Finding A Digital Camera: How to Get A Deal

HOW TO FIND THE BEST DIGITAL CAMERA

It seems that every month, if not every week, different manufacturers are coming up with the latest digital cameras to entice potential clients. And it's just not working for us!

After spending sizeable amount of time at the mall figuring out which is the best digital camera for us, we finally have enough money to buy for that eye-popping, 7 mega pixel, 10x digital zoom, potable, candy colored, up to 512MB expandable memory of super hi-speed SD memory card and not to mention very portable, (that will be the envy of almost everyone we know). We march to the mall armed with our life savings and lotsa pride in ourselves, when we pass by a new display - an eight mega pixel, up to 1G expandable memory, with built it mic and stereo surround, video playback capable, with 22 scenic modes kind-of-camera. And we sigh because the producer of this amazing gadget claims that this is the best digital camera yet out in the market. Since we'd like to get the best, we attempt to buy such a camera." But then again, that doesn't last too long, after two months or so, there's another "best digital camera."

This can be confusing. What makes a digital camera, the best digital camera?

When looking for the best digital camera, there are certain features we can choose from to help us make a good choice

MEGAPIXELS. One of the most important features of digital camera to make it into the best digital camera category is its mega pixel property. The higher the mega pixels the better the actual photograph will come out. A mega pixel is equivalent to one million pixels. The resolution of your image is based upon the mega pixel property of your camera. This means that as you enlarge the picture, you would get more detail and less blurry colors.

LCD SIZE. A good digital camera will have a nice, bright, large, and colorful LCD. Some cameras have touch up and image editing features accessible from the LCD. A 1.5-inch display is average, a 2-inch LCD display is good, but the best LCD size would be 2.5 inches or higher.

ZOOM. Digital and optical zoom comes standard on most digital cameras. Optical zoom is superior to digital zoom in every way. Digital cameras are usually furnished with optical of between 3x to 10x. The better the optical zoom, the higher it climbs up to the best digital camera category.

CHOOSING A MEMORY CARD. Be sure that you get the right type of memory card for your camera. There are different types of memory card like the xD, SD, Flash card and the likes. Each digital camera has its own type of memory card. of course memory storage is also up there in choosing the best digital cameras. Getting the right amount of memory is critical. You can get memory cards in sizes up to 8 gigs, and growing every day.

Finding the best digital camera is all about finding one that fits your unique needs. Don't just buy the latest or the one that claims they are the best digital cameras out in the market. You wouldn't want to buy a cheap digital SLR and use it with your home activities or family outing and have to lug it around?! Or you don't want to buy the latest point and shoot camera when you're serious about being a professional photographer. (This works for beginners, but if you're a more advanced photographer, you'll want to move up.)

Getting a camera that you actually enjoying using is the best choice. Not the type that you'll just leave rotting in its box or after a few weeks of usage or so, up there in the attic.

Full Frame vs. Crop Digital SLRs: How to Choose

When looking to buy a DSLR, the issue of sensor size comes up very often. As you probably know, the sensor in a digital camera is responsible for capturing the image. Since DSLRs have much higher quality sensors than digital point and shoots, SLRs are able to achieve much better image quality. In general, the bigger the sensor, the better the image quality.

Because a larger sensor also means a greater cost, SLR manufacturers have to compromise. Ideally, a digital SLR sensor would be exactly the same size as a frame of 35mm film. However, the cost of producing a sensor like this is so high that most manufacturers decided to create a smaller sized sensor, one that is a fair amount smaller than a full sized sensor. This creates the so called "crop factor"

This crop factor is usually a number around 1.5. Basically, this means that if you were to look at a full 35mm frame, the crop sensor would only capture a 1.5x crop of the frame. This means that you're basically getting a "closer" view with an equivalent focal length. This means that your wide angle lenses will be less wide, and that your telephoto lenses will have more reach. For every given focal length, be sure to note that the depth of field will remain the same.

For many photographers, these crop sensors work great. If you're into sports, wildlife, or any telephoto heavy photography discipline, the extra "reach" you get from the crop sensor really comes in handy at times. You can also get extremely affordable crop frame bodies, such as Nikon's D40. These cameras are a real boon to amateur photographers.

However, full frame sensors still hold a serious advantage in many real world situations. As I said before, bigger equals better when it comes to image quality. Full frame sensors can deliver a much sharper, smooth image at higher ISOs than a cropped sensor can. This is great for those working in low light conditions. Full frame bodies offer the broadest range of wide angle lens options for those photographers who utilize them often.  New cameras such as the Canon 5D Mark II make it easier to afford these cameras, as well.

