CFM Camera Reviews

Olympus E-PL1 Digital Camera Review

2011-05-27T17:26:00.002-04:00

Created with the consumer photographer in mind, the Olympus E-PL1 digital camera is a much easier model compared to the

Micro Four Thirds digital camera, however, it still features most of what enthusiast photographers would desire when it comes to premium quality from a compact digital camera, built with a more up-to-date body. In several ways, the Olympus E-P1 digital camera may be more desirable when it comes to a high-quality "everywhere" digital camera utilizing interchangeable lenses as a result of its somewhat lighter weight, effective grip and an easier to use interface.

Design and Build
Although it is lacking in solid metal construction such as the E-P1 and E-P2, the E-PL1 digital camera is without a doubt, a well built picture taker. Much like the classic half-frame PENs, the E-PL1 digital camera is different from typical, entry-level DSLRs - the style, the size of the sensor and also the technologies are quite different.

The Olympus E-PL1 digital camera is a cross-breed of a digital SLR and a point-and-shoot camera, giving you flexibility and the best of both worlds. The E-PL1, similar to a digital SLR, features interchangeable lenses, a larger sensor compared to a point-and-shoot and also the ability to control settings like aperture, shutter speed and others.

Exposure
The Olympus E-PL1 digital camera utilizes Digital ESP metering which is Olympus’ sophisticated multi-metering system. It functions by dividing the photo into 324 parts, analysing the details from each part and presenting the most impressive exposure from the results. Though it's not perfect every time, it still works very well. Just like the other Pen digital cameras in the range, the E-PL1 digital camera boasts 5 metering options: Digital ESP, centre-weighted, spot, Spot Hilight and Spot Shadow.

Built-In Image Stabilizer
The Olympus E-PL1 digital camera offers three (3) image stabilization options:
1) Auto IS is the standard mode where each vertical and horizontal camera shake will be stabilized.

2) Vertical IS is utilized for horizontal panning. It solely stabilizes vertical, up or down, camera shake while not interfering with the sideways movement required to generate a panoramic photo.

3) (Horizontal IS) is utilized for horizontal panning should the camera be held vertically - to shoot a taller horizontal panorama. This mode in addition stabilizes up or down camera shake, as well.

Video Mode
The E-PL1 digital camera can record hi-res HD 720p 1280x720 video clips in the 16:9 aspect ratio and standard VGA 640x480 video clips in the 4:3 aspect ratio, each utilizing the AVI Motion JPEG format at 30fps. The Movie mode is reached either by choosing the Movie option on the shooting mode dial after which you'd press the shutter button to start recording, or, far more quickly with a one-time press of the innovative one-touch Motion Picture button located on the back of the camera.

The overall duration of recording a single video clip is limited to 7 minutes for 1280x720 movies and 14

minutes for 640x480 movies, evidently because of a natural limit of 2GB for AVI files. Only Mono sound is recorded throughout video capture through the little, internal microphone located on the back of the camera, however, you can easily plug-in an external stereo microphone. The built-in HDMI port lets you hook up the E-PL1 to an HDTV, yet you'll have to buy the optional HDMI mini-cable.

Olympus E-PL1 Digital Camera Features:

HD Movie With Manual Control, Art Filter Movie and New Direct Movie Button
Shoot movies at 30 frames per second, with high-quality sound, in 720p with available manual control over aperture and shutter speed. This new level of control allows you to express your vision exactly how you want in your HD videos. A Direct HD Movie Button switches you from still to movie mode with the press of a button. You can also capture HD video (720p) using one of the six Art Filters for more creative shooting options.

New Easy-To Use-Live Guide Control
Seeing the results before you shoot can change the way you take a picture. Want more vivid or muted color in your shot? Want warmer or cooler hues? Want a brighter or darker subject, or a sharper or softer background? Or maybe you want to capture the fast-moving action of your subject with a little artistic blur, or perhaps freeze the action? Simply set the camera to iAuto, press OK to engage Live Guide, then press the up and down arrows on the back of the E-PL1 to easily slide through numerous photographic effects. Make adjustments and watch the LCD as the effects are made live -- before the image is captured! Live Guide also features a Tips section on how to compose a shot or shoot kids, pets, flowers and more.

Built-In Flash
Use the pop-up flash to easily illuminate low-light subjects. The camera is also compatible with a range of optional external flashes including the Olympus FL-14, -- and the E-PL1 has wireless flash control using the FL-36R and FL-50R -- for dynamic lighting control.

In-Camera Art Filters
With six in-camera Art Filters (Pop Art, Soft Focus, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama and our new Gentle Sepia filter) you can explore your artistic side while taking both still shots and HD video. The Art Filters can be applied as you shoot, no additional software required.

12.3 Megapixel
The E-PL1’s powerful 12.3 megapixel Live-MOS sensor packs a powerful high-quality imaging punch for such a compact camera, allowing you to capture more detail than ever before. The Live MOS image sensor delivers excellent dynamic range, accurate color fidelity and fine image details in both highlight and shadow areas.

In-Body Image Stabilization
Say goodbye to blurry images. In both still and movie modes - the E-PL1 Image Stabilization excels. The E-PL1’s three-mode In-body Image Stabilization system compensates for up to three shutter speed steps in the still shooting modes with any of its interchangeable lenses: Mode 1 for general shooting, Mode 2 for creative high-speed horizontal capture, and Mode 3 for high-speed vertical capture. The camera's Mechanical Image Stabilization automatically compensates for camera shake in low-light situations or when using a telephoto lens. In the Movie Modes the advanced Electronic Image Stabilization tracts the images both vertically and horizontally to achieve clear sharp movies, matching the performance of the in body IS.

Compact Size, Interchangeable Lenses
We’ve packed a big sensor into a small camera. The stylish design of the Olympus PEN E-PL1 is much more compact than a traditional DSLR, but it still provides the option of interchangeable lenses -- giving you the freedom to take great pictures wherever you go. Whether it’s around the block or around the world.

I-Camera Slideshow With Sound
Slideshows have never been easier or more fun to create. The E-PL1’s enhanced playback functions allow you to employ effective fade-in/fade-out techniques, control the movie/still mix and speed, add captivating musical soundtracks, and much more.

Multiple Exposure
Multiple Exposure makes heightened creativity an easily-obtained objective. Two frames can be combined to create an image uniquely yours. Images can be combined in playback mode or directly on the LCD

iAuto With iEnhance
iAuto automatically identifies the scene you're shooting – portrait, landscape, night portrait, macro, or sport – and adjusts the settings to optimize results. iEnhance can be used in any mode, and automatically engages when using iAuto to enrich color in any subject, just as the human eye sees it.

Truepic V Image Processor
In addition to more detail, the image sensor, combined with the next-generation TruePic V Image Processor, delivers excellent dynamic range, accurate color fidelity and reduced noise, all the way up to 3200 ISO.

19 Automatic Scene-Select Modes
The E-PL1 is equipped with 19 scene-select modes for effortless picture taking. Standard scene modes like Night-Scene, Portrait and Landscape are easy-to-use solutions for everyday shooting.

Dust Reduction System
A Dust Reduction System assures spot-free images. Every time you turn on the camera, the patented Supersonic Wave Filter silently vibrates, flinging and collecting dust so that it cannot interfere with the picture imaging at any time.

AF Live View With AF Tracking
AF Live View works as seamlessly as a point-and-shoot to display subjects, in focus, on the LCD the instant the shutter is pressed half way. AF Tracking locks your subject into focus right on the LCD, and constantly adjusts focus and brightness whether you or your subject is moving. With this mode, a simple push of the AF button and shutter release enables you to keep fast-moving and unpredictable subjects in focus

In-Camera Editing
Make changes to your image after the shot, right in the camera. Adjust for red eye, crop an image, change the aspect ratio or saturation, change your image to black and white -- and much more! In-Camera jpeg edit functions allow you to quickly tweak your images right in the camera so you can easily upload them to your favorite web site and share them with friends and family. (perfect!)

Face Detection
A Face Detection function reduces the chance of blurry faces when shooting groups of people—up to eight subjects at once—even if they're moving while you're pressing the shutter button.

Shadow Adjustment Technology
Shadow Adjustment Technology corrects for extreme light variations with high-tech efficiency. It can also be used in post-editing.

ePortrait
The ePortrait Scene-Select mode is useful for smoothing out the facial features of your subjects, which is a tremendous plus for High Definition video playback, or apply ePortrait post shot via .jpeg edit.

Multiple Aspect Ratio Shooting
The E-PL1 lets you select one of four Aspect Ratios (4:3, 3.2, 16.9 and 6.6) that help frame your images to whatever proportions you'd like. Aspect ratios are available for still photo and HD movie capture, for everything from conventional enlargements to viewing on widescreen monitors.

Accessory Port
The E-PL1 includes a port for new accessories including the SEMA-1 Microphone adapter set and the VF-2 live-finder, a detachable electronic viewfinder. The viewfinder easily slides onto the camera's accessory port and hot shoe to provide 1.15x magnification for a 100% field of view. The VF-2 rotates up 90 degrees which is useful when shooting subjects from challenging angles. The external accessory port also allows for connection with the new EMA-1 external microphone adapter for enhanced audio capture.

Micro Four Thirds Mount
The Micro Four Thirds Mount on the E-PL1 provides many key benefits, including the effectiveness of a digitally designed image sensor, an ultra-compact design, and expandability and compatibility with all Micro Four Thirds Lenses and Four Thirds System Lens via the MMF-2 Adapter.

SDHC Media Cards
The E-PL1 is capable of recording video to SDHC media cards to accommodate large files. (SDHC Class 6 cards are recommended.) Videos, stills and high-fidelity audio can also be output via HDMI cable-direct to any HD television.

Underwater Housing
The new camera’s compact design makes it the perfect companion for all of your dive trips. The PT-EP01 underwater housing has been specially customized for the Olympus E-PL1 and is waterproof to a depth of 40 meters (approximately 130 feet). With its durable, high-quality polycarbonate construction, this Olympus housing protects the camera from water while also cushioning it from knocks and bumps on land.

Olympus PEN E-P1 Digital Camera Review

2011-05-27T15:36:00.000-04:00

The Olympus E-P1 digital camera has a 12.3MP sensor that is capable of capturing still and HD video.

A number of the features in the E-P1 are also offered in Olympus's DSLRs. This consists of face detection, Art Filters, the SuperSonic Wave Filter for dust reduction, sensor-shift image stabilization, multiple exposures and magnified focus assist. However, the Olympus PEN E-P1 digital camera presents plenty of features new to the Olympus, as well, such as HD video, digital leveling, 324-area matrix metering, onboard music, and in-camera music, still and video integration.

