Dec 18: Ricoh Caplio 400G Wide Digital Camera

Ricoh (Japan) will release its new waterproof and dustproof digital camera, the Caplio 400G Wide in January 2004. The main extra feature in the 400G when compared to previous Ricohs in this series is the wide angled lens which should make for some great pictures.

The 400G has a 3.24 megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom lens, will take pictures under water to a depth of 1m for up to 30 minutes. it has a start up time of 1.8 seconds and shoots in macro mode at up to 1cm.

Photography Blog reviews the Ricoh Caplio 400G and writes 'If you're looking for a digital camera that will take a lot of abuse, either above or below water, then the Ricoh Caplio 400G Wide should find a place on your shortlist.'

Get more info at AkibaLive

update - Ricoh Europe have also just announced the European release of the Ricoh Caplio 400G. Following is the European Press Release.

Ricoh Announces The European launch of the Caplio 400G Wide. Capture a Wider Image With This High Performance, Water and Dust Resistant, Digital Camera

March 2004.
Following on from the success of the 300G last year, Ricoh are proud to announce the Caplio 400G Wide. This model has the same characteristic tough body of its predecessor, the Caplio 300G, and is the perfect choice for taking pictures in the rain, in sandy, or in dusty environments. The new wide 28-85mm zoom lens allows you to capture a wider image with sharp focus and not compromise on any detail - it's wider, faster, better.

Ricoh has taken digital imaging a step forward with the introduction of its wide lens technology. Zoom lenses for digital cameras generally do not compare favourably with those for conventional 35mm cameras. The main reason for this is because digital camera lenses require more peripheral light. Ricoh was able to overcome this handicap through a unique arrangement of eight lens elements in three groups. The first group, the most important for realising a wider lens, comprises three lenses, one of which is a concave, Meniscus aspherical lens, made of low-dispersion glass with a high refractive index. With the Caplio G4 wide and now the Caplio 400G Wide, users no longer have to make any sacrifices in zoom performance for the convenience of a digital camera.

The Caplio 400G Wide is designed for durability and geared towards a wide range of outdoor applications. It affords users JIS* Protection grade 7-equivalent water resistance and JIS Protection grade-6 dust resistance, which make it possible to take pictures in sandy or dusty environments. It is even possible to wash the camera with water! The 400G Wide can even take pictures under water at a depth of 1m or less, for up to 30 minutes. The camera is lightweight, easy to handle and has padding protection on either side and around the lens to provide superb durability when being used outdoors.

With a blazing shutter response time of 0.14-second and a fast start up time of 1.8-second, the Caplio 400G Wide is ready to take pictures quickly to take advantage of every photo opportunity. One of the features of the Caplio range is the superb 1cm Macro facility that allows the photographer to capture even the smallest details – with the Caplio 400G Wide, the photographer also has the advantage of the tele macro function, which provides the same magnification but allows the user to move the camera 4cm away in order to prevent the shadow of the camera from creeping into the shot.

Easy to use, the Caplio 400G Wide has a 3.24 megapixel and 3x wide zoom lens; combining the 3x optical zoom and 3.4x digital zoom to gives up to 10.2x zoom photography. The Caplio 400G Wide has all the features that a photographer needs to be able to take exact quality images in any environment.

Main Features:

1. Designed To Stand Up To Outdoor Use.
Water- and dust-resistant, durable, portable, and easy to operate
- Use of a reinforced glass dust protector in front of the lens, and rubber packing on opening parts and buttons provides JIS protection grade 7-equivalent water resistance and JIS protection grade-6 dust resistance. The camera can be washed with water and used in the rain, and is capable of photography in highly dusty or sandy environments.
- Protection on each side and in key locations provides superb durability.
- The camera uses a sturdy, two-piece strap for hanging the compact, lightweight body around your neck when walking.
- The large shutter button and switches make the camera easy to use even when wearing gloves.

2. Groundbreaking Wide Zoom Lens.
- The Caplio 400G Wide 3x zoom lens ranges from 28mm to 85mm (equivalent on a 35mm camera). A unique lens arrangement and use of highly refractive low-dispersion, aspherical lenses, allows it to perform at the level of conventional 35mm film cameras, a significant step in the evolution of the digital camera.
- Combine the 3x optical zoom and 3.4x digital zoom to enable up to 10.2x zoom photography.

3. Never Miss That Perfect Shot.
- Superb response: just 0.14 seconds between the time the shutter release is pressed until exposure begins.
- High-speed processing: Start-up takes approximately 1.8 seconds.

4. Long Operating Time.
Long battery life and choice of power sources keep low batteries from stealing photo opportunities
- Long battery life: Use the optional high-capacity lithium ion battery to take up to 3,500 continuous shots. Reduce the hassle of changing batteries in adverse weather conditions .
- No more worries about running out of batteries at a bad time: the camera also supports readily- available AA batteries (alkaline, nickel, and NiMH). Get the most out of outdoor use.
- An optional AC adapter is also available for indoor use.

5. Six Distinct Scene Modes.
- Portrait, sports, landscape, night scene, text and high-sensitivity. All these modes help to optimise results in varied shooting situations.

6. 1cm Macro; 4cm Tele Macro.
- The Caplio 400G Wide takes macros as close as 1cm from a subject, allowing the photographer to capture every small detail.
- The photographer may also take advantage of the tele macro function, which provides the same magnification but allows the user to move the camera 4cm away in order to prevent the shadow of the camera from creeping into the shot.

7. Fast and Easy Transfer To PC.
- The imaging software provided makes instant image transfers from the Caplio G4wide to USB-equipped personal computers fast and easy.

The Caplio 400G kit includes:
USB cable, AV cable, Software CD (Win, Mac), AA Alkaline batteries (2), Neck strap, LCD hood, Instruction manual, Warranty card.

Caplio 400G Wide Optional Accessories List:

Product name / Model
Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery / DB-43
Battery Charger / BJ-2
Soft case / SC-40
SD Memory Card / FS-32SD
AC Adapter / AC-4a

Dec 17: Affordable High-End Digital Cameras

'The single lens reflex camera has long been every digital photographer's dream. Now, though, such cameras are not only available but are becoming less expensive.'

Read more at Marketing High End Digital Cameras to the Masses

Dec 17: Is Digital Photography Compromising the art of Photography?

Digital vs. film asks the question:

'New technologies can create incredible pictures, but do they compromise the art of photography?'

What do you think?

Dec 16: How to Choose a Digital Camera

Choosing a digital camera is getting more and more of a challenge as the variety of cameras being released increased. It seems that every week a new camera enters the market. So how should you make the decision?

How to Choose a DigiCam answers that question by giving a framework to make your decisions.

Topics examined include:
- Big or small
- Megapixel - what's it mean
- RAW or not
- Lenses - zoom range
- Storage media
- Batteries
- Other features

Also check out Digital Photography School for more free Digital Camera Tips on All Topics.

Dec 16: Online Photo Services - Opportunities Arising

Digital cameras snap open market for Web photo services is an interesting article about the rise of online photo services.

'The popularity of digital cameras, one of the most requested gifts this holiday season, is paying off for online photo services.

Market leaders Ofoto, Shutterfly and Snapfish report big sales increases over last year. Research firm IDC estimates revenue for the sector will be up 50% over 2002. '

Dec 15: Nikon D70 - Speculations

Thom Hogan makes some predictions about the upcoming Nikon D70.

What do we know about this upcoming DSLR and what can we guess? Thom tells.

Nikon D70 Press Release

Dec 15: Olympus E20 - Reader Review

Rolf Bertram Reviews the Olympus E20

European Readers buy the Olympus E-20P here

The Olympus E20 has plenty of buttons everywhere, which are very intuitive for all everyday functions. The menues are only needed for general settings. Adding one of these microscope eypiece rubber things on the viewfinder makes it very comfortable to use without daylight spilling in. Manual zoom makes it very fast. Optional manual focusing is good for fireworks photos.

