Archive for ◊ January, 2009 ◊

31 Jan 2009 The Canon EOS 5D Mark II – A Boon for Professional Photographers
Author: Maddy |  Category: Camera Features, Cameras  | One Comment

The Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR camera is the successor to Canon’s widely popular, EOS 5D cameras. Let’s explore to find out where it scores over the rest.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera features an advanced DIGIC 4 image processor that helps in faster processing of fine details, color reproduction, and reduced image noise. It also lets the camera handle large 14-bit RAW images at a speed of 3.9 frames per second. It also boasts of a new 21.1-megapixel CMOS sensor. This feature will definitely be a boon for professional photographers. It has a vast ISO sensitivity setting range of 100-6400, which is expandable, enabling you to take pictures in near-dark conditions. The large 3.0-inch LCD display is covered with anti-reflective and scratch-resistant coatings. This provides better clarity and also prevents smudging. The Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera is the first EOS camera with full high definition video capability. It can record video clips at 1920 x 1080 resolution for nearly 30 minutes.

This Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR camera has two control dials. The first dial is mounted conveniently on the top of the grip, while the second larger dial is on the back of the camera. With twin control dials, it is much faster and easier to make independent shutter speed and aperture adjustments.

With such amazing features, it is no wonder that more and more professional photographers are opting for the Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital camera.

31 Jan 2009 How to Use Your Digital Camera’s ISO Settings
Author: anneroberts |  Category: Camera Features, Cameras  | 3 Comments

Nowadays most people, from layman users to professional photographers, have switched to digital photography, with the advent of digital cameras. They range from simple, compact ones to advanced versions loaded with high-tech features. With so many new advances in digital camera technology, it is not possible to describe everything in one post. So, I will be discussing the various aspects of ISO settings alone in this post.

ISO setting is one of the most basic ways of controlling the light. Traditionally, ISO referred to film speed. As digital cameras no longer use film but instead use image sensors, the ISO equivalent is given. It primarily determines how sensitive the image sensor is to light. The common ISO settings are 100, 200, 300, and 400. Advanced models of digital cameras have ISO settings of 800, 1600, and sometimes even 3200 and 6400. To put it in simpler terms, a lower ISO number means better defined photos in low light whereas a higher ISO number means grainier ones.

Some useful tips:

• Use the lowest ISO setting to obtain the best image quality. You can easily set it from the default “Auto ISO” in the menu.

• For taking pictures where there is sufficient light, like on a sunny day, choose a low ISO setting, preferably 100 or 200.

• For indoor photography, low-light situations, or on cloudy days, you have to choose a higher ISO.

All this information regarding ISO should definitely help you take better pictures. So good luck!

17 Jan 2009 Latest Launch from Canon-PowerShot A480 Digital Cameras
Author: anneroberts |  Category: Latest Cameras  | 10 Comments

Renowned camera manufacturer Canon has come out with PowerShot A480 digital cameras at the beginning of 2009. With advanced features and easier operation, it replaces the earlier PowerShot A470. A480s have a more compact design than their predecessor; in fact they are 25% smaller than A470s. They also come in a range of fancy colors for you to choose from. A 3.3x Canon optical zoom allows you to frame shots effortlessly. The DIGIC III processor in this 10 megapixel Canon A480 compact camera reproduces images canon-powershot-a4801with amazing clarity. And if you are on the lookout for a camera that covers even the minute details, then the PowerShot A480 would be a perfect choice.

With specific buttons for tasks, like zoom, mode and playback, you don’t have to be a tech wizard to handle them. Just go ahead and click to capture your favorite moments. The Face Detection technology in these Canon PowerShot A480 cameras can detect as many as nine faces in a scene and adjusts the focus, exposure, flash settings, and white balance to give you the best possible pictures. These Canon PowerShot digital cameras also come with Motion Detection Technology, which ensures sharp images without any blur. With 15 preset shooting modes available, you can customize the settings. Be it pets, kids, or sunset, they allow you to adjust accordingly. You will enjoy taking pictures with PowerShot A480 digital cameras, which run on AA batteries. Just thrust them into your pocket and capture beautiful scenes with ease.

