation, recording, and editing simply compliments the need for today’s generation to do more and then do it, faster!

For more information for smart phones like iPhone and accessories check http://phoneishop.com/

Douglas Stewart asked:


Smartphones are a growing industry among cellular phone service providers. More people are interested in owning a cell phone that can accomplish many of the same tasks that a PC does. In response to this demand, these companies are now offering several different models and styles of these high-tech devices. The following are just of a few of the models that are available through Sprint.

The MOTO Q has Bluetooth Wireless Technology as well as a Windows Mobile Operating 5.0 system. This allows you to view documents in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat. You can also check your Outlook e-mail with this device. The QWERTY keypad has a 5-way navigation button as well as a thumbwheel and an undo/back button. This model also has Bluetooth Wireless Technology and a Windows Media Player 10 Mobile that allows you to play your favorite music and videos. It has a 1.3 megapixel camera and camcorder as well a a miniSD expansion port, although the memory card must be purchased separately.

The Centro by Palm is another smartphone that is available through Sprint. This model also has Bluetooth Wireless Technology and Sprint Mobile Broadband with Power Vision which allows you to view and access corporate data on the spot. The QWERTY keyboard has a touch screen and a 5-way navigation system. This model also has a MP3 player that operates with Pocket Tunes Deluxe as well as a built-in media player with Streaming Video and Audio. A 1.3 megapixel camera and camcorder and a built-in speakerphone are also features that are included on this smartphone.

Another model of smartphone that is offered by Sprint is the i920 by Motorola. This model incorporates Microsoft Outlook as well as Microsoft Pocket Explorer. These features allow you to check your e-mail and surf the Net easily. It also has a built-in Windows Media Player that allows you to listen to music or watch videos. This model has an infrared port that has the ability to connect with other infrared devices which makes synchronization a breeze. The display screen is multi-lingual, allowing information to appear in English, Spanish, or French. The voice-activated dialing system and the built-in speakerphone enable hands free usage.

The Samsung ACE has Bluetooth Stereo as well as regular Bluetooth Wireless Technology. It runs Windows Mobile 6 software that allows connection to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. It also has a QWERTY keypad with a lit background and a built-in thumbwheel. The Windows Media 10 Player allows you to listen to your favorite music or watch videos whenever you wish to. This model also has a 1.3 megapixel camera and camcorder as well as a speakerphone. A MicroSD memory card slot is also present, although the memory card is sold separately.

The Mogul by HTC is another brand of smartphone that is offered by Sprint. This device also has Bluetooth Wireless Technology and Windows Mobile 6 Software that allows access to all the Microsoft pocket programs, such as Word and Excel. It has an integrated QWERTY keypad as well as a thumbwheel. A 2.0 megapixel camera and camcorder enables you to take clear videos and pictures and a built-in speakerphone makes hands free usage possible. This model has the MicroSd memory slot as well as a 512MB memory card that is included.

These are just a few of the many types and models of cell phones that are available through Sprint. To view its entire collection, you can visit your local Sprint office or visit its various Web sites online.

Douglas Stewart asked:


Cellular phones have come a long way since the time they began. There are models that allow you to play your favorite music in stereo whenever you like. There are also smartphones available so that the busy business person can have the convenience of a PC in the palm of his hand. If you are interested in one of these smartphones, AT&T offers several different models.

The Apple iPhone combines an iPod, a phone, and the Internet all in one device. This phone has a Safari Web browser that allows you to view full Web pages and is connected to Wi-Fi or high-speed EDGE networks that will enable you to download data. It is equipped with Bluetooth 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rates (EDR). This model also has a large multi-touch QWERTY smart screen that is lit and has a proximity detector. It comes with built-in widgets so you can view YouTube, Stock, Weather, and Google Maps. This cell phone enables you to participate in conference calling as well as having access to Visual Voicemail and Text Messaging. A widescreen iPod is also a built-in feature that plays iTunes and music and displays TV and videos. This model comes equipped with a 2.0 megapixel camera and camcorder as well as a built-in speakerphone.