A DigiPower DPS9000 LiIon battery fits under the camera and attaches to the tipod thread. This allows around 200-400 RAW shots. A 512MB CF card + a 128MB SM card hold a total of 64 RAW pics, which will fit on one single CDR for backup. The CCD sensor has an additional dead pixel every few months (in my camera at least). So you have to run the dead pixel detection routine, which memorizes the dead pixels.

An additional Raynox DCR-FE180PRO add on lens gets you nearly fisheye wide angle with still excellent picture quality. One annoying thing is the slow write speed. The internal memory can only buffer 3 RAW pics, and writing to me! The memory card takes around 40 seconds per picture. This is very very slow for action and portrait photography, but does not matter much for still life or landscape. Long term exposure gives excellent pictures up to 1 minute and still o.k. pictures at the maximum of 8 minutes. The Olympus E20 is packed with so many functions that I still did not try all of them, but once in a while I use a new function and I am always amazed how intuitive this camera was designed.

Submit your own Digital Camera Review here.

Dec 14: Canon EOS Digital Rebel takes top award

Photography Blog Reports that the Canon EOS Digital Rebel has taken the top award in the annual PTN product of the year awards.

'Canon EOS Digital Rebel not only took top honors, but it also claimed the top spot for the Digital SLR category. With details like a highly responsive autofocus and Continuous Shooting Mode which allows users to capture split-second action sequences at 2.5 fps with a 4-shot burst, it's easy to see what draws buyers.

The Pentax Optio S4 and Olympus Stylus 300 and 400 tied in the Consumer Digicam category, both offering similar opportunities to capture great photographs.'

Check out the rest of the article here

Dec 13: iPod as Digital Photographer's Best Friend

The Mac Dev Center has this great article on using iPods to store Digital photographs

'Okay, math time. With a 4-megapixel Canon S400, the average file size is in the neighborhood of 1.3 MB (shooting at the highest quality level). Dividing 1,024 MBs (that is, 1 gigabyte) by 1.3 and I get roughly 788 pictures to one GB of storage. If I set aside just 10 GBs of my iPod's hard disc for images, that means I can store well over 7,000 pictures (4 megapixel at highest quality Jpeg setting). '

Dec 13: Sony Recalls Qualia digital cameras

Sony is recalling their classy Qualia DigiCam for repairs. Luckily they didn't make too many!

Dec 13: State of Photography in Japan - Report

'A trio of top Pop Photo editors recently returned from a tour of the photo industry in Japan. Their mission: to find out, directly from the source, what’s happening in the photo industry, and how it will affect photography consumers in the coming year. In this exclusive report, they share news about upcoming products, photo buying trends, and what’s being designed for the future.'

This is the intro to REPORT FROM JAPAN which is filled with all kinds of interesting photographic news from Japan including the following:

- Upcoming release of a Minolta MAXXUM SLR-D in 2004
- Olympus are planning two new models following the success of the E1
- Camera Phones reign supreme - zoom lenses and inbuilt flash are latest developments

There is heaps more there.

Dec 12: Would Ansel Adams Have Gone Digital?

Would He Have?

Dec 12: Hitachi i.mega HDC-331

Tokyo (JCNN) - Hitachi (TSE: 6501) Living Systems has announced it will begin marketing the Hitachi Digital Camera i.mega HDC-331 on December 24.

The product features a 3.27-megapixel 1/2.7-inch CCD image sensor to deliver an effective resolution of 3.15 megapixels. It also incorporates a 3x optical zoom lens. The camera features a focus lock display function and an easy setup guide to support beginners.

The open-priced camera measures 112 x 56 x 37mm, weighs 160g, and is equipped with a 1.5-inch LCD monitor. The company will produce 10,000 units per month. Source

Dec 12: Photography for Beginners Tutorial

Just found this good little Making Photographs Tutorial. It goes through the basics of photography for beginners. It covers

- Light
- Lens
- Film
- Exposure
- Camera

Also check out Digital Photography School for more free Digital Camera Tips on All Topics.

Dec 12: Digital Camera Buying Advice

Just found this article on Advice for Digital Camera Buyers.

They cover resolution, lens, zoom, size, light sensitivity, lag time, batteries, manual exposure settings and LCDs. I'd probably also add memory/storage media. Its a god article for people looking to buy their first Digital Camera.

Also check out Digital Photography School for more free Digital Camera Tips on All Topics.

Dec 12: Digital Camera Trends

Digital-camera sales will reach 71.2 million units worldwide in 2006.

The average worldwide selling price of digital cameras will decline about 7 percent every year, to $290 in 2006.

Dec 11: Sony 360° Lens

Sony has just announced a 360° lens that will enable users to take those 360° panoramic shots without having to take multiple pics and stitching them together. Looks interesting.

Dec 11: Samsung Digimax 301

Samsung have just announced the Digimax 301. Its got a 3.2 megapixel sensor, 3x digital zoom and all your normal features.

Features include:
- 3.2 Mega Pixels
- 3 x digital zoom
- Image rotation, resizing ad trimming function
- Optical viewfinder & colour TFT LCD monitor
- Movie clips with sound
- Voice memo for still images
- 16 MB internal memory, (option to upgrade through SD/MMC card)
- Storage driver
- Video out (NTSC / PAL)

Following is the Press Release:

Samsung Press Release 08/12/03

SAMSUNG BRINGS OUT 3.2 MEGA PIXELS AT UNDER £150!
08/12/03 - Samsung has just released the Digimax 301, a small and compact 3.2 mega pixel digital camera for under £150!

This latest 3.2 mega pixel offering boats a host of useful features, such as a 3 x digital zoom to get you even closer to your subject. Up to 150 images can be stored on the camera’s 16 MB internal memory, which is upgradeable through SD cards.

Various white balance and flash options ensure you capture your images at their best, in a variety of shooting conditions and environments. You can also select your own sharpness options and get creative with the touch of a button to make your images sepia or black and white.

Captured images are previewed and reviewed on the 301’s bright colour TFT LCD monitor and can be cropped, rotated or resized easily and instantly, without first needing to download them to a PC.

You can capture memories in motion as well thanks to the 301’s movie clip function with sound and add commentary to your still images too. A video out function makes it possible for you to share your movies and still images with others through a TV.

The Digimax 301 is available now from all good photo retailers.

PRODUCT FEATURES

3.2 Mega Pixels
3 x digital zoom
Image rotation, resizing ad trimming function
Optical viewfinder & colour TFT LCD monitor
Movie clips with sound
Voice memo for still images
16 MB internal memory, (option to upgrade through SD/MMC card)
Storage driver
Video out (NTSC / PAL)

Dec 11: It's Time To Upgrade Your Digital Camera

It's Time To Upgrade Your Digital Camera.

This article is about buying Digital Cameras, whether for the first time or to update an older one. Its easy to understand and makes some good recommendations including some of the following excerpts:

- The 2-megapixel Nikon Coolpix 2100 is a good starter choice.
- The $279 Pentax Optio 230 is another 2-megapixel model. Unlike some other 2-megapixel cameras, this model has the ability to take TIFF images.
- The 2-megapixel or the 3.2-megapixel Canon PowerShot A70 -- each of which sell for around $279 -- are two other choices for the casual digital photographer.
- If you are ready for a 4- or 5-megapixel camera, consider the 4-megapixel $749 Leica Digilux 1 or the $799 Sony Cyber Shot DSC F717.
- With the exception of the compact and fast 6.2-megapixel Fujifilm FinePix F700 (which uses a special sensor and sells for around $500), 5-megapixels is the practical upper-limit for most affordable digital cameras.

Check out the rest of the article.

Dec 9: Minox DC 5211

Minox have announced their second digital camera in just a few days with the Minox DC 5211. Lets Go Digital writes '5.25 million pixels, 3x zoom, compact dimensions and an elegant all-metal body make this small and powerful digital camera a prestigious item for all discerning photographers.

Following is the Minox Press Release.

