Learn Digital Photography – 10 Keys to Buying a Digital Camera
by admin on Jan.27, 2010, under Digital Cameras
The question we have to answer when asked by a newbie photographer, “What camera do I buy”, is almost as complex as the answer to the question of life. There are just so many factors that have to be considered, which is why it’s important to look at a few keys to buying the right camera for you.
1. Consider what you need
This question can only be asked by you as only you know what you really need. The advice of friends is great and input from a close relative helps, but, the bottom line is really what you need and how you feel about a potential purchase. Don’t ever be swayed but what someone else likes and thinks you should like. Be decisive about your first purchase. You will have to live with it for a while and not your friend.
2. Decide what specifications you want
The focus here is on what you want and not just what you need. Don’t always go for the bare minimum because that is what you need. If you can afford something a little better for just a little extra money then go for it, within reason of course. Now that you have an idea on specifications you can start looking around. Don’t forget to take any advice into consideration at this point as well.
3. Check out camera sites
See what is available within the specifications you have decided on. What the price range is and what features there are over and above what you’ve decided upon. These will be the cameras you’ll focus on and come to a final decision on. Don’t forget that they are each trying to punt their own particular brand so be careful. Don’t be swayed at this point.
4. Visit forums and discussion groups
Once you have an idea on what you like and you’ve narrowed down your choice to a few models, visit forums and review sites and find out what others are saying about the different cameras and models. This will give you an idea as to what should be excluded and which you have to make a decision on. Join a few forums and ask questions about the particular models you are interested in and find out from users. They have already bumped their heads and made mistakes you won’t have to make.
5. Download the manuals
Most cameras will have a manufacturers website that allows the download of a pdf manual for the camera that you’re interested in. Read it and take a good look at all the features and specifications. This will give you a precise understanding of what it can and can’t do. Once you have this information you are ready to make your decision and find the best store to purchase your camera.
6. Visit online auction sites
If you are brave enough to bid on a reputable auction site then go ahead and start looking. There are often reputable dealers who offer ‘buy now’ prices that are slightly higher but still good, before the auction ends. The key here is reputable. Sometimes you’ll pick up a fantastic deal if you are willing to take the risk.
7. Visit reputable stores
You’ll probably find that the best deal you’ll find will be online and the problem here is that you cannot tell by how the site looks if it is reputable. So do some research first and find out if they really are. Look at price comparison sites such as bizrate.com and pricescan.com. They will often have a star rating for their service and value for money.
8. Avoid grey market products
Grey market products are usually items that have been purchased outside the normal distribution channels of a county. This is usually from another country that has a cheaper price due to taxes and other factors. These products don’t carry the same range of serial numbers available in your country and will often not have warranties honoured locally.
9. Avoid extended warranties
This is where many manufacturers make a lot of money and you will often be pushed to take one. Unless of course you are fearful of a camera breakdown outside the warranty, don’t be pressured into taking one.
10. Optional extras
Watch out for a bunch of extras with a camera deal. Someone is paying for these and the most likely person is you. A bag, extra lens, cleaning kits and host of other little things all add up and somebody has to pay for it. Look at just the camera and add items you feel are necessary. You might even be able to buy a slightly better model without all the extras. Be careful of sales talk.
So there you have it. Follow these guidelines and you will stand a better chance of buying a digital camera without any regrets. Happy shooting!
Do you want to learn more about photography in a digital world? I’ve just completed a brand new e-course delivered by e-mail. Download it here for free: http://www.21steps2perfectphotos.com/. To learn how you can take your photography from ordinary to outstanding visit http://www.21steps2perfectphotos.com/21steps.htm.
Wayne Turner has been teaching photography for 25 years and has written three books on photography.
Canon Eos Digital Rebel Cameras – The Gifts That Keep on Giving
by admin on Dec.31, 2009, under Digital Cameras
By Wayne Rasku
Canon has some really great igital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras. In fact there are two excellent Canon EOS Digital Rebel cameras to choose from. They are the Canon Rebel 450D XSi and the Canon Rebel 500D T1i.
