Learn Digital Photography - 5 Tips For Caring For Your Digital Camera

I remember the good old days of film photography where you could bump, dump, lump and generally knock your camera around and it would still work. With digital cameras it's another story as they are high tech pieces of equipment. Besides the fact that DSLRs have sensors that can get dirty, there are enough electronics that can fail through lack of care.

Here are a number of enemies your digital camera has to contend with, each with its own problems.

1. Moisture

Besides the most obvious fact that water destroys electronics when they are submersed, small amounts of moisture can play havoc with the internal workings of your camera. Condensation is a subtle enemy and before you know it, there is damage that cannot be repaired. When transitioning from extreme temperatures there is always the chance of condensation. Going from a hot vehicle into the cold outdoors then into a heated house is dangerous and suddenly can cause problems, so, make sure your camera is in a properly insulated bag in those conditions.

2. Dust

We are all aware of sand and very careful when using our cameras when close to it. It's obvious and we can see it and take the necessary precautions. But, dust is the real enemy because the fine particles can get in anywhere and a gradual build up will eventual cause serious damage. Always keep your equipment sealed when working in conditions that have the potential to allow dust into your camera. If not in use then bag it. You can't be too careful. Buy one of those cans of compressed air and give a gentle dusting from a distance. Too much air pressure, too close to the camera will drive dust further into the cracks and crevices of your equipment.

3. Shock

Mechanical cameras had fewer electronics susceptible to knocks and bumps. Although modern digital cameras are designed to take shocks there is a cut off point where it starts to cause damage. Be careful how you carry your camera especially when on a strap on your shoulder banging against your hip. If it isn't necessary to be there then bag it until you need to use it again or place it in a soft case around your neck or shoulder. Don't leave equipment lying around that could get bumped. Even if it falls over on its side there are chances of something going wrong or a button getting damaged.

4. Changing settings

You may ask why this is an issue but you'll be surprised to know that people will still try to force buttons, levers and switches. Not to mention memory card slots and battery covers. Never ever push something that doesn't want to be pushed. If it doesn't fit or the lever won't go any further then don't force it. Make sure that you know exactly which way the battery or memory card fits. If it doesn't want to go in then it shouldn't go in that way. My daughter did this to my DSLR with the memory card and a hundred bucks later I had learnt my lesson. Electronics, no matter how robust, are still electronics and are made with lightweight materials not meant for heavy handed usage. Keep this in mind and your camera will last longer.

5. Changing lenses

If you are a DSLR user then changing lenses has two issues that need to be addressed. Number one when changing a lens make sure that you do it carefully so as not to force it and thereby damage it or create metal dust. These fine metal particles land up on your digital sensor and you know how it then causes spots on your images. This leads on to number two. Whenever changing a lens, make sure that it's done in a wind free environment and the camera opening is facing towards the ground. Dust doesn't fall up so it immediately helps against sensor contamination. Exercise extra care and you'll have a dust free sensor and cleaner images.

Some of these issues with camera care may seem logical to you but make sure that you put all of them into practise. Just one slip up can cause headaches and result in you having to spend unnecessary money on your equipment. A happy camera takes great images. Violate these points and you'll be unhappy and poorer.

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Wayne Turner has been teaching photography for 25 years and has written three books on photography.

Digital Photography Reviews - How to Choose the Right Camera

When it comes to purchasing a digital camera there are many things that should be considered. Although cameras can be bought relatively inexpensively, it is still important to ensure that you are spending your money wisely. So, when browsing digital photography reviews, it is a good idea to remember the following:

How Many Megapixels?

Today, most modern cameras have more than enough megapixels to take great photographs. In fact, at this point, sensory density is a more telling feature and additional pixels may actually reduce the quality of the shots.

Therefore, these days, quality is determined by the size of the sensors rather than the number of megapixels. If you are looking for a camera for casual use, then a standard compact should fulfill your requirements. However, if you would like to enhance the quality of your pictures, it is wise to consider a DSLR.

Think About the Lens

When browsing cameras, you may be interested in the compact models with a large zoom lens. However, you should ensure that this zoom has a wide angle, otherwise you may find it difficult to compose your shot and you may also notice excessive camera shake.

On the other hand, if you are tempted to purchase a DSLR and you would like to purchase an additional telezoom lens, it is wise to look for deals when you purchase that camera, as twin packs will turn out to be a much cheaper option.

What About LCD Screen?

You may be tempted by a nice large LCD screen, but, as with many things in life, size isn't everything. You should also consider the sharpness, color, brightness, and anti-reflective tint of the screen. When looking at screens, it is wise to think carefully before buying a touch-screen, as this may affect the quality of the screen's image.

Check Out the Live View Mode

Almost all compact digital cameras offer a live view mode, but this is a fairly recent addition to DSLR cameras. Typically, a viewfinder is still the best way to shoot with DSLR, but live view can be used effectively if the camera is mounted on a tripod.

Alternatively, if the LCD screen has a tilt or swivel feature, you will find that live view enables you to take shots from low or high angles that would otherwise be uncomfortable or impossible to shoot accurately.

Look at the Manual Control Options

If you would like to do more than just take casual photographs, then you will want to ensure that your camera has good manual controls rather than just the standard automatic features. You will find that cameras vary in the amount of manual control they offer and how easy these controls are to operate.

When looking to purchase a new camera, it is advisable to bear the above points in mind. In addition, it is wise to browse some digital photography reviews. Remember, it is possible to take great pictures with a very simple and inexpensive camera, but ensure that it has all of the features you want and need.

You can easily grab our handy FREE Top Digital Photography Questions Guide, which will help you with many of your digital photography questions. Just Click Here.

Cameras For Landscape Photography

I have, quite literally, seen wonderful landscape photographs that were taken with a cookie tin. Yup, a cookie tin, with a pinhole in the front and photographic paper inside.

It can be done, but my goodness, it's hard to pull off. That's one reason why people pay for expensive cameras.

Of course that rather begs the question of which features are worth paying for when you buy a camera. In my opinion, the biggest single improvement you can make on the cookie tin is a light meter. Fortunately, you'd have a hard time finding a camera that doesn't have a built in light meter these days. After that, it gets more complicated.

One important factor is weight.

Plate cameras give superb results if you know how to use them, but there's no denying that they're heavy - some weigh 10 kg/22 lb. And then there's the weight of the plate holders and plates themselves. Plus, it's too heavy to hand-hold, so you'll need a hefty tripod for sure. That's a lot to carry up a mountain.

On the other hand, when used with a slow film, they give you the equivalent of 960 M pixels. That's 80 times as many as a modern 12 Mpixel DSLR.

A compact camera is very light and easy to carry. This is a major advantage on a long hike, especially if you're more enthusiastic than fit (like me!). And you can certainly take a great photo with one - most of the time. But boy are the other times frustrating!

Like many other landscape photographers, I compromise with a DSLR. This isn't just a good compromise between physical weight and image detail. I use a DSLR mostly because it's more flexible. It gives me both convenience and control.

A compact camera will select the focus, aperture, shutter speed and equivalent ISO for me which is quick and easy, but may not give the result I want. A plate camera (or any other manual camera) leaves me to do all that myself. This gives me full control - and plenty of chances to make a mistake. It's also slow, which may mean that the rainbow fades or the eagle files away from the perfect position. My lovely DSLR, on the other hand, will do everything automatically, unless I chose to override. So I can take a quick shot, and then decide that really I want to tweak the setting. For example, I may want to set a very small aperture (to maximize the depth of field). This means I need a slow shutter speed to compensate, but that's OK, because now I have time to put the camera on a tripod (and not all compacts have tripod sockets either.) Alternatively, I might decide that all that snow is going to fool the light meter, and increase the exposure. Of I might decide I want a very slow shutter speed to make the waterfall blur (it looks wetter like that).

There's more. My compact has a 3x optical zoom, but the DSLR has detachable lenses. Between them, they cover a wider range of focal lengths than the compact. More importantly, some have a much, much greater maximum aperture - wonderful for shooting in poor light, or reducing the depth of field. They even have filter threads. True, you can hand hold a filter in front of a compact, but you tend to have to concentrate so hard on juggling the two things that you don't see the coke can in the foreground until you get home.

So a DSLR isn't essential for taking good landscape photographs, but it certainly makes it easier. Why make it hard for yourself?

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Digital Photography - Introduction to DSLR Digital Camera Photography - What Makes a Good Picture?

What is it that is so appealing about owning a Digital Single Lens Reflex camera? Virtually anyone that can hold point and press a button can now produce professional looking photographs within minutes of turning the camera on, yet so many people still underestimate the ease of use, enjoyment and great benefits that comes from owning a DSLR camera, so what is the reality?