Another smartphone that is offered by AT&T is the Palm Treo 680. This model has Bluetooth Wireless Connectivity with Palm OS interface. You can work with Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF documents. The Palm OS Organizer is also available that includes a calendar, address book, tasks, and memos. This phone connects you to Mobile Instant Messaging as well as Multimedia Messaging and has a mobile Internet browser. It comes with a QWERTY keypad and a Pocket Tunes music player with Bluetooth Streaming Audio. Conference calling can be performed with the help of a built-in speakerphone.

The Moto Q Global is also available form AT&T. This smartphone has Windows Mobile 6.0 that allows you to work with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF files. Microsoft Internet Express allows you to surf the Web easily while this phone’s 3G capabilities make it possible for you to have access to simultaneous voice and data. This model has a Windows Media Player 10 that allows you utilize AT&T Music, Billboard, Music ID, XM, Napster, and Yahoo Cellular Video. This smartphone also has a 2.0 megapixel camera and camcorder and a built-in speakerphone.

The Blackjack II by Samsung is another model of smartphone that is offered by AT&T. It has Bluetooth 2.0 Wireless Connectivity and Microsoft Windows Mobile 6. Again, this feature allows you to access Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF files. A fast-loading HTML browser enables you to surf the Internet quickly and easily. This model also comes with a QWERTY keypad and a Windows Media Player 10 that allows you to use AT&T Mobile Music and Cellular Video. It has 2.0 megapixel camera and camcorder and Video Share calling support.

These are just a few of the several models of smartphones that are offered by AT&T. To view its full lineup, you can visit your local AT&T office or visit one of their many Web sites.

Malcolm Grant asked:


In the world today, millions of people have never heard of Smartphones. They are incredible pieces of technology that that are small enough to hold in your one hand, however they have the capability of a top of the line computer. Smartphones are also known as Cell Phones. Since their inception, Smartphones have grown with the times. The technology of the first phones has paled in comparison with today’s phones.

When Smartphones were first introduced, everyone was amazed with features like calculators, calendars and notepads. Today, Smartphones are equipped with Internet access, where you can download and install programs to enhance the phone address books, email, and many other features and accessories. Smartphones are considered mini computers, they are called Smartphones because they are able to very efficiently manage and edit the information that is on them.

Most likely you have seen the more popular brands of Smartphones. They are Blackberry, Nokia and PalmSource to mention but a few of the more popular brands of Smartphones on the market today. Many companies have realized that these phones are sought after more and more and they have developed generic brands to be sold at a much lower cost. Smartphones are not just a passing fad; they are the wave of the future.

They are equipped with the latest technology and, contrary to popular opinion, they are not only sought after by teenagers. Business people, above everybody else, have realized that the convenience of having one of these phones means instant and full access to customer and other business information. People from all social levels are coming on board and are seeking information regarding Smartphones. They are flocking to local retailers to purchase them, because prices are coming down all the time.

Perhaps Smartphones are so popular because they allow a person to carry their entire database of friends and family and business clients and associates with them wherever they go without having a clunky address book or daily planner under their arm. Another benefit of Smartphones is that their cameras are top of the line; most of them even have video capabilities.

Software developers have also recognized the significance of the arrival of Smartphones. Many different programs have been developed specifically for use with Smartphones. Some of this software is available as downloads and include encyclopedias, games, GPS systems and text messaging. Unfortunately a mouse is not available most of the time, but those who are proficient with the mini keyboards can sent text messages in a flash.

Most people do not understand the full potential of their Smartphones. These devices can one day make computers, digital cameras and camcorders obsolete. Software is being developed continuously and, in the not too distant future, technology will be available that will make Smartphones a staple in any home.

Douglas Stewart asked:


In today’s 24-7 work culture, many business people are looking towards cellular phones and other wireless devices to help them to keep working while they are on the go. If you are one of these people, Alltel offers several models of these smartphones that have many of the features that you may be looking for.

The Palm Treo 700p has Bluetooth Wireless Technology as well as infrared communications. This model has Wireless Modem (DUN) Support and threaded SMS. It also has PalmOne Installation software and HotSync Manager for Outlook synchronization as well as a Palm OS organizer. This phone offers Documents to Go, Personal Organizer, VersaMail, and Real Player. The QWERTY keypad is lit and the LCD screen is touch-sensitive. This model has a 1.3 megapixel camera and camcorder as well as a built-in speakerphone. There is also an expandable memory slot although the memory card must be purchased separately.