Usually, they are referred to as Rebel XSi and Rebel T1i, OR Rebel 450D and Rebel 500D. The lower number – 450D – is the older of the two cameras, meaning it was released before the 500D. Canon came up with a numbering system for their Rebel line of cameras which began in 2003 with the Rebel 300D. Each successive camera has been named with the addition of 50 to the name.
OK, so what makes these DSLRs good gifts? Here are a few reasons to consider:
- Great image quality. This line of cameras has always been rated at the top of the entry level category for image quality. The quality is nearly as good as the much more expensive models.
- Inexpensive price. These are not Point-and-Shoot cameras, so you must expect to pay more than you would for compact digital cameras. However, prices have dropped way down below the $1000 price tag of the original Rebels.
- DSLR capabilities. What more can be said. Every budding photographer dreams of the day he or she will be able to switch camera lenses to get the perfect picture. Photographers are like golfers when it comes to gear – the newest gear will improve their “game”.
Which of the two Canon EOS Digital Rebel cameras you choose is really dependent on only a couple of things.First is price – there is approximately $150 difference between the two cameras. The T1i is the more expensive model because of two very important considerations. HD Video and Creative Auto.
Second is HD Video and Creative Auto. No, this is not a typo. The two features that make the Rebel T1i cost more than the XSi are the reasons for buying the T1i rather than the XSi. If that does not make sense, consider this. Almost all point and shoot digital cameras have video capability, and they have an LCD screen with a preview of the photo that is about to be taken. Not all DSLRs have these two features. In fact the Rebel XSi does not, but the T1i does have them. Actually, Creative Auto is a lot more technologically sophisticated than a live view on the LCD screen, but suffice it to say that the photographer you are thinking of will really appreciate it.
Hopefully, this brief overview of Canon EOS Digital Rebel cameras will be of help in your decision. There is much more detail at http://www.digital-photographic-resources.com.
5 Photography Tips For Printing Photos
by admin on Dec.14, 2009, under Photography Lessons
By Joseph Eitan
The progress made in recent years by the printer manufactures allows professional photographers and amateur photographers alike to print high quality photos. Other than the savings to be made by printing your own photos, perhaps the biggest attraction is the endless possibilities to tweak and try different photo reproduction methods from black and white prints to advance superimposing, all from the comfort of your own home and all at your pace. Heavy weight professional photo paper such as A3 would of course cost more than your normal run-of-the-mill printer paper, therefore to get the best out of the paper follow out tips below.
5 Photography Tips For Printing Photos:
1. Profile Match – Quality paper should be offered with a settings profile file to match your specific printer model. Normally the profile file could be downloaded from the photo paper vendor website or from the retailer who sold you the paper. In rare cases where a profile isn’t available set your printer to the highest image quality settings.
2. Paper Match – Other than ensuring that the paper type such as Inkjet or Laser is the right paper, look the paper weight to ensure it will match your preferred reproduction work. Paper weight of 300gsm and above will normally be used for artistic prints and portraits, while the less heavy 250gsm to 300gsm paper will be used for enhancing image definition for photo prints. The paper should be compatible with your ink type be it UltraChrome, K1,DuraBrite, Lyson inks or any other pigment or dye based inks.
3. Page Setup – Before clicking ‘Print’ and sending your work down the printer on the professional paper, take the time to setup the page. In particular look to setup the page properties in terms of paper orientation and paper size. Once completed, head to ‘page preview’ option to see a visual representation of the image prior to printing.
4. Photo Handling – If the type of paper bought will not instantly dry, meaning the paper cannot instantly absorb the ink, safely place it aside to dry before storing the photo. When an image has been printed remove it from the printer’s tray so the next photo won’t stack on-top of it. Let the paper dry for a period of up to 24hrs before storing it. Of course if the paper you bought instantly dries up, you can skip this tip.