Overall, choosing your sensor format shouldn't be the only factor that you take into account when choosing a new camera, but it should be a major one. The image quality and dim light capabilities of a full frame sensor will blow you mind, if you can handle the price. Otherwise, you might be better off saving your money and getting a cropped sensor camera. Either way, you can still take great pictures.

Digital Cameras: How To Undelete Photographs

It's quick and easy to erase photos from your digital camera. Maybe because your camera's designers wanted an easy way to delete photos while they were testing the design. A couple of clicks and that unwanted photo is gone forever. Trouble is, it's also quick and easy to delete a photo instead of keeping it, for later transfer to your PC or your Flickr account. or even worse, you've answered "yes" to the question that needed to know if you wanted to format your complete camera memory card contents. Blast!

If the file was on your PC you'd likely go into the recycle bin and resurrect the accidentally deleted photo.

Unfortunately, you can't normally do the same on your digital camera. Does this problem mean that the photos you took so much time taking are now just digital dust?

Luckily, the answer to that question is "no".

But you need to be cautious. Camera memories work much the same way as hard disks. The available files in the menu are ones that you haven't deleted. But the filing system is lazy and hasn't really deleted the file yet. Instead, it's just given itself a note that the space is available to be used again.

Which means if you've deleted a photo in error, don't do anything else on your camera before you've done your best to retrieve your lost work of art.

There's a simple piece of software that you can download which will come to the rescue.

All you need to do is connect your camera to your PC in the same way as you would to download photos from it. Then click the "next" button on the software. You can see the software in action here.

The undelete photo software works to retrieve individual photos, complete memory cards (for instance, if you've accidentally formatted your memory card) and also has a high rate of success with those annoying errors that can affect memory cards.

It's as simple as that to get back all those photos that you thought had been lost forever.

You can download this easy to use photo recovery sofware here.

Caring For Your Digital Camera

If you're out taking pictures and a problem arises, it's not always easy to fix it.However, there's a better way!As you've no doubt often heard, "The best defense is a good offense.”  And the best offense here is to avoid problems with your digital camera in the first place.

 

That’s not to say things aren’t going to happen that are unexpected and unavoidable.Many common problems photographers have out in the field, however, could be avoided with just a little planning.

 

Dead Batteries

 

There’s nothing worse than missing that great picture because the camera battery died.The best policy is to always keep extra batteries in your camera case.It's not an issue of whether you use regular or rechargeable batteries, it's a matter of needing to always keep at least one spare.. 

 

Also, bear in mind that if you’re outside shooting in cold weather, your batteries will die a lot quicker.In the case of running around in cold weather, digital batteries just don't last as long, so it might be better to have a couple extra batteries instead of just one.

 

Yes, batteries are expensive, but it’s worth the spending a little extra money to keep from beating your head against the wall because a dead battery made you miss that once in a lifetime shot. 

 

 

When Cards Go Bad

 

A while back I went on vacation and took all my pictures on one card.I thought I had lots of wonderful pictures from my trip.I knew that card was full of memorable pictures. 

 

The scenery was indeed breathtaking, but what really took my breath away was when I tried to load the pictures onto my computer and got one of those dreaded “ERROR” messages.The card wasn't any good and all the files were corrupted.If the computer can't read the files, you don't have any pictures.

 

While it doesn’t happen often, cards can and do go bad.Easing this disaster is why it's smarter to have two or more smaller cards instead of one great big memory card.If you're thinking of buying a 2-GB card, for example, get a couple of 1-GB cards instead. 

 

Yes, it’s cheaper to buy a huge bunch of gigabytes on one card.But what are your pictures worth? If you lose that one card, you've lost ALL your pictures.Be sure you don't make that mistake.Saving PART of your pictures is better than losing ALL your pictures. 

 

Remember, two cards are better than one.

 

 

It’s Raining, It’s Pouring

 

The weather isn’t cooperating, or maybe you just like pictures of rain.Maybe you're somewhere else with a lot of moisture in the air, like on the seashore or in a boat.  You want to take pictures but you don’t want to ruin your camera.How can you keep your camera dry?

 

Well, you can buy protective gear to keep in your camera case for such times.  Places like B & H Photo or Calumet Photographic stores carry waterproof cases.If you only need waterproof casing once in a while, you might not want to spend that much money.

