On-Site Images Professional Photography

Popular inexpensive Digital Cameras

2010-06-07T10:25:00.001-07:00

When it comes to buying the right digital camera for you, first consider it's use.
Not all cameras are created equal. You may want one just to capture the little ones at the park, beach and campground this summer or you may want to invest a little more money and have one you can take to the ballfield or soccer field and have pictures you will be proud of.
When it comes to buying and choosing your digital camera, ensure it is a name brand you have heard of. Kodak, Canon and my favorite, Nikon.
Why Nikon? Well because when I started taking photos, over twenty years ago, I was first given a Brownie camera from my father, this was one I believe his mother had given him and one I cherish to this day. This was a point and shoot camera of the day with a flash bulb you had to replace after each time you used it. They were glass and looked like a blueish colored lightbulb, when the camera was fired so was the flash and it was no longer useable, it basically shorted it out and caused a large amount of light, enough for the picture.
Secondly, when I showed a continued interest, especially after my father had taken a night course in photography, he used Nikon and he had let me use his and I loved it, the features at the time I thought were amazing, I didn't know what they did but there was a lot of them.
Nikon and Canon are the Pepsi and Coca-Cola of the camera world. Both producing inexpensive and expensive digital cameras suited for all uses. So let's camera the an entry level Digital Single Lens Reflex from both Nikon and Canon.
The Canon EOS Rebel and Nikon D3000. Both offering just over 10 million pixels. Both including a 18-55 mm lens. Both use SD and SDHC memory cards. The Nikon offers 11 pre-set auto focus points while Canon offers 7. Nikon will accept AF Sensor with TTL Phase Detection with the Canon uses TTL, Nikon can use Auto-Area and 3D tracing auto focus while Canon does not. Nikon has a 3 inch LCD while Canon's is 2.5 inches.
Canon can photograph 5 Frames per Second in Max Burst Raw while the Nikon can produce 3 FPS.They are both fantastic cameras. Both capable of doing everything you want them to do. Both retail for Approximately $460 Canadian. You can purchase all kinds of accessories for either one including telephoto lenses, wide angle lenses, external flashes, more memory, camera bags, card readers, digital picture frames, etc.... Once you start to understand the world digital photography, the sky is the limit as to what you might enjoy, try and experiment with.

Digital Photos, Go for the quality

2008-11-04T11:44:00.000-08:00

There is nothing worse then trying to do a good job with the wrong tools and it's the same with trying to make a good photograph enlargement with a bad image.
If the subject of the images is too far away it is going to look distorted, out of focus, grainy and pixelly. If the image is improperly exposed, if the faces are in the shadows, obscured by something in the way you won't be happy.
Do the cropping of the picture right in the camera, have the things and people you want in the finished picture, not all the surroundings, tables, backrounds or things of no interest. Unclutter or de-clutter your picture so the eye is more focused on the actual subject of the pciture. In short, you can do the work as well as the camera by getting closer to the subject of the photo, get at the same level of the subject, make the picture interesting but always, always take pictures and more pictures.
The huge benefit to digital photography is the quantity of photos you can take and later delete but take them. When photographing people, especially groups of family members at birthday parties, anniversaries or get together take several photos, not just the one.
Chances are if you take only one someone will have their eyes closed, be looking away or making a funny or not so funny face. Take the pictures a little serious because if you don't you may not have exactly what you are looking for.
Secondly, make the camera do the work. After you took several picutres at the subjects level and close to the subject. Check your images on the LCD, (liquid crystal display) screen, ensure you are happy with the picture it is always easier to take a few more photos when you have everybody together at the same time then trying to get everyone to agree to pose for the photo a second time.
Again, take pictures, lots of pictures and keep smilling.

Comparing printers

2008-10-07T14:11:00.000-07:00

After your decide on your camera purchase and you are happy with it, then you will probably want to print at home.

Let's compare Canon's iP4500 and HP D4300.

The Canon offers print resolution in color of 9600 x 2400 dpi while the HP offers 4800 x 1200. In English, the Canon claims to virtually have double the dpi (dots per inch) and therefore should reproduce double the print quality.

The iP4500 is being sold as a Photo Printer and the HP as a HP Thermal Inket. Both are Energy Star Certified and therefore use a lot less power then their older models, while even in standby mode.

The HP D4300 has an 80-sheet input tray and 50-sheet out tray while capable of handling standard media sizes as A2, A4, A5, A6, C6 and Dl and recommended media weight of A4 70-90 g/m2 with a maximum monthly recommended usage of 3000 pages monthly.

The iP4500 accepts paper sizes from credit card as small as 2.12"x3.39", to Letter, Legal, U.S. #10 envelopes and photo stickers.

System compatibility with the D4300 recommends WindowsXP Professional or XP Home, 2000 or higher and no mention for Mac users. The iP4500's system compatibility recommends Windows Vista, Windows XP/2000 and Mac OS X v 10.2.8 to 10.5x.6.7.

The Canon has a MSRP of $129.99 and the HP of $69.99.

All in all both are backed by true industry leaders, , both with one year warranty and both great printers for the home user.

Know what you want to do

2008-09-27T21:25:00.000-07:00

Drive a brand new car out of the parking lot, loose %10 percent, take home a brand new computer and it is out of date before you even get it set up at home.

Before your walk into your favorite camera store or electronics department have an idea of what you want to do with your camera.

Is it just for family and friends photos?
Do you want to be able to zoom in from a distance, have some control over the end result and quality of your photos or do you want a basic Point and Shoot camera?

This should be a must when it comes to any electronics purchase. After doing some type or research either with family and friends or on the internet and in magazines, I recommend you see what your friends like and dislike about their cameras. Are they too complicated? Are they happy with the brand name and quality of the photos? Compare price, yes but most importantly compare quality!! A purchase of this nature is bound to last for years to come and you want to make sure you are getting the most of out your camera.

Keep it is basic as possible, not boring but understandable you don't want to get confused or flustered everytime you use your camera, you want it to be fun and easy.

One of the most common mistakes first time digital camera buyers do is fall for the price, believe it or not you really get exactly what you pay for especially when it comes to electronics.

Pay for the brand name, Kodak, Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Olympus, Sony but don't buy something you have never heard of. Buy from a reputable store, a store with trained staff, feel confident in your purchase, confident in your sales associated and confident in your store of choice. An average first time digital camera buyer can expect to pay between $150-$400 for a camera with good quality and a great amount of features and options.

Two of the major differences in todays digital cameras, digital zoom and optical zoom. GO FOR THE OPTICAL. Digital zoom replicates pixels and guestimates at details where the optical appears to actually bring that image in closer with a much better quality end result. The more pixels the better. Photographs are comprised are millions of dots or pixels and the more your camera can capture and replicate the better quality the picture.

Read our future articles soon or camera features, options and choices.