5. Photo Limits – Printing your own professionally looking photos must also be practical. If you will require a large amount of photo reproduction prints consider using a photo-kiosk or an online service. Start by naming your files, optimizing their size and finally saving the new files in another folder. Until you get the prints back, save the originals just in case.
Enjoy your project.
Joseph is the founder of Photo Paper Direct, an inkjet consumables store selling photo paper and Inkjet Ink Cartridges.
Photography Studio Business Plan – Making the Most of Your Space
by admin on Dec.04, 2009, under Photography Business
By Eric Powers
When opening a photography studio, you must make a significant initial, and then monthly, investment in your space. To justify these expenses to investors in your business plan, show how you will utilize the space to its fullest. It represents one of your major assets, and renting such a studio while explaining in your plan that your shoots will primarily be out on location shows poor planning on your part to funders.
Studio Shoots
Consider what customer markets you should pursue to keep the space booked up with your own shoots as much as possible. This will likely be the highest revenue-generating use of the space for you. Look for the customers that freelance photographers without a studio are unable to gain and market the strengths your space will offer. By investing in some additional backdrops or decorative elements to dress the space, you can expand the options of shoots you can accommodate in-house significantly.
Other Uses
Can part of your studio double as an office space during downtime? If you can limit your need for separate office space you may be able to cut down on your rent, if you can plan for this before signing a lease.
If your lease allows it, you can also rent out your studio to other parties while it is idle, as long as they are for legal uses. This can be for small parties and events or shoots by other photographers, for example. Be sure that those you rent to carry their own insurance to lower your risk and that your agreement with them further limits the liability you take on from their rental.
For every day you rent your studio out to another business or individual, you will bring in revenue, but you will also incur an unseen opportunity cost. For example if you rent your studio out for a day for $500 two weeks in advance of a date and then you must turn down a shoot that comes up for that day only for which you would net $1,000, you have effectively lost $500 rather than earned it. Only experience will teach you what rates are reasonable to cover the probability of last-minute shoots coming up.
Are you looking for more tips on how to start a photography business or advice on developing your photography business plan? Call 877-BIZ-PLAN to learn how Growthink can help you build your photography business.
Digital Camera Photography Lighting Tips
by admin on Nov.30, 2009, under Photography Lessons
Ask most seasoned digital photographers and they will most certainly tell you that the hardest concept to snap that perfect shot is the lighting.
The first lighting mystery in every image is back lighting. Back lighting usually presents itself naturally in the form of the sun, sky, or bright lights.
With automation technology in digital cameras advanced an automatic internal light meter sets itself to adapt to the extra light. While sometimes beneficial the usual outcome is that the image subject is under exposed and becomes a silhouette. Avoid this at all costs.
Fill Flash to the rescue. A fill flash will “fill” in where light is needed.
Diffused Lighting is another lighting option.
Sometimes any light is more light then you want on your image. While inconvenient sometimes the subject is what has to move. Pick a different day, a different location, or a different time of day. Another possibility would be to include a prop in the shoot that alters the light, perhaps an umbrella or a tree. Clouds can also sometimes come at the perfect time to help shade your subject.
So isn’t artificial lighting the answer to most lighting issues?
First you have the camera’s built in flash. While handy they can sometimes leave you with the ‘red eye’ effect. This is because the flash is to close to the lens. This direct light is also usually quite harsh on the subject. Moving the flash away from the lens will soften the light but you would have to purchase an off camera flash.
In short, make the most of your pictures to attain the best possible picture and then become acquainted and knowledgeable with a great photo enhancing software package.
Because sometimes you only have one moment to capture the image.
Robert Cooper. Robert Cooper is a computer networking consultant and has been in the electronics field for 25 years. As an author he specializes in digital camera reviews and digital photography tips. He frequently writes about Canon digital cameras, Nikon digital cameras, the latest, greatest digital point-n-shoot cameras while also providing interesting analysis of digital storage and digital camera accessories. For further information please visit http://www.onlinedigitalcamerareviews.com where you can also find the latest digital camera reviews and articles on digital photography tips and courses.
