by Ahmed Anwar on January 14, 2010
Choosing the right digital camera for beginners can be quite confusing. There are many factors to consider like the size of the camera and its features. Understanding the basic terms in digital photography will help you decide which camera suites your needs. Whether it is a compact digital camera or a digital SLR, these basic terms apply to both. Below is three of the basic photography terms you need to understand before buying a camera.
1.Pixel. A pixel is derived from the term Picture Element. A digital image is composed of millions of tiny squares, which are similar to a mosaic design. These tiny squares have their own color that makes up the whole digital photograph. A way camera manufacturers categorize their digital cameras is by the pixel count. Megapixel (MP) is the common term used today to describe the camera’s pixel count. A 1 Megapixel is equal to 1 million pixels and so on. Generally, more pixels will result to higher resolution.
2.Zoom. There are two kinds of zoom that can be found in cameras today. These are the optical zoom and digital zoom. The optical zoom works by changing or adjusting the focal length of the lens to magnify the subject. On the other hand, the digital zoom works by simply enlarging the image, which is similar to the zoom found in most programs for image editing. The image quality of the optical zoom is obviously higher, as compared to digital zoom, wherein significant image quality is loss. Usually, the digital zoom is only used as a secondary tool for zooming if the desired magnification is not achieved by the optical zoom.
3.Memory cards. Digital cameras use different kinds of memory cards like Compact Flash (CF), Secure Digital (SD), Smart Media, Multimedia, Memory Stick, etc. These memory cards differ in size, memory capacity, and features. The Compact Flash (CF) memory card is the original card used by cameras and is the largest in terms of size. Its dimension is 42mm x 36mm x 3mm. Due to the demand of smaller compact cameras in the market, smaller memory cards are now used. Secure Digital (SD) memory card is small, with dimensions of 24mm x 32mm x 2mm. It has a write protect feature to prevent accidental erasures of data. The Multimedia card is basically the same as the SD card, but without the write protect feature. The Memory Stick card is produced by Sony and is usually used in Sony products.
by Ahmed Anwar on January 11, 2010
Digital photography is becoming very popular these days as the prices of digital cameras lowers for both compact cameras and DSLR. The competition between companies, such as Canon, Nikon and Sony, has pushed them to lower the prices of digital cameras. This drove a lot of people into owning a “professional style” camera such as DSLR. Because of this, there has been a significant increase of beginners and enthusiasts who are into photography. If you are one of them, you definitely need to know the basics in photography in order to have better quality images. Taking pictures is not simple as it may seem. Read through some of the tips below to learn more.
1.Handling the camera. Both hands should be used in handling the camera. Holding the camera with one hand tends to have more “camera shake”, which would result to blurred images. Place your elbows close to your body and try to lean on something, like a wall, to provide stability while handling your camera.
2.Keep both eyes open when looking at the view finder. This may be difficult for starters, but having both eyes open can be very helpful in getting better shots. Having the other eye closed will just limit your field of vision. For example, you want to photograph a moving subject, such as an animal. It will be hard for you to follow your subject when viewing with one eye since you can’t see where the animal would go next. All you need is practice looking at the view finder with both eyes open to help you see more action and to get better shots.
3.Use a tripod. This will also help you get better shots since it prevents movements on your camera while you shoot.
4.Play with the aperture (f). Take note that the lower the f number, the larger the aperture. Large apertures are used when you want to focus on the subject and blur out the background. These are especially used when taking portrait and macro shots.
5.Play with the shutter speed. Fast shutter speeds are used to capture moving subjects. Using different shutter speeds will result to different kinds or qualities of images, therefore it is important to experiment on this. Remember that getting the right shutter speed and aperture combination will definitely result to great quality of pictures. This may be hard to achieve for starters but all you need to do is practice.
by Ahmed Anwar on January 8, 2010
Getting the best camera in the market does not automatically mean great pictures and having a cheap point and shoot camera does not mean getting awful results. Of course, the kind of camera greatly affects the output of the images taken, but a large part of the quality of pictures is highly dependent on the photographer. If you are equipped with the proper knowledge and if you have the desire to take beautiful photographs, the results would probably like images taken by the pros. As an added knowledge, here are some digital photography tricks that could help enhance your images.