A pair of cutting edge lenses are offered in individual kits with the Olympus E-P1 digital camera: the 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 as well as the 17mm f/2.8, and not to forget, a small optical viewfinder paired with the 17mm lens. A small flash can also be purchased for the Olympus E-P1.

Moderately covered with a stainless steel body, the Olympus E-P1 digital camera is available in black and silver or white and tan. It offers an "old-school" look with a lot of up-to-date technology resting inside of it.

Performance
The E-P1 digital camera is loaded with 19 automatic scene modes for trouble-free photo capturing. Typical scene modes such as Night-Scene, Portrait and Landscape are simple-to-use options for daily picture taking. Capturing gorgeous portraits is a breeze with the cutting edge ePortrait Mode. It allows you to smooth your subject's face - in-camera and prior to capture. In addition, edits can be achieved post-capture utilizing the ePortrait Fix mode.

Shooting scenes having both ample-light and shadows are frequently difficult due to the significant contrast among dark and bright areas. The E-P1 digital camera addresses this concern with Shadow Adjustment Technology which adjusts for intense light variations yet still preserves observable detail throughout the shadow and lighted areas of the scene. Presently users are able to see and examine the gradation on the Live View LCD viewing screen and capture photos displaying the shadow detail they observed. This feature is as well available in the Edit menu following the shot of the photo.

The Olympus E-P1's Face Detection decreases the potential for blurred or fuzzy subjects in photos by identifying up to eight people's faces plus the background, tracking the faces inside of the photo area, even when individuals are moving, and automatically focusing and optimizing exposure for sharp, spectacular portrait photos. This is beyond perfect for family and group pictures of friends and co-workers.

Should you not desire to adjust camera settings whenever you're taking photos of different things, then the E-P1's Intelligent Auto Mode is ideal for you. It automatically determines what you're taking photos of (Portrait, Landscape, Night + Portrait, Macro, Sports) and modifies settings to obtain the ideal result dependant upon the conditions. Beginner users will love this fast and hassle-free feature, which will do the thinking for them and deliver outstanding photos just like a professional.

The Brand New Super Control Panel with Live Control technology,

combined with the camera's user-friendly button layout, allows you to observe both the image and the controls via the 3" HyperCrystal LCD viewing screen, making the Olympus E-P1 digital camera easy to operate. The E-P1 records to SDHC memory cards to support sizeable files including HD videos.

Main Features:

Live View Autofocus - With the seamless precision and simplicity of a point-and-shoot, the E-P1's Live View Autofocus system displays the images to be shot in complete focus on the camera's bright LCD the moment the shutter button is pressed half way down.

Multiple Exposure - Multiple Exposure makes heightened creativity an easily-obtained objective. Two frames can be combined, and portions of one can be combined with those of another in any of the shooting modes. Images can be combined in playback mode or directly on the LCD through the use of the new TruePic V Image Processor.

Micro Four Thirds Mount - The Micro Four Thirds Mount on the E-P1 provides many key benefits, including the effectiveness of a digitally designed image sensor, an ultra-compact design, and expandability and compatibility with all Micro Four Thirds Lenses and Four Thirds System Lens via the MMF-1 Adapter.

Art Filters - A series of six built-in Art Filters for replicating countless striking and dramatic effects can be easily activated for both still and video imaging. The innovative Art Filters include Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale & Light Color, Light Tone, Grainy Film and Pin Hole.

12.3 megapixel - The E-P1's powerful 12.3 megapixel Live-MOS sensor packs a powerful high-quality imaging punch for such a compact camera, allowing you to capture more detail than ever before.

TruePic V Image Processor - In addition to more detail, the image sensor, combined with the next-generation TruePic V Image Processor, delivers excellent dynamic range, accurate color fidelity and reduced noise, all the way up to 6400 ISO.

In-body Image Stabilization - The camera's In-body Image Stabilization system compensates for up to 4 shutter speed steps with any of the system's interchangeable lenses.

Mechanical Image Stabilization - Mechanical Image Stabilization automatically compensates for camera shake in low-light situations or when using a telephoto lens.

Electronic Image Stabilization - Electronic Image Stabilization compensates for camera shake while shooting in the movie mode.

MF Assist - For accurate manual focusing, MF Assist can be enabled during S-AF + MF operation. With it you can zoom in on the central part of the image by up to five times by turning the focus ring.

Perfect Shot Preview - With Perfect Shot Preview, you can preview and select various photographic effects before you take the shot.

Digital Leveler - The camera's Digital Leveler function is a highly functional and practical feature for such specialized requirements as architectural photography and other similar needs.

Dust Reduction System - A Dust Reduction System assures spot-free images. Every time you turn on the camera, the patented Supersonic Wave Filter silently vibrates, flinging and collecting dust so that it cannot interfere with the picture imaging at any time.

19 automatic scene modes - There are 19 automatic scene modes available, including Night-Scenes, Portraits and Landscapes. Edits can be made in the camera after the pictures are shot using the handy ePortrait Mode.

ePortrait - The ePortrait mode is also useful for smoothing out the facial features of your subjects, which is a tremendous plus for High Definition playback.

Face Detection - A Face Detection function reduces the chance of blurry faces when shooting groups of people—up to eight subjects at once—even if they're moving while you're pressing the shutter button.

Shadow Adjustment Technology - Shadow Adjustment Technology corrects for extreme light variations with high-tech efficiency. It can also be used in post-editing.

Aspect Ratios - The E-P1 lets you select one of four Aspect Ratios (4:3, 3.2, 16.9 and 6.6) that help frame your images to whatever proportions you'd like, for everything from conventional enlargements to viewing on widescreen monitors.

iAuto - iAuto identifies your shooting intent (such as macro or action photography) and instantly adjusts the camera settings to achieve the best results.

Slideshows - Slideshows have never been easier or more fun to create. The E-P1's enhanced playback functions allow you to employ effective fade-in/fade-out techniques, add captivating musical soundtracks, and much more.

ultra-compact body - The E-P1 is the definition of state-of-the-art optical engineering in an ultra-compact body. It weighs just 11.8 ounces and measures just 4.75" (W) x 2.75" (H) x 1.43 (D), giving it the facility to slip into pockets or purses and to take with you anywhere.

M. ZUIKO lenses - The accompanying Olympus M. ZUIKO lenses are small, lightweight, powerful and precision engineered.

Four Thirds System Lens Adapter - Other Four Thirds Format lenses can also be used on the E-P1 with an available MMF-1 Four Thirds System Lens Adapter, including extreme wide-angle fisheye and super-telephoto lenses. This further increases your range of creative options.

Sound recording - The sound recording function of the E-P1 helps you capture all the nuances of any sounds being recorded. The system is capable of recording and playing back WAV files, and of adding the most professional-sounding narration to digital slide shows.

Background music - There are also five separate background music files to choose from that you can add to your still images or video productions.

SDHC media cards - The E-P1 is capable of recording video to SDHC media cards to accommodate large files. (SDHC Class 6 cards are recommended.) Videos, stills and high-fidelity audio can also be output via HDMI cable-direct to any HD television.

Full manual control - Full manual control for all programs and functions, including Aperture and Shutter Speed Priority, is at your fingertips whenever it is needed or preferred. Full automatic control is also a button-press away.

Live Control - Live Control, an advanced camera management system, allows you to see the image being shot and the camera's controls all at once, on the bright, colorful, high definition 3-inch HyperCrystal LCD. HyperCrystal LCDs offer many times the contrast of conventional LCD monitors, and also provide a wide viewing angle of 176°.

Specifications:

Resolution: 12Mp

Sensor size: 17.3x13.0mm

Sensor type: Hi-Speed LiveMOS Four Thirds

Image size: 4032x3024

Aspect ratio: 4:3

Focus system: Contrast detection AF system

Focus points: 11

Crop factor: 2x

Lens mount: Micro Four Thirds

File type: 12bit RAW, JPEG

Sensitivity: ISO100-6400

Storage: SD, SDHC

Focus types: Area, single, face detection

Metering system: TTL open aperture

Metering types: Digital ESP, centre-weighted, spot

Exposure compensation: +/- 3EV in 1, ½, 1/3 step increments

Shutter speed: 60sec-1/4000sec

Frames per second: Approx. 3fps

Flash: External only

Flash sync speed: 1/30sec-1/180sec

Image stabilisation: Sensor shift type, one or two dimensional movement to 4EV steps

Integrated cleaning: SSWF

Live view: Yes, Contrast detection system, 100% field of view

Viewfinder: Optional accessory

Monitor: 3in Hypercrystal LCD, 230,000dots (73,000px)

Interface: USB 2.0, HDMI

Power: Li-Ion battery

Size: 120.5x70.0x35.0mm

Weight: 335g (body only excl. battery and card)

Portrait Photography Tips

2011-05-27T14:26:00.000-04:00

Individuals have been a popular subject for many prize-winning photos from time to time. Still, portrait photography isn't only about capturing a face. It is also about making a person or many people come alive within the picture by showing them at their best.

A well done portrait image doesn't follow convention, and displays the person in a state of mind that makes the image exceptional.

However, portraits of one person or of whole families are also taken by photographers, and these are generally preserved in family albums.

An appropriate up-close shot bringing the person's face into focus distinguishes a truly professional portrait photograph from one that has been casually clicked. This can be done by tuning camera settings to blur the subject's background so that his or her face gets the maximum focus. A camera with a wider aperture can strike this perfect balance between the background and the person's face. Whereas, when both the subject and the background are equally significant, like an image taken with the subject in a scenic landscape, then a standard aperture setting is more appropriate.

Lack of perfect light for a good image is a usual issue faced by the photographers. However, some essential photography guidelines if sincerely followed can produce that perfect portrait photograph. If the person is made to sit near a window in a posture in which the sun's rays fall only to some extent on the face, then the photograph generally ends up looking wonderful.

To ensure that the other side doesn't appear dark, a reflective medium such as a white sheet can be used. However, portrait pictures taken in studios under regulated lighting usually come out better than those taken in natural light.

One more thing that you must keep in mind is that the more at ease a subject is during the shoot, higher the chances are of getting a perfect portrait photograph. The human element in photography is so important that all technical details will fail to make it a good portrait if the subject is stiff and feeling awkward in front the camera.

Photography Professions

2011-05-27T14:18:00.001-04:00

It's not correct to state that there's no gains in photography. For individuals who are actually able, prominence and riches is effortlessly attained.

In reality, there are a lot of photographers who have accomplished the top of their discipline. There are really a lot of occupations that a photographer can engage in. Photos and visuals are significant in a lot of media and talented "lens" men are very much popular in the market particularly now with the era of multimedia.

Photographer for Magazines and Newspapers
Even though it's more rewarding to do self-employed photography, it is excellent for photographers, who are just settling off, to initially find contacts and make a name with journals and tabloids. This is in addition the top place to profit familiarity in photography as you will come across various sorts as well as mingle with several classes of persons.