PRESS RELEASE
December 8, 2003

Compact digital camera with over 5 million pixels: the new MINOX DC 5211

A new top class digital camera is being launched on time for Christmas by MINOX, the traditional camera manufacturers from Wetzlar. 5.25 million pixels, 3x zoom, compact dimensions and an elegant all-metal body make this small and powerful digital camera a prestigious item for all discerning photographers.

The new MINOX DC 5211 has a CCD image sensor with 5.25 megapixels as well as a fast high-performance MINOCTAR lens with multiple coating. The 3x zoom lens boasts an autofocus feature and gives the photographer freedom for creative picture composition. Thanks to the individual adjustment to the 5.25 megapixel sensor and in coordination with the electronics and software of the MINOX DC 5211, the MINOCTAR lens provides highly dynamic images with natural color rendition. The automatic white balance ensures the right exposure, even in difficult light conditions, so that the user always has natural colors and the correct setting for the subject in view. Also the four flash functions provide optimal adjustment of the shot to the outside conditions. Shutter speeds and apertures can be selected manually.

Although the DC 5211 is very compact in size, it has a 1.5’’ TFT color monitor which allows immediate image assessment during and after the shot. A fast image sequence and minimal shutter release delay permit spontaneous candid photography in any situation.

The MINOX DC 5211 has a digital USB interface for uncomplicated transmission of the image files to the computer. The provided software enables the touching up of the images on the PC and direct mailing to friends.

With its extremely compact dimensions of about 93 mm x 35 mm x 58 mm the new MINOX DC 5211 belongs to the class of small and powerful Digital Cameras.

Technical Information MINOX DC 5211

• Image Sensor: 1/1.8’’ 5.25 mega pixel CCD Sensor
• Image 2,560 x 1,920 pixels / 2,048 x 1,536 pixels /
Resolution:1,280 x 960 pixels / 640 x 480 (still) / 320 x 240 / 160 x 120 (moving)
• Colour: 24-bit Color (RGB)
• Lens: Autofocus MINOCTAR lens
• Aperture: f/2.8 ~ f/4.7
• Focusing range:0.30 m to infinity (Macro Tele)
0.09 m to infinity (Macro wide angle)
0.80 m to infinity (Standard)
manual focussing possible
• Exposure: Program/TV/AV/Manual/Portrait/Sports/Night
• Exposure compensation: Manual: 0,5 EV Stepp, -2.0~+2.0 EV
• Image capturing: Single/Continuous/Auto exposure
• Focal length: f/7.2 mm~21.6 mm (corresponds to 105 mm with 35 mm format)
• Shutter speed: 8 ~ 1/1500 sec
• Zoom: 3x optical zoom and 2x digital zoom (c mode); 2x and 4x zoom (playback mode)
• White Balance: Auto, Incandescent, Fluorescent 1, FluoresceDaylight, Cloudy, Manual
• LCD: 1,5“ color TFT
• Flash: integrated
• Flash programme: Auto, Fill-In, OFF and Red-Eye-Reduction
• ISO sensitivity: 100~400(Auto),100/100-200/100-400 except Auto
• Voice record: Voice recordings can be added to every photo
• Self Timer: 10 sec., 2 sec., 10+2 sec., Interval up to 10 sec.
• File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.2), DCF, DPOF, M-JPEG, AVI
• Memory: External memory SD card up to 512 MB. Fine/Normal/Basic 13/26/52 images (by 16MB SD card)
• Language German, Engl., J, F, I, Sp, POR, Chin. Support: (Traditional), Chin. (Simplified)
• Software: MGI Photo Suite III SE, Photo Vista
• System requirement: Windows 98/98SE/2000/ME/XP; Mac OS  or later
• Connectors: DC-IN port, USB-Video output (NTSC/PAL selectable)
• Power: Rechargeable Lithium Ion Battery, AAdapter (5 V)
• Dimensions: 93 x 35 x 58 mm / 3.7 x 1.4 x 2.3 in.
• Weight: approx. 170 g, 6.0 oz.
• Scope of delivery: Rechargeable Lithium Ion battery, ever-ready
case, wrist cord USB-cable, video cable, CD-ROM, manual, SD card (16 MB)

Dec 9: Canon EOS 10D

The Canon EOS 10D is the newer and improved version of the EOS D60. It is entirely constructed from a tough magnesium alloy which gives it a nice solid feel and will protect if from all the knocks and bumps that any professional camera will have.

The EOS 10 has a 6.3 megapixel CMOS sensor which produces beautifully exposed images. It comes with both a built in flash (with strobe) and a hotshoe for external flash.

UK Readers buy the Canon EOS 10D Digital SLR here

Other features include a 1.8 inch LCD - a 7 point autofocus system - shutter speeds of 30-1/4000 second. Image quality is superb, even in low light situations. Colors are accurately portrayed and noise levels are virtually non existent.

Derrick Story writes: 'When Canon started shipping the EOS 10D in March 2003, digital photography took a turn for the better. From the first grip of the magnesium body, this SLR feels right at home. Better yet, it shoots like a real camera. '

The outlay for the Canon EOS 10D might stop some in their tracks, but the quality that this money buys will make such a purchase well worth the sacrifice.

Read more reviews of the EOS 10D at:
- DP Review - Canon EOS 10D
- Digital Camera HQ - EOS 10d Review
- Steve's Digicams - Canon EOS 10d review
- Imaging Resource - EOS 10D
- Canon 10D - A user review

Dec 9: Digital Photography

Worldwide sales of digital camera are likely to reach 53 million units in 2004 according to a study by InfoTrends.

Dec 8: Minox DD1 Diamond

The Minox DD1 Diamond will definitely turn a few heads when its pulled out to take a few snaps. You see it's got Diamonds (8 of them)!

No they are not the latest technology in Digital Photography - they are purely there for decoration. Basically it seems to be much the same as the normal DD1 (which I took a quick look at today - it looks fun) with a few bells and whistles.

The Minox Site

Dec 8: Panasonic DMC FZ10

The Panasonic DMC FZ10 looks pretty good on paper with a Leica lens, 4.0 megapixel sensor, optical stabilization, four frames per second continuous shooting mode and 12x zoom.

UK/European Readers buy the Panasonic DMC FZ10

PC Mag reviewed the Panasonic DMC FZ10 Lumix and gave it a 3 star rating out of 5. They wrote:

'Big and well built, with a huge zoom lens, the Panasonic DMC-FZ10 Lumix Digital Camera is remarkably easy to use and has many standard features, but image quality is mixed.'

CNET - Panasonic DMC FZ10 Review rates the camera at a 7.4 (out of 10) and are impressed with the '12X, f/2.8 zoom lens with optical image stabilization; fast for a long-zoom camera; relatively broad feature set.' and were unimpressed with 'Poor autofocus performance in dim light; disappointing image quality; doesn't support uncompressed files.

DC Mag writes 'Throw away your tripod, the FZ10 has brought telephoto photography to the masses. With effortless handling and an intelligent features list, this is a near perfect marriage of power and flexibility. The only thing holding it back from true greatness is a nasty case of noise and an average low light performance.' (they give it 4 stars out of 5)

Also check the following Panasonic DMC FZ10 pages and reviews

- CNETS overview
- Digital Photography Review
- Steve's Digicams
- Panasonic DMC-FZ20 sample photos
- Seattle Times
- CNET - Panasonic DMC FZ10 Review
- Panasonic DMC FZ10 Review
- Byte Sector - Panasonic DMC FZ10
- Panasonic FZ-10 Rough Guide

Dec 8: Olympus C-5060wz

Digital Camera Resource Page gives a good review of the Olympus C-5060wz

UK/European Readers buy the Olympus C-5060wz

Their review of the Olympus C-5060wz is incredibly comprehensive and I'd recommend reading it in full. But here is the 'high and low lights'.

