Digital Photography

Start a Profitable Photography Business

2009-01-21T16:54:00.003+00:00

Anyone with the right camera equipment, and the necessary skills can set up a home business, marketing photography. You need only to convert a room of your house into an office, and then you can work immediately.

With modern technology in the form of SLR digital cameras, you do not even need the room for a dark room. You need only to have a personal computer and a photo-editing program. The standard is Adobe Photoshop.

It is not necessary to clutter yourself with equipment you do not need. You can hire equipment on and when you need it basis. You have the freedom to work part time for a while until you can devote yourself full time to photography. All you need to be is a serious photographer. There are two types of photographers that makes their living from photography, the serious photographer and the very serious photographer. You can always bookmark this link and then you can quickly access just about all you'll ever need from here.

Whilst the technical skills needed to make a successful photographer have never been easier, other aspects have changed the business. The market for photographs of virtually every type has widened, the world seems to have an insatiable appetite for photographs. However the price has fallen as the marketing net has broadened. Photographers are needed in many more fields. For instance many people use car web sites, they simply did not exist ten years ago, and they sell their products as a result of photography. Cameras used by scuba diver’s are now an excellent quality, and whilst they are initially expensive, they have forged a new market. People celebrate special occasions more with photography, than they did years ago. The travel and advertising markets have a greater need for landscape, travel and nature shots.

It is now easier than ever to turn your dream into reality and create a worthwhile business out of an engrossing hobby. However in today’s modern world there is more to it than simply pointing a camera, and shooting a picture. You need to be aware of marketing techniques, and here marketing simply means transferring ownership of a product, in this case an image from a buyer to seller. You also need to be aware of any local gaps in the market in your local area. You should also try to be on top of your competitor’s prices, to undercut an existing photographer is one choice, but to neglect to value your skills and not charge enough to cover your overheads is another matter entirely. Remember this, its an important point.

Use your skills to the best advantage of the business and define what you want from it. Writing a business plan helps to keep you focused on the areas you specifically want to exploit. A business plan helps you to define your goals and strategies, it will be changed and updated, but it will help you, to keep things in perspective. You can then refer back to it when things become confusing or complicated. Everyone’s business plan will be different, as every objective will be different, but there are certain common factors that make up a good business plan which will help your business grow. It allows you to develop a professional attitude to your business, which not only helps you to increase your earnings, but also help you to finance your business.

For the photographer it should include, your business name, or your own, with full details of the proposed location of the business, a copy of your logo, as well as details of your copyright notices. What is the form of your proposed business (sole ownership, partnership, Limited Liability Company or Corporation). This should be followed by a table of contents, which focuses on a logical order. There are resources that will give you further details on such as profitable-photography.com

Included after this should be the type of business you intend to pursue, in a fair amount of detail, and it should contain the services you intend to offer. This section should include any future gaols or avenues you would like to explore, stating your clear objectives. This is so you can check at a later date whether your objectives are on course, or if you have got sidetracked.

If you envisage at any time you may need financial help, then you should include your personal business history.

You should also state a clear and concise marketing plan that should demonstrate how your business will differentiate from the businesses of your competitors. You should be able to establish whom your customers will be, as well as where your market will be, as in wholesale or retail or a combination of both. You should also be able to determine how long this type of market will be available to yourself.

The next section should clearly define your opposition, as well as their strengths and weaknesses. This should include the ways you may be able to exploit any gaps in the market in the specific area where you live. A section should follow this on how you intend to market and promote your individual services.

A financial segment should be included as to how you intend to manage the day-to-day bills of the business. How you intend to price your services, and what factors influence this pricing structure, which includes a section on your competitor’s financial structures. This means a fair amount of detective work as well as homework. Get your friends to ask from quotes from the local competition. Or try an even more direct approach, tell your competitor’s that you intend to start a new business, and that you do not want to undercut them, as this reduces the cake for everyone. They may well offer to help you construct a pricing structure that ensures everyone’s livelihood. It is in their interests to help. Not everyone will be cooperative, but it may mean you can get a truer picture of the market factors that govern your area.

Make a list of all the equipment you will need in your first year, as well as how and where you intend to purchase. Note any difficulties that may arise in obtaining your supplies. Note whether the prices of your supplies have a seasonal fluctuation, that may help you influence you when to buy. You should make a note of any local licenses that will be necessary, as well as any zoning restrictions, that may restrict the growth of your business. Your neighbours may not be thrilled at a procession of customer’s to your door, check whether they can restrict your services. Make a study of all your business insurance requirements.