Broadsheet photography is tougher and more unstructured in contrast to periodical photography, which is first shot in locations. When laboring for newspapers, one needs to be able to work out an eye for photos that will catch the readers mind as well as state a story with its pictures.

Photographer for Publicity Groups
Another discipline where a photographer may engage is to work for a publicity group where they will be creating ads for drives. One can commence as a photographer and then slowly go up through the positions. One can even develop into an art director or even a manager for the whole operations.

Photographer for Luxury Shoots
A photographer may furthermore work in style shoots. With much knowledge, they might even conceptualize a shoot and be its general director. A number fashion houses get photographers when thinking of a new compilation for the season.

Photographer for Significant Happenings
Happenings such as concerts and exceptional events like weddings and debuts will call for photographers who will chronicle the affair. Images are truly a significant part of the preparation for the happening and is nearly as important as the food.

Casual Photographer
Though it will be tougher for photographers that are just new in the area

to set up a job as a self-employed photographer, there are several markets where they can add their masterworks. Like most international organizations, for instance UNICEF, take photographers to chronicle their numerous projects in far-flung fields. There are moreover a few who are engaged to share general photographs that will be employed in newsletters and brochures.

Photography Tips - Improving Fuzzy / Blurry Photos

2011-05-27T14:01:00.002-04:00

It may be helpful to look at some references on how to stop photographs from being blurry, what type of gear should be used and what to do if the background is not right.

Fuzzy photographs can usually be narrowed down to one or more of three causes.

Either the focus of the photograph was not in focus, the camera moved during the exposure time, or a too low resolution was used. To combat this, several methods can be used.

If the focus slipped from the subject, then it probably is best to retake the photo. Learning how the camera focuses and choosing between auto and manual focus make it easier to take the photos.

Using a camera stand, or other means to balance and place the camera on, may help stop motion fuzziness. If the camera shifts while the photo is being exposed, there will probably be motion blur in the photo.

Perhaps the least likely cause of fuzzy photos is a low resolution. Most inexpensive cameras have a high enough megapixel count that this is not really a problem, but lots of professional photographers will choose to set their cameras so that they are using the largest file size, thus having the highest resolution possible.

For product photography, flashes are not always necessary. Professionals will often use strobes to photograph portraits, but since there is little chance of the item causing motion blur, overhead or ambient light may be enough. Let the kind of photography be a guide.

Fixing the color of a background can frequently be a pitfall, particularly if the background is supposed to be white. The built in light meter of a camera will often gauge a white background to be grey, which may make it look dull in pictures.

To correct this, usually the meter can be overruled, and the photographer can change the exposure. Some photo manipulation on a computer can be used as well, if the problem is not too big.

To make fantastic photographs, it is sometimes useful to keep to use a few tips to make sure that the background is the proper color, the right equipment is used and proper focus is found in a photograph.

Capturing Photos In Various Elements

2011-05-27T13:40:00.001-04:00

Choosing when to take a photograph can very much control the disposition of the photos.

A mid-day sun can create dark silhouettes, which can or cannot make the mood of the photo that the individual is looking for. Morning or later evening sun can add a nice, light-soft look, which may make a warm attractive appearance.

If you have time, it's best to take an unlimited amount of photos of the same subject throughout different periods of the day. This way you're sure to get the perfect lighting. Sure it may be time consuming, but if you want excellence, go for it.

Weather conditions could change the mood of the photos. A beautiful sun may craft lovely, welcoming images. This is when the personality of buildings may show through, and it may be nice to include some of the surrounding areas as well. However, one might not want to disregard stormy, rainy weather.

In days of poor weather, this may be the time to go and capture images full of character.

Dark forbidding clouds, rain or snow will add drama to the pictures. One of the best features of rain or snow is the fact that the sidewalks become wet, adding shine or even dimension to the images.

Viewpoint is another aspect to take under consideration when shooting urban landscapes. Taking a photograph from the ground looking up at the building may make the building look huge and intimidating. While taking a photo from shoulder height most likely will create a pretty face on image, where as shooting the image from above can produce some very appealing pictures.

There are certain conventions that are often followed when taking photographs of architecture. One is keeping the skyline level. While there are exclusions to this, it is sometimes best to stick with the basics. Photo manipulation may also be used to level the vertical lines of a building. These two ideas will help lessen any visible stress there may be in the photograph.

Speculative Photography

2011-05-27T13:15:00.000-04:00

Speculative photography is different from most other kinds of photography - regulations, like arrangement and exact focusing hold no importance.

The speculative photographer utilizes their inspired mind to produce beautiful masterworks.

As much as people love photos, a lot of them enjoy taking them even more. Whether it's a mother who snaps photos at all of her children's activities in life (first smile, first step, first burger meal) or maybe it's the father who always brings his camera to a football or basketball game, or maybe it's the young girl who goes nature hikes with her camera; these people are no exceptions. They all have an eye for those amazing events and they all value the camera's ability to capture that moment and freeze it in time for a lifetime.

Speculative photography is a way of applying colors and patterns joined together to form an image, with no real significance or no apparent topic included. Speculative photography is not automatically going to connote the same thing to everybody.

If you are deciding to undertake a new sort of photography, conceptual photography will absolutely be an amazing challenge and very satisfying if you master the true art.

Making an abstract image can be effortless - making an amazing abstract image is hard. One of the most basic techniques of producing an abstract image is by employing water and your cameras' shutter jointly. Shooting quick flowing water, using a slow shutter speed of one second will offer you a blur appearance. This is fairly easy to do, but will it seem beautiful?

This might depend on light - shooting water with a deliberate shutter speed when the sun is low in the sky will present your image more appealing colors. Several kinds films will also present numerous colors. Including color filters will moreover boost your conceptual photography. If you are operating a digital camera, filters can be included shortly with Photoshop.

Applying a slow shutter speed to shoot a flag raging in the wind will further provide you an imaginative image.

The secret to keeping conceptual photography beautiful when operating your cameras' shutter is to crop strongly. Fill the view seeker with the blur picture.

Several forms of macro photography can be thought of as abstract. Close-ups of flowers and different plant life will be amazing abstract subjects. As with shooting water - macro abstracts need to be cropped strongly and the image need to have a matter of color. Several street lights may additionally make imaginative photos.

Whichever place we go we is bordered with color, textures and patterns. Patterns would be excellent for attractive conceptual images. New patterns are designed by nature each day and this is the finest place to set off to produce viable speculative portraits.

Protecting Gallery Wraps

2011-05-27T12:48:00.001-04:00

The need to protect gallery wraps and has come due to the fact that they do not have frames. In the past, nearly all artwork was displayed with frames.

In modern shows and galleries, these frameless paintings and photographs have become more and more popular, making it necessary to find a way to protect them from the dangers that pop up when there is no frame. To figure this out, we must first start with the differences in the construction of the canvases.

Previously, canvases were stretched over thin, wooden strips called stretcher bars and stapled or tacked on the sides. After the painting was completed, it would be framed. This frame served several purposes. It gave the painting a finished look. It protected the edges of the painting. And it covered the staples or tacks.

Today, thicker stretcher bars measuring one and one quarter to two inches are used. The canvas is then stretched around these bars and the staples or tacks are positioned on the back side. To complete the canvas, the back can be covered with framing paper and fitted with metal hangers and corner bumpers or it can simply be fitted with a wire hanger. This allows the painting to be hung on the wall without a frame and without showing the staples or tacks. It also gives it a 3D look when hung on the wall.

This style has become very popular with galleries and other retail venues looking to sell artwork. It eliminates their need to choose and purchase expensive frames which may or may not resonate with the prospective customer. This reduces the costs which is always welcome.

A frameless painting still needs to be safeguarded from danger. Unprotected corners can become damaged easily. Without a frame, it is more likely that the canvas will suffer scratches, scuff marks and cracks. And, like its framed counterpart, it is vulnerable to U. V. Rays and other environmental hazards.

In order to prevent airborne pollutants including fumes from cleaning solutions and tobacco smoke from penetrating the artwork, a coat of laminate can be applied to the surface. The lamination will also deter cracks, scuffs and scratches, protect the corners and block U.V.rays and other harmful elements in the atmosphere such as hydrocarbons and ozone.

Whether the work of art is a painting, a photograph or a print, there are several composition and options from which you can choose.

Polyester, polycarbonate, copolymer and vinyl are some of the composition choices. Finishes can be matte, gloss luster or velvet. Each of the options has different characteristics allowing you to select the one which best fits your needs.

You can decide to do the work yourself or have it done by an experienced professional. Companies specializing in applying laminates are easily found in the art world. No matter which you choose, to protect your investment, you must protect gallery wraps.

Food Photography

2011-05-27T12:31:00.001-04:00

Taking food photos is an art form. It takes a lot of experience to get it right. Non-the-less here are some simple tips to help.

Lighting the scene
The first important technique food photographers should learn, is lighting.

When photographing food you should treat it as you would any other kind of subject and make sure it is lit correctly. Many pictures can be improved by using adequate lighting. Natural light is the best light source to use, by a window is an ideal location. Natural light cuts out the shadows and gives the food a more natural look which all food photographers want.

Using Props
The right props can bring a simple food dish alive. Some food types like fast food is dull and lifeless so choosing the right props of fresh fruit, vegetables, plates, candles, etc., will make the dull become magic. To be a great food photographer you must have a special eye and flair for design. If you have this skill naturally you will fly.

If you do a lot of food photography then shopping at second hand markets can be a great way to build your box of props. You can pick up inexpensive items like large pots, dishes and vases for a few dollars.

Be fast or else
If you're a slower perfectionist then food photography may be hard for you to master.

Like master chefs that throw masterpiece dishes together in minutes, master food photographers capture the essence in minutes, too. "Be quick or else it will be a mess" is the thing to remember with food photography. As soon as food warms or cools, it droops, melts, discolors and a whole range of other things. Once the food is ready, you should be shooting.

A way to improve your food photographs
One simple way is to utilize a high quality, vegetable oil and brush it on the food. This will create a high quality, shiny finish that we love to see on food.

Get to know the chef
You will usually be working with a food professional, be it a stylist or chef.
Take a few minutes before the shoot to talk with the chef and ask them how they like to work. Ask them if there is anything you need to know about the food that may not be obvious. Working off of each other is the best approach.

Freelance Photography

2011-05-27T12:15:00.000-04:00

Photography is a huge world. There are several different kinds of photography and masses of people who enjoy different styles.

It can be an inexpensive hobby or one that you can have income from. Pictures are amazing because they give us unforgettable memories of events from certain places and times in our lives. We can store these precious moments forever with a photograph.

The compensation for an excellent, imaginative photograph can certainly be high-in-demand. Art enthusiasts shell out huge amounts of money for a wonderful, abstract masterpiece.