What I liked:
- Good photo quality, though images a little noisy
- Tons of manual controls
- Very nice, wide-angle 4X zoom lens
- Two histograms to choose from
- AF-assist lamp AND passive AF system!
- Handy RAW data edit feature
- Useful flip-up, rotating LCD display
- Customizable buttons and menus
- Handy My Mode feature lets you store favorite settings to spot on mode dial
- Super macro mode lets you get 3 cm from your subject
- Powerful battery
- VGA movie mode
- Hot shoe for external flash
- Supports add-on lenses, underwater case, battery grip

What I didn't care for:
- Images are too noisy at default settings
- Redeye
- Controls can be intimidating to new users
- Slowest shutter speeds only available in full manual mode
- Full manual only on CD

European Readers buy the Olympus C-5060W here

PC Mag give this camera a 4 star rating (and title of Editors Choice for Midrange Digital Cameras) and describe it with the words 'it just about has it all: good ergonomics, solid performance, excellent image quality, and all the professional features you could want.'

update - This morning I had some time playing with an Olympus 5060. Once again I was impressed by this camera. Its clearly one of the better ones in its price range.

I was impressed by its array of manual controls - (although a little overwhelmed by options) and its quality feel.

Its a little bigger than other cameras of similar functions, yet is no where near as bulky as a DSLR. The swivel LCD will be handy, as will the 3cm Macro mode.

The only down side was the length of time it took me to find my away around the controls and menu system. It could be a little overwhelming for the beginner but once you've played with it for a few days you're sure to be up to speed.

All in all I'd be tempted to snap one up.

Buy the Olympus Camedia C-5060 5.1 MP Digital Camera w/4x Optical Zoom

Get more info on the Olympus C-5060 at:
- Steve's Digicams - Olympus C-5060wz
- PC Mag - Olympus C-5060wz
- Akamera - Olympus C-5060
- Byte Sector Olympus C5060wz review

Dec 8: Canon Powershot A300

Released in March 2003, the Canon Powershot A300 replaces the entry level A200. It has a 3.2 megapixel CCD sensor and has a fixed focal lens (ie no zoom).

UK Readers Buy theCanon Powershot A300 Digital Camera here

The A300 has a sliding front cover which doubles as an on and off switch and measures 110 x 36.6 x 58mm - weighing 175g (no batteries). The LCD is 1.5inches.

It is a well laid out camera (although a little 'boxy' to look at) and is easy to use. Macro mode is effective, it shoots at 5cm from its subject and produces good close up images. It does have some manual settings including ISO settings, Exposure Compensation and White Balance options.

The A300 is a good all round camera which should appeal to the entry to mid level photographer wanting value for money.

Get more reviews on the Canon Powershot A300 at:
- Digital Camera HQ - Canon Powershot A300
- Digital Photography Review - Canon Powershot A300
- Hardware Central - Canon Powershot A300

Dec 8: Pentax Optio 230

The Pentax Optio 230 has been out for a while now but continues to enjoy popularity and good reviews.

It has the standard 2.0 megapixel sensor and 3x optical zoom lens and its array of features is packed in an all plastic casing. This casing cuts down the price (and weight) but is a definite step down from some of the other Optio's metal casings.

European Readers buy the Pentax Optio 230 here

Its 3D image capture mode is a fun option and the camera would probably suit someone looking for a good quality entry level digital camera.

Get other quality reviews at:
- Steve's DigiCams - Pentax Optio 230
- Imaging Resource - Pentax Optio 230
- Lets God Digital - Pentax Optio 230

Dec 8: Nikon Coolpix 3100

The Coolpix 3100 has a 3.2 megapixel CCD and 3x Optical Zoom.

UK Readers buy the Nikon COOLPIX 3100 here

Its features include:

- 3.2-megapixel CCD .
- 1.5-inch color LCD (real image optical viewfinder).
- Real-image optical viewfinder.
- 3x optical zoom lens
- 4x Digital zoom.
- Maximum aperture f/2.6-f/4.7.
- Shutter speeds from 1/3,000 to four seconds.
- Automatic exposure control.
- Built-in flash with four modes.
- CompactFlash memory storage.
- Power supplied by two AA batteries or one CRV3 lithium battery.
- Nikon View software
- Ten preset Scene modes and four Framing Assist modes.
- Self-timer for delayed shutter release.
- QuickTime movies (no sound).
- Continuous Shooting Modes.
- Best Shot Selector mode.
- Macro (close-up) lens adjustment.
- Sharpness adjustment.

Check out some quality reviews at:
- Digital Cameras Info.

Dec 8: Nikon Coolpix 2100

Nikons Coolpix 2100 has a 2 megapixel CCD and 3x Optical Zoom.

UK Readers buy the Nikon COOLPIX 2100 Digital Camera here

Its features include:

- 2.0-megapixel CCD (on 2100) 3.2 on 3100.
- 1.5-inch color LCD (real image optical viewfinder).
- Real-image optical viewfinder.
- 3x optical zoom lens
- 4x Digital zoom.
- Maximum aperture f/2.6-f/4.7.
- Shutter speeds from 1/3,000 to four seconds.
- Built-in flash with four modes.
- CompactFlash memory storage.
- Power supplied by two AA batteries or one CRV3 lithium battery.
- Nikon View software
- Ten preset Scene modes and four Framing Assist modes.
- Self-timer for delayed shutter release.
- QuickTime movies (no sound).
- Continuous Shooting Modes.
- Best Shot Selector mode.
- Macro (close-up) lens adjustment.
- Sharpness adjustment.
- Automatic exposure control.

Check out some quality reviews at:
- Imaging Resource - Nikon Coolpix 2100
- Steve's DigiCams - Nikon Coolpix 2100
- Digital Cameras Info.

Dec 7: What Will Happen in 2004?

The rise of digital and fall of film in 2003 has left Thom Hogan predicting some sweeping changes in the photographic industry in 2004.

Hogan has just posted this great article on his prediction for Photographic Developments in 2004. What Will Happen in 2004? includes predictions for the following:

- 'it should be easy to see that film will continue downwards while the impact of digital continues to increase.'
- Eight new DSLRs from Nikon (3), Canon (3) and Fuji (2). The third from Nikon will shake up the industry - the F6 - which will 'be like a medium format camera in 35mm size'.
- Nikon drops compact 35mm development.
- $299 is the new digital compact camera price point.
- At least two traditional camera companies fold (perhaps they get acquired instead).
- Agfa (and perhaps Konica) closes or sells their film plants.
- High profile camera dealers/labs start folding.
- Phones kill the low-end digital compact camera.
- Some films and cameras will disappear from the market - so stock up!

Dec 7: Samsung Digimax 420

The Samsung Digimax 420 is a sleek looking and light weight 4 megapixel camera that certainly looks the part. It has a 1.5inch LCD display, a 3x Optical Zoom and is powered by either 2 AA batteries, a Lithium-ion battery or even an AC Adapter.

UK/European Readers buy the Samsung Digimax 420

Image quality is reasonable – however there is some lens barrelling in wide angled shots and some fringing and bleeding in extreme lighting conditions.

The Digimax 420 has a rather odd memory management system which some find frustrating. It has both onboard 16MB of flash memory and also takes SD cards. Managing both systems can be awkward as once the on board memory is filled up it needs to be manually copied to the expansion card.

Overall the Samsung Digimax 420 is an easy to use and well laid out camera – whether it has the quality to compete with other cameras in its class is up for debate. Leave your comments on this camera below in comments.

For more information, reviews, picture samples and specifications about the Samsung Digimax 420 read:
- DC Views - Samsung Digimax 420
- Review Index - Samsung Digimax 420 Reviews

Dec 6: Digital zoom versus optical zoom

By Jakob Jelling
Snapjunky.com

The digital camera is but a technological advancement of the conventional analog camera. And thus every component of the analog camera must have been upgraded or changed to bring in some improvisations. This discussion is an effort to unravel alteration and make one comparison between what was and what is! This discussion is thereby focused upon a very critical component of a camera (analog as well as digital), the zoom!

Also check out Digital Photography School for more free Digital Camera Tips on All Topics.