 

For a make-do solution, carry a clear plastic bag in your camera case to keep water off your camera.  If you’re traveling and don’t have a plastic bag in your camera case, grab one of those clear disposable shower caps and use it.

 

Planning Ahead Saves Your Sanity

 

If planning ahead doesn’t save your sanity, it will at least improve your chances for good pictures with your digital camera.A dry camera, charged batteries and extra memory cards will at least give you the opportunity to try for good shots.

 

And that’s why you bought a digital camera in the first place, right?

Canon EOS 5D Digital SLR Camera Reviewed

The Canon EOS 5D Digital SLR Camera is unlike any previous digital SLR camera in that it combines a full-frame 35-mm sized high resolution sensor with 12.8 mega pixels and includes a relatively compact body size. The EOS 5D is a professional digital SLR. This camera has the obvious professional appeal to those who want a high quality digital SLR in a light camera body.

The sensor is 35.8x23.9 mm CMOS with 12.8 million effective pixels and no FOV crop. Image sizes vary between 4368x2912, 3168x2112 and 2496x1664. The auto-focus comes with a 9-point TTL, 6 “invisible assist AF points”, 0.5 to 18 EV working range and within the spot metering circle. Metering modes vary from evaluative 35 zone, center-weighted average, 1.0 to 20 EV metering range, spot and partial. There are number different image parameters and they include the following Picture Styles: Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome, User 1, User 2 and User 3. The View Finder offers 96% frame coverage and 0.71x magnification. The focusing screen can be changed also. The LCD monitor is a 2.5 inch TFT LCD with wide viewing angles and 230,000. The shutter release offers a soft touch and the histogram comes in both luminance and RGB.

There are seven different kind of shooting modes including: Auto, Program AE, Shutter Priority AE, Aperture Priority, Manual, Bulb and Custom. The continuous speed offers up to 3 frames per second. This camera also features a unique playback jump of 10 images, 100 images, all by date and folder on screen. There are 21 different custom functions with 57 settings. With battery the camera weighs 2 pounds and without 1.8 pounds. Images can be viewed at a larger size by a small magnifying glass icon on the bottom right corner of the image on the screen. Clicking on the image will display a larger image in a new window. To navigate around pictures, simply use the next/previous page buttons to jump to any section. To skip to a particular section, pick the section from the drop down menu or select it from the navigation bar located at the top of the screen.

The EOS 5D features a super responsive DIGIC II processor that enables quick and effortless high-quality picture taking along with a USB 2.0 high-speed transfer that is compatible with the WFT-E1 wireless transmitter.

The MSRP is $3299 and there is no doubt that this camera will be of great interest to a wide variety of photographers. Save money on the Canon EOS 5D

.

Canon EOS Digital REBEL XTi 400D Camera

The Canon EOS Digital REBEL XTi 400D Camera is the successor to the best selling EOS 350D. It combines a number of highly anticipated advancements along with a few stylish surprises.

The Canon EOS Digital REBEL XTi 400D Camera now features a larger, 2.5 inch screen and Canon’s Picture Styles. This new Canon model features a 10.1 Mega Pixel CMOS sensor. This easily makes this Canon model the highest resolution digital SLR with an EF-S lens mount. The Canon digital SLR also features a self-cleaning censor which removes dust particles. Reference frames can also be tagged to images that require automatic removal of more difficult dust particles. This is achieved later on through supplied software.

These features places the Canon EOS Digital Rebel Xti 400D above it’s own higher end EOS 30D, in terms of resolution and dust-elimination technology. It has a similar nine-point AF system to the 30D’s. This camera is a much more significant upgrade than anyone had previously expected. The new sensor allows this camera to compete on the same levels against two of it’s toughest rivals, the Nikon D80 and the Sonly Alpha A100.

The Canon EOS 400D/Rebel Xti is a fantastic entry level digital SLR. It features high resolution without compromising noise levels and has a bigger screen, which doubles for detailed shooting information. The AF system offers fast overall handling. The only thing that’s missing is a lens that is bundled with Image Stabilization. The Canon 400D/Rebel Xti is a great camera that produces excellent image quality and is by far one of the best budget digital SLR camera’s to date.