The final segment should be devoted to how you intend to finance the growth of your business, as well as isolating what your financial needs will be. This should include a projection on your future earnings, as well as an accurate assessment of your outgoings’. This should be assessed on a monthly basis for the first year, and on an annual basis for the following three years. An important aspect of the financial statement is an assessment of the break-even point of your business, in other words the minimum you will have to take to pay your expenses.

The purpose of this documentation is to allow you to enunciate what the core elements of your business will be, in doing this it should help you to be able to quickly evaluate the success of your business objectives. If you are not clear on your objectives then you cannot possibly make a plan to bring about the success of those objectives.

Publisher & author: Roy Barker. Roy is the author of the popular ebook, Income from Photography - a downloadable ebook which guides the reader on how to start up and market a Profitable Photography business. It can be viewed at Profitable Photography.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR Camera

2008-10-10T20:39:00.002+01:00

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR Camera

21.1 Megapixel Full-frame CMOS sensor, 14-bit A/D conversion (16,384 colors/each of 3 primary color), wide range ISO setting of 100-6400 (expandable L: 50, H1: 12800 and H2: 25600).
Full HD Video capture at 1920 x 1080 resolution for up to 4GB per clip with HDMI output for HD viewing of stills and video.
Next generation DIGIC 4 Image Processor for faster processing of fine detail and color reproduction as well as reduced image noise.
High performance with 3.9 fps continuous shooting, new shutter with a durability of 150,000 cycles and improved weather-resistant body.
Live View Function for stills (Quick, Live and Face Detection AF modes) and video.
3.0-inch Clear View LCD (920,000 dots/VGA) monitor with anti-reflective and scratch-resistant coatings for improved viewing and smudge protection.
Updated EOS Integrated Cleaning System specifically designed to work with a full-frame sensor.
Compatible with over 60 Canon EF Lenses and most EOS System accessories.

Sigma DP1: The all in one camera that will open your eyes.

2008-02-29T16:10:00.003+00:00

14 megapixel high definition digital camera, packing the full spec of a DSLR into the body of a compact camera

THE SIGMA DP1

The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the Sigma DP1 compact digital camera featuring a 14 megapixel FOVEON X3 direct image sensor (2652 × 1768 × 3 layers) as used in the Sigma SD14 digital SLR.

The DP1 is a completely new type of camera offering the full specification and high image quality of a DSLR in the body of a compact camera. It is powered by the 14 megapixel Foveon X3 direct-image-sensor, which can reproduce high definition images rich in gradation and impressive three-dimensional detail.

It is possible to record images in RAW or the widely used JPEG in four resolution modes. It offers five Exposure modes and three Metering modes as well as being equipped with a built-in flash with the Guide Number of 6, hot shoe, neck strap and 2.5 inch TFT color LCD monitor with approx. 230,000 pixels.

The DP1 has the high resolution and functionality of an SLR, plus adaptability in terms of accessories, all built into a small body. A wide range of accessories, optical viewfinder [VF-11], Lens Hood [HA-11], and Electronic Flash [EF-140 DG] are available for the DP1 camera.

Development
Sigma introduced its digital SLRs, the SD9, SD10 and SD14 to the market in October 2002, November, 2003 and March, 2007. They have established strong support from a wide range of photographers, both amateur and professionals. Recently, demand for a compact digital camera with portability as well as high image quality has increased. In order to meet this demand, the new DP1 has been developed as a completely new type of camera with high image quality and features that would not be out of place in a full spec DSLR.
Main Features

SLR-SIZED IMAGE SENSOR
The size of the image sensor used in the DP1 camera is 20.7mm x 13.8mm. It is approximately seven to twelve times larger than the 1/1.8inch to 1/2.5inch image sensors used in ordinary compact digital cameras. The pixel size of the image sensor is 7.8μm. The large photodiodes deployed at a large pixel pitch capture pure, rich light efficiently and give the DP1 its high resolution and richly-graduated tones.