Before making a comparison it is important to discuss the significance of the subject matter, in this case the zoom. Well a zoom lens has more than a few portable glass components inside it. By adjusting these components, the focal length of the lens can be altered. Modifying the focal length alters the view distance as well as reduces the field of view, thereby making the projected image to appear larger.

It must me noted that both the optical zoom and the digital zoom are components that are used to magnify an image, but they work in fundamentally different principles and acquiesces drastically different results. In general, optical zooms always produce a far finer and advanced image than digital zoom.

Looking at the functions of these zooms, in digital cameras that offer optical zooms function the same way similar to a zoom lens of a conventional analog camera. A conventional lens works by accumulating light rays that are projected over a portion of a film, and in this case of a digital camera optical sensor. The distance of the lens from the focus point where all of the light rays converge is known as the focal length of the lens. Unlike the optical zoom, the digital zoom works by ranging the pixels in the ultimate image after the image has been captured. The fact remains that the same number of pixels are collected when the photograph is magnified. The only thing that alters is the light rays that are projected over the optical sensors to figure out those pixels.

It is a common intuition that optical lenses are far better than the digital zooms. The reason is that the digital camera zooms are more prone towards computer applications in them rather than mostly human interactions and expertise. Yet, it also remains a fact that beginner photographers find it more useful to handle a digital zoom and also its computer friendly nature. There the computer does the intricate tasks of finding some levelheaded approximation of colors that pixel might take up as it had captured the images or photographs. Many algorithms are existent in this area, but perhaps the most abundantly used algorithm involves looking at the pixels that are quite nearly like neighbors and come up with a kind of an average. Anyways the process remains too complicated and its end result is what the digital zoom users are interested in.

Thus the ultimate truth remains that it is useless to compare digital zooms with optical zooms. Perhaps it is more logical to compare optical zoom with optical zoom and digital zoom with digital zoom. Both these two types of zooms, the optical as well as the digital, have some good and bad qualities. Both of them have some extra features and preferences over the other. And thus it is not wise to compare them, even though a comparison may exist. The efforts would then perhaps look like comparing oranges with apples!

About the author
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.

Dec 6: How digital cameras works

By Jakob Jelling
Snapjunky.com

The digital camera is not something of a magic box that came out of the blue and made wonders! The digital camera is very much like the conventional analog camera, but the technology has been altered. It also contains most of the associated components that the conventional camera contains, like lens and a shutter for letting in light, however instead of reaching a photosensitive film, the light is made to fall upon array of image sensors or photosensitive cells. Much of the differences are like this, yet most of it still remains in oblivion for the ordinary people. And it order that the digital camera gets its true respect, it is necessary to explore these areas of truth and reveal them in light.

Also check out Digital Photography School for more free Digital Camera Tips on All Topics.

Looking a bit more in details about the working of the fantastic device, the digital camera. As a continuation of the above lines, it can be further investigated that the sensor array is basically a microchip about 10 mm across. Every image sensor is a charged-couple device (CCD) converting light into electric charges, and is essentially a silicon chip used to measure light. These charges are stored as analog data that are then converted to digital via a device called an analog to digital converter (ADC). Over the chip are present a collection of very small light-sensitive diodes, named photosites, or pixels that convert light (or more scientifically, photons) into electrical charges called electrons. The pixels are very much light sensitive, therefore with brighter light striking them, produces greater build up of electrical charges. Each 1000 array receptor creates 1 pixel, and every pixel corresponds to some information stored. The light enters the digital camera via the lens, which is the same mechanism as the conventional analog camera. And this light hits the CCD when the photographer presses the shutter button. The shutter opens and thereby illuminates every pixel, however with various intensities.

Taking a look apart, it can be observed that quite a few digital cameras use CMOS (meaning complementary metal oxide semiconductor, a technology of manufacturing these microchips) technology based microchips as image sensors. The basic advantage is that the CMOS sensors are appreciably cheaper and simpler to fabricate than CCDs. Another great advantage from CMOS sensors is that these take very less power compared to other technology, which adds up to the fact as to their extensive use, and can thus even support the implementation of additional circuitry on the same chip like ADC, some control units etc. Thus it can be stated that CMOS technology based cameras are small, light, cheap and also energy efficient, yet at the cost of some amount of image quality.

However the common trend remains that all cameras of the mega pixel range and higher up use CCD chips instead of CMOS. This is because of the fact of picture quality only, leaving aside the price differences.

This is basically the fact about how digital cameras work! Having known this much difference would not come in the photographing expertise of the users, but it always feels a kind of satisfaction on understanding the inner depths of a device that is so close to the eyes!

About the author
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.

Dec 6: How to Transfer digital camera images to your computer

By Jakob Jelling
Snapjunky.com

There are a few very important tasks associated with using the digital camera. The most important is of course capturing a beautiful photograph. The next most important task is that of transferring this image somewhere from where it can be printed. The most suitable place is hence the computer. Now, here comes another area of importance that needs to be analyzed and sufficient knowledge is required to be imparted to the users to make ample use of such an important feature. This discussion is thus generally focused upon this mechanism to transfer the digital camera images to the computer, and the various types of such a transfer. Looking from a very simple point of view, there are two methods for transferring the digital camera images to the computer; they are firstly by attaching the digital camera directly to the computer (a process that is popularly called tethering) and secondly by the use of a memory card reader.

In the present world most digital cameras are endowed with arrangements for a comparatively nippy USB connection. USB is basically an interface between a computer and peripheral devices like keyboards, telephones, scanners, and printers. In the current case this peripheral device is the digital camera. This USB feature enables the computer to be directly connected to the digital camera and transfer the images via the USB port present in the computer itself also. Many of the computer operating systems (like the Windows XP) have features for in-built tethering support for this purpose solely. One major problem of this feature of tethering is that it consumes a huge amount of power from the batteries. For this reason, many of the digital cameras are provided with AC adapter that powers the camera. The appropriate software installed within the computer and the digital cameras provides the entire task for making a successful transfer of the images from the digital camera to the computer.

Regarding the software associated with such a digital image transfer from a digital camera to a computer, it is important to state that digital cameras come equipped with CDs containing driver files, image viewers and photo editing software. It connects to the computer via a USB or other port. Some digital cameras come with a PCMCIA interface also.

The next feature for making a successful transfer of image from the digital camera to the computer is via memory card readers. These memory card readers make image transfers without consuming a lot of the precious digital camera batteries; this is the best part of this method. Two important points define the memory card readers; the first is the type of memory card the digital camera uses for storing images. Secondly, the type of connection the digital camera has with the computer. USB is the most predominant kind of card reader available in today's world. In some cases, many computers are equipped with certain slots that take in cards directly inside the computer or may be with the help of a PC card adapter too. Then the transfers of images are made appropriately from the digital camera into the computer memory efficiently.

All the features and the technology discussed in the above lines are focused towards uncovering the various efficient and suitable methods for a better transfer method of the images and photographs from the digital camera into the computer memory. As technology advances with years, these would get further improved and the popularity and flexibility of this fantastic device, the digital camera, would get even more all the rage!

About the author
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.

Dec 6: Digital camera memory - An introduction

By Jakob Jelling
Snapjunky.com

The digital camera is essentially a computer-based device, whose core is controlled by the computer. And as a result the photographs are stored in a location called memory. Now, this concept is or paramount importance in discussing digital camera. Strictly speaking, digital camera memory is where digital pictures are stored inside the camera. The digital camera memory is an essential and often a very neglected and overlooked section of equipments for digital photography and camera. There are many types of memory available for digital cameras, and it is a good practice to mull over what type of memory a camera uses before buying a digital camera. This discussing is aimed in revealing some of this relevant information!

Knowledge of the digital camera memory is very essential for using such a camera and capturing photographs. The most common form of such memory is a memory card. These are reusable, have a limited capacity and can always be installed when required in excess. A person needs to be well informed about enough memory available for taking photographs. And accordingly make arrangements. Generally, digital cameras come available with low capacity memory cards, and it is a wise purchase to acquire higher capacity memory cards in order to budget for an additional card for later use.