Other improvements include:

-Custom auto-rotation
-Photo editing functions plus index print options
-Improved Share/Print function
-Faster image processing
-More precise 9-point AF system
-Better grip
-Improved overall interface
-2.5 inch, 230,000 pixel LCD with 160-degree viewing angle
-Picture Style settings for quick color mode changes
-Great buffer depth of 27 Large/Fine JPEGs or 10 RAW frames
-A folder that holds up to 9,999 images
-Print/share buttons
-IR detection turns off LCD to help reduce glare or battery drainage
-Picture styles makes choosing and customizing of color modes fast and easy
-Fully compatible with over 50 lenses and accessories

Ultimately, the Canon Rebel 400D Xti is an improvement of an already superb digital camera. With Canon’s latest innovations, making digital SLR photography more versatile. This camera offers great improvements, features and value, making it an excellent choice for anyone wishing to capture great-looking photography.

Canon Digital Cameras

With so many different cameras out there for you to choose from, it might be difficult for you to come to any sort of decision when you’re buying a new camera. But the truth is, whether you prefer an old crank-and-shoot manual camera (which is out of date!), or a new point-and-shoot digital camera, you can’t go far wrong with the new breed of Canon digital cameras.

Since Canon is a worldwide name, the quality and excellence of these cameras is undisputed. That’s why, when you buy any one of the Canon digital cameras, you’re assured of getting the best possible camera for your money.

This also means that with Canon digital cameras, you can choose the right camera to suit your level of expertise as Canon digital cameras range from the easy to handle point-and-shoot varieties, to the more complex SLR cameras which gives you the option of taking full control of the whole picture.

And with a number of features to be found on just about all of the Canon digital cameras, be they the simple family-fun type of cameras or the more professional-photographer type of cameras, you can be sure to find many options available to make the process of photography a fun and easy thing.

These Canon digital cameras are also good if you’re a novice photographer with ambitions to rise to the very top of your profession. The range available from the Canon digital cameras gives you the ability to choose something relatively simple and easy on the pocket, but which will also help you to take professional looking photographs.

If you look through the many Canon digital cameras available you will find that a host features such as digital macro mode, night shot, AE compensation, Exposure lock, and changeable image formats are mostly standard, as are such things as the ability to change ISO ratings, Histograms, Center-weighted and Evaluated metering, and adjustable white balance.

You also have the option of using fully automatic mode, fully manual mode, aperture priority mode, or shutter priority mode to take your photographs, along with the option available for you to use one of the pre-programmed modes such as Kids and Pets, Sports, Indoor, Beach, Fireworks, Snow, Underwater, Portrait or Night shot.

With this many features packed into the Canon digital cameras and more, you would be forgiven for thinking that the cameras would be weighty and bulky, when in fact the opposite is true. In the main, they are all very light and also designed with ergonmics in mind in order that they are easy to handle.

Although there are lots of reasons that lead the comsumers to purchase Canon digital cameras, this is just another reason.

Digital Photography Tips for Tack Sharp Pictures

A photograph can have all sorts of good things, but it's most important for it to be in sharp focus.Just a small amount of blur can make a picture so-so, no matter how good the lighting, color and subject.

Photographers have somewhat varying opinions on what constitutes a tack sharp picture, but generally, a tack sharp photograph has good, clean lines. The picture has clear definition, instead of a soft blending of lines, or even downright blurry.

There are several things you can do to increase your chances of getting that coveted tack sharp picture.

Hand-Held Digital Photography Tips

If you’re hand-holding your camera, brace your arms against your sides to help steady the camera.This is the time to have your camera's anti-shake technology such as Vibration Reduction (VR) or Image Stabilization (IS) lens turned on.

You can also lean against a wall or tree or whatever sturdy object that’s handy, and help keep yourself and your camera steady.Putting you camera against or on some readily available sturdy object will also help steady the camera.

Steadying your camera by hooking the strap under your elbow and wrapping the rest around your forearm will also help stabilize the camera and hold it steady in your hand.

Getting those tack sharp photos while hand-holding your camera can be difficult, so to increase your chances of getting that perfect shot, use the burst or continuous shooting mode on your camera to take several shots at once.With several pictures taken in quick sequence, there's a greater chance at least one will be in sharp focus.

Tripods For Better Focus

There’s no getting around the fact that it’s easier to get a tack sharp photo using a tripod. You just can’t hold the camera as steady as a tripod will.With most photography equipment, you get what you pay for, and a tripod is no different. A cheap tripod will help, but won’t hold your camera rock steady like a more expensive tripod will.To get the best results, you need to buy the best tripod you can.

The more expensive tripods don’t come with the head attached.This must be bought separately, but then you can choose which you like best.To keep your camera from sliding, a good quality ballhead is a must for your tripod, and will help you get that sharp photo.

