| New Cameras
Four new digital cameras have just come out that have caught my attention Canon Powershot A610/A620, Sony Cyber-shot H1, and the Kodak Easyshare P880. These cameras are good for the beginner wishing to learn photography and later move to a DSLR. |
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is a large 12x zoom (36-443mm 35mm equivalent) with image stabilization 5mp sensor with full auto and manual settings. This camera has a very large 2.5” LCD view screen. Its price is in the $499 range. Its competition is the Canon Powershot S2 IS which is a good camera with similar features but has a smaller viewing screen that can be rotated. For in-depth article on this camera go to this link http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydsch1/ |
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is a more expensive Point-n-Shot 8mp sensor with some interesting features: manual 5.8x optical zoom lens, equivalent to a 24-140mm lens on a 35mm camera (fast zoom in and out), hot shoe for an exterior flash, PC-sync connection for flash units, and seems more like a DSLR then a Point-n-Shoot. It has a wide verity of file formats: RAW, TIFF, and JPEG, with three JPEG compression settings. For an in-depth article regarding this camera go to this Image-resource link http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/P880/P880A.HTM |
Christmas Gift Ideas for the Digital Photographer
Here are some great gift ideas for people who already have a digital camera or who are getting one as a gift.
It is a good idea to always have at least two sets of rechargeable batteries for your digital camera (and keep them fully charged), one in the camera and an extra set in your camera bag. Some cameras have specific batteries made for that camera and some use AA batteries. Check your camera to see. Some cameras don’t come with batteries and/or a charger. You would then need to purchase at least one set of rechargeable batteries and a compatible charger (shop around you can save a lot of money). To learn more about rechargeable batteries and what are the better brands to use go to an article called The Great Battery Shootout! by Dave Etchells
http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACCS/BATTS/BATTS.HTM . Not all batteries are equal. If you are giving someone a digital camera for Christmas or as a gift either pre-charge the camera’s battery especially if specific to that camera; or if they take AA batteries, have two sets on hand. Regular AA batteries do not last too long in a digital camera but do work well in a pinch (advantage to cameras using AA style batteries). It would only take a few months of AA battery purchases to equal one set of rechargeable batteries and changer.
Most digital cameras come with small memory cards (a memory card is like reusable film and is what stores your photos that you take with your camera and later download to your computer). It is advisable to use at least a 512mb (megabit) memory card with a newer camera, for they that larger sized files and a small 32mb (megabit) card might only get a few photos on it.
When purchasing memory cards it is wise to purchase the fastest speed rated card that you can afford. You might not notice much difference in the speed your camera takes to store a photo, but you will notice a big difference in the downloading speed (time to transfer photos from memory card to computer). If you look on-line you can find fast (60x+)1gb (gigabit) cards for less money then a slower 512mb card at discount store or camera shop. It pays to shop around when purchasing any digital equipment and accessories.
This is a devise that hooks to your computer (USB or Firewire port) and you put your memory card from your camera into it and download your photos. The advantage is that you don’t use your cameras batteries and your camera is free to take more photos if you have a second memory card. Plus, I have found that some cameras are difficult to download photos. Not all card reader are equal. Try to get a fast card reader, one that is rated for the faster memory cards that are being produced. Here is an article that lists some of these fast card readers and how to make sure you are purchasing the faster reader (they can look almost the same and the sales persons might not even be able to tell): SanDisk ImageMate readers jump to the head of USB 2.0 class by Rob Galbraith http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-7883-7912 . As the standard digital camera takes larger sized photos (more megapixels) the faster you are going to need to transfer your photos from camera to computer.
One of the best tools for better photos is a good tripod with a quick release (one button pressed and your camera is released from the tripod). This tool is overlooked by most digital photographers either from not knowing the benefits or thinking it would be too hard to use. Most all professional scenic photographers use a tripod.
The things you are to look for in a tripod are its maximum height (it should raise to at least 60” or higher), maximum weight the tripod can hold (point-n-shot digital cameras can take a lower max weight limit then a DSLR system). Look out for a tripod that makes you lean down to look through your viewfinder. This will cause back pain after awhile and you won’t be as stable. Plus, most people range from 5’ to 6’ in height and you are best to have your camera viewing straight into your subjects’ eyes. Sometimes when taking taller persons, I will stand on a step stole or small ladder so my camera is straight at eye level with the subject. Because people are different in height, it is best to purchase a tripod from a store that you can try out various sizes and brands keeping in mind your gift receiver’s height.
It is important to keep your camera gear safe, clean and all together! This is where the proper sized camera bag comes into play. It should fit your camera and any additional pieces of camera equipment your gift receiver might have or be getting (Lenses, flashes, extra batteries and memory cards, etc.). This is another item that might be best purchased from your local camera store that way you can have the salespersons try out the camera bag with their on hand cameras and items similar to your gift receiver. It is important that the camera and equipment be secured with padded sides (sliding around inside the bag). If you can afford a Water Resistant bag all the better. If possible stay away from flashy bags that thieves might notice easily.
Tip:
With these new digital cameras taking large photo files a person will find that their current computer is now running too slow, and when they move a photo inside their photo editing software that the photo skips or jumps or worse disappears and then pops up. One cause of this could be that your computer has a “Built-in Color Card” (Color Card is the component that creates the graphics/photos/text on your monitor), which has the color card built into the computer’s “Mother Board” (main circuit board with the computer’s CPU attached). This then uses a portion of your computers RAM memory for the monitor’s picture/screen.
It is best to have a computer with a Separate “Graphics Color Card” (a card that hooks into the main circuit board and uses its own RAM memory). Most inexpensive computers don’t come with a separate “Graphics Color Card”, but with a built-in color card. Usually, if a computer lists what kind and how much memory the color card has, it has a separate color card. If you can not find listed anywhere what kind and/or size the graphics color card (RAM), then it probably has a built-in graphics color card. Your graphics performance will be slower then using a separate color card. Also, it is almost impossible to upgrade a built-in color card, but with a separate color card you just pull out the old card and put a new one in its place.
In Short, if you can afford a little more for your new computer get a separate graphics color card. They typically come in three sizes: 64mg (megabit), 128mg and 256mg. The larger the graphic color card’s memory the faster and better the graphics will run on your monitor. You will notice better performance on a computer with a good separate graphics color card then with a faster processor and a built-in graphics card. So choose carefully and ask questions when purchasing your next computer.
Happy Holidays and Great Photography
Duane Brovan