With the increment of a camera mega pixel counts, it becomes essential to use higher capacity memory cards. Some of the small sized cards are for example the 64 megabyte cards and larger ones are like 1-gigabyte cards or combinations of megabyte cards.
Digital camera memory is available in many shapes and facade depending on the type of digital camera that is being used and even and the number of pictures that are required to be stored in the digital camera memory. These different types of memory are solely dependant upon the requirements of the digital camera, like for example a camera using compact flash type 1, requires the use of compact flash type 1 digital camera memory. Other examples of types of digital camera memory are Compact Flash Digital Camera Memory. It is suitable for rugged and rough handling and is also resilient for incessant usage. This is also small in size to assist better handling and flexibility. What more, it is cheap and anyone can afford it!

Generally, the sizes of a digital camera memory are as follows, 64 MB, 128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB, and 1 GIG. Again, the digital camera memory depends upon the file format used to store photographs upon and the compression used by the manufacturer when storing digital images into memory.

Coming to the concluding portion, it is recommended to get hold of one 256 megabyte or two 128 megabyte cards for a 3-5 mega pixel compact digital camera. For higher resolution photographs, 512 megabyte and 1 gigabyte cards are also available. These are some of the guidelines for revealing the true facts about the different digital camera memories and their secrets. Summing up in a few words, with such a powerful tool as the digital camera, a proper selection of memory can help a person achieve the glorious tasks of freezing a precious moment from life for eternity!

About the author
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.

Dec 6: Digital camera batteries

By Jakob Jelling
Snapjunky.com

Every device needs a driving force to operate, just as every living thing needs a heart to keep it alive! Basically electric power does this job for any kind of devices nowadays. Similarly for any digital camera too, a good battery is necessary in order to ensure an excellent performance from it as long as possible. Being such a crucial task as if searching for a good heart for a human being, perhaps the most tedious thing about digital cameras is the quest for their battery consumption and thereby finding a suitable one for any particular one. Yet a basic overview regarding this so important component of a digital camera makes the ventures of the users somewhat less complicated and makes life easier with a proper selection of the battery!

Leaving aside the ever power thirsty LCD screens and flashes, the digital cameras themselves exhaust batteries much faster than film cameras, due to their state of the art electronic designs and intricate circuitry. Many digital cameras run from AA cells, around 4, and can even drain a set of alkaline cells in less than 1 hour of working! For example, the Kodak DC120 draws about 210mA during start or switch ON, but progresses to around 1.3A with the association of the LCD fully working and can go ahead to about 2.1A while picture taking and after it too.

With all these nightmares regarding the batteries of the digital cameras, it is worthwhile to analyze and reveal some of the available batteries for the digital cameras in an effort to explore area of power consumption in this fantastic device. Coming to first one of these, like its great name suggests, it is the Li-ion (Lithium Ion). It is one of the latest cell types available to digital camera users. This has many advantages to its credit. It is light in weight and currently available for many commercial uses and thus being so the Li-ion (Lithium Ion) battery type is becoming quite popular. This has an added advantage of being able to endow with more power than any of the other main cell types available. It is also free from the problems of memory effect, hat some battery types do have, and maintenance is least in this type of battery. These are but real goodies about this Li-ion (Lithium Ion) battery. Yet it has one major disadvantage, that is, the price is usually significantly higher than conventional batteries, due to its sophisticated design and technology.

Coming to the next one in the line, the NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride). This is a battery that is perhaps the most frequently under use for not only digital cameras, but also for other sophisticated devices like laptop computers! This has the advantage of being cheap in price due to the fact that it incurs cheap manufacturing costs, and thus a choice for many users! But this does have the problems of memory effect, and much more maintenance and care is required while handling this kind of battery.

Another such battery is the NiCAD (Nickel Cadmium) Battery. This is perhaps belonging to one of the older cell types generally available for older laptops and electronic devices. These batteries or cells have an aptitude for handling high power loads, and therefore is more frequently found in handy power tools and devices that require more amounts power to work efficiently and perfectly. Yet again, these batteries too have the problems of memory effect, and much more maintenance and care is required while handling this kind of battery.

Apart from the different batteries themselves, the selection should be based upon the charging techniques and the different charges available for all these digital camera batteries. Latest batteries come handy with charging free techniques too! So care needs to be taken in this area also, depending upon the requirements of the user.

With all the vivid conversation regarding the hearts of the digital cameras, their batteries, it is expected for every person going through the lines to have grabbed a significant amount of information in dealing with the intricacies of the purchase, and thereby also augment the ability of the person in using such a sophisticated device as a digital camera with a proper battery!

About the author
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.

Dec 6: Digital Camera file formats

By Jakob Jelling
Snapjunky.com

Looking at the digital camera, a person can visualize it as a combination of a camera along with a miniature computer system that stores the images as files or sets of bits, rather than a chemically treated film. Thus it comes to be a fact that there are certain file formats in which these images of the photographs captured by the camera are stored. And again, this is subject of discussion for understanding the digital camera properly. In this effort this discussion reveals the intricate but overlying to provide a brief overview to the readers regarding the file formats of the digital cameras.

Basically, strictly considering the facts, there are three file formats used by digital cameras to create images of photographs taken by them. These are JPEG, TIFF and RAW. These are the names of the formats but like their strange names their identity remains in the dark if these are not conversed in a little detail. The most vastly and commonly used file format for digital cameras is the JPEG file format. It is time and again the lone available file format on primary and some intermediate standard digital cameras. Many sophisticated digital cameras allows the users to opt for between JPEG, TIFF and RAW. However professional photographers usually prefer to shoot RAW. Yet the discretion remains with the human preference only.

It is a fact that the acronym JPEG stands for “Joint Photographic Expert Group” after the group that developed this file type. To make things easier it must be clarified that JPEG is a compression technique that can considerably trim down the file size of a photograph and other unremitting tone images. Almost all digital cameras have a number of JPEG compression levels and quality settings to select from. The users can make use of them as per discretion and the photograph taken. Thus the jpeg images do not consume much space on a memory cards. Another specialty of this digital camera file format is that JPEGs store camera settings and scene information. All these advantages make this file format so popular and diversely accepted.

The next digital camera file format is the TIFF (Tagged Image File Format). This file format has the greater advantage that it does not lose any image file information during the compression process and moreover as a consequence it does take up a lot of space from a memory card in comparison to a JPEG image. Due to this detailed storage it also takes additional time to retrieve the information to the card. Basically the TIFF compression reduces images to about one-third their original size as per convention.

Coming to the next digital camera file format. It is defined as the RAW file! It is also sometimes referred to as an appropriate digital negative. Most advanced digital cameras allow or permit the ability to shoot RAW in professional standards. The interesting portion is that in a RAW image no alterations are made by the camera (such as sharpening or white balance). And this gives entire control to the photographer when he or she processes an image later. However this RAW file format is not used extensive due to the fact that most image editors cannot open it and computer-processing time is also more. However the fact still remains that a RAW image has a smaller file size than a TIFF.

With all these discussions regarding the different digital camera file formats, it is clear that the three most widely accepted file formats have their own advantages and disadvantages, yet they are unique in some way or the other that makes them special in their own manner. The knowledge about these digital camera file formats of storage not only yields greater understanding of the camera; it also opens the eyes towards the fantastic results of technological advancements in our daily lives.

About the author
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.

Dec 6: How to avoid or reduce red-eye with your Digital Camera

By Jakob Jelling
Snapjunky.com

Photography with the aid of a digital camera is beyond doubt very fascinating. However, it also has many a nooks that the users of the digital camera must be aware of and also must be well educated to deal with in order to produce good photographs worth the most prized digital camera. Such a concept is that of the red eye! In order to understand what this red eye actually is, a little detailed introspection is necessary.

Also check out Digital Photography School for more free Digital Camera Tips on All Topics.