If you’re somewhere that carrying a tripod just won’t work, beanbags make a nice cushion for cameras in these settings. They cushion your camera, helping to steady it and increase your ability to situate the camera to focus on the subject you want.

To improve your chances of a tack sharp photo even more, use a cable release instead of pressing the shutter. It may not seem like much, but the movement from pressing the shutter will make the camera move enough to prevent getting those tack sharp photos.

If you don’t have a cable release, the self timer will also work.Although you press the shutter, the camera has time to stabilize and steady before actually taking the picture.

More Advanced Digital Photography Secrets For Sharp Shots

If you have a digital SLR camera, there are even more ways to make sure your camera stays steady while taking pictures.

The first is to use mirror lock-up. This locks your camera’s mirror in the up position so when you take a picture the mirror doesn’t move until after the picture is taken, limiting the movement inside the camera.To take a picture, the shutter release button must be pressed twice on the remote or cable release (you aren't going to all this trouble and pressing the shutter release on the camera are you?). The first press lifts the mirror and the second press actually takes the picture.

The second method is to turn off the Vibration Reduction or Image Stabilization.Though it sounds counter productive, once a camera is stabilized with the tripod and other methods, the vibration reduction keeps looking for movement.Vibration reduction can actually cause some shaking looking for movement that isn't there.The best rule is to keep any kind of automatic vibration controls turned off when using a tripod, then turn them back on when hand-holding the camera.

One last way to increase the sharpness of your pictures is to have good glass. The lens you use makes a big difference.Like so many things, you get what you pay for. A quality lens with good glass is expensive, but worth it.Consider it an investment in great photography.

Use as many methods as you can to steady your camera, and you’ll have a much better chance of getting those lovely tack sharp photographs.

Canon EOS 40D Digital SLR Review

The Canon EOS 40D Digital SLR offers two configurations: the body only and a kit with a 3.5-5.6, 28mm to 145 mm IS USM lens. The camera’s 1.6x focal-length multiplier adds an angle of view equivalent to that of a 44.8mm- 216 mm lens on a 35 mm camera.Image via Wikipedia

The Canon EOS 40D Digital SLR features a larger LCD monitor at 3inches and the body size of the camera is 4.2x5.7x2.9 inches. The weight of the camera is about 1.8 pounds. The body feels very solid and well made. Dust and weatherproofing technologies are also added to this camera. This camera also features an integrated sensor-cleaning system that’s similar to the Mark III series of camera’s. A Dust Delete Data option enables the camera to fully analyze and remember where the dust is places to algorithmically remove it from each individual picture.

The larger LCD offers a variety of advantages. The Jump, Review, Delete and New Picture Styles buttons are located just below the LCD rather than to the side, making the buttons a bit smaller than with previous models. The only disadvantage to this is that to some, they may be harder to use and press. The Metering/WB, ISO/Flash compensation, AF/Drive and LCD backlight buttons are also a bit difficult to differentiate, due to size.

On the positive side, the 40D has bigger, more tactile dial modes, with three slots for user settings. The grip of the camera has also been redesigned, adding curved indentation, making it easy to touch with your middle finger white shooting. The menu system has also been redesigned, making it much easier to read and navigate.

New features has also been included, like the Live View mode, which features a better, more flexible implementation of functions. With this camera, pictures show excellent dynamic range, with no visible clipping in the highlights or shadows.

The Canon 40D is a great camera overall and will remain an excellent choice compared to other dSLR’s in and around it’s price class. The Canon EOS 40D Digital SLR ultimately delivers better photo quality than it’s competitors.

The good: Superior shooting quality and speed amongst other Dslr’s, this camera offers first-rate photo quality.

The bad? The spot size for spot meter is rather large and relatively sluggish in low-light focus situations.

Overall, the 40D offers great photo quality and excellent continuous-shooting performance. At 10.1 mega pixels and a price tag of $1,099, this camera is a great value for such a highly advanced professional camera.

Visit Best Digi Cam Review for more camera reviews

Olympus Compact Digital Camera

Weather proof Olympus compact digital camera

Olympus Compact Digital Cameras- The Smart Way to Go!

If robust is what you are looking for in a compact digital cameras, durability, reliabilty, great picture, then an olympus compact digital camera is what you are looking for. These cameras come in the FE, Stylus, StylusSW, SP, and E series. All of which boast great picture quality, power, zoom capbility, and most importantly price! My wife and I received an Olympus Photo Camera 12 years ago for our wedding, best one we ever had, and still have to this day. Digital cameras as you know put to rest these older cameras, and have launched a new era in picture taking that can casue more memories to be taken and secured on disk for may years to come without concern of picture degradation. The E-Series Olympus compact digital cameras come with a dust reduction system that keeps your photos dust free.