FULL-COLOR IMAGE SENSOR
The DP1 uses the same 14 megapixel （2652×1768×3 layers）direct image sensor as the SD14. Utilizing the special features of silicon, which is penetrated to different depths by different wavelengths of light, this direct image sensor succeeds in full-color capture with the full RGB in a single-pixel location. Just like film, each photodiode captures all the RGB data, so no final-stage demosaicing is required. Brand-new “TRUE” image processing engine. The DP1 incorporates “TRUE” (Three-layer Responsive Ultimate Engine), the world’s first image processing engine suited for Foveon three silicon embedded layer direct image sensor. The unique image-processing algorithm, which has been developed throughout the development of the SD9, SD10 and SD14 cameras, is incorporated into “TRUE”. It enables high-speed image processing and high image quality.

16.6mm F4 LENS DESIGNED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE DP1
The DP1 is equipped with a 16.6mm F4 lens, equivalent to 28mm on a 35mm SLR camera, which has been designed exclusively for DP1. The large-diameter of aspherical glass provides low distortion and high contrast images. It also offers superior peripheral brightness. The super multi-layer coating reduces flare and ghosting. It allows photographers to take pictures in difficult light conditions. This lens and SLR-sized image sensor provides natural shallow depth-of-field.

RAW FORMAT RECORDING
The DP1 includes JPEG recording format for convenience plus a RAW data (X3F) recording mode for retaining full image capture detail of the utmost quality. The RAW data format provides pure data for high-resolution images, and uses lossless compression for more compact, yet uncompromised, data files. The RAW data format of the DP1 keeps brightness and color data in a 1:1 ratio without relying on interpolation. Each pixel location captures the full color of RGB data, so in RAW, X3F files, brightness and color data can be kept in a 1:1 ratio without relying on interpolation. When the image is processed in Sigma Photo Pro, it will preserve the balance of the natural data for the best photos with the best image quality.

EXCLUSIVE SIGMA PHOTOPRO SOFTWARE (Supplied with the DP1)
The DP1 comes complete with SIGMA Photo Pro software, a RAW image developer that converts all RAW data quickly and easily. Adjustments can be made in three separate modes. The X3F Mode 3 stores the original settings of the image at the point of capture. In the Auto Adjustment Mode, the software analyzes and automatically makes adjustments to the RAW data. The Custom Mode allows the photographer to make individual adjustments (exposure, contrast, shadow, highlight, saturation, sharpness and fill-light for example). The photographer can make changes easily and quickly by simply adjusting the slider controls within the software. The X3F Mode stores the original settings of the image at point of capture. Photographers` personal modifications can be saved to the RAW, X3F file for future use. SIGMA Photo Pro supports 8-bit TIFF, 16-bit TIFF, and JPEG file formats. The JPEG can be saved as YCbCr 4:4:4. It is also possible to half, or double the resolution when processing the image.

COMPACT AND LIGHTWEIGHT BODY
The DP1 has compact dimensions of 113.3mm/4.5in. (W) x 59.5mm/2.3in. (H) x 50.3mm/2.0in. (D) and weighs just 240g/8.5ounces. Its compact body and lightweight design makes it easy to carry everywhere.

THREE METERING MODES AND FIVE EXPOSURE MODES
The DP1 has three metering modes, Evaluative Metering, Center Weighted Average Metering and Spot Metering. It is also possible to select the exposure mode from Auto, Program AE, Aperture Priority AE, Shutter Priority AE or Manual. Exposure compensation can be set in 1/3 stop increments from +3.0 to -3.0 stops and an auto bracketing function is also available.
Pop up (manual) built-in flash The DP1 is equipped with a pop up (manual) built-in flash featuring guide number of 6 (ISO100 / m). It is possible to use Normal Flash, Red-Eye Reduction Flash and Slow Synchro Mode. It also features flash exposure compensation in 1/3 stops increments.

AF AREA SELECTION
The AF area of the DP1 is equipped with 9 focusing points and it is possible to manually select the desired focusing point. The focusing distance is from 50cm to infinity, however, it is possible to shorten the minimum focusing distance to 30cm.

MANUAL FOCUS
Manual Focus is available for photographers who like to take more control, or for use when
autofocus or focus lock is not effective. It is also possible to magnify the display to ensure precise focusing.

RECORDING MOVIES
It is possible to record 30fps movies with QVGA (320 x 240). The digital zoom function can be used during movie shooting. A 1GB memory card (not supplied) allows approximately 30 minutes of movie recording.