Definition of Freelance Photography?
What if you like photography very much and you think of doing it for a living? This way, you'll actually get paid for your work. Though you work for yourself, you will be paid for each photo or series of photos, individually. You don't report to a boss. You may work on an assignment or you may sell to magazines. That is what freelance photography is about.

Freelance photography could be your whole career or it could start out as anything you want to do in your spare time nevertheless begin making profits from it. It's more like freelance writing in the sense that numerous people make it into a fruitful career while working and having fun at the same time, doing the work for themselves, in their own time and making so much money from doing something they are passionate about.

Advice on How to Create a Portfolio
To start attracting jobs as a freelance photographer, it requires a portfolio. A portfolio gathers samples of your work. Though you never had photographs that were published or publicly displayed, you may start a portfolio of your best photographs, as you never know who will want to see them someday.

How to Attract Jobs
As mentioned already, creating a portfolio is the primary step in submitting your work for pay.

However, when it comes down to it, it's the quality, uniqueness and beauty of the photo that would identify if you get hired for the job. Other people have more of an over-the-top talent for capturing excellent pictures over others, however, it is a skill that anybody can quickly learn.

There are schools meant for the Art of Photography and you can even earn a degree in it. When you are just getting started, you could learn through classes offered by your local community center or community college. Other cities have photography groups that organize to share photos and tips. There are also various groups online created for photography and freelance photography.

Photography Courses

2011-05-27T11:41:00.001-04:00

Art, in general, is beauty. No matter what medium it is, artists are able to capture beauty and sustain it for years to come.

In photography, a moment in time can be a lifetime. You wouldn't be surprised if you'd find many people enrolling more and more in photography classes.

A good photography course is very extensive from doing practical exercises to theoretical and in-depth studies about photography.

There are many qualified photography classes available now but you should choose which ones you really like. Good photography classes are not generic in nature, they are very particular. Since anyone can hold a camera, you need to hold a camera and shoot good photos with it. These colleges will give you in-depth studies into the art of photography, including digital. They would offer lessons on advanced-editing of your pictures using software and much more then you could imagine.

Exceptional photography classes are offered in art schools such as the Academy of Art University's School of Photography. They teach students everything they'll need to know and give them the confidence to become successful photographers. They offer traditional as well as digital photography, they have the best teachers for it. Obviously, they are now heralded as one of the best art universities that offer photography today. You can view their student's photo gallery.

You could find work in photography either on Portrait, Magazine, Architecture, Landscape, Advertising or Fashion Photography. Students who have the aptitude in these photography classes will surely find jobs in this field.

You'd be taught how to make photography a business in these courses.

Photography can be very huge in advertising. They will help you find the exact field you're best in, guide you to the best photography classes to take and ensure you'd make it in the business.

Olympus PEN E-P2 Digital Camera Review

2011-05-26T13:45:00.002-04:00

The Olympus PEN E-P2 digital camera utilizes a comparable 12.3MP sensor as compared to the earlier E-P1, useful for both still and HD video recording.

The body design of the E-P2 is largely identical, with the major distinction being an alter in body shade and finish.

The body on the Olympus E-P2 digital camera solely remains stainless steel, but this time, over the E-P1, includes a thin covering of darkish paint beneath a clear coat, delivering a clear, dark exterior, together with black trim panels.

The E-P2's add-on slot allows the use of the VF-2 electronic viewfinder as well as to enable the use for an external microphone via a recommended adapter.. Olympus’s external EVF features relatively higher standards as compared to other brands.

The Olympus E-P2 digital camera of course boasts modifications in several other areas, as well. The camera’s auto-focus system presently has subject tracking ability in both still and HD video modes, plus the focus assist has improved to promptly center its 7x and 10x zoom around the chosen AF point, ideal for fine-tuning focus of an off-center subject, personally.

Also introducing the new i-Enhance shooting function which changes photo color to fully stand-out the primary subject, and a pair of exclusive Art filters in addition to the 6 featured on the E-P1.

This camera is really giving you everything you need to take astonishing photos.

Video fans are going to be thrilled to discover manual control of shutter speed, aperture and ISO sensitivity while recording a video clip. Video is also recorded at HD 720p quality.

Olympus E-P2 Features:

12.3-Megapixel Live MOS imager yielding 4032x3024 pixel images (4:3 aspect ratio)

Choose from 4:3, 3:2, and 16:9 aspect ratios

Micro Four-Thirds lens mount system

Compatible with Four Thirds mount and Olympus OM lenses using optional adapters (MMF-1 and MF-2 OM)

In-body (sensor-shift) Image Stabilization system

TruePic V Image Processor

Olympus System Supersonic Wave Filter Dust Reduction System

iAuto (intelligent), Program AE, Aperture/Shutter Priority, Full Manual, and Custom exposure control

19 pre-programmed Scene modes as well as 8 "Art Filter" modes

Compressed RAW and JPEG (Fine/Standard) formats, including RAW+JPEG (Fine or Normal)

1 custom and 6 preset "Picture" modes, including new iEnhance option

In-camera image editing options, including RAW processing

TTL Auto White Balance system with several presets, one-touch custom set, white balance compensation, and bracketing options

sRGB or Adobe RGB Color Space options

TTL 324-area ESP metering system with 18x18 grid, Center-weighted average and Spot options

Shutter speeds from 2 - 1/4000 sec. seconds and Bulb

Burst shooting at 3fps (max. 10 RAW images, or approx. 12 JPEG)

11-area Contrast Detect AF system with Single AF (S-AF), Continuous AF (C-AF), Continuous AF Tracking (C-AF+TR), Manual (MF / S-AF + MF) and Face Detection focusing modes

Focus assist magnifies the live image by 7 or 10x to help userss during manual focusing

3.0-inch color LCD with 230,000 pixels, 100% frame coverage, and 15 levels of brightness adjustment

New VF-2 electronic viewfinder that attaches via the flash hot shoe, and articulates up to 90°

EVF monitor adjustments for brightness and hue (±7 levels each)

Super Control Panel information display

Record Motion JPEG (.AVI) movies at 720p HD (1280x720) or SD (640x480) resolutions (30fps) with stereo sound

Manual exposure control in movie mode; adjust both shutter speed and aperture values

Built-in digital level sensor and gauge helps you capture level shots

Optional Optical Viewfinder (VF-1) for use with 17mm "Pancake" F2.8 Micro Four Thirds Lens

Auto ISO sensitivity from 200 - 6400, Manual from 100-6400, 1/3 or 1EV steps (Movie mode 160 - 1600)

Built-in hot shoe for external units

Noise Reduction for long exposures

SD/SDHC/MMC memory card storage

Selectable video output with NTSC or PAL format

HD output via MiniHDMI Type C I/O port

Built-in stereo microphones

Optional EMA-1 microphone input jack for optional external mics

Accessory port accepts new VF-2 and EMA-1 adapter as well as future optional accessories

CEC compliant

USB 2.0 (High-speed) data and control interface

Included BLS-1 Li-ion battery and compact BCS-1 AC charger

VistaQuest VQ 1030TS Digital Camera Review

2011-05-26T12:35:00.001-04:00

VistaQuest has introduced it's high-featured, 10MP VQ 1030TS digital camera. Not designed for the professional photographer, however, created for a

person who wants to take good photos on a daily basis with a camera that's compact enough to fit in their pocket and utilizes characteristics of a camera selling for twice as much.

The VistaQuest VQ 1030TS digital camera offers a 10MP sensor that's suitable for the most common photo prints and up to 3264 x 2236 resolution. If you need to zoom on the action, the VQ 1030TS features a 3x optical zoom lens which allows you to get closer without losing image quality.

If your subject(s) are moving around or you swing to your right to capture a photo, there's no need to worry about out of focus images thanks to its auto-focus feature. Simply wait a brief moment and the VQ 1030TS digital camera focuses on what you're attempting to capture.

Not only will you benefit from auto-focus, but the VQ 1030TS also features face recognition and red-eye removal which makes this digital camera great for portraits and snapping photos of your friends.

Another wonderful feature on the VistaQuest VQ 1030TS digital camera is the front-finger-grip. Located on the left-front of the digital camera, using your middle-finger will give you a more of a secured feeling and grip while taking photos as your pointer-finger presses the capture button, on top.

Image formats will be saved as JPEG (DCF), EXIF 2.2 and DPOF 1.1. If you think this digital camera can only capture photos, think again.

The VQ 1030TS digital camera can also record video clips at 720x480(D1), 640x480(VGA) and 320x240(QVGA) at 30fps and saves it as AVI (MJPEG).

The 3" TFT LCD touch-screen is not only vibrant, but it allows you to quickly "touch" menu controls and browse through menu options without needing additional buttons on the actual camera itself.

Canon Powershot S95 Digital Camera Review

2011-05-26T11:42:00.000-04:00

The Canon PowerShot S95 digital camera is a compact point and shoot camera that provides a great deal of professional features.

Geared towards the professional photographer wanting a competent point and shoot, the Canon S95 digital camera features have improved handling and greater levels of manual control as compared to the older s90. The state-of-the-art lens Control Ring, which allows users to modify the configurations of numerous functions by rotating the selector at the base of the lens to the left or right, currently delivers more flexibility, and also the image stablizing system utilizes Hybrid IS technology for sharper macro-mode photos.

An in-camera High Dynamic Range mode serves to photograph high-contrast scenes and Multi-Aspect photographing with 3:2, 4:3, 1:1, 16:9 and 4:5 formats enables you to become more creative. There’s also 720p Hi-def 24fps video recording along with stereo sound. Features kept from the prior S90 incorporate the same 10MP CMOS sensor, a 3" LCD viewing screen using a resolution of 461K dots, 3.8x optical zoom lens with very fast optimum aperture of f/2.0, extensive array of manual shooting modes and RAW format support. The Powershot S95 is available in black.

The Powershot S95 digital camera requires around 2-3 seconds to turn on and take photos, you can expect to wait around 2-3 seconds between taking photos and shutter lag averages just over a 1/2 second, therefore the S95 feels extremely quick.

Imatest was used to gather object details with regards to image quality. With regards to sharpness, the Canon S95 digital camera provided an average of 1,858 lines per photo height, which is great for a point and shoot. Photos captured at ISO 3200 were also good along with the S95 being a superb low-light shooter, and can operate in almost all conditions without using flash.

Video files shot in 720p30 Hi-def come out equally as wonderful. The great part is that the video files are composed as .MOV, which lets you upload them directly onto YouTube and other similar sites.

Connection possibilities on the S95 digital camera are stellar.

You'll find a universal mini-USB port allowing you to connect to your laptop or computer and a standard mini-HDMI port for direct-connect to an HDTV for Hi-def photo and video clip playback. The S95 digital camera writes photos and videos to SDXC as well as SDHC cards, which gives you a few more options.