1.A circular polarizer can be used to have richer colors and to avoid reflections and glare in your images. This is most especially helpful when shooting outdoors. The effect of the circular polarizing filter is mostly appreciated when the sun is over your left or right shoulder.
2.A tripod is one of the most important equipment when it comes to photography. It is not something only professional photographer needs. Even a newbie with a simple digital camera may need a tripod. For shots that are sensitive to camera shake, such as those that need slow shutter speed, a tripod can keep your camera steady.
3.Taking the picture of something up-close is called a macro shot. Even the simplest object can look stunning with the right macro shot. You have to set your camera on macro mode, which is usually the flower symbol. There are a number of tricks to do this shot. First, you need to have a good lighting. A large aperture is also a must for a shallow depth, which will result to a blurry background. Since a longer exposure is needed, you have to keep your camera still and avoid camera shake. This can be perfectly done through your tripod.
4.Another trick when taking pictures outdoors is adjusting the white balance of your camera. To get rich and warmer images, set the white balance to cloudy.
5.Being in the outdoors does not mean you would not need the flash. In fact, the flash greatly helps in giving just enough illumination on your subject. You can also try rim lighting, where the sun illuminates the subject’s side or back.
6.Night shots can be quite hard to perfect. Usually you either get a dark or blurry image. A way to get the right exposure of a night shot is to get the correct aperture and shutter speed combination. A slow shutter speed and a large aperture is a must for longer exposure. In this way, more light comes in, therefore making the image brighter. Although remember that longer exposure means keeping the camera still for a longer time. Even a little camera shake would result to blurry image. This is when you can use your dependable tripod.
by Ahmed Anwar on January 5, 2010
Are you among the young professionals out there who are venturing into the world of photography? The digital SLR craze has come upon our generation and more and more people are getting their very own digital SLR cameras. Some end up taking a new career in photography while some simply use it as a hobby they do aside from their usual job. Well, if you are one of those who would like to start learning photography and are interested to buy their digital photography equipment, here are some tips that can help you out. Hopefully, these tips on buying digital photography equipment will enlighten you on the subject. After all, there are so much information and reviews you can find online that sometimes it gets pretty confusing. This guide will help you learn what is best for you.
1.The first thing to consider when buying digital photography equipment is you. What is it that interests you? Before you decide on the quality, the size, or the features you are getting, first know what you’ll be using it for. A couple of questions below to help you out.
a.Are you doing your photography hobby or profession indoors or outdoors as well? If you are planning to set up a photography studio, then you will mostly shoot indoors. However, if you are taking photography as a hobby, then you are most likely to venture outdoors to see what great photos you can take out there. This question will determine what quality of flash you will need.
b.Now, are you going to take shots of moving objects or static scenes like art works, landscapes, models, etc? Are you going to use it for your part time work as a photographer in an interior design firm or magazine? Or are you doing this photography job or hobby to take photos of your favorite sports such as car racing, basketball, football, or soccer among many others? Your answer will be the basis for deciding on what viewfinder and lens to get.
c.Now, do you need wide angle lenses to take photos of homes or interiors as well as beautiful landscapes and seascapes? If you need telephoto scenes or close ups like shots of stamps, coins, bugs, flowers, grass, etc, then it will matter on deciding on the focal length of the lens. You’ll either need a zoom lens, an auxiliary lens, and/or a macro mode.
d.Whether you are simply a casual user or a serious amateur photographer will be a factor on how many manual controls you’ll look for in your camera.
2.Now that you’ve answered those questions, the next thing you need to decide on is the size. If you are buying a digital SLR, then you have to understand that you have to bring that big bulky camera with you at all times that you want to take photos. Are you willing to do so? A casual user will pretty much get irritated bring such a bulky camera. But if you are serious about photography, then you will have to deal with it. So decide which one are you and if you are willing to compromise portability with high quality photos and flexibility.
