Digital Photo Tips by Duane Brovan

(Article also posted in the Ridge Rider News)

Tip #15: Hot New Digital Products

The “PMA” (Photo Marketing Association) has their annual convention this time of year and most all the New Year’s hottest digital photography products are announced. It seems as if all the top camera manufactures plan all year to show their latest technology at this show. Many new digital lenses have been announced at the “PMA 2005 Show”, as well as, many new point and shoot cameras go to: www.dpreview.com/articles/pma2005 for more. This year a product was announced that I have to mention the “Canon 350D” (Digital Rebel XT), but no information on when it will be on the market. This is the replacement for the “Canon 300D” (Digital Rebel). Canon has taken a so, so DSLR (Digital Through the Lens) camera and turned it into the camera for almost all advanced amateurs and semi-pro photographers. This camera gives you “Bang for your Buck” with a list price of $899 for the body and $999 for the body with a lens. Here are a few of the improvements over the “ 300D”: 8.0 megapixel CMOS sensor which is second generation, a new faster and improved processor (DIGIC II), instant power-on, faster shutter release and shorter blackout time, increase shooting speed (3 fps-frames per second), a buffer of 14 Jpeg photos, smaller body, lighter weight, E-TTL II flash, 9 custom functions, color or B&W photo setting, improved white balance, and much more. For a full list of these improvements and to see the camera go to www.dpreview.com/articles/canoneos350d/page3.asp or go to my web site www.duanebrovan.com/digitaltips/ and click on tip #15 and then on the dpreview.com link.

The top camera brands seem to constantly go back and forth on the best cameras. When this camera hits the market Canon will be the leader in beginning level DSLRs for now, and you can bet Nikon is working on something better. Before the announcement of the “Digital Rebel XT” Nikon had the beginning DSLR market lead with the “D70”. When purchasing a DSLR one has to remember they are not only purchasing a camera body but all the lenses that could go with that camera as the photographer grows. So look at the type of lenses that are offered by each main camera brand and find the one that will suit your current needs and future possible needs. As I have been told by many photographers “purchase the glass (lens) and don’t be as concerned with the camera body” in other words look at the lenses offered for that digital camera because the camera body is going to change all the time, but good lenses last a lifetime. Plus, without a good lens the best camera would probably only take average photos.

For the advanced amateur or Professional photographers a new Photo printer has just come out the “Epson Stylus Photo R1800 Printer”. This printer is similar to the “Epson Stylus Photo R800 Printer”, but prints a 13 inch wide Glossy or Matte Photo print that last 100-200 years. It uses UltraChorme Hi-Gloss™ eight-color pigment inks and a Gloss Optimizer that coats the photo. The list price should be $549 and can use 4”x6” to 13”x19” size papers. For digital photographers that are worried if their prints will last, this is the printer for you! For more information on the digital photo process go to web link: www.duanebrovan.com/digitaltips or go to www.GoShingletown.com and click on the Free Digital Tips Icon. Duane Brovan is available for digital photo consultations and tutoring: Call 474-4041 Email: Duane@DuaneBrovan.com Visit: www.duanebrovan.com/digitaltips.