Samsung TL350 / WB2000 Digital Camera Review

2011-05-22T12:34:00.001-04:00

The newly state-of-the-art compact TL350 / WB2000 digital camera from Samsung is equipped with a Schneider 5x optical zoom lens with a 24mm equivalent wide angle, a 10MP CMOS sensor and a lot

of additional features to keep the enthusiast satisfied. It's placed just beneath their top-end EX1 digital camera.

Into the Features
For a compact digital camera geared towards advanced users, the WB2000 / TL350 is nicely specified, exhibiting a 10.1MP high sensitivity CMOS sensor to capture photos up to ISO3200 as well as a Schneider 5x optically stabilized zoom lens that handles a range equal to 24-120mm on a 35mm camera. The CMOS sensor is additionally among the new high-speed versions that enables video recording at 1000fps during decreased resolution and also continuous shooting at speeds as high as 10fps at the full 10MP resolution.

Total manual exposure control is achievable and a pair of direct control dials make adjusting configurations fast and simple. To get a a bit more automation both shutter and aperture-priority exposure modes are as well presented, together with a fully automated smart mode, which utilizes scene detection to select the appropriate automatic scene program.

People who desire to explore manually might also be thrilled to find out that this digital camera can easily capture photos in a RAW image format, enabling more opportunity with editing later on and compression-free quality photos.

The Samsung WB2000 / TL350 digital camera also includes a range of detections, and although a lot of digital cameras are now becoming standard with this, it's just another perk: Face Detection, Blink Detection and Smile Detection are all provided. The only detection this digital camera doesn't have is radar detection for when you're speeding down the highway.

A Unique Touch
Something that you may never notice on digital cameras are Analog Dials. Well, this one has two, on the top. One is for the battery power and the other is for the memory card capacity. It's very different, and some people may like the look and others may not.

Samsung TL350 / WB2000 Manufacturer Features

Black Color - Color of the casing of the camera.

10 Effective Megapixels - Amount of pixels in a camera’s chip that detect light and contribute to the final image.

4.3-21.5mm - Distance from a lens to it’s focal point. In digital cameras, focal length can change when zooming.

F/2.4-5.8 - Range of settings that control aperture (amount of light allowed to reach a camera’s image sensor).

+/- 2EV (1/3 EV steps) Compensation Options - Automatically adjusts exposure values (EV) to make the most of ambient lighting conditions.

Program AE, Manual Aperture Adjustment ( 21 steps) Control - Method in which exposure settings can be adjusted. Program AE is an easy-to use mode menu.

ISO Equiv Settings - Dictates how sensitive a camera’s digital sensor is to light. Use higher ISO in darker conditions.

Multi, Spot, Center-weighted Metering Systems - Set of modes that represent which aspect of the image will determine the exposure for a given shot.

Supports Still Image:JPEG, DCF, EXIF 2.21, DPOF 1.1, PictBridge 1.0,Movie Clip:Container:MP4, Video:H.264, Audio:AAC - How images and data are stored when uploaded to a computer or printed directly from camera.

External memory: SD Card(up to 4GB guaranteed),SDHC (up to 8GB guaranteed) - How photos and videos are stored on a camera. Additional cards can be inserted for more memory.

Pause during recording, Still Image Capture, Time Trimming - High-feature mode that enables videos to be edited directly on the camera, without a computer.

10fps, 5fps, 3fps, Precapture, Single, interval, 10sec, 2sec, BRK, Raw file support - Mode that allows creative array of preset or custom effects to be applied to a video.

10fps, 5fps, 3fps, Precapture, Single, interval, 10sec, 2sec, BRK, Raw file support - The recording of images. A variety of modes and settings can be applied to optimize each photograph.

Pause during recording, Still Image Capture, Time Trimming - High-feature mode that enables videos to be edited directly on the camera, without a computer.

10fps, 5fps, 3fps, Precapture, Single, interval, 10sec, 2sec, BRK, Raw file support - Mode that allows creative array of preset or custom effects to be applied to a video.

Movie Size:1920x1080 High/Standard Quality, 1280x720 Standard Quality, 640x480, 320x240, 432x320, 224x160, 192x64,* Speed Dial (1000 fps, 420fps, 240 fps, 60fps, 30fps, 10sec(timer), 2sec(timer)),* Format:H.264 (Max. Recording time:20min.),* Stereo recording with volume control, mute during zoom operation (user option),* Voice(On/Off), OIS(On/Off),* Movie capture button,* Smart Auto Movie (Landscape, Blue Sky, Natural Green, Sunset),Full-size Dual Capture - The capture of moving images. A variety of modes and settings can be applied to optimize each clip.

5-85% Humidity Range - Minimum and maximum air moisture in which a camera will operate, as measured in percentage.

Digital Image Stabilization - Technology that minimizes or prevents blurred images due to unwanted camera shake.

Epson Stylus Pro 3880 Photo Printer

2011-05-22T11:19:00.005-04:00

The compact size of the Epson Stylus Pro 3880 photo printer, 27"x15"x10", is capable of delivering surprisingly massive prints of up to 17" x 22".

The print quality is greatly superior to the Epson 2200 photo printer with the use of the Ultra Chrome K3 which contains Vivid Magenta Ink. This technology results in strong shades of blue and purple. The printer is equipped with a sophisticated black and white setting which creates professional grade black and white prints from monochrome or color images. The Advanced MicroPiezo AMC cartridge capabilities a one-inch print head distributing 9 distinct inks. This cartridge also uses an ink repellant within the coating which increases precision.

The Stylus Pro 3880 photo printer has the capacity to effectively print on all of the print papers such as glossy, matte, semi-matte, art board and fiber paper up to a thickness of 1.5mm. The auto-switch feature makes it simple to accurately print on just about any media. The technological improvements Epson has implemented in this model vastly increase print excellent by implementing Accuphoto HD2 screening algorithms.

Most users of the Epson Stylus Pro 3880 photo printer have reported a significant increase pertaining to ease-of-use over the 220 model. Professional and amateur users alike rave about the superior print quality too, as the fact that they no longer want to alter cartridges to switch from matte to photo black ink for various kinds of prints.

The previous issues with metamerism, gloss or bronzing have been eliminated in the 3880 model, as well.

For the high quality of prints the Epson Stylus Pro 3880 photo printer delivers, the price is comparatively low compared to other photo printers. It efficiently uses ink even though there is certainly some loss when switching between matte and photo black. For all the technological improvements in this model, the flimsy print tray seems like a style afterthought.

Editing Your Photos - Photoshop Elements

2011-05-18T15:08:00.001-04:00

Which version of Photoshop Elements Should you Be Using?

The first thing that you want to do is understand how Adobe has broken down their Photo Editing Software; they have created two separate categories of programs.

If you are beginning to learn how to use photo editing software then Photoshop Elements is the program for you, whereas Photoshop is aimed towards people who have experience using editing software programs and wish to make more advanced editing adjustments to their photos. Most people tend to start by using Elements and when they become more experienced they will move onto Photoshop.

Ok, now every so often Adobe update their Elements software to a new version, and currently we are at Elements 7. When they decide to update the software, it is normally just to keep one step ahead of all those hackers out there, who would rather steal their product.

If you have been using Photoshop Elements for a while already and are wondering if you should invest in the latest upgrade I recommend that you put your money towards the latest version of Photoshop, currently in CS4, as it would include any tools you may be missing out on in Elements.

If you want to learn how to use Elements proficiently then I recommend you look into any one of the variety of tutorials that are available on the Internet and which are pretty much universal to the versions.

Don't worry too much if the screen in the video appears different from yours as the videos are designed to help you out with 90% of the tools on any Photoshop Elements version.

If you don't already own the Photoshop Elements software, don't worry if the version you buy isn't the latest one as you will always get the best training skills that will enable you to conquer any Photoshop Elements version in no time at all.

Vivitar ViviCam iTwist VX018 Digital Camera Review

2011-05-17T23:53:00.002-04:00

The Vivitar ViviCam iTwist VX018 digital camera includes an impressive flip-screen that allows you to take self-portraits while seeing yourself in the TFT color LCD screen.

The Vivitar Experience Software that's included will make uploading photos to social media sites a breeze. This is another great budget camera for teenagers and even adults who are looking for a lower end camera model that is still capable of taking great looking photos.

Ease-of-Use
The Vivitar ViviCam iTwist VX018 digital camera

has a very easy to understand menu interface and not an overwhelming amount of buttons, making this digital camera easy to operate after only using it a few times.

Image Quality
Although Vivitar ViviCam iTwist VX018 digital camera is suited with an anti-shake mechanism, you'll find that placing the camera on a still-surface, to deaden camera shake completely, will result in the sharpest, non-blur photos possible. Don't think you have to set it down every time you snap away, as long as you have somewhat steady hands, as said earlier, this digital camera will take great looking photos. It also includes a variety of scene modes: Auto / Scenery / Portrait / Night Scenery / Night Portrait / High Sensitivity / Sport / Beach / Party.

Specifications:

Image Sensor: CMOS Sensor

Image Resolution: 10M (3648x2736), 8M (3264x2736), 7M HD (3648x2048), 5M (2592x1944), 3M (2048x1536), 2M HD (1920x1080), VGA ( 640x480 )

Video Resolution: 640X480 pixels , 320X240 pixels

File Format: JPEG/AVI

External Memory: SD Card (up to 32GB)

LCD Display: 1.8 Inch TFT with 180 degree Swivel Display

Lens: f=7mm F3.0

Zoom: 4X Digital Zoom

Exposure: -3.0EV ~ +3.0EV

White Balance: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Incandescent , Fluorescent

ISO: Auto / 100 / 200 / 400

Scene: Auto / Scenery / Portrait / Night Scenery / Night Portrait / High Sensitivity / Sport / Beach / Party

Flash: Auto/Force/Red Eye/Off

Self-Timer: 2,5or 10 sec delay

Anti-Shake: Yes

Print Photos: Yes

Multi Snapshots: Yes

Interface: USB 2.0

System Requirements: Windows XP and above / Mac OSX 10.5 and above

Battery: 3* AAA (1.5V) batteries

Dimensions: 10.5x8.5x2.0

Weight: 0.61lbs

Vivitar Vivicam X029 Digital Camera Review

2011-05-17T23:11:00.000-04:00

The Vivitar Vivicam X029 digital camera falls into the Low Price range for digital cameras.

Although it may be considerably cheaper than others, don't let the price tag fool you.

The X029 carries features found in digital cameras in the $100-$200 price range, including HD video recording. You're going to need to purchase a separate SD card if you plan on taking a lot of pictures. The internal memory isn't going to cut it (similar to other digital cameras).