If you are the adventurous sort who loves new challenges then you’ll love Olympus compact digital cameras. They come in megapixel ranges between 7 and 12, with Optical zoom ranges from 3x to 20x. The price range of these olympus compact digital cameras range from $100.00 to $1000.00. Some people do not need more than a good olympus compact digital camera that will take great pictures and one that can endure a little rough handling as well.

You can now use Olympus compact digital cameras to capture video recording. They capture avi. file formats in a couple of FPS, frames per second modes. Quictime will be a good software to use to playback your video on computer. Other competitors like Panasonic compact digital cameras have boasted about this feature but Olympus compact digital cameras have mastered this.

Olympus compact digital cameras also boast in image quality with anti-blur and stabilization capabilities second to none. You can be sure of capturing everyone’s face with this tool. It will correctly focus on everyone’s face and ensures the correct level of exposure in group shots. You can expect the best with Olympus compact digital cameras.

When you search at their main website for these cameras, you are suprised to see such great capabilities in a digital camera for such great prices. I mean waterproof and shock resistant? Taking pictures under water for under a $1000.00? Weather proof Olympus compact digital cameras are a great steal for anyone wanting to get started in the digital camera arena. You can't loose when they are this cheap at high quality.

When Artificial Light Is Needed For Digital Photos

The available light can make or break a picture.The amount of light in a photograph will greatly affect both the looks and the emotional feel of the picture.When a picture is brightly lit, it has a more cheerful feel to it than a picture that is darker and may seem gloomy at worst, or mysterious at best.

Traditional photography captured the light by impressions on chemicals, while digital photography uses pixels to capture light.If you can use natural lighting, that's good. However, it's not always available. When the available light isn’t enough, it’s time to resort to artificial lighting.

How Much Light Is There?

While you can see for yourself to some extent how much light is available, to get precise measurements you need a light meter. Light meters are not the same thing as flashes.A light meter will tell you how much light is reflected, but does not actually provide any light.

A handheld light meter will measure the light and was once a standard part of any serious photographer’s equipment. However, since most digital cameras have a built-in light meter, you can tell when you look through the eyepiece how bright your picture will be.The built-in light meter of today's cameras will set off the automatic flash when it's too dark for a good photograph.

Histograms Instead of Light Meters

Also, with digital cameras, it’s not so important to have a light meter because most have a histogram.Histograms can be used in a similar fashion since a histogram shows how light or dark a picture is.

If you don’t have a histogram on your camera, or just don’t want to fuss with it, the simplest method is to take a picture and review it to see how it looks, and if it’s too dark or light, adjust by adding more light or lowering the amount of light.

A lot of practice and a lot of patience will help you get the best lighting for your photographs.

Digital Photography generally provides easier ways to take photographs

The use of film cameras rather than digital cameras is becoming much less popular. Some amateurs, and even more professional photographers still prefer to stick with their favourite film cameras. With the ongoing advances in technology, digital cameras can now take as good, if not better photographs with a lot less hassle, and certainly less ongoing expense.Image by Getty Images via Daylife

There are many types of photography, some of the main categories being portrait, landscape and action. These can then be sub-divided into other categories, and sometimes the camera you use will be different depending upon the type of photograph you are taking. A Digital Photography Tutorial can be found for all types.

Portrait photography can cover a wide number of subjects including family, wedding, child, maternity, formal etc. etc. Each of these can usually use much the same equipment, although accessories for backgrounds may sometimes need to be different. I would generally ask your subjects what they require and where they would like their portraits taken before embarking on any detailed plans. This is especially important when preparing for family photography. Even a moderately inexpensive cameras can be sufficient. You can view your photographs as you take them and even when you are happy with the images you have taken you are still able to edit them with the use of a special programme on your computer. No more messy processing, air brushing and printing!

Digital Landscape photography can be equally complex. Although one thinks of this as just taking photographs of views, it can cover a variety of other tecniques such as close-up photography of plants or other parts of the landscape. The use of filters can can still be used with digital cameras although they are not always necessary, since the required effect can often be obtained on the computer during processing and printing. Macro photography is much easier with a digital camera as it can be easier to stay in focus close up.