LARGE 2.5" TFT COLOR LCD MONITOR
The DP1 camera features large 2.5 inch, 230,000 pixel TFT color LCD monitor. The LCD monitor displays 100% of the images, allowing the photographer to easily and accurately confirm the image compensation.

HOT SHOE
The DP1 camera is equipped with a hot shoe, allowing use of the dedicated external flashgun
EF-140 DG (optional) or high performance view finder VF-11 (optional). EF-500 DG and EF-530 DG flashgun series can be used in manual mode only.

DEDICATED LENS HOOD
This optional lens hood blocks out extraneous light. A hood adapter, designed to accept a 46mm lens filter, is included.

Canon PowerShot SX100 IS

2008-01-28T20:29:00.000+00:00

Get in on the action with a 10x zoom lens. PowerShot SX100 IS keeps your subject in focus with Face Detection and optical Image Stabilizer. Clear, simple controls are easy and flexible for the whole family.

Features

10x optical zoom with optical Image Stabilizer
8.0 Megapixels
DIGIC III and iSAPS
Face Detection Technology with Face Selector button
2.5" wide-view LCD screen
18 shooting modes and My Colors
User-friendly control dial
ISO 1600 and optional high-power flash
Smooth VGA movies

Close-up on great photos

10x optical zoom with optical Image Stabilizer
Optical Image Stabilizer technology counteracts the effect of camera shake. Keep working at slower shutter speeds in low-light conditions. The 10x optical zoom affords framing flexibility with pin-sharp clarity.

8.0 Megapixels
An 8 Megapixel sensor captures enough fine detail for creative cropping and superb quality poster-size prints.

DIGIC III with advanced Noise Reduction
The DIGIC III processor delivers high-speed camera performance, superior colour rendition and cleaner images at high ISO speeds. iSAPS technology uses shooting scene information to optimise camera settings before a shot is taken.

Face Detection Technology
Face Detection Technology ensures superb people shots by automatically setting optimum focus, exposure and flash. Face Select and Track lets you choose your primary subject from up to 35 identified faces. Red-Eye Correction in playback keeps eyes looking natural.

2.5" wide-view LCD screen
A 2.5" LCD screen offers wide viewing angles for easy sharing.

Shooting Modes and My Colors
Choose from 18 shooting modes, including a creative zone for manual control. Get the perfect shot, even in tricky lighting conditions. Quickly select options on the Mode Dial like Portrait, Night Snapshot or Kids & Pets. Enter the Special Scene Modes menu for even more choices. My Colors allows in-camera colour effects to be applied to images and movies.

User-friendly controls
A clear and simple interface with large, clearly labelled buttons and control dial enhance usability and ease of operation for every member of the family.

ISO 1600 and Auto ISO Shift
ISO 1600 combines with optical Image Stabilizer to counteract image blur from camera shake and deliver flash-free results in low-light situations. When camera shake is predicted, Auto ISO Shift automatically increases ISO to further reduce the risk of blurring.

Smooth VGA movies
Record smooth VGA movies with sound. Choose Long Play VGA mode for stronger compression that allows twice as much video to be stored on your memory card.

Canon PowerShot A650 IS

2008-01-03T16:45:00.000+00:00

Take creativity to a new level with the swivel-screen PowerShot A650 IS. 12.1 Megapixels and a 6x zoom with optical Image Stabilizer team with manual control and lens accessories to express your true vision.

Features

12.1 Megapixels
6x optical zoom with optical Image Stabilizer
2.5" vari-angle LCD
DIGIC III and Face Detection AF/AE/FE
9-point AiAF and FlexiZone AF/AE
21 shooting modes
Digital Tele-Converter and Safety Zoom
ISO 1600 and Auto ISO Shift
Smooth VGA movies
Range of accessories

Explore new perspectives

12.1 Megapixels
12.1 Megapixels with a large 1/1.7" sensor captures enough fine detail for creative cropping and superb quality poster-size prints.

6x optical zoom with optical Image Stabilizer
Optical Image Stabilizer technology counteracts the effect of camera shake. Keep working at slower shutter speeds in low-light conditions. The 6x optical zoom affords framing flexibility with pin-sharp clarity.

2.5" vari-angle LCD screen
A 2.5" vari-angle LCD screen tilts for creative framing and easy sharing.
Wide viewing angle, Night Display and low-reflection coating aid viewing. Screen folds and stores for protection when not in use.