Great quality, user-friendly controls and an excellent value define the ViviCam X029 digital Camera. A resolution of 10.1 Megapixels together with high quality 4x digital zoom allow you to capture every detail and produce outstanding prints. Features like Anti-Shake and Face Detection bring new levels to your photographic experience. You can even record video in stunning 720p resolution. It is also exceptionally easy to use thanks to its large 2.4" screen, along with the rechargable Lithium Ion battery. It also includes a self-timer mode available for 2 seconds, 5 seconds or 10 seconds.

The only "negative" would be that this digital camera does not include an optical zoom. It does however include a 4x digital zoom. If you're looking to zoom-in a lot on distant subjects, this digital camera may not be right for you. If you intend on using it to take photos of friends and family, this is a wonderful budget camera.

The Vivitar Vivicam X029 is packed full of features:

Scene Modes:
You can choose the options according to what the environment is and what you are taking a picture of: scenery, portrait, night scenery, night portrait , high sensitivity, sport (great for taking pictures of my active son!), beach, and party.

Resolution:
You can choose what resolution you want your pictures or videos to be:

10MP: 3648x2736

8MP: 3264x2448

7MP HD: 3648x2048

5MP: 2592x1944

3MP: 2048x1536

2MP HD: 1920x1080

VGA: 640x480

White Balance:
This is a feature that could easily end up as on of your favorites. You can adjust the white balance according to environmental lighting. This helps mostly with videos. Settings are:

Auto

Daylight

Cloudy

Flourescent (Indoor lighting)

Incandescent (Indoor lighting)

Color effect:
Many people usually change the effect of the picture once it is uploaded into the computer, however, this digital camera allows you to accomplish this straight from its user menu. Options are:

Standard (no special effect)

Sepia

Monochrome

Vivid

Light exposure:
This is one of those features that most people are going to need:

+3 lightest

+2 lighter

+1 light

0 normal

-1 dark

-2 darker

-3 darkest

Image Quality:
You can further change the quality of your pictures by choosing between normal, fine and super fine.

Self Timer:
You can choose between 2 seconds, 5 seconds or 10 seconds.

Other useful features:

Anti-shake

Face detect

Smile capture

Multiple snapshots

Image sharpness

ISO

Metering

Language (9 languages)

Date/Time

Silent Mode

Auto Power off

Frequency (50 & 60 Hz)

Format SD card

Zoom

Conclusion:
Overall, the Vivitar Vivicam X029 digital camera will be a very popular digital camera for people looking for standard-use photo taking. Perfect digital camera for FaceBook profiles and sharing photos through email to relatives and also will be popular amongst the younger generation because of its price tag.

Kodak EasyShare M200 Digital Camera Review

2011-05-17T21:18:00.002-04:00

The 10MP Kodak EasyShare Mini M200 is just about the most compact, lightest, and least complicated digital cameras you will discover.

Made for individuals taking pictures of their buddies and posting them to social networks without a huge concern regarding picture quality, it really is a superb digital camera for the price tag. Be advised: it does not offer image stabilizing, therefore, except for when you utilize a tripod, or fantastic lighting environments, you may require the flash or you are going to find yourself with really blurry pictures.

Design
Measuring 2"H by 3.4"W by 0.7"D and with a weight of 3.5oz, it should fit conveniently in practically any pocket or purse. When you have bigger hands, its dimensions may become an issue - your thumb may commonly wander over the top of the LCD panel, as well as the digital camera being somewhat challenging to hold sometimes.

The Kodak EasyShare Mini M200 is available in purple, red and blue variations. The digital camera's front side is really shiny, loaded with the camera lens, flash, along with a compact mirror for self-shots. You'll find buttons located on the top and backside of the digital camera, committed to changing the most common modes - flipping from video clip to pictures, toggling the flash, and so forth. This is a wise decision by Kodak, since many individuals purchasing the Mini will likely snap photos in automatic mode and only toggle the flash.

The camera lens provides 3x zoom, beginning at 29mm and stretching to 87mm, along with an equivalent aperture of f/3.5-f/5.9. It may not sound really remarkable, however, it's going to perform nice in many scenarios. The viewing screen built into the back of the Mini is a 2.5" display which is filled with 230,000 dots, and that's common point and shoot digital camera resolution, yet even better, because the screen is small sized, it appears sharper than usual. The half-inch size reduction (compared to many cameras' 3" screen) will cause an impact and will result in a considerable amount of scrolling through menus along with a reasonable amount of squinting at pictures.

All on-screen menus fall under several segments - Capture, that handles all the things associated with photo capturing, and Setup with regard to operations such as altering the time and date. Apart from the button designed for picture mode toggling, you'll find not very many controls on the digital camera: a zoom modification, a pair of Menu buttons, stand alone Playback and Erase buttons, and a Share button. Kodak's sharing features are among the camera's leading qualities, enabling you to earmark pics and vids for distribution to sites like Flickr, Facebook or MySpace, YouTube and others - and whenever you link up your camera, they will be conveniently delivered to their specific locations.

Performance
Labeling the EasyShare Mini "speedy" is somewhat of a stretch, however, its picture taking results seriously is not poor for a digital camera under $100. It will start up and snap a photo within the 3 second mark, and you will wait around 3 seconds among picture taking. You can find quicker compact digital cameras, even though the Mini will not be considered notably sluggish. Other stuff will be slower: A few of the User Interface features are a bit slow while you're scrolling or pressing a button, and viewing of photos and video clips is somewhat slow, as well.

Imatest testing was utilized to gather data regarding image quality. Imatest's initial test is image sharpness, calculated in lines per photo height. The EasyShare Mini scored a reasonable 1,664 lines, and that is a good sharpness result, particularly for a low cost camera.

Imatest in addition measures noise from numerous ISO sensitivities, determining the camera's low-light capturing potential. When there is greater than 1.5% noise within a photo, that photo is going to be noticeably noisy or grainy. The EasyShare Mini's configurations simply will go up to ISO 1000 - a huge warning sign which means this may not be a digital camera you ought to operate inside, without using flash. On the other hand, it will remain beneath the 1.5% limit with each picture.

You will find there's a set-back to this shockingly fine performance: regardless of its decent numbers, you'll probably find difficulties capturing usable photos in anything aside from ideal lighting. Which is due to the fact the camera does not have image stabilizing. Except in cases where you'll be snapping shots in superb light or employing a tripod and capturing still subjects, even the smallest movements could ruin your pictures and cause them to be blurry. Utilizing a flash will help minimize this issue, and when it comes to the EasyShare Mini, it is certainly your sole solution with regard to anything but vibrantly lit up shooting conditions.

Video shooting is not so perfect with the EasyShare Mini, and that's bothersome for a digital camera that'll connect so conveniently to YouTube and other similar sites, yet not unexpected for a camera in this price range. The camera records video only at VGA quality, so high definition video will not happen. On a positive not, it offers auto-focus accessible while video recording, in addition to digital zoom, although you don't really want to use it as it will lessen the quality of the video. Video will be recorded as MPEG files, that can be naturally published to a lot of video sites.

The EasyShare Mini works with SDXC memory cards, that happen to be backwards compatible with SD memory cards.

There's even a mini USB slot for linking the camera together with your laptop, as well as for charging the battery, and that's good because you won't need an extra charger. You won't find an HDMI port intended for playing pictures and video via your high definition TV, but you shouldn't expect it due to the camera's cost or its video-recording functions.

FujiFilm FinePix A150 Digital Camera Review

2011-05-17T20:53:00.002-04:00

Fujifilm is happy to publicize the introduction of a new "A" series digital camera - the A150 digital camera - moving forward with the achievements of the widely well-known A-series collection of enjoyable, easy-to-use compact digital cameras.

Lots of individuals would like a digital camera which is fairly simple on the wallet, on top of performance as well as user-friendly, however, don’t wish to be puzzled by a lot of functions and configurations. Fujifilm’s new ‘A’ series digital cameras offer exactly that; simple, but high-rate technology and fantastic photo quality, found inside of a good looking body. The Fujifilm A150 digital camera is a perfect compact digital camera for almost anyone, including grandma and grandpa, parents and teenagers, as well, or perhaps for someone who is shopping for their first digital camera.

The Fujifilm A150 camera model will be very simple to operate, yet, zero compromises have been established on performance. The Fuji A150 features a 10MP resolution, high sensitivity configurations up to ISO 1600 meaning that even during difficult low-light environments, for example, over cast and stormy weather the photo quality continues to stand out. Fujifilm’s legendary Face Detection technology makes sure that facial features are sharp and wonderfully revealed - it’s so innovative that it even promptly gets rid of unpleasant red-eye. A low cost digital camera, the A150 also comes with Picture Stabilizing technology making it possible to leave behind blurry, unclear images, and introduce yourself to razor-sharp, amazingly clear photos with the press of a button. The Fujifilm A150 features a top quality Fujinon 3x zoom, and also an additional 5.7x digital zoom. Grouped together, they provide a powerful and flexible 17.1x total zoom spectrum. There's no need to be up close if you don't have to be.

14 Scene Modes
For additional satisfaction Fujifilm have bundled 14 beneficial pre-programmed scene modes. So, if you'd like to seize a picture of the sea shells at the beach, change the camera to "Beach" mode; beverages in the local pub with buddies may be captured wonderfully in "Party" mode. These kinds of intelligent Scene Tasks signify that the camera automatically chooses the correct shutter speed, exposure and white balance to complement the scene and ensure the greatest photo achievable. Seems complex, however, with the Fujifilm A150 it’s as basic as pressing a button. Optimum outcomes, minimal work. With regard to an even better choice the A150 includes a superb 3" LCD viewing screen.

QVGA Movie Mode
Apart from photos, you can even make your own videos with audio.

The Fujifilm A150's QVGA Video Setting allows owners to make their own 30 FPS videos in camera. The Fuji A150 includes 52MB of internal memory, and that's a fantastic back-up storage alternative, so owners can certainly continue to capture and preserve photos even while the memory card is maxed out. On top of that, the camera’s reduced power usage indicates owners will not lose out on shooting the action.

Featured Highlights

Movie Mode: Captures movies with sound at 30 frames per second.

New Design and Slim Body: Very slim 21.7mm body and sleek casing allows for portability and photography on-the-go.

Internal Memory: When the SD memory card (sold separately) is filled with images, users have extra internal storage space approx. 20MB on each camera to capture additional pictures.

AA Battery: Using AA batteries is often most convenient for on-the-go digital camera users as it eliminates the need to charge battery packs, allowing for lots of picture-taking and the ease of battery replacement.