There are many great leisure activities and digital photography is certainly one of the best, but what could or should you expect if you are just looking to start out and get involved? The most obvious answer would depend on what digital photography knowledge and information you have, but the first place to start for you if you are thinking of or have just taken up digital photography is a beginners guide to digital photography.

Once you own a digital camera there is no end to the limits of pictures that can be taken. Pretty much straight away your results will mean that your results will be good enough for your pictures to be enlarged and framed should you wish to do so.

Gone will be the days of taking your children, pets etc to a professional photographer and paying for their pictures to be taken. Instead you can take great pictures of them yourself and in any environment that you choose. Straight away a benefit is being shown for being involved with photography.

Another great benefit is the fact that you can take virtually as many pictures as you like of the same subject, instantly view them on the LCD mini screen located on the back of most DSLR digital cameras and delete all that you do not want and narrow your image down to the one that you wish to keep, this is a major benefit that was never possible with the 35mm film based cameras.

Automatic focus allows you to concentrate on setting up the picture how you want it to be and letting the camera work out the best focal options for the shot, but it does not end there as your camera can also work out the lighting etc that is needed in order to provide a crystal clear perfect picture, it will even decide if it needs to use the flash or not and pop it up for the shot.

The lens of a DSLR is totally detachable and interchangeable this is so you can take a number of different shots using a variation of lenses. Some will provide exceptionally close-up images that almost look as though they were taken through a microscope while others will provide you with wide angle which pretty much speaks for itself.

A Fisheye lens produces an optical effect or appearance that provides images as though looking out through a fisheye.

The telephoto lenses will provide you with average distance to exceptionally long distance shots. The choice, variations, and selection of camera lenses can be almost endless.

Each different lens opens up a whole new world for your photography efforts. You can get into complex versions of lenses such as mirror lenses for extreme distance with a relatively compact appearance, but these tend to be used for the manual settings of your camera.

What you need to know is that any of the other interchangeable lenses will work for you in automatic mode offering you simply stunning results, and as your skills and knowledge progress so will your use of additional equipment.

So moving away from the in house images of family, friends, children, and pets we can venture outdoors for some even more productive and inventive photography, favourites here tend to be sunrises, sunsets, and really picturesque landscapes as well as moving into other subjects such as wildlife, aircraft, cars, boats, castles etc.

The list of subject matter is endless and searching for the next great picture can soon slip away from being a leisure activity and virtually become an obsession, but an obsession with purpose and great reward.

Owning and using a DSLR digital camera on a regular basis is a journey of discovery and it is one that can virtually lead anywhere. Every solution and discovery opens up a whole new book of questions and directions to follow and find answers for.

Before long you will find that there is no limit to the wonderful world of digital photography and will want to immerse yourself deeper and deeper.

Knowing how to get going once you have your camera is one thing, but having the right equipment at a great price is also important. By visiting this informative DSLR Camera Guide site with a unique free offer you can discover why and which DSLR Camera would suit you. You can now see some of the best deals by going to: http://www.squidoo.com/dslr-camera-secrets-exposed

Digital Photography - The Importance of Choosing the Right DSLR Digital Camera First Time

It is one thing to have several large DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera manufacturers, but each manufacturer creates several different models as well as a variety of compatible lenses. So when we choose the right DSLR digital camera it will come complete with a fully removable and interchangeable lens. But how do you know which camera is the right one for you in the first place.

Have you ever thought about it like this? Once you feel you are a little accomplished and desire a closer or different style photograph would the next progressive stage be to buy a bigger or different functioning lens? If this is the case for the natural progression of producing better images why does each manufacturer make so many different models?

And Now, Some Answers

Modern technology has done some marvellous things with media devices and the digital camera is no exception in this progression. The general features incorporated tend to be fairly similar across the board it is just a question of different formats, components, and variants that are used by the camera manufacturers that tend to dictate quality levels and camera performance.

What this means is that pretty much all the camera companies incorporate their products abilities to be mirrored within the industry. This does not mean that each camera comes with the exact same characteristics as there are several models produced by each manufacturer and every one of those cameras are different.

It is what is known as a step up process whereby you being the owner of one camera type will hopefully once you have complete familiarity and conquered most aspects will also buy some compatible lenses as well as some other progressive accessories also associated with that make and model.

Down the road you may want to upgrade the camera body itself, but would like to get a different make. The one you have seen and like the look of has a few additional benefits that will give you the opportunity to hopefully create better photographs and provide increased ability.

This is where the step up process really comes into its own right. While as stated there are certain similarities with each make of DSLR digital camera such as picture taking procedure and adjustable picture taking enhancements such as ISO settings etc that is pretty much where the real similarities end.

Not only is going from one camera make to another like learning the whole picture taking process again, but most of the accessories including lenses that we bought for the other camera will not be compatible with the new one that you have your eye on, this makes changing from manufacturer to manufacturer an elaborate and expensive exercise.

So what is the answer I hear you say? This is why there are several different models of camera from each manufacturer, the natural progression stage as far as they are concerned is for you to buy just the camera body for the next or several models higher than the one that you already have.

This will not only save you a lot of money due to the fact that your original lenses and accessories will be totally compatible with the new camera and with the money that you have saved in doing this you could buy even more lenses and accessories that will again keep you in that manufacturers loop even more.

It is not a bad loop to be in, but it should at least make you more cautious and go into greater research prior to buying your original camera.

Manufacturers are continually bringing out better and better models so the likelihood of you ever reaching the top of the range would not only be an expensive target, but a short lived one if you did as they would soon be bringing out a newer model to supersede the one we had recently purchased.

Always chose your initial camera manufacturer wisely because chances are that you will be using them for a very long time unless you have an inexhaustible budget.

One of the best ways to guarantee that you are getting the best deal and at the best price is to make any camera or photographic purchase online.

The reason for this is that high street stores and malls have massive overheads where-as online there are plenty of competition, but only a few places that you will get exactly what you want and at a bargain price.

It is for this reason that it can take a while to locate a good source for discounts free delivery etc, but once the job is done you will not have to ever look anywhere else again.

Hopefully by now you should have a pretty good idea on choosing the right DSLR digital camera for you, or at least a grasp on what it is you might want to be looking out for?

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Your SLR Camera's Automatic Diaphragm - The Facts You Need to Know

Many new photographers assume that  the term automatic diaphragm refers to the automatic aperture adjustment offered by their dSLR.

In fact, the term auto diaphragm has nothing to do with automatic exposure. An automatic aperture is designed to remain at its maximum opening for focusing and composing, no matter which f/stop is selected.   The lens only stops down to the desired aperture at the moment the shutter fires.

 

If you have ever used a camera with a manual  diaphragm, you will understand why this is so important. A fully automatic  diaphragm is a delight to use,  particularly  in dim light or when the lens is stopped down to maximize depth of field.

 

The term diaphragm is used to describe the system of blades that create the adjustable aperture. Many photographers use the terms aperture and  diaphragm  interchangeably. They are closely related, but the aperture is actual lens opening, while diaphragm is the collection of  components  that comprise the aperture assembly.

 

Turning the clock back to the early days of photography, you will find that early optics did not have adjustable apertures -- at least not the adjustable openings you and I are used to. When the first adjustable diaphragms appeared, they allowed the photographer to change the lens opening to allow more or less light through the lens. The diaphragm contained a number of preset openings, which became known as f/stops or f/numbers. Smaller f/numbers actually indicate larger lens openings, while the smallest lens openings are represented with higher numerical f/stops. This system continues more or less today.

 

The thing that sets modern lenses apart from the older  adjustable  aperture lenses is that the older units use a  completely  manual  diaphragm. As you change the lens opening from say f/4 to f/11, the amount of light passing through the lens is  reduced  accordingly. That regulates the exposure properly, but it causes problems for focusing and composing. A SLR is designed to show you exactly what the lens sees. If you reduce the lens opening in a manual diaphragm lens, the image in the view finder becomes dimmer. In low light conditions it may be impossible to see anything through the viewfinder. Even in bright sunlight, a lens stopped down to f/22 or smaller is  difficult  to see through.  

 

Camera designers solved this problem by creating an automatic  diaphragm. This design has been more or less standard on SLR cameras for the last fifty years. With an auto diaphragm, the aperture remains wide open, no matter which lens opening is selected. You may select an f/stop of f/16, but the lens will remain  opened  to it's maximum  aperture at all times. This provides the  brightest  possible image in the viewfinder.  

