Digital Cameras & Digital Photography

Roland Jefferson asked:


If you were to have a discussion on any topic and invite a number of individuals, chances are that for each individual represented you would have the same number of varied opinions on that topic. For example, if you were to discuss the best place to live you would get a variety of answers and arguments as to why a person would select their particular choice. Their answer could be based on economic figures that reflect higher pay or a simple way of life which may appeal to their rearing of a family or they may choose a certain locale’s that is noted for its natural beauty.

Other differences of opinion that may occur could surround discussions based on the best film ever produced, best actor or actress, best sport, best hobby, etc.

One of the best hobbies that may be indicated is the hobby of photography and even in this category there may arise a difference in opinion regarding traditional vs. digital photography. One of the arguments between traditional vs. digital photography may include the ease of use and the ease of developing the picture.

Ease Of Use

When comparing traditional vs. digital photography one of the arguments may be the ease of use. In utilizing a digital camera it is simply a matter of pointing and shooting. The image is captured by the digital camera and imbedded on the memory stick contained within the digital camera.

Also, using the easy viewing screen on the camera, the photographer can instantly see whether the picture is what they wanted or if it needs to be taken again. In fact if the picture has movement or does not capture the image that the photographer wants, it is easy to delete the picture from the memory stick.

On the other hand the difference between traditional vs. digital photography makes the taking of pictures more difficult. One of those time consuming tasks is the changing of film and installing a new roll. Of course, the quality of the photo is greater than a digital camera.

Ease Of The Development Process

The next comparison of ease between the traditional vs. digital photography is how the picture is developed. The image on the memory stick can be downloaded onto software for easy viewing. In addition, the digital photo can be printed out or saved in a file within the computer.

With a traditional camera the film needs to be chemically developed in order for the image to be visualized. This process not only takes time, but requires the added expense of utilizing a film developing service or purchase the chemicals needed to develop the film in an individual’s own dark room.

Frederic Madore asked:


Now days digital cameras are used everywhere, for special occasion and more. One thing amazing about digital photography is the ability to modify or fix the pictures taken. But to do that you need to transfer those pictures to your computer and use digital photography software. There is a wide variety of it available on the market.

Very often you will be provided with a copy of you own digital photography software with the digital camera you buy. This digital photography software usually comes with various features. This software is usually very useful to manipulate the pictures taken with your camera.

If you are looking for a digital photography software don’t worry there are plenty that can be found. You can choose from a wide variety of digital photography softwares here are some very good ones:

- ZoomBrowser EX 5.1

- ArcSoft PhotoStudio

- ImageBrowser5.1

Those are only a few of the digital photography software you can use. You will need to make sure that every features of the software you use areworking properly before downloading any of your stored images.

You will also need to take into consideration the different kind of digital photography software you can use for windows and for Mac computers. There a few differences that can be found in the browsers programs. For example the ImageBrowser 5.1 is to be with Mac computers. You will have the ability to view, archive and manage your digital photographs. The same holds true for ZoomBrowser 5.1 for windows.

A very important factor you will need to look into is the drivers you need to install for your digital photography software to work correctly on your computer. Normally these drivers should be provided to you with the software you are going to buy. A good thing would be to look on the company website to see if there are updates for your drivers. This will ensure you have the latest drivers for your digital photography software.

Another thing you need to have beside your digital photography software is a picture transfer protocol or a PTP on your computer. This will make sure you are able to transfer your images on your camera to your computer.

By looking at the different features that those digital photography software’s offers, you will be able to see which one you want to get based on what you need it for. There is a huge amount of software available on the market and they should not be that expensive.

One important point to remember is you will need to make sure that these various programs are compatible with your computer and your digital camera. From those software features you will be able to fix your pictures and even make masterpieces out of them.

Roland Jefferson asked:


There are many things that you can learn by going to workshops. Traditionally, workshops are time when you can work with an instructor and with other people who want to learn to do things in the same way that you do. You can all work together on the task at hand, and most of the time you can critique each others work as well as do work as a group. Going to panoramic digital photography workshops can be a great way to discuss your various panoramic photos, and to talk to others about the skills that you need to create them in even greater depth.