Customer Reviews

1) I wanted a good looking and compact camera that I can just "point and shoot" - nothing too complicated but one that takes good pictures that dont start to pixelate as soon as you enlarge them.........and that sums up this camera exactly. I must admit, I sometimes find it hard to keep the camera steady; resulting in a blurred picture (especially in artificial light) but the large lcd screen lets you see any mistakes like this easily and I just take another picture!! It can be annoying if you've missed a great moment but then considering the price of the camera its a small price to pay. There is a selection of different settings (including anti shake but I haven't noticed any difference!) to help produce good pictures in different circumstances. Overall a great little camera that takes fab quality pictures - if you can keep a fairly steady hand!!

2) This is a really good quality camera that is extremely easy to use. The picture quality is excellent. My only criticism would be that you need to buy a memory card for the camera as it only holds a few pictures without one. Also the camera doesn't come with a case, so I had to buy one of those as well! Overall, though, this is a great camera and I would highly recommend it.

3) Purchased for my husband who normally uses film SLR camera. Its his first use of digital and although we didnt realise how many settings this camera had and we used it seriously for the first time for our holiday last week and are very pleased with the photos.

It's not just a shoot and take type camera, there are many choices of settings for the type of photo you are taking, ie, beach, sunset, portrait, sport etc.
We used re-chargeable batteries and with my old digital they barely lasted a few photos, with this camera think the first lot did over 50 before we re-charged, not cause they needed it though.

We are very pleased with this camera. The large screen is great, saves having to get the glasses out to see if you took a photo!

4) Brilliant camera, crystal clear picture and there's no delay on it when you take a picture. Easy to use and compact, fits in my handbag!!! Would def recommend.

5) This is a great little camera light and very easy to use, the picture quality is fab if you're looking for a good 10MP camera look no further.

Canon Powershot SD4500 IS ELPH Digital Camera Review

2011-05-17T20:11:00.003-04:00

The Canon PowerShot SD4500 IS layout contains a 10MP CMOS image sensor at its foundation.

The Canon SD4500IS ensues in the actions of the PowerShot S90 camera, by reducing reliable resolution to 10MP, with the objective of raising low-light photo quality. A sign of this may be noticed in the higher than normal sensitivity range for a digital camera, between ISO 125 and ISO 3,200 equivalents. In front of the Canon SD4500's image sensor, Canon has installed a 10x optical zoom lens with genuine focal lengths of 6.3 to 63mm, equal to a range of 36mm to 360mm on a 35mm camera. Optimum aperture adjusts from f/3.4 to f/5.6 through the zoom range. Notably, because of the telephoto reach with this lens, Canon has integrated a legitimate optical image stabilizing feature in the SD4500 IS, which fights blur as a result of camera shake.

The Canon SD4500 IS does not have any type of optical or electronic viewfinder, with all of the viewing happening through its rear-panel LCD screen. The PowerShot SD4500's screen features a rather common 3" diagonal, while offering a 230,000 dot resolution. In addition to still images at resolutions up to 3,648 x 2,736 pixels, the Canon SD4500 will capture Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixel) video clips at 24 frames per second, while HD 720p (1,280 x 720 pixel), or standard definition video clips at either VGA (640 x 480) or QVGA (320 x 240) resolution, all give you a rate of 30 frames per second.

Exposures are determined utilizing the Canon SD4500's evaluative metering system, that also provides center-weighted average and spot modes. The Canon PowerShot SD4500 features Smart Auto and Program Auto exposure modes, along with a diverse number of scene modes. Examples of these are Portrait, Night Snapshot, Kids & Pets, Indoor, Smart Shutter, High-Speed Burst, Low Light, Color Accent, Color Swap, Fisheye Effect, Miniature Effect, Beach, Foliage, Snow, and Fireworks. A Best Image Selection mode takes 5 photos, then erases all except for the sharpest one. A handheld night mode instantly piles numerous shots in-camera to deliver one image with lessened motion blur. Also,seven white balance modes are offered, such as Auto, 5 presets, and manual. The PowerShot SD4500 IS digital camera features a 7 mode flash strobe having a spread of 1 to 12 feet at wide-angle, or 3.3 to 6.6 feet at telephoto.

The Canon PowerShot SD4500IS digital camera holds photos and videos on SD, SDHC or SDXC memory cards.

Connection solutions consist of HDMI high definition or NTSC / PAL standard definition composite video and USB 2.0 High-Speed data. Power comes from an amazing NB-9L lithium-ion rechargeable battery, scored very well for a battery life of 150 shots.

Customer Reviews

1) Pros: good battery life, Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, durable, Bright LCD, Lightweight/Portable, Simple controls/menu, easy to use, many settings

The camera is easy to use whether you use fully automatic settings or chose to use your own settings. It also has many options for the various condiltions such as low light, snow, fireworks, etc. These options make it very easy to use for someone that does not want to take the time to enter own settings. The picture quality is very good for all the settings that I have used. The battery life is very long and does not deplete when camera is turned off.

2) Pros: good battery life, Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, durable, Bright LCD, Lightweight/Portable, Simple controls/menu, easy to use

Best Camera ever. It takes amazing pictures. The video is iffy at times probably because I've rushed them and haven't had the camera on the right settings but the camera is great overall.

3) Pros: Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Lightweight/Portable, easy to use
Cons: slippery case

This is my third compact digital camera but my first Canon. Without a doubt it has the best picture quality of any camera I've owned, particularly for indoor photos. My husband's and father's professional cameras can take professional pictures, eventually, but they always seem to miss the shot because it takes so long to get everything adjusted.

4) Pros: Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Lightweight/Portable, easy to use, capture stills while in video mode

I've had the new SD4500 just over 2 months now. Great camera (my third "digital elph").

The camera is very fast, and has many great lighting settings. I'm still learning all the features. I use the low light settings quite a bit. When I hit "function" to change the shooting mode, I often move up/down before moving right (selecting the shooting mode options)... in other words, it's easy to change the wrong setting, making people wait for you to snap the picture.

I love that this camera has the new HD video format. However, I think the video is a bit grainy, when viewed full size. The video from my old SD 870 looked better (color, detail), but it was a smaller format. The sound recording is great. I really like that I can be shooting video, and then click the shutter button and take a still ASAP (without manually switching modes).

I would recommend getting an extra battery. I think I've been using the video function a lot, so it seems the battery drains quickly.

Very pleased, but I think I just need to get used to a few of the features.

5) Pros: Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Lightweight/Portable, Simple controls/menu, easy to use
Cons: Short battery life

After much research and thought, we chose this camera for our next purchase. After everything I read about it, it had a lot to live up to! Honestly, this camera exceeded my (high) expectations and gone beyond them! Insanely cool. I now have professional-quality photos and videos on a GREAT camera, all for an excellent price!

I have little ones, and I was always missing the best shots with my older camera. No more! I will never miss another priceless moment with this new purchase. DO IT. You'll love it!

Battery doesn't last long; buy some backups and the power adapter. I did this and it's such a small drawback to such a fantastic purchase that I don't mind a bit.

6) Pros: good battery life, Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, durable, Bright LCD, Lightweight/Portable, Simple controls/menu, easy to use
Cons: hate the color; where's black?

Canon always makes nice products. I've owned one for years. I have a SD780 which is one of the smallestand durable camera I've ever seen. I've been looking for a camera that can do 1080P video with a decent optical lense and this has both. The only negative thing I have to say about this camera is the color. Yuck! Where is the black model???

(7) Pros: many features
Cons: many features

I have a degree in photography (years ago) but am new to digital photo I didn't want an SLR, I just want a GOOD point and shoot. This seemed to be the best I could find. Now I need to learn it, It has so many features it will take some time. Last
night I took it to the show and took some low light pictures of the bands. Hand held, no flash and they came out great, just what I wanted.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX37 10.1 MP Digital Camera Review

2011-05-17T19:51:00.004-04:00

The Lumix FX37 digital camera is the newest

among a group of compact, fashionable digital cameras Panasonic has created in the past few years. It provides a lengthier zoom lens compared to the FX35, which itself expanded the wide-angle end of the lens and integrated a 10MP sensor to the FX33's layout.

The FX37 digital camera comes with a 5x image stabilized zoom, beginning at an admirable wide-angle 25mm, and Panasonic has additionally included the power to capture 720p HD movie clips into its smaller high quality digital camera, guaranteeing an incredibly versatile innovative device.

10.1 effective Megapixels

25-125mm equiv lens with 5x Optical zoom and up to 4x Digital Zoom

2.5-inch LCD with 230,000 dot resolution

ISO sensitivity up to 6400

1280x720 (720p HD) movies at up to 30fps

Multi-Area Autofocus

5 shooting modes and 22 scene modes including Intelligent Auto mode

1280 x 720p HD recording

50MB internal memory

Available in Silver, Black, Blue and White

The Basics
The FX37 digital camera comes after the equally designed FX35 and FX33, as each versions equipped wide-angle lenses into compact, exceptional metal bodies. It's compact, it's impressively outfitted and it's a design that deserved to carry on past the now standard 52 week compact digital camera life-span. A few smallish dips allows the thumb a bit of grip on the back of the digital camera but, most of all, indicate the designers have shown an abundance of consideration to exactly where your hands should sit. Which is actually very important with digital cameras in this size range as they may more difficult to grip well, for some people.

The Panasonic's lens handles a notable 25-125mm range which, due to the brilliant processing Panasonic seems to implement, is not likely to affect your photos with the downsides you may otherwise anticipate from this kind of serious optic. The smaller body implies there's only enough space for a 2.5" viewing screen however, it's a high quality 230,000 dot one, and so, it appears fine and in depth. The FX37 digital camera has Panasonic's "Q.Menu"' which provides instant access to essential shooting configurations, and a mode dial to change among the various difficulties of shooting mode, such as the iAuto mode that quickly chooses from portrait, scenery, macro, night portrait or night scenery modes, determined by exactly what you point the digital camera at.

Image Quality
Photo quality, while taken all together, is quite impressive, with exceptional, pure color and satisfying tonality. In regards to pixel level the photos are really soft, specifically within the widest zoom setting, and they're generally not too "clean", as noise and noise elimination covering is visible, however, this is mainly as a result of Panasonic's fairly light default sharpening. You won't notice any of this in standard prints or whenever observing on-screen unless you look at really high magnifications.

The FX37 digital camera utilizes heavy noise reducing at all settings higher than ISO 200, generating smooth, but somewhat soft results which contain little, fantastic depth - not an issue at ISO 1600 (in which the FX37 digital camera truly

results towards the top of the bunch), yet, much more at ISO 400, which will truly appear sharper.It's excellent with regard to smaller, 6x4" prints, but nothing larger. Flash coverage is fantastic, and extremely dependable, which is solely disappointed from the sluggish focus in low light conditions.