17 Jan 2009 Cool Features in Digital Cameras!
Author: Maddy |  Category: Camera Features  | 3 Comments

Digital cameras have totally revolutionized the way we capture and share photographs. I still remember growing up in the 80’s with regular cameras. Buying film rolls, loading them onto the camera, stocking up on additional rolls of film during vacations, and waiting for the rolls developed before you finally get the pleasure of viewing the images taken. Not anymore. All this changed with the advent of digital cameras. As you take pictures, you can not only view the pictures, but choose the ones you like and delete the rest. You can also upload them into the computer within minutes. Once the images are transferred, they can be cropped and edited and shared with everyone. This is the ease that digital cameras have brought to our lives.

These days, digital cameras come with so many cool features. I’ve listed a few of my favorites.

Digital Cameera ImageFramed Up: Many digital cameras come with face detection technology. This feature of detects faces while composing an image and then adjusts the focus and exposure accordingly. This is very useful when taking a picture of large groups or when the subject is at a distance.

Say cheese! Sony was the first to introduce smile detection in digital cameras. With the DSC-T300, featuring Sony’s “smile shutter” technology, you will never fail to miss the unexpected smiles. Once it detects a smile, it automatically activates the shooting mode. You can also choose from three smile detection levels, namely smile, grin, and great grin. You are assured of great looking pictures with many big smiles every time.

No more sleepy looks: GE Electronics is well known for digital cameras featuring blink detection facilities. Its E1050 model, with advanced blink detection technology, informs you that a picture has to be retaken, if the original has blinking subjects.

Get Closer: Fujifilm’s FinePix Z200fd features “Couple Timer”. Along with face detection, this new feature helps to determine how close the faces are before clicking the picture. You can preset the menu to “Near”, “Close-up” or “Super-Close”. Now the camera detects whether you are close enough as per the settings and snaps the picture automatically. So be it your spouse, sibling, parent, or child, cuddle up!

12 Jan 2009 All You Wanted To Know About Instant Cameras…
Author: Maddy |  Category: Types of Cameras  | 7 Comments

When most of us hear ‘instant cameras’, we tend to associate them with Polaroids. And why should we not? After all it was in 1947, that the first instant camera was developed by Edwin Land, founder of the Polaroid Corporation. It was christened as the Land Camera. From then on instant cameras became an instant hit, with Polaroid leading the race.

Technology: Instant cameras come with self-developing film. Initially, it started off with a self-developing film roll, and later, it was replaced by pack films. All the chemicals required to develop and print the photo are contained within the film itself. When you click a snap or when the photo is drawn out of the camera through rollers, the pod containing the chemicals breaks open to print the images. Typically, during development the picture should not be shaken.

Use: Instant cameras are very useful for those people who require seeing the captured images immediately. For instance fashion photographers regularly use it to review photo shoots. It has been used by dermatologists, archeologists, and architects alike. Some photographers have also exhibited instant photographs at art galleries.

Latest Innovation: The arrival of digital cameras rose as a stiff competition to instant cameras. In fact, earlier Polaroid Corporation had announced that they no longer produce instant films beyond 2008. But to overcome this obstacle, Polaroid has come up with a recent innovation. Their recent addition to the family of instant cameras is the Polaroid PoGo Instant Digital Camera. In Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on January 8th, 2009, Polaroid announced the launch of the Polaroid PoGo. This is the first digital camera and instant printer combination available. To print out the pictures, it uses ZINK Paper and Zero InkPrinting Technology from ZINK Imaging. With this superior technology there is no need for messy ribbons and cartridges. Instead this has been replaced by the ZINK paper with embedded and heat-activated dye crystals. So your photos can be printed within a minute and they are dry, smudge resistant and water resistant. It is even possible to print photos taken by another camera, just by inserting its SD memory card. The Polaroid PoGo is slated to begin sales in March.

So, if like me you also love the old-world charm of Polaroid prints, then we can together look forward to the Polaroid PoGo.