3.Other things that can help you before buying digital photography equipment include downloading the manuals of your choices. By browsing through the manuals, you’ll have an idea on how difficult or easy it is to use the cameras of your choice. Of course, it’s better to try the camera out yourself. So it’s safer to go to your local electronics store and try the cameras.
by Ahmed Anwar on January 2, 2010
In today’s generation, almost everyone now have their own digital cameras or at the least carry a borrowed one whenever they are about to go somewhere worth taking photographs of. The world we live in is now like a digital haven. We embrace all things digital. The birth of computers and the World Wide Web has certainly changed a lot about how we do our day to day transactions, dealings, and what have you’s. Same goes with taking photographs. We have moved on to digital camera and they are here to stay. If you are one of those who are new to digital photography, then perhaps this might be helpful to you. Below is a beginner’s guide to digital photography. Read on to learn more today!
People have become more and more engrossed with the use of digital cameras. After all, dealing with films and having it developed, are just time consuming and unreliable. The trend has become digital cameras. They have become like a staple whenever people are going out of their homes. Digital cameras are always brought along to capture memorable moments. What’s more is that you can instantly see what you’re taking a photo of because of the live preview that these new digital cameras have.
Are there different types of digital photography out there?
Yes, there are different types of digital photography. What we call the average family capturing their memoirs is simply family photography. But when things go beyond this level, we can classify them into several types. There are those who do artistic photography like artists who focus on photography. They showcase their work in art galleries and such. On the other hand, there are others who get into event photography. These are the people who make a living out of taking professional photographs of special events like wedding, birthdays, christening, debuts, and other events out there. Aside from these three the rest can be classified into documentary photography, portrait photography as seen in studios, photojournalism, nature photography, underwater photography, satellite photography, and advertising photography among others. If you are getting into photography, you can choose among these types in which you want to head on to. The things you need to learn will depend on the direction you want to take. At the same time, knowing what type of photographer you want to be will determine the type of digital camera you should buy.
by Ahmed Anwar on December 30, 2009
Because of the high prices that photography equipment costs, a lot of photography enthusiasts turn to purchasing used photography equipment. After all, if it still gives you the quality you want at a more affordable price, what is there to lose? Like used cars, used computers, used house, use television, used gaming console, there are the pros and cons of buying used photography equipment. Thus, you have to be very keen when purchasing them. Below you can find a helpful guide to buying used photography equipment.
1.When buying used photography equipment, you are able to fully test it out. This is one advantage of buying used. While you can test out some of the cameras in stores, they are usually attached to the display with a security device. Thus, your testing area is limited. When you meet up the buyer of the used photography equipment, you are able to test out the camera outdoors, indoors, with natural sunlight or test it out during night time if the flash is good. At the same time, you can easily ask the previous owner how to do this and that easily. You can easily ask how he or she does this kind of effect or how he or she adjusts the settings depending on what you want to do. For example, you want to meet dinner time so you can try taking night shots as you move. You can simply ask the seller how to put it in night mode while shooting moving objects. That is one big advantage of buying used photography equipment. So, always make sure that you have a list in your mind of the features that are very important to you. Then test it out when you meet with the buyer. Of course, if you’re only buying the item online then have it shipped to you, then that will be a different scenario of course.
2.Now when buying used photography equipment, the small blemishes or signs of wear on the camera shouldn’t be a problem. However keep in mind if there are several scratches as it may be a sign that it has fallen down. Check how deep the scratches and dings are. At the same time, look for rust. If there is, rust in the camera, this means that it must have been exposed to excessive moisture. It could be from leaking batteries or perhaps was used in underwater photography and the housing isn’t of good quality. It can also have been exposed to liquid for a long time. So make sure to check those out.
3.As for used digital SLRs, make sure to check the sensor chip. It could have been exposed when changing lenses or when the shutter is open. Make sure to snap a shot of a monochrome surface. Look for lines or dark spots, if there is, I suggest you don’t get the camera. It means the sensors has been soiled or damaged. Sensor chips can cost you more than the value of a used digital SLR.