DIGIC III with advanced Noise Reduction
The DIGIC III processor delivers high-speed camera performance, superior colour rendition and cleaner images at high ISO speeds. iSAPS technology uses shooting scene information to optimise camera settings before a shot is taken.

Face Detection AF/AE/FE
Face Detection Technology ensures superb people shots by automatically detecting up to 9 faces within a frame and setting the optimum focus, flash and exposure. Red-Eye Correction in playback keeps eyes looking natural.

Shooting Modes and My Colors
Choose from 21 shooting modes, including a creative zone for manual control. Get the perfect shot, even in tricky lighting conditions. Quickly select options on the Mode Dial like Portrait, Night Snapshot or Kids & Pets. My Colors allows special in-camera colour effects to be applied to images and movies.

Digital Tele-Converter and Safety Zoom
Safety Zoom offers extra zoom magnification without affecting image quality. Just like using a tele-converter attachment, Digital Tele-Converter adds extra reach on every shot.

ISO 1600 and Auto ISO Shift
ISO 1600 combines with optical Image Stabilizer to counteract image blur. A dedicated ISO button allows quick selection of ISO speeds for flash-free results in low-light conditions. When camera shake is predicted, Auto ISO Shift automatically increases ISO to further reduce the risk of blurring.

Smooth VGA movies
Record smooth VGA movies with sound. Choose Long Play VGA mode (30fps) for stronger compression that allows twice as much video to be stored on your memory card.

Accessories
A full range of optional accessories includes wide and tele converter lenses, waterproof case (40m depth) and high-power slave flash.

Free Photo Sharing

2007-12-05T17:24:00.000+00:00

The title of this posting is "Free Photo Sharing", but really this is better than free!

How would you like to earn money just for showing your photos to your friends and family? Or anyone who might be interested in them for that matter.

Sound interesting?

It should do, you can start earning from your photography with very little extra effort.

Is there a catch to it?

Not really, but you are not going to get rich quick from it. You get $0.22 per 1000 views of the pictures.

So it will take some time to build up a decent income stream, but I have some great ideas to help you increase the number of views dramatically.

First of all, you need to sign up for the service. Click on this link to join Share a pic now.

Once you have registered you can create Galleries and start uploading your pictures.

When you have uploaded some pictures they need to be promoted to make sure people see them. Go to my Share a pic Squidoo Lens to get some great tips for promoting your pictures and remember to go back to it frequently - I will update it with new promotional tips and techniques on a regular basis.

Here are a few pictures I have uploaded - click on them to see the full size view!

Pentax Optio S10

2007-11-25T21:53:00.000+00:00

The PENTAX Optio S10 is the newest model in the “Optio S” series of highly acclaimed compact digital cameras. the Optio S10 has a stylish and ultra-compact body and utilises 10.0 effective megapixels for high resolution images. In addition to a comprehensive range of features such as Shake Reduction and Face Recognition, the Optio S10 comes with enhanced usability and 22MB built im memory.

Ultra Compact body with a stylish design

10.0 effective megapixels with high resolution

Digital "Shake Reduction" still and video

“Face Recognition AF&AE” function

Auto Picture mode for the best settings for the shooting conditions

Bright and easy-to view LCD monitor

Approximately 22.0 MB of built-in-memory

Mode palette provide quick access to 18 shooting modes and 15 playback modes

Sony Cyber-shot T2

2007-11-19T20:35:00.000+00:00

Experience the beautiful new Cyber-shot T2 where styling meets smart features. High quality shooting (8.1 megapixels) plus super-size on-board memory to store all your memories. Enjoy your photos in Full HD or upload them to the web without hassle using new 'sharemark' technology.

All the space you need

Keep your precious memories handy for enjoying any time: internal 4GB memory can store up to 1,250 top-quality images.

Keep it sorted

Don't lose track of your photo collection. The T2 automatically sorts all your pictures into 'albums' for quicker, more convenient browsing.

Fuss-free on-line sharing

Sharemark technology makes it brilliantly easy to select and prepare images for emailing or upload to blogs and photo sharing sites.

DSC-T2 Key Features

8.1 effective Megapixels
1/2.5" Super HAD CCD
Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar lens
3x optical zoom
2.7" Clear Photo LCD
Touch screen
BIONZ image processor
Memory Stick Duo compatible

More fun from your pictures

New Scrapbook creates an attractive montage of pictures on the 2.7" touchscreen, with a choice of 16 wallpapers to show off your photos with the perfect mood. Touch a thumbnail-sized image to see a chosen picture displayed full size. You can even decorate photos with a choice of doodles and stamps using the enhanced Paint function.