 

When you actually fire the shutter, a  mechanical  or electrical devise rapidly stops the lens down to the chosen aperture, creating the proper exposure. You don't see this happening, because at the same time the camera is stopping down the lens, the viewing mirror is swinging up. As the mirror moves up to allow light to reach the sensor, the viewfinder turns black for an instant. It is during that time that the auto  diaphragm  goes to work and stops the lens down. As soon as the exposure is made, the  diaphragm  springs wide open again, presenting you with a bright viewfinder when the mirror returns.

 

Of course if the selected f/stop  corresponds  to the lens maximum aperture, nothing happens; the lens cannot be stopped down, so it  simply  remains wide open.  

 

Is this just some interesting photography trivia? Not at all. Even though all of your current lenses probably contain an automatic diaphragm, there are several reasons you should  familiarize  yourself with how a manual diaphragm works.  

 

1: Many teleconverters and lens mount adapters do not offer an automatic diaphragm. Thus when you use these adapters, your modern new dSLR reverts to a manual  diaphragm  camera.

 

2: There are numerous manual aperture lenses still on the market. Some of these are new, special purpose lenses, while others are older (but still  usable) optics. You need to understand just what using a manual diaphragm entails before investing in one.

 

3: Many new dSLR's lack a proper depth of field preview option. When you stop a lens down, DOF grows wider, while opening the aperture up causes  DOF to appear shallower. Since an automatic  diaphragm  lens is always wide open, you cannot see  DOF in the viewfinder. Even if you have a lens that will stop down to f/32, you won't see the effect in the viewfinder unless your camera allows you to switch to a manual  diaphragm  preview  mode.  

 

4: If you understand about how an automatic  diaphragm  works, you will understand why a DOF preview is worth having. This could influence your future camera buying decisions.

 

The automatic diaphragm, although it has been around for decades, is just as important to modern SLR  cameras as auto focus, auto exposure and image stabilization. Understanding how it works and why it is needed is crucial to getting the most out of your dLSR.

Visit the basic photography area at Alphatracks.com to see photos and information detailing how the auto diaphragm operates.

Tom Bonner is the author of the Sony Alpha DSLR -A300/A350 Digital Field Guide, published by Wiley Publishing. A photographer for more than three decades, he offers photography and web design services to clients in the Charlotte, NC area.

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Digital Photography and the Sony Alpha A200 Camera - A Short Review

What is it about the Sony Alpha a200 digital camera that makes it such a great first DSLR? I was all set to go on holiday when I had a brainwave that I wanted to upgrade my compact digital camera. A friend of mine had recently purchased a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) Camera which he was producing some pretty amazing quality pictures with, so I decided I would take a closer look.

Being a keen photographer I looked into the difference between an old format 35mm SLR Camera and the modern day fully digital equivalent DSLR. My findings and overall conclusion were a real eye opener to say the least.

The older style non digital SLR camera was certainly a great means of photography for the dedicated photographer, but there were a lot of factors involved for getting the right shot, and certainly no means of viewing what you had captured until it was later developed once all the pictures had been taken.

To have been a wedding photographer back then must have been like living on your nerves every time a picture was taken, the uncertainty of its outcome must have been mind bending stuff.

I discovered that a modern day DSLR digital camera was in no way anything like this for many reasons.

The pictures you take can be instantly viewed on the LCD screen found at the rear of the camera, the camera itself has many innovative and beneficial built-in modes and features including automatic focus, and anti shake mechanisms giving clearer pictures even if the hands are a bit shaky.

Once I had been awakened to their magnificent performance and purpose it was simply a decision of choosing which one to buy.

After many nights reading review after review and report after report on DSLR's I came to the conclusion that the best manufacturer that ticked all my boxes was Sony and the choice of camera would be their entry level model the Sony Alpha a200 digital camera.

I decided on this model based on looking ideal for someone beginning or starting out with a DSLR camera, although a very powerful and highly capable camera with 10.2 megapixels and an 18-75mm wide angle macro lens as standard would produce some above average pictures for a beginner in the DSLR field.

I made my purchase and could not have been happier with my selection...

When I first started to use the Alpha a200 I was learning something new time I used it, added to that the high quality of photographs that it was producing lead me to wonder what this great camera cold do if I invested in some additional accessories.

Before long I not only had the standard camera and lens, but a 28-200mm lens, which is good for close range pictures as well as fairly distant shots.

I also invested in a 70-300mm lens, which is more suited to longer distance shots such as the moon and distant aeroplanes.

Added to that the 2x converter that you attach to your lens, it brings any distant images even closer, and if you are doing close up shots, it will magnify those 2x as well.

So when used with the 70-300mm it gives a distant range of 600mm, which produces some amazing images, and a set of magnifier lenses that make small things much, much larger especially insects.

Even now when I leave the house I rarely go without picking up my camera bag containing my Sony Alpha a200, which generally has the 28-200mm lens constantly attached. It seems such a long time ago since the compact camera days, but I am pleased to say that I made the right decision in choosing the camera that I did and right choice for my photography efforts.

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Digital Cameras - Time to Dump Them?

Digital cameras are changing the world of photography. They are great pieces of technology that are not hard to learn to use. They are attractive and appeal to many consumers because of their availability in a wide range of prices and features. Digital cameras are very popular devices these days with good reason. They offer many advantages when compared to old, film-based cameras.

Cameras are now found in PDAs and cell phones and even in newer vehicles. The advantages include the ability to keep and print only the photos you want. Their extremely small size makes them very easy to carry around. The easy sharing of photo files over the internet and the ability to adjust image output quality to match individual needs makes them almost indispensable for anyone who uses the internet meaningfully.

These cameras are perfect for normal amateur shots of friends, family, landscapes and other general views too. Many photographers get into digital photography because they can print photos from their home printers.

Digital cameras can range in price from less than $50 to more than $4,000. Cameras with less than one megapixel are inexpensive, but they usually lack important features. Digital cameras with resolution in the four to ten megapixel range are capable of producing professional-quality images. These cameras are designed for amateur intermediate and professional photographers with intermediate skills, and will be rich with features that may take you a month of study and practice to discover.

Compact digital cameras are designed to provide a moderate number of features, stylish looks, and often fit easily in your pockets. If you care more about features like interchangeable lenses, flashes, and other accessories, you will most likely have to consider a dSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera which are more expensive but offer outstanding features.

Only the most serious amateur photographer will demand the flexibility of these cameras, and of course, you should expect them to be larger and heavier than compact or standard models. For example, they won't fit in your pocket. You will also need to devote more time and practice to learn how to use them.

Accessories

There are a number of accessories available for digital cameras: battery chargers, underwater housings, slave flashes, tripods,carrying cases, neck straps, conversion lenses, remote controls, and printers to name a few. Each of these accessories will add to the cost of your camera but may be worth it if makes taking good photos easier.

Memory

Most digital cameras include some form of memory, whether it's built into the camera or is part of a separate memory card. When you

purchase one, it is very important to purchase at least a 2 megabyte memory card or more. These memory cards will help you to make the most of the features of the camera. If you enjoy taking short video segments, any extra memory will make that task much easier. It's often better to think of your digital camera the same way you look at a computer; the more memory, the better.

Warranties

Most cameras come with a limited one-year warranty from the manufacturer that covers defects only. If you plan to take your camera on backroad trips , up mountains, on river rafting trips, extended camping trips or to sports events, you would be wise to purchase the extended warranty that is often offered at the register. If, on the other hand, you will only be using it around the home for birthday parties, then you may be able to make do with the standard warranty that comes with the camera. Remember, digital cameras are not very sturdy and are susceptible to the elements.

Good Photography

Many people feel that digital photography has come of age. It is gradually on its way to becoming a mainstream consumer pastime, with the introduction of true photo-quality 8 million pixel cameras, low-cost toy and teen cameras, and high quality, affordable printing. A digital camera will so fundamentally change the way you think about photography that you will wonder how you ever got along without one. Recently, dramatic improvements in single-shot cameras and RAW image file processing have made single shot, CCD-based cameras almost completely dominant in commercial photography and digital photography as a whole.

For many consumers, this is an acceptable trade-off, especially if they are looking for a camera for their kids or want to experiment with digital photos without spending too much money. If you want to spend a thousand dollars, forget the standard digital cameras and go straight to any DSLR.

Digital picture taking is growing quickly because it offers the advantages of immediacy and ease of operation. Blogs on digital photography and how to use digital cameras abound. We're just beginning to realize the potential of what it can do for us. Popular photography magazines are crammed full of ads advertising very low prices for digital cameras. Just remember that digital photography is still photography. With the price of digital camera equipment and accessories dropping, the overall quality is continuing to rise with it. It is no wonder that digital photography is becoming a hobby of choice for many from every walk of life.

