Both these cameras feature Intelligent Auto Mode (iA) found in earlier FS-Series models. These cameras have a newly-added independent iA button on top of the camera, so that it is easier to enter the iA mode without going into the menu.

Besides standard features like Mega O.I.S., Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector, and Face Detection, these cameras have a few new functions. These include

AF Tracking: This feature allows you to “lock” the focus on a moving subject. Once this is done, then the camera automatically tracks the subject as it moves, keeping it in focus. You don’t have to hold the shutter button halfway down.

Intelligent Exposure: With this feature you can take natural-looking images by suppressing blocked shadows and blown highlights.

Another addition to these cameras is the Photo Frame mode that lets you add attractive borders around photos when you print them. It makes these pictures look like postcards in picture frames. Not just this. A new My Scene setting, which allows users to assign most frequently used Scene modes to the setting, is added to these cameras. With this one can access that scene instantly with a simple switch.

While the DMC-FS15 will come in silver, black and blue, the DMC-FS7 will be available in silver, black, blue, pink, and green. Both are expected to hit the stores in April 2009.

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The Canon PowerShot S5 IS has a 12x optical zoom lens. There is absolutely no chance of ending up with blurred pictures due to shaking as it has Optical Image Stabilizer Technology. This helps to automatically detect and correct camera shake. If there are any red-eye effects in the image, the Red-eye Correction feature will take care of it. You may even manually correct it during playback. Its Face Detection Technology allows you to choose the perfect focus point when you take a snap of a group of people.

For superior images, increased camera efficiency, and extended battery life, the Canon PowerShot S5 IS has an exclusive DIGIC III Image Processor. Canon’s iSAPS Technology, along with the DIGIC III Image Processor, works to improve focus speed, accuracy, and exposure.

With this digital camera, you can take pictures in 22 Shooting Modes, including 9 Special Scene Modes to shoot under different conditions. For instance, the Portrait mode specifically focusses on the subject after blurring the background, whereas the Sports mode ensures accurate autofocussing on fast-moving subjects.

Printing out photos directly is a breeze. All I have to do is connect the PowerShot S5 to any compatible photo printer, press the Print/Share button, and the print is ready in seconds. An alternative is to plug the PowerShot camera into a Direct Photo Printer using the included USB interface cable.

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The camera got its name from camera obscura, the predecessor of the modern day camera. It is a Latin term which means “dark chamber,” and it refers to the early mechanism of projecting images and using an entire room as a real-time imaging system. Camera obscura consisted of a darkened chamber or a box that allowed light into the box through a convex lens. The image of the object was then formed on a surface of paper or glass, which was placed at the focus of the lens. The credit of inventing this gadget goes to an Iraqi scientist, Ibn al-Haytham. He described it as early as the 11th century in his Book of Optics (1015-1021).

But the first camera that was both portable as well as practical for photography was built by Johann Zahn in 1685. It included more advanced technology and features like sliding boxes for focusing and the placement of a sensitized plate in front of the viewing screen to capture an image. The process for capturing an image underwent a lot of development and so did the plate. From copper plates and paper to finally the glass plate, which was used in the popular wet plate process.

Modern day cameras capture light on a photographic film or photographic plate, whereas digital cameras use a charge coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) to capture images, which can then be transferred and stored in the camera’s internal memory for later playback or processing.

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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!

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

Framed 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!

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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.

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