Perfect portraits

Advanced Sony Face Detection adjusts focus and exposure for beautifully natural portraits, while Smile Shutter ensures happy faces every time.

Amazing HD quality

Enjoy your photos in breathtaking full High Definition on any HD television with the optional HD Cyber-shot station.

Clear, sharp and steady

Dual anti-blur technology combines Super SteadyShot image stabilisation with high sensitivity (ISO 3200) for crisp action shots and clearer low-light pictures.

New Digital Cameras from Yashica

2007-11-10T17:22:00.000+00:00

We have not heard much from Yashica since way back when, but it looks like that's about to change, as Crave recently spotted three new digital cameras sporting the familiar brand at the Imaging Expo in Singapore. Leading the pack is the 14-megapixel AV1400-HD model, although there doesn't appear to be any more details on it than what you see on the face of the camera above (it will apparently be released by the end of the year though). Specs are a bit more plentiful for the now available EZ8032 and EZ7033 models, however, with the former boasting 8.2 megapixels, a 2.5-inch LCD, and thickness of 22 mm, and the latter packing a still decent 7.2 megapixels, along with a 3-inch screen, a 3x optical zoom, and an even slimmer thickness of just 18.5 mm. There's still no word on a possible release 'round there parts though, so die-hard Yashica fans may have to find a way to get one from Singapore.

Introducing the new Olympus E-3: A professional all-rounder

2007-10-22T22:44:00.000+01:00

It’s here: The new flagship of the Four Thirds Standard-based Olympus E-System. The E-3 gives photographers a high-performance tool that is primed for any assignment and satisfies the most stringent demands for D-SLR photography. It represents the ultimate choice for the professional photographer and provides the highest levels of speed and image quality as well as Live View capabilities and the ultimate in reliability.

Speed
World's fastest autofocus* for quick and precise image capture
Fully-biaxial high-speed 11-point AF system
1/8000th sec. high-speed and high-precision shutter control, X: 1/250
5fps sequential shooting with 19 image RAW buffer

Image Quality
High-performance built-in image stabiliser to stabilise all lenses (up to 5 EV steps) with two modes
High Speed 10 Megapixel Live MOS sensor
Qualified image processing with new TruePic III
High image quality with a variety of bright dedicated-to-digital ZUIKO DIGITAL lenses

Live View
2.5”/6.4cm multi-angle HyperCrystal LCD for greatest flexibility
Real-time effect monitoring
Pre-control over white balance and exposure compensation
Preview of Shadow Adjustment Technology (SAT)
5x/7x/10x magnified view for precise focusing - especially for macro shots

Reliability
Large viewfinder with professional-level coverage of 100% and 1.15x magnification for accurate image control
Spotless photography with most effective dust reduction system (Supersonic Wave Filter)
Splashproof body and lens system
Professional quality shutter life of 150K operations
--------------------------------------------
Four Thirds Standard
Built-in flash and wireless flash control from the camera body
Ergonomic design
AF / AE lock functionality
High sensitivity (ISO 100-3200)
Accurate White Balance with two sensors
High-speed data writing
Second super control panel display
Optional power grip
Hi-speed USB 2.0
RAW & JPEG
Dual slot for CF and xD-Picture Cards

* Among interchangeable lenses for D-SLR cameras. In combination with the new Olympus ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-60mm, 1:2.8-4.0 SWD and E-3, as of October 17 2007, according to survey by Olympus.

Tips on buying a digital camera

2007-10-22T22:30:00.000+01:00

This article is by Harsha Malvenna, originally published in The Sunday Times Online, Sri Lanka. Many thanks Harsha for an excellent piece of work.

Today, buying a digital camera has become a tedious task. Which digital camera is right for you? This is the key question to ask before buying a digital camera. If you’re not sure about the camera you want to buy, you are unlikely to pick the best model.

Why digital?

Even the most avid of film users has to admit that digital offers many unique benefits.

First of all, there’s the saving made of not having to buy copious amounts of film.

The digital equivalent to film is a memory card which comes in various capacities and can hold thousands of images. They can also be re-used.

The next is the instant results which appear on the cameras LCD. This means you can delete the bad shots and eliminate the problem of waste prints.