Bruce Santucci lives and works in Melbourne, FL. Click Digital Cameras to learn more about the most popular digital cameras and accessories and to get the latest industry news.

All rights to this article are retained by Bruce Santucci. You may reprint this article as is under the condition that you retain the resource box and links as listed in this article.

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Lens Filters: A Beginners Guide For DSLR and Digital Camera Enthusiasts

Despite the advances of post processing thanks to Photoshop, filters are anything but redundant. So, what do they do and which lenses might a digital photographer need in his or her kit?

UV Filters

This is probably the most commonly used and useful digital SLR camera filters to purchase. It will filter out excess ultra violet light, whilst having no effect on exposure. Ultraviolet light can be a real problem for anybody taking landscape photographs as it can manifest as a haze that diminishes contrast from an image and becomes noticeable over a long distance.

However, given that this is much more of a problem with film rather than digital SLR cameras, because image sensors in digital SLR cameras are less sensitive UV light, why do you still need a UV filter? To protect your lens. A UV filter, unlike many other lenses, has no effect on exposure required or on the colours and will protect your expensive lens from knocks and scratches.

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Neutral Density filters

ND filters cut down the amount of colours and light entering the lens in equal measures so allowing you more creative freedom choice of aperture and shutter speed.

Therefore you can select a slower shutter speed (i.e. longer exposure) than might be achievable in bright conditions, for example, if you wanted to achieve a blurred waterfall effect on a sunny day without over exposing the image. Similarly one can be used when photographing action shots with blur to convey speed. Neutral density filters can also be employed in situations where one part of the scene is darker or brighter than others.

Polarizing Filters

Landscape photographers frequently use polarizing filters to diminish light reflected from outdoor surfaces like glass and water, for example if you want to capture images of water which doesn't lose its colour to the reflected sunlight on its surface. They can also saturate and darken colours, which make them useful in black and white as well as colour photography. A polarizing filter can intensify a field of oil seed rape, the green of a meadow or add richness to a blue sky. Similarly, in architectural photography, a polarizing filter helps with shots of modern glass buildings.

Graduated Colour Filters

To a certain extent, use of graduated colour filters can be avoided with use of Photoshop. However, if you want to cut out the post processing, or if you're not au fait with Photoshop, one of these can be very helpful in emphasizing the colour and tone of parts of a photograph. One part of the filter has a certain colour, which either gradually or abruptly changes to clear elsewhere on the filter. Commonly used graduated colour filters include orange to clear, for enhancing the appearance of sunsets, and blue to clear, which can enhance either water or sky depending on which way round it is used.

Contrast Filters

Because it can be difficult balance scenes where the contrast between light and dark is severe, there are two types of contrast filters available. A low contrast filters makes highlighted areas brighten up darker shadows around, while a soft contrast filter darkens the highlights. Both of these things can be difficult to pull off convincingly in Photoshop.

IR (Infrared) Filter

This type of filter blocks visible light and allows only infrared light to pass through to the camera lens. Skies darken and greens can become almost white.

Star filters

These have a thin lines etched onto a clear surface, creating therefore points of light that streak outwards from a central source, creating drama and visual interest.

Watch out for a few things. Light reflected from the inside of your filter can create flare. Stacking filters can create black shadows around the image, known as vignetting. You will lose clarity if filters are scratched or dirty.

Digital SLR Camera Filters

SLR Camera Digital Lenses - Glass Or Plastic?

SLR Camera Digital Lenses can be made of glass or plastics.  So why does it matter either way?  They are complex pieces of equipment and light is particularly sensitive to how it is treated.  Furthermore, camera lenses can be made of multiple elements that all work together to provide the desired zoom.  This all adds to the complexity  and therefore amplifies slight differences in optical quality etc. 

Some higher end complex lenses may have 20 or more elements.  These are most commonly made of glass, mainly due to its superior optical properties and also because if its relatively good resistance to scratching. Some other materials like Quartz glass, fluorite and various forms of plastic are also used.

Plastics are often used because they allow the manufacture of highly aspherical lens elements which are almost impossible to create using glass. Plastics in   can facilitate an improved lens manufacture process and improve the general performance quality of the camera too.  While plastic is often used on inner elements, they are only used on the outermost elements of all but the cheapest lenses as they scratch easily.

An indication of their utility is that molded plastic lenses are used in the manufacture of the cheapest throw-away disposable cameras. manufacturers of quality optics tend to use substitutes such as "optical resin".  While it is true that glass provides for higher quality performance than plastic, many modern and high performance lenses from big brand labels include some molded or hybrid aspherical elements.

So if you are deciding on which to go with, glass is pretty much an indication of higher quality relative to plastic.  Its properties simply treat light better and provide a truer picture.

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Should You Buy A Digital SLR Camera? What Are The Benefits Of DSLR Cameras?

Introduction

Prices of digital single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras have tumbled over the past 3 years. It is now possible to pick up a decent starter kit (body and lens combinations) at prices that are affordable for more people than ever before.

However, today's modern point and shoot digital cameras can do most of the things that SLR cameras are characteristically strong at, such as controlling shutter speed and aperture. This is true especially with some of the higher-end point and shoot cameras, many of which even have a higher mega pixel count than the average digital SLR!

So what exactly are the benefits of digital SLR cameras over point and shoot cameras? Is it worthwhile for the average photo-hobbyist to invest in a digital SLR camera?

There are 3 important benefits of digital SLR cameras over point and shoot cameras.

1) Ease of using advanced features

Point and shoot cameras are designed and optimised for small size, convenience and portability. To access advanced features such as shutter speed, aperture and ISO speed, users typically have to run through several layers of menu screens.

Digital SLR cameras, however, are physically bigger than point and shoot cameras. This means that there is space for buttons and dials which can provide instant access to these advanced features.

Having these controls handy and easily reachable on the body of the camera can make a real difference when you want to capture the perfect shot in a hurry!

2) Ability to change lenses

The lens on a point and shoot camera is fixed, which means that the user is limited in the range of focus that can be achieved.

With a true SLR camera, users can change the lens to suit the intended shot. For example, the user can select from wide-angle lenses, zoom (telephoto) lenses and macro lenses.

Beware - lenses can be much more expensive than the camera body, so the cost of a photography hobby can quickly escalate!

3) Shallow depth of field

Have you seen photos where the object of interest (subject) is in sharp focus, while the background is blurred? This is called the bokeh effect. Not only does this contrast in focus add to the artistic appeal of the photo, but is also helps frame the shot as it highlights the subject and blurs the distracting background imagery.

To achieve such shots, photographers need cameras with large sensors and lenses with large apertures.

Point and shoot cameras have small sensors and lenses with small apertures. Therefore it is difficult to achieve this effect with a point and shoot camera. However, digital SLR cameras are ideally suited for this purpose, as they have large sensors and lenses with large apertures.

Conclusion

The features included in modern point and shoot cameras have substantially narrowed the performance gap between point and shoot cameras and digital SLR cameras.

However, SLR cameras still retain three important benefits over point and shoot cameras. If these benefits are important to you, a digital SLR camera may well be on your shopping list in the near future!

Mandar Marathe is an amateur photographer. You can see some of Mandar's photos at Flickr.com or at his online photo album.

Digital Photography Boom - Why Taking Pictures Using a Digital Camera is So Appealing?

Anyone that has had anything to do with taking pictures or SLR photography in the past and has switched to DSLR digital camera photography (Digital Single Lens Reflex) will be more than aware of some of the many truly great benefits that come with taking pictures using digital cameras.

Read on to discover why Digital Photography and Cameras are becoming so popular.

If you have not yet tried your hand at using a digital camera for whatever reason you could possibly be missing out on a great opportunity to get familiar with the latest digital technology.

Digital cameras and mega-pixel power have really come of age and it appears to be sweeping across the entire globe at a phenomenal rate, in some instances manufacturers are finding it difficult to keep up with the demands, even to the point of selling out of some models before they have even been released.

So what is it that is causing this massive digital photography frenzy?

With cameras and evolution there have been many different types of camera developed over the years with various formats for capturing and storing images on them.

Prior to digital technology being available the most common type was called a 35mm. The photographer could take up to 36 pictures with a variation of different exposures.

This meant carrying around plenty of film, a separate flash-gun, and spare batteries which created several problematic areas. The film had to be loaded manually, which involved opening the back of the camera and scrolling it across the back of the lens, on top of that was the actual taking of the pictures. You could take a picture, but until it was developed you had absolutely no idea what your pictures would look like or even if they had come out at all.