Basically speaking red-eye is a function of at least three things, they are firstly, ambient level of light because stumpy light level causes the retina of the person to be photographed to open wider to admit more light thereby divulging open the iris, which is the primary part that reflects the red light hence giving the appearance of red eyes for the subjects. Also secondly the younger the person being photographed the wider remains the retina and hence the greater the effect of red eye in the picture. Thirdly, the reflection angle of the flash plays a vital role, as the light is recoiled back to the digital camera and the closer the incident light beam is to this reflected light beam, the greater becomes the red eye effect. To prevent this instruments such as flash brackets are useful to make the flash a bit removed from the propinquity of the lens. Thus the red eye effect is somewhat revealed till this part of this discussion. Now is the time to look into a greater detail in order to analyze the various aspects of the red eye effect and also find out ways of reducing the problem as far as possible.

It can be noted here that the only important thing is that the users must ensure that the proper fixing of the angle between the flash beam and the lens axis. The general rule here is that the photographer must keep the angle wide enough that the light beam from the flash does not reflect off the retina of the person being photographed and comes right back into the digital camera lens. A good idea is to make the red-eye reduction work by making the flash shine a light into the eyes of the person being photographed just before the flash is incident and the shutter is pressed. This causes the irises in the eyes of the person being photographed to narrow down or shrink. As a result of this the eye develops a smaller opening for the eye view of the digital camera and does not show off the blood filled retina. This light is called pre light! And very importantly this process works only if the person to be photographed is in point of fact looking directly at the flash for the pre-light to come.

Other factors influencing the red eye are the level of ambient light during the time when the photograph is being taken and how near the flash light is to the lens. The rule of thumb comes out that the brighter the ambient light; the lesser is the effect of red eyes, everything else being one and the same. As the flashlight goes farther from the lens, the fewer becomes the effect of red eyes, everything else being one and the same again. Thus the key idea is that red eye is not caused if the ambient light is comparatively high. And it does have a significant effect if the shooting area is dark. Many digital cameras have built in features for anti red eye that is used to reduce red eye when taking a picture of a person looking straight at the camera also. But manually, the best red eye reduction can be obtained with the help of an external flash as described.

The above discussion has dealt with the most important ideas regarding the red eye effect. The discussion has analyzed the inherent facts about the digital camera red eye effect, their causes as well as remedies. The only thing that remains is that the users must implement these ideas while shooting under circumstances discussed here so that the red eye effect cannot harm the beauties of art created with the aid of the fantastic device, the digital camera!

About the author
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.

Dec 6: Exposure compensation for Digital Cameras

By Jakob Jelling
Snapjunky.com

The digital camera is in reality a great possession with many facets of its utilities and not only that knowing these utilities makes the understanding the digital camera complete. The utilities are also so very diverse that they too offer further introspection of details in their varying applications. Such an area is digital camera exposure compensation. Only knowledge of digital camera exposure is not enough, so the digital camera exposure compensation requires some amount of exposure in itself! This discussion is focused towards that cause itself.

Looking at different digital cameras, even temperately costing digital cameras have arrangements for exposure compensation settings. To explain in a bit detail, the exposure compensation allows the users to control the amount of light entering the lens. And thereby the illumination of the photograph is decided. Exposure compensation can be altered manually or by the help of a digital camera's exposure compensation setting that lets one override the metered exposure set inside the digital camera itself. Strictly speaking, the exposure values provide an expedient line of attack to put a figure on the available light intensity and therefore exposure.

As per general norms of the users of digital cameras, certain standards exist for selecting such values. These values are specifically known as Exposure Values (EV). Selecting an up to standard Exposure Values (EV) helps maintain the details contained in dark areas of a photo, or diminish the more than usually bright areas. Again, looking from technical point of view, the Exposure Values are numbers that refer to an assortment of combinations of apertures of lenses and shutter speed respectively. They have a selective range of values, ranging between -2 to +2 Exposure Values (EV). As a general rule positive exposure settings are used for cases where bulky areas of a scene are especially bright such as taking pictures of a snow scene and also during times of photographing when the background is a good deal brighter than the focal area under consideration. Also, negative exposure settings are used for cases where bulky areas of a scene are especially dark and also during times of photographing when the background is a good deal darker than the fore area under consideration.

One point that is worth noting is that light meters cannot see color. They deliver every scene as 18% middle gray and become accustomed to the exposure accordingly. And most digital cameras will allows a photographer to compensate the exposure by 1 to 2 EV plus or minus in 1/3 or 1/2 stop increments. A very important realization for any photographer is that the right exposure is only “correct” in the eye of the photographer; Exposure Value compensation can also be used as a creative tool.

With this information available to the users of the digital camera, the knowledge of digital camera exposure as well as digital camera exposure compensation becomes. But it is only knowledge, the proper acquiring of the whole feel comes only from personal experience.

About the author
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.

Dec 6: Digital camera macro mode

By Jakob Jelling
Snapjunky.com

The digital camera is a wonderful device that allows a diverse variety of applications with its even diverse spectral collection of utilities. As technology progresses it brings along with it those intense pleasures that human beings have only thought of. Now the digital camera has opened up the dimensions for the people and the photographers in providing with the liberty of capturing whatever they wish and of whatever type they prefer! Well the magic words are macro mode. Although the words might seem to be a bit deceiving they have really a great application in the field of digital photography and digital camera as a device. In general the digital camera macro mode allows a digital camera to photograph close-up pictures of petite objects like flowers, insects, coins, etc. Macro mode potentiality vary from camera to camera but almost all digital cameras offer this exclusive feature to enable the users to widen up their imaginations and their weirdest fantasies in creating art.

Extending the discussion further we can state that just about most of the digital cameras has a macro mode. Each of these digital cameras can be verified of having the macro mode because for each of them one of the menu buttons will have an icon of a flower on it. This is the macro mode button invariably. And thus has the specific technology built in. The macro mode button, when pressed, switches the camera into a special close focus mode and many allow the photographer to shoot less than 10cm from the picture subject. Many cameras of reputed companies like Nikon and Ricoh allows the users to be as close as 3cm from the picture subject that permits barely credible close ups of tiny objects such as little insects. The macro mode has a greater variety of applications in security measurements too. At times macro mode may be also useful for making photographic records of priced jewels for insurance purposes in order to prevent theft and fraudulent activities.

The macro mode is more often than not present on the menu button that as well has an icon of two triangles symbolizing mountains (or rather landscape mode) and sometimes MF (manual focus) too. This button has to be pressed several times until the flower icon appears on the viewing LCD. A number of digital cameras then subsequently by design shift into a particular precinct on the zoom lens making a mechanical sound as the zoom reset. While using a digital camera macro mode it must be noted that it is harder to focus for the digital camera instantly, so it takes a bit of time for adjustment. Thus the users need not hurry while using the digital camera macro mode. As the subject comes in focus the depth-of-field also increases. On the other hand, the depth-of-field is controlled by the camera's aperture. Most digital cameras are full automatic and this setting cannot be changed. Thus patience becomes a virtue while using the digital camera in their macro mode.

Much has already been discussed about the digital camera macro mode. It can be stated here that the digital camera macro mode is a really intricate feature. And every delicate object or subject needs to be handled with care. To really cherish the beauty of the digital camera macro modes the users require developing the expertise and also building a kind of patience that is necessary to cerate beauty in art and object.

About the author
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.

Dec 6: Digital camera auto exposure and auto focus

By Jakob Jelling
Snapjunky.com

The digital camera being a fantastic and technologically advanced device contains many different applications of its own. Many users of this fabulous device are unaware of quite a few of these functions which can actually do wonders. And it is the duty and right of every person possessing the digital camera to intervene into the depths of knowledge to understand their prized possession and their varying qualities in order to foster the true respect that this device deserves. This article deals with providing information regarding one those qualities - Auto focus and auto exposure!