Action photography is by far the most difficult technique to learn, as it requires a good eye, fast reflexes and good judgement of speeds etc. A good , fast digital camera is required as the less expensive versions can often take a long time to start (a few seconds is to long for this sort of photography. You need immediate control.) Again, a digital camera is a lot more rewarding and inexpensive than cameras with film etc. It costs next to nothing to take photographs with a digital camera so that you can take many photographs of the same action and one at least should satisfy your image of what you want. {This would have been much more expensive with the cost of films and processing in past times}{Even though film has generally been cheap, it is still more expensive than digital}. What’s more, with digital photography you can instantly see what you have taken and dispose of those images which do not reach your expectations.

To improve your skills, digital photograhy tips can be found freely on the web

Brian the Photographer

Canon Digital Cameras Are Tops

digital camera zoom

Canon is famous across the continent for information systems and imaging equipment. Their many products include copiers, printers, lenses, camcorders, semiconductors, and of course Canon digital cameras.

The latest high end canon digital camera is the PowerShot SX110 IS. This is a 10.0 mega pixel Canon digital camera that features a 12x optical zoom and a 4x digital zoom. It is made with an Optical Image Stabilizer that all but eliminates shaking of the camera for those who have nervous hands when taking shots. The UD lens provides amazing color accuracy throughout the digital zoom cameras area.

As with many digital cameras nowadays, the SX100 can record moving pictures. Such is the same with others in the same family like the Canon SLR digital camera. Now with another first, the SX110 allows you to record moving pictures, and there no use for missing a perfect image incorporated with that moving picture. With the Movie Snap feature, just snap away when you see that perfect image, and it will be saved in your canon digital camera along with the recorded video.

This canon digital camera is also equipped with the DIGIC II Image processor that is designed to increase processing speed and image quality. It instantly says that with the DIGIC II, your canon digital camera has faster start-up time, playback and auto focus while giving your images the absolute brilliance.

The SX110 also support USB 2.0 Hi-speed standard, when transferring files to and from your computer with ease. With the USB 2.0, you can take advantage of your super hi-speed SD card.

This canon digital camera is also supplied with a 1.8 inch LCD power saving and fold out screen that’s 115,000 pixel resolution. SX100 shoots at 30 frames per second; this shooting rate can be reduced when taking pictures in night display, to give you the brightness that you need when taking pictures.

On the other hand, the latest point and shoot canon digital camera is the PowerShot SD950.

The SD500 is the first 7.1 mega pixel canon digital camera that gives amazing images and absolutely to die for details. It has a 3x optical zoom that enables close up shooting with a 37-111mm equivalent with a 35mm film camera. This is one of the new perpetual curve design for a canon digital camera that fits the hands perfectly.

With an ultra slim design, you'll be amazed at the 2 inch LCD that makes playback a breeze.

It also comes with the same DIGIC II Image Processor that are found in other Canon cameras. It also comes with a high-speed SD card which is USB 2.0 compatible.

Even better than most digital cameras out there, this gadget can shoot moving images to up to 60 frames per second- perfect for moving objects (especially in sports) and a 30 frames per second for shooting still images. Furnished with scene modes like portrait (blurs the background and focuses on your subject), foliage (perfect for foliage, greenery or blossoms), beach (sunny shots without the dark faces), underwater (reduced background scatter. Tip: you can always buy waterproof case for shooting underwater images), fireworks, night snapshot, kids and pets, indoor, snow and digital macro (larger than life images).

This canon digital camera even enables you to customize and correct as you shoot. With modes like lightening skin tones, positive film, darker skin tones and others, you can never go wrong with using a canon digital camera.

Light Meters And Histograms

For the best pictures, good lighting is very important.The looks of a picture is greatly affected by the amount of light. It even makes a difference in the emotional feel of the photo.If the picture is dark, it may seem gloomy, or perhaps it might seem mysterious. Pictures with brighter lighting appear more cheerful.Image via Wikipedia

Traditional photography captured the light by impressions on chemicals, while digital photography uses pixels to capture light.The best light is natural, but sometimes there's not enough available for a good picture.If you don't have enough light to illuminate the subject of your picture, it's time for artificial lighting.

How Much Light Is There?

While you can see for yourself to some extent how much light is available, to get precise measurements you need a light meter.Flashes and light meters are two different things.Light meters are made to tell how much light is being reflected off a subject, not to provide lighting.

A handheld light meter will measure the light and was once a standard part of any serious photographer’s equipment.With today's digital cameras having a built-in light meter, hand held light meters aren't so important. You can look through the viewfinder and see how bright the picture will be.The automatic flash is set off by the camera's built-in light meter when it's too dark for a good picture.