There are many other factors that make 35mm SLR (single lens reflex) photography more problematic for an everyday usable product where as on the other hand digital photography is more enjoyable and a type of recreation that appeals to a much wider audience. Why?

A digital camera uses no film, instead it contains an easy to remove memory card that can be plugged straight into a computer, printer or other device by means of a USB lead. Some of these cards can store thousands of pictures, which does away with the carry film around aspect.

You can take 20 pictures of the same thing, but keep only the best one and delete the rest.

The majority of digital cameras have an LCD screen on the back so you can see exactly what the picture that you have just taken will look like, if you do not like the look of it you can simply delete it there and then.

Once the memory card is installed in your computer or patch lead connected you can view the pictures instantly on the computer screen, import and save to a file or print off to enable you to show the pictures to others. You can even take a whole file of pictures that you have saved on your computer, download them to a small memory stick (these plug straight into your USB port on your computer) and take them to your friends or families house and display your latest pictures by plugging the memory stick into their computer or laptop.

Alternatively you can even use additional patch leads from the camera and plug straight into a digitally compatible television set and see your pictures on the big screen.

All these things go together to make up a really attractive package for ease of taking pictures and displaying them, but on top of that is the automatic mode that you will find on a majority of DSLR digital cameras.

This allows users to take amazing pictures simply by pointing and pushing a button. All you have to do is zoom in and zoom out the focus, all the other settings are all fully adjusted automatically.

The quality of picture is achieved by means of what is called Mega-Pixels and most digital cameras have millions of them, which produce amazing quality shots.

Having said how easy a DSLR camera is to use makes it the ideal partner to pick up and take with you virtually everywhere you go. It is one of those things that are hard to put down once you get involved, and you can get started for only a few hundred dollars.

DSLR Photography can turn anyone into a budding professional in only a matter of days; such is the awesome capability of digital cameras.

So I guess when you look at the comparisons it is easy to see why Digital Photography and Cameras have gone through the roof and become so popular with almost everyone becoming involved or knowing someone that now has the bug.

By now you should hopefully have a pretty good idea about the many benefits of using and taking pictures with a DSLR digital camera, which really is an amazing subject once you start getting right into it. If you have not already, then why not investigate further and see the great camera ranges that are available for you.

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Digital Photography - Making Bad Weather Photography a Blessing For Your DSLR Digital Camera

Are you like me and love taking outdoor photographs of anything and everything with your DSLR digital camera? One of the things that so often keeps digital cameras hidden away out of site tends to be bad weather, even though some great bad weather photography gets taken when the elements seems to take a turn for the worst. Are you missing out on some great photographic opportunities?

I certainly would not say take your digital camera outside and stand in the rain taking pictures of things as this really is Not a good idea and the camera would possibly end up getting ruined, but with a bit of thought and planning you can soon be capturing some great images that might otherwise not be possible.

This will also allow an instant extension on your collection of mainly fine weather pictures. I try and allocate a whole day each week purely as a photography day where I go out to various locations and see what unfolds before me.

I used to get disappointed when I would chose a specific day, look out of the window and see a miserable dark and grey sky. I would put back all my equipment and wait until the following week and hope for brighter weather.

That was in the past, but now it is a very rare occurrence that I would let the weather steal any time I was going on a shoot with my DSLR digital camera. By doing a bit of research and planning it is still possible to go out in almost any weather and take good quality photographs.

To give you some idea of what I mean, you can check out your local sanctuaries bird or otherwise, wetland centres etc online and find out if they have hide facilities, these are a great way to photograph wildlife at each location, but in a totally different format giving change and learning opportunities for various lighting and reflection situations and allow you to still drink your coffee and eat your sandwich in the dry.

Personally I am a great fan of the changeable weather as this often produces some great lighting, yes lighting and not lightening with the sun breaking through the clouds occasionally and rain showers that are followed by some beautifully stunning rainbows.

I hope you are starting to see the benefits of having images such as these added to your photographic collection.

When outside with bad weather extra care should always be taken to protect your camera and any equipment that you may be carrying, but again walking through woodland or forestry areas open up a whole new arena for some great photographic opportunities.

Visiting a shoreline on a blustery day is not only stunning visually, but from a photographic point of view an amazing experience, but again extra thought should be given to the camera as there is generally a lot of salt spray in the air, but if you are able to get some pictures of huge waves crashing against a pier or harbour wall I am sure they will be spectacular to look back at and show friends and family.

Where possible try and find a good location in your vehicle and either take pictures with the window down or if weather is exceptionally bad use a polarizing filter and take the pictures through a (clean) window.

Obviously with bad weather photography your DSLR digital camera settings will be completely different, so until you get used to them by experimenting with certain light etc it is probably a good idea to use any automatic settings that the camera will allow you to use.

What you wear is also important as there is nothing worse than being out in the cold and wet with all the wrong clothing on, I can tell you that from experience, but try not to wear so much that you cannot function effectively.

Also a lot of good photography involves getting down on our knees, (photographing such things as mushrooms or insects) so this is also something you might want to take into consideration when dressing for bad weather photography. Who knows if you are really lucky you might be able to capture a great shot of a lightning bolt, yes I did say lightning.

So a DSLR digital camera is not just at home in fine weather it is just as effective and at home in bad weather, it is simply a question of applying a little more thought and additional parameters. Planning and research are the key to great outdoor photography.

By now you should have a pretty good idea on bad weather photography with a digital camera. An amazing subject when you start getting some great images. Photography is not just a great hobby and interest that people can enjoy and share with each other, it can be seriously relaxing and in some cases therapeutic, especially when you are getting great results.

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Starting With Digital Photography

Starting with digital photography is simple, quick, easy and relatively inexpensive these days. Over the last few years the price of the cameras and accessories have reduced considerably. Using a digital camera opens up many new and unanticipated opportunities for the amateur photographer.

One thing these days is that you have no need to carry rolls of extra film around with you, a spare battery and memory card are perhaps the only additional things you will need in your pocket or handbag. As larger capacity memory cards are now available the need for extra memory cards is not so critical even with the size of compact camera images now around 12 megapixels.

You won't even have to learn how to use them as their operation is virtually the same as a film camera, in fact they are easier in that they are truly point and shoot. With today's modern compacts being fully automated you can shoot away knowing that you are going to obtain a decent image for your album. It might not necessarily be a great shot, but it will be good, barring human error such as camera shake!

Each and every one of them comes with a license to experiment with your photos and shooting techniques. As every shot you take is virtually free you can take as many shots as you wish in the hope of later pruning what you have and retaining the best. Professionals do this and delete all the poor shots, keeping only the best. With every camera having it's own viewing screen it's a simple task to check your results. Any you are not happy with you can delete on the spot, instantly freeing up more memory.

First things first though, you need to choose a camera. These days there are literally hundreds to choose from. Initially, you should perhaps go for a good quality compact with a decent image size of between 10 and 12 megapixels. You could of course go straight for Digital Single Lens Reflex camera (DSLR). The problem with this might be that they are rather complicated, need extra lenses and are rather expensive. A good compact will get you started enough to see if you are really interested in photography as a hobby or indeed a career.

If this is your first sortie into digital cameras or if you are looking to upgrade you will do no better than to go online and look at some of the review sites. These will give you good advice from users of a particular model as to their personal views about the cameras performance. Once you are happy with your choice it's up to you to search the internet for the best deal when purchasing.

It's good news for all of us that it's certainly less costly than ever before to obtain a quality DSLR. Models that were retailing for a few thousand dollars a while ago now are less than a thousand. It's entirely up to you which way to go, but do adequate research and you should be happy with the outcome.

Finally, you might want to think about buying a compact and a DSLR. This is not as strange as it may first seem. Many professionals have both, the compact will always be on their person whereas the DSLR will only go with them if they have something definite that they wish to photograph. Remember, a DSLR with its accessories will weigh a fair amount and is an attractive item for an opportunistic thief. Keep your eyes on it.

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Make Money at Home With Your Digital Camera and Wedding Photography

The wonders of modern technology never cease to amaze me. Growing up with a traditional camera and film and understanding the complexities of color film and the magic of color film processing, was indeed a fascinating period. Apple's Aperture 2 and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 supports 16-bit print drivers for Epson and Canon printers, allowing you to produce high-quality output with smoother gradients and better color fidelity...no darkroom needed.

However, you do need to ensure that you have a consistent 16 bit workflow from the image capture, through to image editing, and finally to the print output. This means that you need to capture your images in the RAW format. It is only with the RAW format that the image will have the required image data to make a difference on the printed output.