What You Can Do

There are many things that you can do at panoramic digital photography workshops. First of all, in the group of people there is going to be an instructor, someone who is probably very good at digital panoramic shots, who can give you tips about how to make your digitals even better, and what you can do to improve your technique.

There will also be many people in the panoramic digital photography workshops with you that can give you pointers and help you to get even better at your photography. There is a great thing that happens in most of the panoramic digital photography workshops, which is discussion of the work of others. You can bring in some of your panoramic shots, and the group can talk about the things that you did well, and the things that you should work on so that you can get even better at doing panoramic shots.

Where Can You Find Them

If you are interested in panoramic digital photography workshops you can usually find some adds for them in your local papers or in magazines that deal with arts and crafts like photography. If there is a college near you, you can look to see what kind of photography classes they are offering and see what it would take to do some panoramic digital photography workshops.

If you can find the right panoramic digital photography workshops for you to join with the right group of people, you can find that your skill as a photographer is going to get better and better because you’ll be able to take pictures that have real meaning and that really get the beauty of the panoramic shots across to the people who are looking at your photos. There is simply no end to the benefits of panoramic digital photography workshops.

Richard Runion asked:


If you’re looking to buy a waterproof camera I suggest you don’t look beyond the Pentax Waterproof Camera.

Why? Because this camera satisfies on all the counts I consider crucial to making a buying decision.

For starters, it helps to know that Pentax is the world leader in the manufacture of waterproof cameras.

Pentax does not restrict itself to waterproff cameras, and also has a DSLR series. This is targeted at those who are not newcomers to photography. The K110D model among Pentax DSLR cameras is worth looking at. Similar to the Optio M20, this also has a 2.5 inch LCD screen. Contrastingly, this is a 6.1 mega pixel camera. The Optio M20 needs two AA size batteries, while the K110D needs four. Alternatively, it also works on two CR-V3 lithium batteries. This is recommended for people keen on action photography, as it can capture 2.8 frames a second.

The K110D is a sleek and light model, and with its steel-and-black profile, it’s a good lifestyle product for those who like adventure vacations.

In this article we will concentrate on the Optio W30, the latest waterproof camera launched by the company.

Japanese Industry Standard (JIS) Waterproof Standard 8 and JIS Dustproof Standard 5: these are two international quality standards that the Optio W30 complies. The camera can be used continuously for up to 2 hours, at up to 10 feet of depth.

The camera has a rugged look about it, with its aluminum alloy body. The design is sleek, with the camera shaped like a soap-box. The silver, grey, and chrome profile is pleasing to the eye.

This camera is very portable and fits snugly in an adult hand. It weighs only 5.6 ounces. The sealing is excellent, with covers for the DC and the USB/AV jacks at the bottom. Rubber gaskets protect the battery and storage card compartment.

Though a digicam with a waterproof casing allows you to go to greater depths, it has its disadvantages. Usually, such a camera is much heavier, thanks to the casing, which makes it harder to handle. There is less fear of the Optio W30 or any other Pentax Waterproof Camera slipping from your hands, as it comes with a wrist strap.

Great image quality is assured as this 7.1 MP camera has an internalized optical 3X zoom lens. Also, it has a Digital Shake Reduction mode that enables it to take blur-free photos at high ISO of 3200. Underwater movie quality is good, too.

Some great features of this camera include a large 2.5-inch LCD display, Auto Mode, Movie Mode, Synchro Sound Record Mode, 22 MB memory, Digital Shake Reduction, Movie Shake Reduction, Drive/ Burst Mode, Playback Mode, Manual Control options, protective covers and doors with spring-loaded latches that secure automatically etc. It also has good shutter speed. In the movie mode, the internal memory size allows continuous shooting up to 20 seconds.

My only complaint: the aperture range is narrow, reducing one’s options for landscape photos. But the moderate price combined with large number of positives make this camera a winner.

Roland Jefferson asked:


Choosing a digital camera can be a very exciting, albeit difficult, challenge. Whenever you find yourself in the camera department of your favorite store, or in an actual camera store, with all of the new digital cameras lined up in front of you, it can be hard to choose which one you truly want. When choosing a digital camera, it usually comes down to how much you want to spend. If you are a beginner, then you should choose one that you can afford that will give you the basics without getting to fancy. If you’re an expert, then choosing a digital camera comes down to exactly what you plan to do with it. Whatever your skill level, you’re bound to find a digital camera that will suit your needs just fine.