The HTC Touch is another smartphone that is offered by Alltel. This device also has Bluetooth Wireless Technology and Stereo Support that allows you to access a windows media player so that you are able to play your favorite music or videos anytime that you wish to. It has Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional that accesses Microsoft Mobile Office. This Office program includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. The outlook feature has a calendar, notes, tasks, and an integrated address book. This smartphone can send and receive Text messages as well as Picture, Video, and Instant messages. This model also has a built-in 2.0 megapixel camera. It has a MicroSD memory slot although the memory card is not included.

Another model of smartphone that is available from Alltel is the Palm Treo 755p. This device also has Bluetooth Wireless Technology and infrared communication as well as a P-Tunes media player that plays music and videos. It offers HotSync Manager to synchronize with Outlook or Palm desktop software. This phone also has VersaMail and text messaging. It has features such as Organizer which includes a calendar, memo pad, tasks, alarm clock, and an address book. This model also offers Documents to Go Personal Organizer. When you are traveling, this smartphone can be used as a modem for your laptop. It has a built-in 1.3 megapixel camera and camcorder as well as a speakerphone. This model also has an expandable memory slot without the memory card being included.

The HTC PPC6900 is also offered from Alltel. This model also has Bluetooth Wireless Technology and a Windows Media Player. It runs on Windows Mobile 5.0 OS and offers Mobile Office which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook (which has a calendar, notes, tasks, and address book also). You can also use this smartphone as a modem for your laptop. It has voice-activated dialing and a 2.0 megapixel camera and camcorder as well as a built-in speakerphone. Again, this device has an expandable memory slot while the memory card is sold separately.

These are just a few of the models of smartphones that are offered by Alltel. You can visit your local Alltel office or look on its various Web sites to receive information about all its smartphones.

Seth Willis Jr. asked:


What do we mean by Digital Photography Equipment?

Digital cameras are in vogue today and almost everyone carries one everywhere. It reminds one of the Japanese tourists in Europe or America decades ago who became the best ambassadors of Canon, Ikon, Yashika and other famous brands. Today the same companies are manufacturing digital photography equipment and competing with other digital firms around the world. Good and sharp results have always been the requirements of the photographer and digital products do offer the best there is in the world today.

But it is not only about digital cameras alone! One also need several other equipment as ancillaries before your collection of a digital studio or even that small hobby room is complete. With computers controlling the processing and printing of photographs, it is essential to learn a bit of information technology as well to be successful in the use of digital photography equipment.

What equipment do we require for Digital Photography?

Quite obviously the first piece of equipment is a digital camera! The market is full of different makes and models of this product and one need to be very careful in choosing one for their use. For a novice the basic models will suffice while for the professional one may go for a SLR model that is much more sophisticated and has a lot of useful features.

The memory chip or key is an essential part of the digital camera and depending on the usage is rated in terms of MB capacity of storage, just like a hard disk or RAM memory chip!

The batteries used in digital photography equipment are important and only Nickel Metal Hydride or NIMH rechargeable cells must be used. The charger is an important part of the digital equipment and a 4-cell charger is recommended. At least 8 to 10 hours charging is required for the batteries to retain a useful charge life.

The advantage of a digital camera is that you can easily take snapshots of the family and even use the inbuilt self timer to do a remote photographic session. For this one requires a good standard tripod for best results. The tripod will ensure trouble free photography of even moving objects and is imperative as an ancillary to this hobby. This digital photography equipment is only the basics and several optional items can still be purchased.

The software that accompanies the digital camera is without fail the most important item in digital photography. It not only provides proper drivers for the operating system being used, but also bundles variety of image processing software and viewers to facilitate your handling of those lovable pictures that your digital photography equipment took!

Finally, it is always worth your while to review and investigate the multitude of digital cameras and items available in the market. The Internet and off line stores offer great discounts and models to suit almost every taste. One must also check those who have purchased digital photography equipment at one time or the other and have experienced the immense pleasure one gets out of this - let us call it - a social hobby!