Canon PowerShot SD4000 IS ELPH Digital Camera Review

2011-05-17T15:19:00.002-04:00

When it comes to the PowerShot SD4000 IS Digital ELPH, Canon has launched a consumer buying compact digital camera that features a vibrant f/2 lens. For many people not familiar with the appreciation associated with f/stops, f/2 is a particularly big aperture for a camera lens, enabling much more light to hit the imaging sensor so you're able to take pictures in dimly lit environments.

An f/2 camera lens, that's generally featured on an SLR digital camera, additionally gives your photos a shallow depth of field, allowing you to blur the background of any portrait to make your target stand out. Although the Canon SD4000 f/2 camera lens is not really comparable to what you'll notice on a very expensive digital SLR - the aperture in fact varies from f/2 to f/5.8 based on how far you zoom - it provides individuals a number of the benefits that at one time had been merely the realm of professional photographers. In order to make it simpler to take advantage of the aperture control, the Canon SD4000, different from almost all compact digital cameras, features both an Aperture priority and Shutter priority exposure mode.

However, it gets better. The Canon SD4000 boasts a 10MP, CMOS sensor that utilizes Backside Illumination (BSI) technology. BSI sensors, in case you haven't been aware of them, were created with their circuitry on the side of the chip not utilized for taking in light. This, evidently, allows the pixels more space along the light-sensitive side to gather light. Some other incredible qualities within this attractive Digital ELPH feature an 8.4 fps high-speed "burst" configuration, however, it needs to be stated that photos shot during this mode are lowered to 2.5MP. There's even a Super Slow Motion video function, that will record video clips at 240fps as well as play the video clip back at 30fps for extremely slow review. For HD enthusiasts, you will find there's a 720p HD video recording at 30fps.

The Canon SD4000 will zoom in on the subject(s) by using a 3.8x optical lens providing the 35mm equivalent of 28 to 105mm. The Canon SD4000 also provides optical image stabilizing to overcome blur from camera shake. With regard to looking at and flaunting your photographs, you will find there's a 3" LCD display screen with 230,000 dots of resolution on its rear, which seems to be becoming the standard. Although the Canon SD4000 doesn't have an optical viewfinder, the LCD screen delivers roughly 98 percent coverage, providing you a pretty good idea of what you are taking pictures of.

With regards to dimensions, the Canon SD4000 falls within the Canon Digital ELPH tradition for being both great looking and small. It can be purchased in a few colors: matte black, slick red and metallic silver.

Customer Reviews:
1) Pros: crystal clear pictures, great quality low light shots, hd video recording, crystal clear 3" lcd screen, high quality metal camera body, superior everything!!
Cons: not one comes to my mind

I have had this camera for about a week now and am in absolute love with this camera. I have always been a fan of the Canon Digital ELPH series, and this is their best camera to date! The low-light capture blows my mind for the size of this camera. When I expect graininess, I get clarity, super Amazing. The Aperture and Shutter priority controls are extremely fun and useful, along with the countless other features that make this camera superior to any other model of any other brand.

The body is fully metal except for the screen, buttons, and lens barrel, and has a rustic metal feel to it, which is great because it will prevent you from dropping it when using it one handed. The flash range is surprisingly large and when combined with Canon's HS system, the picture results with superior clarity. In the movie mode, which features 720p HD and Slo-Mo video recording, you are able to use optical zoom while shooting video, not only digital, which results in crystal clear HD videos, ready to be shown through the HDMI port with an optional HDMI cable. Overall, this camera is the best point and shoot camera I have ever owned or tested and would HIGHLY recommend it to a friend. Don't let the current price turn you away, it is 110% worth the money and you will not think twice.

2) Pros: good battery life, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, durable, Bright LCD, Lightweight/Portable, Simple controls/menu, easy to use

I bought this camera to take to Israel with me in Nov. 2010. Trip was 10 days long and I didn't want to carry around a large, heavy camera. I bought 2 8GB high speed cards to go with it. I took just over 700 pics and maybe 45 minutes total of video. This camera exceeded my expectations! Battery life was a little less than I'd have liked but I made it through each day with excess capacity. ALl my pics were great. I did touch some up with software to print them out or share but really didn't have to. Since then I have used it many times and learning to use more functons. If this camera is in your price range I highly recommend it.

3) Pros: good battery life, Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Lightweight/Portable, Simple controls/menu, easy to use, good video quality

I am not a fan of flash on any camera... The low light performance is why I bought this camera. I was tired of my other Point and Shoots having very poor low light performance. This was particularly noticeable at concerts where I was not allowed to bring my XSi in because it is a DSLR (considered a professional camera). So, the smaller cameras were the only option. This camera excels in this department. Some of the low light shots are grainy, but overall performance is excellent.
I did notice that the video feature sometimes has an issue focusing during shooting video, but that is really my only qualm with this camera. Battery life isn't incredible, but it is still very good. This is my favorite all around point and shoot camera.

4) Pros: Good Low-Light Performance, Nice features/settings, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Lightweight/Portable, easy to use
Cons: Short battery life, shutter lag

Bought the 4000IS for it's low light capabilities and it has not disappointed. It's loaded with lots of great features... AV, TV, second curtain flash especially useful. Image quality is much better than I had expected. Prints up to 5x7 are comparable to my G-10. Only small negative is shutter lag with flash.
This is the perfect small take with anywhere camera.

5) Pros: excellent image quality, great low light photos, excellent battery life, size, lcd is clear & crisp, easy to use
Cons: side panel seems too delicate

I have only had this camera for about one month now, but I love it. It takes fantastic pictures and at this time, I have only been using the automatic settings. The low light pictures are amazing. I am still learning the features of this product and I am sure that once I am familiar with more of the manual features, I will be even more amazed. The size is just perfect. It fits right inside a pocket and is great to take anywhere. The LCD is so crisp and clear. I find the camera easy to use. The macro shots were clear and perfect. My only concern is that the side panel that you plug into the computer feels very delicate and I am concerned that it may snap off in time. I did extensive research before I bought this model and I am so glad that I choose this one. I am having a lot of fun with this camera and finding that I am using it more and taking it more places than the once I just replaced.

FujiFilm FinePix Real 3D W3 Digital Camera Review

2011-05-17T14:48:00.001-04:00

The Fujifilm Finepix Real 3D W3 digital camera is in fact a legitimate 3D digital camera - it features a pair of lenses as well as a pair of image sensors into a compact-size body. The W3 photographs large 10MP 3D photos, and records 3D video clips in 720p24 HD which you may observe via the 3D on the camera's LCD viewing screen, or even via a 3D HDTV or a 3D-enabled computer.

Applying the press of a button, the W3 digital camera in addition turns into a suitable 2D digital camera. The W3 camera isn't a challenging camera to work with, however, capturing pictures that appear to be excellent in 3D can be difficult. Not all photos you capture will look great in 3D, some of your photos may be problematic to look at, and a few may in fact strain your eyes to view.

Design and Features
Apart from both lenses, the digital camera appears to be a typical 2D camera. At 2.6"H by 4.9"W and 1.1"D plus with a weight of 8.2oz, the digital camera can reasonably fit into your pocket, however it is lengthier and bulkier compared to many 2D digital cameras. You will discover all of the common buttons as well as mode dials on back and also a zoom trigger on the top. The digital camera doesn't have a On/Off button - moving the lens shield down turns the camera on and moving it up turns it off.

A pair of buttons are prominent on the W3 digital camera: first is the dedicated 2D/3D button, that switches promptly among 2D and 3D capturing. And the second is a trigger found on the top left side of the camera which changes the parallax, which is the association relating to the left and the right image. Toggling can potentially increase the 3D effect, however, if you go past an acceptable limit, it's possible you'll ruin the effect. By default, the digital camera quickly regulates the parallax, allowing you to entirely disregard this control, however, if you wish to mess around with it, the ability is there.

Much like the forthcoming Nintendo 3DS, the 3.5" LCD screen found on the back of the camera is an Autostereoscopic 3D display, this means you will not require glasses to view the 3D. Unfortunately, it's not as stunning as it may sound. The LCD viewing screen is obscured by a parallax barrier, which causes your left and right eye to view different pixels, which is why you can view the photo in 3D. It does the job, however the result is soft - a 3D HDTV along with active-shutter glasses provides a considerably more extraordinary 3D effect. Furthermore, you must view the screen only from the correct viewpoint,if you don't, the photos may actually cause a headache. The LCD screen features over a one million pixels, although isn't going to appear anywhere near as sharp as a 2D screen with a similar number of pixels.

The user interface and menu system on the Real 3D W3 camera is precisely the same of what you'd notice on other Fuji cameras. Text as well as icons seem really out of date, yet it's simple enough to find your way around after you learn the awkward interface. It doesn't matter if you're in 2D or 3D capturing, you have the ability to utilize every single mode you'd locate on regular Fuji digital cameras such as Face recognition, Scene Modes, Aperture Priority and Manual picture taking. You will want a memory card to hold the photos you capture, considering that the W3 comes with 34MB of internal storage - the digital camera will take SDHC memory cards up to 32GB.

Performance
All of the Fuji W3's lenses delivers 3x optical zoom by utilizing a focal length of 35-105mm, and equivalent aperture of f/3.7-f/4.2. Given that the digital camera carries a pair of lenses and a pair of image sensors, the W3 camera features a number of exclusive 2D shooting abilities. During Telephoto/Wide Simultaneous Shooting mode you're able to zoom in and snap a picture using one lens, while the other remains in the wide-angle position and shoots simultaneously, delivering a pair of images from several various distances. 2-Color Simultaneous Mode presents the option for capturing two photos, in standard and chrome, standard and B&W or chrome and B&W, simultaneously. 2-Sensitivity Simultaneous Mode requires two shots from two ISO sensitivity modes, one with a reduced ISO and the other with a greater ISO. The W3 is also a good camera to shoot photos in low light conditions.

The 3D images you capture with the W3 may not all look as great as you may think. You're going to have to spend some time figuring out the the best way to take a picture of a subject to truly make it look 3D. But, being the first 3D camera on the market, you can except perfection.

When it comes to the W3's speed, when when fully shut down, the W3 can turn on and take a 2D or 3D picture in about seconds and the shutter lag for each shot will average about 0.6 seconds. Taking photos in 3D mode is going to take a little longer compared to 2D mode: 2D mode can shoot photos every 2 seconds and 3D mode takes about 4 to 5 seconds.

HD video clips can be recorded in 720p at 30fps in either 2D or 3D mode. You need to be aware, capturing good looking 3D video clips is far more difficult compared to getting a decent 3D still image. Your recordings are not going to look like a 3D movie in theaters. You must prevent all camera shake and the subject should be the only moving object in the frame.

If you really want this camera for the 3D feature, there currently isn't any other 3D digital camera available, so you'll have to buy this one. You're just going to spend a significant amount of time capturing good looking 3D images and/or video, but before that, you need to shell out a decent amount of money for the $500 retail price.