Beginners

If you’re a beginner, as in you’ve never really used a digital camera before, then choosing a digital camera should be pretty easy. You don’t need all the bells and whistles that come installed on the really expensive models. You want to cut your teeth as a photographer, so to speak, so all you really need is a camera that can take pictures. You can find inexpensive models that just offer the basics and that should do you well until you require the more advanced models.

If You’re Experienced

If you’re a little more experienced, then choosing a digital camera can be a little trickier. You’ll want to choose one that does everything you need it to do while still remaining in your price range. Nowadays, digital cameras come will all sorts of extra features. You can zoom, lighten or darken the images, you can perform redeye reduction and more. Choosing a digital camera with everything included can cost a lot of money but it’s worth it if you know how to use it.

Choosing a digital camera can be fun, however, you just have to stay within your budget. To find the best digital camera for your money, search various consumer reports to make sure that the model you choose is worth the money you will pay. You don’t want to buy a camera just to find out later that it’s a piece of junk.

So, if you’re looking for a digital camera and you have the money to do so, visit your local electronics store. You’ll see that choosing a digital camera isn’t as easy as you imagined but I bet you’ll have a lot of fun doing it.

Roland Jefferson asked:


Sony has been making quality photography equipment, as well as other home electronics, for many years. In some cases buying a used Sony digital camera may be a better buy than a new one from another manufacturer.

There as a few things, however to look for when buying a used Sony digital camera, or most other digital cameras to make sure your investment is sound and you are getting a camera that still works like it was designed to work.

First, look for signs of water damage. This is the number one killer of electronic equipment and usually the one type of damage that voids a warranty faster than smashing it with a hammer. Look for signs of rust on a used Sony digital camera in or around the memory card slot, the battery compartment and the tripod attachment slot.

Also check the memory card for availability. One of the biggest complaints of buyers of a used Sony digital camera is the unavailability of memory cards with larger storage capacity. Even if there are not any available several companies make adapter cards so that one type can be adapted to fit another. If larger cards or adapter cards are not available for the used Sony digital camera you are looking, consider if it will be a problem for you in the future.

Completely Test Before Buying

If you are buying a used Sony digital camera from a private source, and even if from a dealer, make sure you can test it properly and make sure it works as claimed. If you are told the battery died and it can be tested, either walk or run away, or offer to pick up a battery so you can try it out. If the person hedges at the offer, it could be a sign the camera does, or does not do, something it is supposed to do.

Depending on your intended use for the camera, does it include the accessories you would like to have and, if not, are they available in the market? If the used Sony digital camera is an older model it is possible the accessories were never made for this model and a different choice may be in order.

With Sony’s reputation for quality, buying a working, used Sony digital camera is usually a safe deal, but being cautious is definitely advised since you probably will not have the added benefit of a factory warranty.

Carol Miller asked:


I admit it - I’ve been slow to embrace the digital photography phenomenon. As a hobbyist, I have two film cameras, an old manual focus Nikon and a newer autofocus Canon Rebel, and I resisted the temptation to indulge in a digital camera up until recently, even though each of my children had them for years now. But recently my father gave me his mid-priced Olympus (he didn’t like the menus), and I’ve been giving it a try. And, to my surprise, I even like it.

My favorite thing about the camera is pretty obvious - no film. My father gave me two (bless him) substantial memory cards, and I just don’t run out of film. I don’t pay to develop photos that I don’t really want now that I’ve seen them (I don’t pay to develop photos period), and since I can actually see how they look on the spot, I can delete bad shots to save the space for more. Taking lots of shots helps me improve, and improves the chances of a better than average photograph as well, and now it’s free. My camera has settings on it that allow me to pretend I have film - I can set film speed and worry about aperture/shutter speed combinations just like with my other cameras, so I can still use what I already know about photography, which I really like. And I love not having to wait to see how the pictures came out.