Of course, when making a decision to purchase a digital camera, you need to look at the number of pixels the sensor will capture. Most low end digital cameras, the consumer models, will not take RAW images, so those cameras cannot even be considered. You need either a very high end prosumer model or preferably, a DSLR. The minimum number of pixels needs to be at least 6, but more is better.

Currently, only the Macintosh operating system supports 16 bit printing. This may change in the future, but for now it is Mac only. And of course, you will need to be using the latest versions of Lightroom and Aperture. If you do not shoot in the RAW format, but instead shoot TIFF or JPEG, then you will only be able to capture 8 bit image files. What does that mean?

The mathematical formula for working out the possible number of colors in an image is as follows; for an 8 bit image, this means you are capturing up to 256 possible variations in the brightness of each of the Red, Green and Blue pixels, so you would multiply 256*256*256 for a possible maximum number of colors of 16.8 million. This equates roughly to what the human eye can perceive. However, if we look at 16 bit images, each pixel has a possible brightness value of 65,536 values. So, if we multiply 65,536*65,536*65,536 and get about 280 trillion colors, a little more than what the eye can perceive.

So, will all these extra colors really make a big difference on the final print. It is unlikely that in most situations, that you could really detect that difference, but in prints with lots of gradients, like sunsets with subtle red, blue, orange graduated skies, 16 bit could make a significant difference. This is where the benefit of 16 bit comes into it's own, on subtle gradations or images with large color gamuts.

Tom has had a camera or mouse in his hand for more than 30 years. His step father was a well known English actor who starred in many films with the likes of Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly, Maureen O'Hara, John Wayne and many others. One of his favorite movies was with John Wayne in The Quiet Man, shot in Ireland. He played the part of the visiting Bishop. After coming off set one day, he was approached two Nuns who thought he was a real bishop, and so the nickname "Bish" stuck with him from then on. He was an avis photographer, and taught me photography from the age of 12. He was a great man and a great mentor. I miss him very much. Please visit http://www.howtoshootweddings.net for more info.

Digital Photography - Getting the Most Out of Your DSLR Digital Camera Purchase

Spending hundreds of pounds on a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera without concrete ideas as to what use it will be put to may be a slightly elaborate way of obtaining a camera for the occasional photograph, especially when a great tool such as the DSLR camera can be put to work and produce amazing results in almost every situation.

That is not to say that a DSLR is not worth investing in as it is, but it is certainly worth getting a little more use and enjoyment out of than with non frequent use. It can be used to open a lot of doorways that might otherwise remain hidden or even shut...

One way of getting some great use out of your camera is to take stock of all the local places of interest around you and make a list of something that would interest you at each one.

Using this point of interest as the catalyst you can visit each one of these places with the intention of photographing your point of interest, but a strange thing will probably happen.

While you are visiting this place of interest you will more than likely find several other interesting things or events there that you will probably want to photograph.

A DSLR digital camera can be pretty much used to photograph anything and everything, but some ideas may be gained from this list that you might find helpful:

· People and Family

· Mammals and Other Animals

· Flowers

· Trees

· Birds

· Buildings and Architecture

· Weddings

· Sporting Events

· Fireworks

· Landscapes

· Aircraft

· Moon

· Sunrises and Sets

· Insects

· Babies

· Abstract

· Action

· Pets

· Theatre

· Musical Events

· Boats

As well as Christmas, Birthdays and other Annual Occasions, as well as any other event, opportunity or interest that you might be able to think of.

By using your camera in this way you will gain far more practical knowledge on how it works and which function do and change what than if you simply stuck to reading the manual. Not only that, but it is a great way for the whole family to get out and about and into the fresh air, not only that, but as stated it will probably open up a doorway to a whole new interesting world.

Digital cameras really can be of far more value than that which we initially pay, it just depends on how we perceive our purchase against the enjoyment that we get from using it.

Photography is not just a great hobby and interest that people can enjoy and share with each other, it can be seriously relaxing and in some cases therapeutic.

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Shutter Lag in Digital Cameras

If you've ever tried to take photos of your kids whilst they're running about you will probably have experienced this. You wait 'till they are perfectly positioned in the frame, press the shutter, and end up with a shot of the back of their heads leaving the picture. That's shutter lag and most digital cameras have it to some degree or another.

What causes shutter lag?

It's caused by a few things but the main one has to do with the digital camera technology itself. The image recording chip inside the camera is actually producing a moving video picture all the time. This is what you see on the camera's screen or viewfinder. When you press the shutter button you are actually capturing a "freeze frame" of this video.

This is why your camera manual might refer to the picture taking process as "image capture". Whatever it's called, the fact is that it takes quite a lot of processing and therefore can take a significant length of time. Digital cameras, like all digital devices, get more powerful with each generation so you should expect that a newer camera would have less shutter lag than an older one, but there is no guarantee of that.

What can you do about it?

There are three possible approaches to the problem of shutter lag. You can either eliminate it, minimise it or anticipate it. Of course, a fourth option would be to ignore it and, if you only ever take photographs of relatively static scenes, you will probably never even have noticed it. It's only when you're trying to capture a fleeting moment or a moving subject that you'll find this to be a problem.

Eliminating shutter lag.

There is only one sure-fire way to do this and that is by using a semi-professional or professional Dslr type camera. These cameras have an "old fashioned" mechanical shutter that has no lag. However because of that, you don't get a "live" view in the back of the camera so you have to use the eyepiece just like you did with a film camera.

Minimising shutter lag.

The way digital cameras capture images is not the only reason for the delay, some of the settings on your camera can have a profound effect on the amount of lag. The worst culprit by far is an "anti-red eye" flash setting. This will fire your built in flashgun several times before taking the picture.

A friend of mine once took lots of pictures at a party with his new digital camera. He thought his camera was broken because, in all the pictures, he had managed to cut everyone's head off. It only became clear what the problem was once I saw him take a picture.

Basically, he was doing everything right except that the anti-red eye system took ages to fire all the flashes and only the very last one actually takes the photograph. By the time that one fired, he was bringing the camera down and looking for the next group to photograph. Hence the cut off heads. Once he learned to wait for the very last flash to fire, his picture composition improved immensely.

A smaller, but still sometimes significant, delay can be caused by your camera setting the exposure and focus before it takes the picture. Both of these things are done with tiny motors moving parts of the lens about and this will always take a certain amount of time.

You can stop this happening in two ways. One is to set the exposure and focus manually on your camera. Not all cameras will allow you to do this and I suspect that not all that many people will want to "go manual" anyway, but all is not lost. You can usually still minimise the delay whilst leaving all the controls on fully automatic.

The double switch shutter button

Take your camera into a quiet room and very slowly press the shutter button. Before the button has reached the end of its travel you should hear (and possibly feel) the motors in the lens being activated. This is your camera setting its exposure and focussing before it takes the picture. Only when the button reaches the very end of its travel is the photograph actually taken.

The trick (or technique) is to press the button only half way down, and hold it there. Having done all the slow stuff in advance, pushing the button the rest of the way will take the photograph with the absolute minimum of shutter lag. This technique can also be used to "pre-focus". For example, if you wanted to focus on something at the edge of the frame. You would centre on it, push the shutter half way then re-frame, press the shutter right down and take the picture.

Anticipating shutter lag.

As you might expect, this will take a little time, effort and practice on your part but it could make the difference between taking a picture you would want to hang on your wall and one you want to instantly delete.

To find out how much lag your camera actually has you can try the following: Find a scene with a strong vertical line, like a lamp post or end of a wall etc. Pan your camera slowly through about 50 degrees so the line passes the edge of the frame. Do this a few times to get a consistent speed. It might help to slowly count as you are panning.

On one pass, press the shutter as soon as your marker line appears at the edge of your viewfinder - but keep panning, this is important. Your marker should appear in the middle of the frame. How far into the middle will depend on the amount of lag. Repeat this a few times and you should begin to get a feel for the amount of delay on your camera.

Now try anticipating the moment. Panning the camera the other way, try pressing the button when your marker gets to the point it was in the photograph you took and keep panning. This time, your marker should be right at the edge of the frame when the photograph is taken. If it is then you should now have a good sense of just how much shutter lag your camera has.

Keeping the spontaneity

Shutter lag is most annoying if you are trying to take candid, spontaneous photographs. That "perfect moment" is easily lost if you have to wait for the camera. One technique you can try is to start with your subject facing well away from the camera. Ask them to turn and face the camera when you call their name. The trick is to press the shutter as you call their name.

If they are still turning towards the camera when the picture is taken then just ask them not to look so far away from the camera at the start. Most people's facial expression is much more natural if they are doing something at the time (like turning round) rather than just staring at a camera waiting for their picture to be taken.

If all else fails - cheat!