A further excellent reason is the immense control it gives you over your images at every stage. A digital image can be edited by reviewing the image on camera and on computer.

This gives you the opportunity to eliminate unwanted objects and also adjust colour or contrasts of your pictures.

Selecting a camera

First you need to ascertain why you need a camera. Think carefully about the kind of photographer you would like to be. Most people use their cameras for taking everyday snapshots of family, friends, special events and holidays.

If that’s the case you will be more concerned about the ease of use and pocketability.Most compact cameras have a straight forward “Auto mode” that takes care of every exposure decision for you.

Added to that there are many scene modes where the camera automatically adjusts it’s settings to meet the demands of a particular shooting situation making it easy to take excellent pictures without much effort.

If its as a hobby, it’s important that the camera be controlled to produce your desired effects. A camera with manual exposure controls and advanced shooting features will permit far more creativity when taking photographs.

There are plenty of mid range compacts and entry level SLR’s (Single Lens Reflex) cameras which boasts of high sophistication but still maintain user friendly control mechanisms. Even if you are a beginner you will find this shooting power does wonders for your photography.

Mega pixels

Mega pixel ratings have become the main selling point for digital camera manufacturers over the last few years, and this is for a good reason.

The number of pixels that your camera’s image sensor carries will determine the resolution of your pictures. More mega pixels available, higher the resolution, and therefore the colour and detail of the pictures are sharper.

However, it is vital not to overstate the importance of the mega pixels. In reality, a three mega pixel camera will provide more than adequate resolution for an ordinary 4x 6 photograph. It is only if you need to print larger versions that the picture quality starts to become a serious issue.

Today five mega pixel cameras have taken over from the three mega pixel cameras as standard. For every day photography, you will be hard pushed to spot the difference between 5 mega and 7 mega pixel image when printed out at a standard size. So don’t automatically go for the highest mega pixel rating. Check out for the camera’s other functions as well.

Camera functions

A lens is an important element in photography that is often overlooked by the first time camera buyer. The quality of the lens is paramount to the quality of your images. Therefore, always choose a time tested, reliable and world renowned camera brand.
When considering what lens is suited for your needs, think about the focal length. This will determine the proportion of the scene in front of you that will fit within the frame. The smaller the focal length the wider the scene.

So a focal length of 18mm will give you a far wider view. All cameras offer a complete “Auto mode” which requires nothing from you except to press the shutter button, or a Programmed “scene mode” which automates the exposure settings for a specific situation. Some cameras offer over 20 scene modes such as portrait, landscape, sports, close up, night mode etc. In fact, they will produce decent shots in most circumstances.

More sophisticated digital cameras will offer additional manual controls where you have the full control of camera settings. Another feature is a large LCD. Most digital camera buyers like to have a larger LCD’s.

Manufacturers are constantly outdoing each other with ever-larger screens and some times it could be advantageous to have a large screen especially in High-Lit outdoor photography.

Accessories

A key consideration for any digital camera buyer is Battery Life and Storage Capacity. Most cameras carry AA size batteries or their own Lithium-ion battery pack. They both are Ni-MH rechargeable. Some camera manufacturers won’t supply rechargeable batteries. So remember to check this out as this could mean further investment. The most common memory type of memory card is Secure Digital (SD) format. Nikon and Canon use SD and Fuji film and Olympus both use XD, while Sony sticks to its Memory Stick.

Warranties

It is a wise idea to check the warranty policy being offered when you make your purchase. It probably will be worth paying a bit extra to receive warranty and after sales service because digital cameras are of both high tech and high value. Always make sure to visit an authorized distributor/retailer in the brand you choose. Almost all world renowned manufacturers’ warranty policy on digital cameras states that “digital cameras are warranted only in the country where it is purchased from,” which means no international warranty.

Digital Photography

2007-10-09T12:24:00.000+01:00

This is the first posting to my new blog - Digital Photography. I will be making regular postings here about techniques, equipment, useful resources and anything else that could be relevant to the Digital Photographer.

Anyone who has a Digital Camera and would like to make better use of it will benefit from reading the articles that will be posted here. There will be tips to help you improve the quality of your photographs and, for those of you interested in the topic, suggestions to help you make some money from them.

If you are planning to purchase a Digital Camera or a Photo Printer watch out for product reviews that will help you choose the right camera for you.

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