The other really cool thing about digital photography is photo editing. I haven’t invested in Photoshop yet, but I have my eye on the Elements program for next year. I just use Google’s free Picasa and sometimes my PhotoDeluxe editor (came free with my scanner), and even then I can do an incredible amount of really exciting things with my pictures. The best is being able to correct poor exposures (I admit, I often don’t notice backlighting). With a couple of adjustments, what would have been a throwaway photo can become a keeper! I remove red-eye easily, sharpen focus, adjust contrast, warm up colors, and remove excessive unwanted tint (such as from lamplight). Cropping is my favorite - those lucky few who have their own darkroom crop their photos routinely, but us regular folks used to have to take what we got - no longer! We can pick and choose, and glory in removing unwanted background, excess sky - we can even remove most of the shot and make it a close-up. Resizing is a snap - want some wallets? No sweat. 8×10, 5×7, some oddball size - just a simple selection will do it. And don’t forget special effects. Depending on the editor, you can turn your photo into a painting, add glow, filters, neon - your imagination can go wild!

When you have your masterpiece ready to go, you can print it on photo paper at home, or you can send it out for processing. Through Picasa, you can click and send it to a processor via the internet, and get your professionally printed photos in the mail - but only the ones you have decided you want. You can upload your photos to a web page, email them, use them in a blog or on MySpace - they are easy to share.

So, as you can see, I am a digital photography convert. There is so much fun in having this kind of control over your work that it has actually rejuvenated my love of photography. If you haven’t already converted too, think about it. It really is a blast.

adamsean9 asked:


The Sony DCR-SR45 is a lightweight camcorder with a weight of 350g (without battery). Its dimensions are 76mm wide, 77mm high and 113mm deep). Our review unit was in the usual slick silver and black design. The camcorder has a 2.7-inch wide touch screen and a 40x optical zoom. The zoom enabled microphone captures the audio clearly. Plenty of storage space is provided by its 30 GB storage space. This translates to 7 to 20 hours of recording depending on the quality setting. You can also store photos and videos to a memory slot thanks to a "hybrid stick" which offers a secondary recording option with a memory stick slot that can boost its capacity to 16GB.

The four buttons- zoom in, zoom out, home, start/stop recording are versatile when recording at low angles. It has 2 menu systems; a "Home" menu for all feature settings and an "Options" menu for functions available for video and still images like recording mode, focus and white balance. The dead centre record button lets you start off easily and the dial fits in line with the thumb. Power and activity buttons are above this. It also has a "Quick On" button, which moves it from the standby mode. The "stills" button is located on top. And rocker switch for the zooming lens which allows shutter free close-ups.

Good

All features are up to the standard.

It has a responsive auto focus and good white balance.

Clean appearance with sliding door on the side, where you can find a USB port, an AV out with included cable. Another sliding door on top hides the memory card slot.

"Nightshot" capabilities

Compared to SR65, it has a larger optical zoom.

Bad

The video quality is disappointing. It is unlikable if you are used to the clarity of a HD video. It doesn’t look good even at highest quality setting until you scale it down to You Tube size.

It fails to counterpart mobile phones with maximum image size of 0.3 megapixels.

It cannot capture shake free images and for taking close-ups, tripod is always required as it lacks optical image stabilization.

Performance drop in capturing dim light images.

Sometimes the images are blurred even in LCD screen.

Bottom line

The DCR-SR45 is not better than other entry level cams. The image quality is reasonable but not good enough for most people. It is affordable, but there are even cheaper models with better performances. The total package is up to the standard except for the video quality. It is adequate for beginners and budget shoppers interested in MiniDV.

Roland Jefferson asked:


So what is Kodak digital cameras really all about? The following report includes some fascinating information about Kodak digital cameras–info you can use and benefit from.

Kodak digital cameras have earned a solid reputation for cutting edge technology and durability among both experts and novices. Combining intuitive engineering and advanced features of digital cameras, Kodak offers a product that has everything from ‘point and shoot’ to high zoom as well as compact models that are robust in features and high on performance. A very recent example of this is the very popular Kodak EasyShare digital camera that allows one to take quality photos and share them instantly. It provides the user with amazing prints of up to 20 x 30 inches that this 6.1 megapixel camera outputs.

Another amazing technological feature of this Kodak digital camera is it’s ability to transfer pictures as well as videos to a computer without a USB cable and is compatible with in-home Wi-fi Networks and most public hot spots. The Kodak digital camera can typically be purchased for $200 and it is a highly recommended piece of photographic equipment that should be acquired for greater convenience as well as connectivity.