Histograms Instead of Light Meters

Also, with digital cameras, it’s not so important to have a light meter because most have a histogram.In similar fashion, a histogram shows how light or dark a picture is.

If you don’t have a histogram on your camera, or just don’t want to fuss with it, the simplest method is to take a picture and review it to see how it looks, and if it’s too dark or light, adjust by adding more light or lowering the amount of light.

The perfect lighting is there. Just practice lots, have patience, and you'll find it.

Canon EOS Digital REBEL XTi 400D Camera

The Canon EOS Digital REBEL XTi 400D Camera is the successor to the best selling EOS 350D. It combines a number of highly anticipated advancements along with a few stylish surprises.Image via Wikipedia

The Canon EOS Digital REBEL XTi 400D Camera now features a larger, 2.5 inch screen and Canon’s Picture Styles. This new Canon model features a 10.1 Mega Pixel CMOS sensor. This easily makes this Canon model the highest resolution digital SLR with an EF-S lens mount. The Canon digital SLR also features a self-cleaning censor which removes dust particles. Reference frames can also be tagged to images that require automatic removal of more difficult dust particles. This is achieved later on through supplied software.

These features places the Canon EOS Digital Rebel Xti 400D above it’s own higher end EOS 30D, in terms of resolution and dust-elimination technology. It has a similar nine-point AF system to the 30D’s. This camera is a much more significant upgrade than anyone had previously expected. The new sensor allows this camera to compete on the same levels against two of it’s toughest rivals, the Nikon D80 and the Sonly Alpha A100.

The Canon EOS 400D/Rebel Xti is a fantastic entry level digital SLR. It features high resolution without compromising noise levels and has a bigger screen, which doubles for detailed shooting information. The AF system offers fast overall handling. The only thing that’s missing is a lens that is bundled with Image Stabilization. The Canon 400D/Rebel Xti is a great camera that produces excellent image quality and is by far one of the best budget digital SLR camera’s to date.

Other improvements include:

-Custom auto-rotation
-Photo editing functions plus index print options
-Improved Share/Print function
-Faster image processing
-More precise 9-point AF system
-Better grip
-Improved overall interface
-2.5 inch, 230,000 pixel LCD with 160-degree viewing angle
-Picture Style settings for quick color mode changes
-Great buffer depth of 27 Large/Fine JPEGs or 10 RAW frames
-A folder that holds up to 9,999 images
-Print/share buttons
-IR detection turns off LCD to help reduce glare or battery drainage
-Picture styles makes choosing and customizing of color modes fast and easy
-Fully compatible with over 50 lenses and accessories

Ultimately, the Canon Rebel 400D Xti is an improvement of an already superb digital camera. With Canon’s latest innovations, making digital SLR photography more versatile. This camera offers great improvements, features and value, making it an excellent choice for anyone wishing to capture great-looking photography.

Digital Camera - Going Ultra

Ultra Compact Digital Camera

Everything is getting smaller these days even the digital camera. Going from compact digital camera to the ultra compact digital camera is not surprising. To the photographer who wants to always have his/her digital camera about them, without the hassle of all the baggage, the ultra compact digital camera is a perfect fit. You can have it in your pocket or purse it is so small. Some boast of sizes at 3.6 x 2.2 x 0.8 inches and around 5oz. in weight. These go anywhere type of digital cameras may cost more than other cameras but the convenience makes up for it.Image via Wikipedia

As small as the ultra compact digital cameras can be, like the Casio Exilim EX-S10, they pack some power and punch. Boasting as high as 10 mega-pixels, fast shooting speed and incredible durability. However, they take getting used to due to their ultra size. Be sure to read up on reviews of what other users are saying concernig their ultra compact digital camera, before purchasing one.

You will also want to pay particular attention to battery life. It is good to know when you need to charge the digital camera and how long it will last and any other accessories needed for your ultra compact digital camera.

There are many brands and models and all seem to fall in price ranges between $200.00 and $500.00. This can go up and down based on where you get it from and what features and accessories it has and you want. My friend bought one for his trip to China. It was impressive and small. The video it was able to take, the picture quality, and neat auto zoom lense, yeah, convenient at best.

Popular brands for the ultra compact digital camera include Panasonic, Canon, Cascio, Olympus, and Sony. remember to read the reviews and do a little leg work. The best ultra compact digital camera price will be obtained by doing some comparisons across several brand names and model types.