Even if you have a feeling for the lag in your camera, it will still be tricky to capture precisely the perfect moment but there is one last thing you could try. It relies on your camera having a "multi-exposure" setting. However, many of them do. This setting will take several pictures one after the other as quickly as possible. So the technique is simply to take lots and lots of pictures.

This is a perfectly legitimate technique used by professionals all the time in fast moving situations. It's just statistics really, if you take enough pictures then one of them is bound to come out "just right". If it doesn't then you simply haven't taken enough pictures.

This used to be one of those things that separated amateur photographers from professionals because the cost of the film would hinder anyone not being paid for the work. Of course, in the digital world, this has all changed. Anyone can now virtually guarantee getting a good photograph whether their camera has any shutter lag or not.

Colin Aiken is a professional photographer based in the United Kingdom. You can view some of his photographs at: http://www.lovethepictures.co.uk

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Digital Photography - Using Advanced Photograph Settings on a DSLR Digital Camera

Having gone to the lengths of choosing and buying a digital camera that suits your requirements it is always great fun to start taking advantage of the fully automatic functions that can be found with pretty much every DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera. Taking pictures on automatic certainly produces really great results and for someone that might not have even used this type of camera before they will find it purely amazing. But that is just the beginning once you start to discover and learn what else your great little camera can do it opens up another whole new wonderful world...

The many advanced settings and features found on a DSLR digital camera tend to be the same across the board, which means that most cameras should have them in one form or another it is just a question of understandings your models terminology in order to use them.

A majority of cameras tend to have a mode dial which usually has some little images such as a Flower for close-up photography, a Face for portraits, Mountains for landscapes and wide angle, a Sportsperson for those sporting events (this generally puts the camera into a continual picture taking mode), a Lunar effect for night time use all of which can be pretty self explanatory.

The rest of the details on this mode dial are normally the letters P, A, S, M, and AUTO, which require a little more investigation.

P is used for still maintaining some of the automatic features such as the focusing, but allows you to set other parameters of the camera yourself that are held in the memory until you change them.
A is used for controlling aperture priority which blurs foreground and background in close pictures and gives a better depth of field for distance and landscape shots.
S is used for photographing moving objects of various expressions working with shutter speed priority.
M is used for mainly manual exposure where you would adjust both the speed and aperture settings of your camera.
AUTO is pretty much self explanatory and one setting that most people tend to use first and foremost when initially obtaining a DSLR digital camera.

Some of the above may sound fairly complicated, but the more that you use your camera the more you will come to understand and want to have control over these settings in certain situations. With all of the above modes is additional information for applying them correctly with each camera. To ensure that the correct settings are applied the user manual should always be referred to.

Photography is not just a great hobby and interest that people can enjoy and share with each other, it can be seriously relaxing and in some cases therapeutic. Expressing the many aspects of some great photography is myphotographblog.com.

A blog that allows visitors to explore the many boundaries and wonders of modern day photography with some amazing photographs and links for added enjoyment. So whether you are a professional or a complete novice to photography make your way over to myphotographblog.com and be truly inspired.

Clive Anderson

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Digital Photography - How to Win and Make Money With Digital Camera Photographs

Some digital cameras can work out to quite a major investment, so it would be nice to be able to recoup some of that money. DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras are not just for professional photographers and nor do professional photographers cover the entire spectrum for profiting from taking pictures.

With the point and shoot high quality image technology that is incorporated into photographic equipment these days there is a massive market that is absolutely yearning for quality pictures...

We Are An Ever Growing Media Hungry Planet

For whatever reason someone obtains a DSLR camera be it holiday, family event, wedding, or whatever there will always be times when it is simply being used to take pictures of a multitude of things.

What if these miscellaneous images had more value than just gathering dust among the many others located on the computer hard drive? By simply switching our minds to see potential for these stored images we can quite easily open up a whole new world.

There are many places online that want to put value on our pictures, enough so that we might even start to seek out or set-up better and more interesting shots in order to submit and in some cases actually get revenue for our photographs to various buyers.

It would be impossible to list any companies or organisations here as the list is quite extensive. Using search terms you can easily locate the services mentioned in this article. For instance by simply typing in photograph competition, you will be amazed at the results that this search actually yields.

On top of that there are many top quality prizes to be won. Many people say that you do not really stand much chance when you enter a competition of any degree, but research has proved that by entering several and continuing to do so you should start to accumulate quite a hall.

Apparently the answer is to not be too greedy and go for the mid-range prizes rather than the big ones as these tend to attract a bigger audience.

Another search that will put your photographic exploits on a bigger and better road is Earn Income From Photography, these are good terms and there are many more, it is purely a question of thinking about where you would like to go with your images and searching those terms.

You will be certain to find many various ways to be rewarded for your photographic efforts, even if you do not think your pictures are very interesting you can be assured that there is a benefit online for virtually any picture it is just a question of looking and knowing how to look.

I am no expert or professional photographer far from it and yet I have won several competitions and have some of my pictures being displayed on various websites over the Internet. All it takes is a little bit of work and the fun of taking pictures.

Photography is not just a great hobby and interest that people can enjoy and share with each other, it can be seriously relaxing and in some cases therapeutic. Expressing the many aspects of some great photography is myphotographblog.com.

A blog that allows visitors to explore the many boundaries and wonders of modern day photography with some amazing photographs and links for added enjoyment. So whether you are a professional or a complete novice to photography make your way over to myphotographblog.com and be truly inspired.

Clive Anderson

7 Tips to Help You Choose Your Next Digital Camera

There are a LOT of digital cameras to choose from on the market today. The selection can be over-whelming, especially if you are new to digital. Let's look at the major points to consider when shopping for a digital camera.

First off, get out a pen and paper, and jot down your answers to each point. It'll help you come up with your answer, and you'll have a list to take with you when you go out shopping or go online to buy your new digital camera.

What are you going to use it for?

This will help narrow down the selection right off the bat. If you are going to use it for family outings and taking pictures of the kids at grandma's, you aren't going to need the same level of camera that a professional needs for photographing weddings or taking product shots. Jot down all the things you think you'll be using the camera for.

What will you be doing with the pictures?

Most people end up using the photos from their digital camera to post on Facebook or Twitter, email to family and friends, and maybe print out the odd 4x6 print at Wal Mart. Very few ever print anything larger than a 4x6, and if they do, it's almost never larger than a 5x7 or 8x10.

The reason this is important is that companies market megapixels as the biggest feature, and these days, megapixels really aren't that important to the average digital camera user. Even the cheapest cameras now have 6 or 8 megapixels which is more than enough to print an 8x10 print, larger than most people will usually ever print. You can even print a nice 11x14 or 12x18 from an 8 megapixel file, but few people will ever do that.

Don't be sucked in by megapixels. There are other features that are far more beneficial.

Does the size of the camera matter?

Most people will get better use out of a pocket camera than a larger model that they can't fit in their purse or coat pocket. The best photos are the ones you actually take, and photos don't get taken if your camera is sitting at home because you didn't feel like lugging it along.

Going back to our first point of what you'll be using the digital camera for, think about whether you're ok carrying around an additional bag for the camera, or if you'd rather have something small you can fit in your pocket. Be honest with yourself. I'm a professional photographer, and there's many a time I don't take my DSLR's with me because I don't feel like lugging them around.

What range of zoom lens do you want?

In simple terms, how close up and how far away do you want to be able to shoot? Size of the camera and what you're using it for factor into this point because digital cameras are usually bigger if they have a bigger zoom lens with a longer range.

Do you want to be able to take photos from a fair distance away? If so, you need a longer zoom. Something in the 200mm to 300mm range. Is taking photos up close important? If so, you need a wide angle zoom. Something in the area of 24mm, but even wider is good too.

Will you be taking photos mostly outside in daylight?

This makes a difference as to how âfastâ a lens you need. We're talking about the f stop here. The smaller the number, the faster the lens. The f stop is the aperture, or the size of the whole that opens up in the lens to light in.

Point and shoot pocket cameras are fairly limited in this area, although some higher end models have faster lenses around f2.8. If you're photographing in dim or low light regularly, you may need to go to a Digital SLR, or DSLR, which allows you to change lenses. With a DSLR, you can get very "fast" lenses that allow you to work in dim lighting.

Is the speed of the digital camera important?

If you're taking pictures of flowers, the camera's speed isn't going to matter much. If you want to take photos of your kids playing soccer, it's going to matter a great deal. Most point and shoots won't be up to the task here either. You'll likely be better served with a DSLR. Even the slowest of DSLR's is MUCH faster than a point and shoot pocket camera.