It has a 3 inch high-resolution rotating display and can store as many as 1500 pictures using 256 MB of internal memory and since it is Wi-fi ready, pictures can be sent and shared from the memory of the camera. In addition to this, wireless photography technology has made it much easier to stay connected as well email pictures to friends and love ones using this Kodak digital camera and also view the gallery albums on the camera itself.

Kodak Easyshare C875 Zoom Digital Camera

The Kodak Easyshare C875 Zoom Digital Camera is a point and shoot version that allows one to get close to what is important and allows the user to take panoramic view shots with ease. Its exceptional 8.0 megapixel resolution allows the user to get exceptional quality prints because more pixels allows one to crop as well as enlarge the photographs while retaining the great image quality. It also allows the user to get prints up to 30 x 40 inches.

Its Kodak Color Science Chip gives the user rich as well as vibrant colors under different lighting conditions and no matter how one chooses to print images, this Kodak digital camera would provide exceptional quality as well as pictures that would last for a long time. It also has 2.5 inches indoor/outdoor color display as well as Kodak Perfect Touch technology and a smart scene mode plus advanced video features as well as panorama stitch mode and retails for under $250.

I hope that reading the above information was both enjoyable and educational for you. Your learning process should be ongoing–the more you understand about Kodak digital cameras, the more you will be able to share with others.

Andrew Malek asked:


Especially in today’s troublesome economy, with the high prices of digital cameras, rechargeable batteries, tripods, filters, and other accessories, you might be tempted to save some money by purchasing cheaper, generic digital camera media. And why not? Photos taken with cheaper media should look just the same as those taken with more expensive media, as long as the files get written correctly. Your JPG images will not come out more pixilated, and uncompressed TIFF and RAW files will contain the same information.

However, “saving money” has a few potential downsides:

* Brand name digital camera memory cards may be faster than their generic equivalents. If your digital camera supports the faster write speeds, you can take photos quicker by not waiting as long for your digital camera to store information onto the media. This is especially important if you wish to use drive mode and take multiple images in quick succession, useful for sporting events, wildlife photography, and other situations involving fast-moving subjects.

* Brand name digital camera memory may prove to be more reliable. On some generic memory I have used, even though the media did not outright fail, if you shot multiple photos quickly the memory card could ‘hang’, causing some photos to be lost. Since the photos were never successfully written to the media, they were unrecoverable.

* Brand name digital camera media may have limited warranties. If the media proves to be defective within a certain period of time after the purchase, it might be possible to get a replacement memory card. Some warranties may provide replacements at no charge; others might require modest shipping and handling charges.

Even with limited warranties, however, any lost photos on the defective media may remain lost. In some instances, media recovery applications may help. While I don’t vouch for any particular software package, publishers include DataRescue, Jufsoft, and MediaRECOVER.

* Brand name digital camera memory may be rated to handle better in extreme conditions (hot and cold environments), useful if you plan on mountain climbing or shooting photos at a beach or desert. Of course, in such environments you may deal with other weather-related problems such as faster-draining batteries and condensation forming on the camera lens.

* Even if you want to purchase brand name digital camera memory, you may be tempted to purchase such media from lesser known stores, online outlets, or auction sites. After purchasing items at some establishments (though certainly not all), you might find yourself with counterfeit memory, generic memory repackaged as brand name! Such memory may increase the chances of data corruption, perform slower than advertised, and quite possibly damage the camera as you insert or remove the media. Plus, counterfeit memory lacks any true warranty, even if the fake packaging claims one is offered. As the adage goes, if a price is too good to be true, it just may be.

(Note that if this scam happens to you, you cannot always blame the store for the sale. It may have unknowingly purchased this memory from a fraudulent distributor.)

I am not recommending always buying the most expensive media at the most expensive retailer - the choice is yours. Some of the above potential downsides may not apply to your digital camera or your shooting conditions. You might not require faster shooting, and certainly not all generic memory will corrupt your data. However, for those truly concerned about their photos being written correctly and transferrable to backup media without incidents, paying a few extra bucks may prove to be money well spent.

Copyright 2008 Andrew Malek.