Summing it all up

Take a look at all your answers to the above points. You should now have a pretty good idea of what you're looking for in a digital camera. Maybe you've realized you need to spend more than you intended? Just remember, it's often cheaper to spend more now and buy what you really need, than to spend less and have to up-grade a short time later.

See you behind the camera!

Matt Ballard is a Professional Photographer and author of the popular photography blog, Art of the Image at http://www.artoftheimage.blogspot.com

Matt's latest eBook is Google Business Marketing: Succesful Marketing Strategies For Turning Google Into Your Best Business Partner. http://www.googlebusinessmarketing.com A MUST read if you want to raise your Google rankings and get more traffic to your website or blog.

Digital Photography - Digital Cameras and Its Benefits

Although photography has been in the market for quite some time, some people still ask "how much it's going to cost me?", "what a digital camera can do?" and "why do I need photography?"

Let's look at each of them in detail:

As digital photography is getting more popular, things are going to get cheaper. One of the reasons is that manufacturers are competing for market share and they are more likely to launch cheaper cameras with more functions. Just look at the compact digital camera in the market now, you can get a camera with at least 9 megapixels and 10x optical zoom at the price of less than $300. Even the DSLR cameras nowadays are getting more and more affordable.

Also when competitions are getting stronger, manufacturers will try to make cameras with as many features as possible. It is like an unwritten rule that compact digital cameras nowadays must be able to record video and audio. When you launch a point and shoot camera without this feature, your potential clients might not even want to look at it.

Also some digital cameras nowadays are equipped with sophisticated editing software and touch screen capability. You can now add stars, fog it up or add other wacky stuff on the camera.

Since you can operate your camera with touch screen, you can expect that one day, you will see the LCD screen big enough to occupy the back of your camera. Can you imagine how much fun it is to look at your pictures in such a big screen and it will be more breath taking when the manufacturers throw in wide angle lens together.

Now, when you are going into digital photography, it is only logic that you have a digital camera. Photography is more than a hobby. It is about keeping the memory of that special moment. You want to remind yourself that you were once there at that period. You want to be able to show your child that you were young once and how life was back then. It is a different experience when you look back at your photos 10 years ago. Go have a look at them now.

Do you enjoy taking photos? Do you want more digital photography tips and techniques? Just visit

=> http://www.learn-digitalphotography.blogspot.com

Michael Wong is happy to share his knowledge about digital photography with you and hope you enjoy them.

Kata DB-455 DPS Series Digital Camera Bag Review

If you want a camera bag the can also function either as an office bag or a normal personal bag for every day use. The Kata DB-455 DPS Series Digital is the best gear for you.

This satchel type of bag contains a huge main compartment; it has a designated padded casing inside for your laptop (size up to most 15" laptops) and a compartment for a DSLR camera. The camera case can be detached to the DSLR bag, perfect when you are not shooting and just want to use the bag for a common day like going to office, etc.

The padded camera holder can fit a DSLR body, additional lens plus a flash. It also has one large pocket made for your small but useful tools like notebooks, pens, cell phone and mp3. They have also added two flexible elasto guard side pockets for extra storage.

Kata bags do not boast even though they have special features like the TST RIB structural protection which can only be found in Kata products because it is patented. Its essence is to protect your equipments from any unwanted bumps or collision. This bag can also be carried by using the Kata Insertrolley. This gives you a much convenient way of bringing the bag when you are in airports, travelling abroad etc. Not only that they have also a variety of shoulder straps to choose from for an optimal carrying option.

This DSLR bag can be purchased at a number of online stores for $ 60.00 or save some on Amazon as it is priced for only $ 59.90 for new while $45 for used.

Patrick Garde is the co-founder of DSLR Bag Store which writes camera bag reviews weekly to help photo enthusiasts find the right DSLR bag.

Digital Photography - DSLR Digital Cameras - Why Get Involved in Modern Photography

As we all know a majority of photographs are images that happen in an instant but are captured by the camera for all time, we share those images with others so that they too can enjoy the great outcome that has been caught in a second of time.

We as a society love to see and in some cases have nice things the way that we generally see them and gain an opinion is from images captured by others using a camera. Once a picture is taken by someone they very soon begin to realise that there is virtually no end to what they have just discovered can take them...

One click is all it takes...

Digital cameras are a great asset to the twenty first century, there are many things that technology and so called progress manages to spoil or even ruin in some cases, but thanks to the advent of DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) and Compact cameras we are able to find, capture, import, and print any image that we discover all within minutes of seeing it.

This technology is so good that even a complete novice can pick up a DSLR digital camera and virtually start taking professional looking pictures within minutes. Gone are the days of cumbersome cameras and slow processing, a modern day camera lets you see exactly what you have just photographed by means of a small LCD screen located on the back.

It is even possible to view in the LCD screen what you are filming or taking a picture of. There are simply too many reasons that stack up to make digital photography such a great media and outlet that some believe it to almost be a therapy for escaping the rigours of everyday life.

Whatever the attraction it is certainly a growing activity and is reflected by the many variations to suit mood, personality, capability, and desire from the camera manufacturers. Hunting and bringing back trophies in the form of pictures using a camera is certainly less harmful on the environment and Mother Nature.

Photography is not just a great hobby and interest that people can enjoy and share with each other, it can be seriously relaxing and in some cases therapeutic. Expressing the many aspects of some great photography is myphotographblog.com.

A blog that allows visitors to explore the many boundaries and wonders of modern day photography with some amazing photographs and links for added enjoyment. So whether you are a professional or a complete novice to photography make your way over to myphotographblog.com and be truly inspired.

Clive Anderson

The Digital Camera Dilemma, Do I Have To Buy A New Digital Camera Every Six Months?

It seems that every month, if not every week, competing manufacturers are coming up with the newest digital cameras to tempt likely customers. And it's just not working for us.

After spending a large amount of time at the mall determining which is the pre-eminent digital camera for us, we at last possess sufficient funds to buy for that huge 7 mega pixel, 12x digital zoom, portable, sweet colored, up to 600MB expandable memory of wonderful hi-speed SD memory array and not to forget, extremely lightweight.

We march to the mall armed with our life savings and lots of dignity in ourselves, when we pass by a new exhibit, an eight mega pixel, up to 1G expandable memory, with built it mic and stereo envelop, video playback enabled, with 22 picturesque modes camera. And we sigh because the manufacturer of this astounding device claims that this is the amazing digital camera yet out in the store.

And so, as we desire to own the finest, armed with our life savings and a few credit cards, we buy the best digital camera. But then again, that doesn't last too long, after two months or so, there's another "best digital camera". It confuses us. What makes a digital camera, the pre-eminent digital camera? Well, there are predetermined factors to contemplate when looking for the "best digital camera" for us.

One of the most significant features of a digital camera to make it into the finest digital camera class is its mega pixel effects. The higher the mega pixels the superior the real picture will come out. A mega pixel is tantamount to one million pixels. The resolution of your portrait is based upon the mega pixel property of your camera. This means that as you magnify the photograph, you would get more detail and less blurry colors.

The superior digital camera will often have a big LCD to help you structure your theme without having to squint into the viewfinder. This is also useful when reviewing your images, some cameras allow touch up and editing features with its LCD. A 1.5-inch display is norm, a 2-inch LCD display is satisfactory, but the pre-eminent LCD magnitude would be 2.5 inches or higher.

Most digital cameras possess both digital and optical zoom. A higher optical zoom is usually superior to a higher digital zoom. Digital cameras are customarily furnished with optical zoom of between 3x to 10x. The better the optical zoom, the higher it climbs up to the unsurpassed digital camera variety.

Always make certain that your memory card is the correct one for your digital camera. There are disparate types of memory cards comparable the xD, SD, Flash card and the likes. And these types of memory cards go with fixed types of digital cameras. Of course memory storage is also up there in choosing the finest digital cameras. Select the magnitude of memory that you demand, if you're a picture junkie, you may want more than 32MB. Memory cards can go up to 1G.

The key point to uncovering the finest digital camera is to discover one that will best fit you and your lifestyle. Don't just buy the current favorite or the one that claims they are the best digital camera out in the market. You wouldn't wish to buy a DSLR and use it with your residence activities or household outing and have to lug it around?!

Or you don't want to buy the current point and flash camera when you're serious about being a seasoned paparazzo. Of course, you can use this for starters, but if you're not a amateur lensman anymore, you wouldn't crave to get this type of camera. In reality, the best digital camera is the one that you will most likely appreciate and use. Not the kind that you'll just leave in its box after a few weeks of usage.

Steve McArthur writes about subjects he is interested in, including digital photography. Visit his photo blog at PhotoZoomy Photo Blog

http://photozoomy.com