Exploring the information in slight more details it can be stated that auto exposure cameras are provided with a fixed focus lens or manual focus lens. These cameras are the simplest to set exposure. To obtain the correct exposure for a particular subject of photography, the only thing that needs to be done is to simply lock the exposure by pressing the shutter down halfway on the digital cameras upon a reference object that is about one fifth gray and also illuminated by the aid of the same source of light as subject of photography. After locking the exposure, the photographer has to recompose the frame and shoot the picture. Auto exposure and auto focus cameras are to some degree harder for setting the exposure, because they contain the exposure lock that is generally tied to focus-lock. However, the users or photographers using these auto exposure and auto focus cameras can still make adjustments for the correct exposure and correct focus using the digital cameras and make the photographs perfect! Again, the exposure can be adjusted by locking on an 18% reference that is illuminated by the aid of the same source of light as subject of photography. The users have to only ensure that the distance to this so-called reference is the same as the distance to the subject of photography that actually sets the focus.

Now discussing the auto focus and auto exposure lock (AE/AF) a bit more in detail. The shutter release button on a digital camera has more function than just snap a cool picture. The users have to grab a technique where he or she has to depress this shutter release button half way down thereby locking both the auto exposure and auto focus. This enables the users or photographers to have more control on exposure in difficult lighting situations while using the digital camera. Moreover, this entire process also helps him or her to determine where the camera focuses. Like if the photographer intends to set the exposure before composing the final shot of the photograph then he or she can move the digital camera slightly so that only the subject to be photographed is visible prominently in the auto focus frame in the viewfinder. As a next step he or she can depress the shutter-release button down half way to set focus and exposure and then recompose the picture and finally completely depress the button in order to capture and freeze the moment of time! It is to be noted here that the auto focus and auto exposure lock (AE/AF) is available in all photography modes of the digital cameras that are nowadays available for the general people.

Not much remains to be discussed about this particular topic of auto focus/auto exposure and a brief discussion as above is enough to reveal a bounty of information regarding this fantastic feature of the digital cameras. At the end of this discussion it can be expected that both the novice and expert photographers and user of the digital camera would benefit from whatever has been revealed and the effort to bring out the human mind from the dark oblivion about auto focus and auto exposure lock would be a success in the magic light of the digital camera!

About the author
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.

Dec 6: Underwater digital cameras

By Jakob Jelling
Snapjunky.com

Underwater photography's is primarily focused towards entertaining and informing the people and the users themselves about what is happening in the world of under water with the aid of photography. The advent of digital cameras has opened up new horizons for such ventures. These digital cameras are not only handy and sleek but also they offer a spectral range of features that helps the underwater photographers in their work a lot. In this discussion these special features of underwater digital cameras are necessarily been revealed and done justice to!

Also check out Digital Photography School for more free Digital Camera Tips on All Topics.

Looking at the grass root level some of the main features that the users of the underwater digital cameras must necessarily seek are as follows. They are applications for land mode, sea mode and external flash mode. This helps in shooting in any conditions in the sea and obtains much better picture quality than ever before. Some other features are like instant delete option after each picture in both sea and external flash modes along with one-button operation features. These mentioned features provide the sophistication as well as ease of control for the photographers. Some more desirable features are expandable and good quality standard lenses, flashes and accessories.

Some of the sophisticated and well know underwater digital cameras such as the Aqua Pix DX3100 are fully functional and even have a 3.1 mega pixel resolution. These digital cameras can be aptly described as being effusively amphibious! Thus the chances of water damage and flooding in these underwater digital cameras are greatly reduced and are hence extensively used for professional purposes too.

Scrutinizing in some more detail it can be said that the underwater digital cameras mostly use a meniscus lens that can be used above or below the surface of water. The also have features for built in color correction filter and macro lens along with built in flash diffusers too. They utilize multi flash functioning in order to get adequate good quality pictures in the most adverse conditions too. They have sufficient memory of around 15MB and come equipped with complete storage, editing and image manipulation software.

It still remains a fact that underwater photography is a difficult yet fascinating profession. Moreover, with the underwater digital cameras this task has become even easier and creative along with greater scopes to express much more through the eyes of the lens. It is hoped that the new depths of underwater photography would be fathomed with the aid of the underwater digital cameras!

About the author
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.

Dec 6: Digital camera printers

By Jakob Jelling
Snapjunky.com

The digital camera is not meant only for capturing images and storing them on the computer memory disks. The real effect comes from the hard copy of those fantastic images taken by the users, that is the printed photographs! In order to get the printer copy of the images a very important device necessary is the printer. The digital image printing requires a few numbers of components that comprises the total process of printing. This discussion is thus primarily focused towards analyzing and understanding this whole experience of digital camera printers.

Scrutinizing in some more detail, it can be observed that in digital photography some really good and fantastic one-trick-pony printers have filled up the market that are exclusively designed for the sake of printing digital camera photos. These printers are not for the purpose of printing everyday documents, simply because their cartridges and photo paper, that are sold together in single boxes, are not cheap and thereby economic for such purposes. Thus they are solely for the reason of getting the images into physical paper with a high degree of perfection and elevated quality. In these printers the ink and paper are by and large sold together in single boxes, and the average print costs to around 30 to 70 cents. However the biggest advantage remains that these printers themselves are inexpensive.

Looking at the advantages of these digital camera printers, the very first and the most significant one is that these printers do not require a computer for their functioning. They have the ability of printing directly from the digital camera, which enables the users to take and use them on the road too! A few examples of such great printers are Canon's Selphy DS700 and CP330; the Olympus P-10; Sony's FP30 and EX50; Epson's Picture Mate; and Hewlett-Packard's Photo smart 375. Some digital cameras nowadays enable the users to connect them directly to a PictBridge printer using a standard USB cable. And then obtain the printed photographs. Another loom is to include memory-card slots right on the printer as a result the users do not run down the camera's battery while printing.

The above discussion reveals almost all the rudimentary yet important information regarding the digital camera printers and it is expected that more and more users of the digital cameras would appreciate this fantastic device!

About the author
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.

Dec 6: Digital camera interpolation explained

By Jakob Jelling
Snapjunky.com

In a device such as a digital camera it is very important to understand the very basic aspects of the device so as to properly operate it and give it the due respect it deserves. Such a topic is interpolation! These are accessories that help the digital camera to perform the technologically advanced features that it is capable of. In extreme explanatory and simple terms it can be summed up as that interpolation refers to software programs that can effectively enlarge image resolution beyond the actual resolution by adding extra pixels using complex mathematic calculations. Now, this is a feature that can be absolutely useful in providing a good success to a user.

Looking into the technical aspects it can be stated that interpolation is a technique where the spatial resolution of an image is increased from its original size to a higher or larger resolution. The spatial resolution of an image is simply its horizontal x vertical pixel count. For example 1600 x 1200. Again getting into further intricate details it can be stated that there are two techniques of interpolation commonly used, they are software and hardware. Again software interpolation can be performed on a digital image using a one of a number of image editing programs such as PhotoShop. This is often termed as resizing and is done with a computer, performed on an image file from a digital camera that already exists in a file format such as JPG. Hardware interpolation involves the resizing of an image, but it differs from software interpolation in that the image is resized algorithmically inside the camera during the image processing sequence and before the image has been saved as a JPG image file.

Also, it can be noted here that JPG is a compressed image file format. Whenever a file is saved as a JPG file, image data is lost in the compression process. Image data is thrown away in exchange for file-size efficiency. Software interpolation is a process performed after the JPG losses have been applied. Hardware interpolation occurs inside the camera prior to JPG compression and before JPG losses have been applied. The resulting hardware interpolated images are of superior quality to a comparable image interpolated in software.

These are basically the important points as discussed in the above lines regarding the digital camera interpolation. The explanation is worth for every user who can be a novice as well as an expert and thus uncovers another great feature of a digital camera, the process of interpolation.

About the author
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.

Dec 6: Tips on Choosing the Right Printer

About.com has a helpful article on Choosing the Right Printer where they give a series of tips on how to choose a printer.

'Printers are an essential peripheral for many of us. Whether we're using them for printing reports and other documents, publishing newsletters or just printing photos, they've become a standard part of a home computer system. However, not all printers perform equally well with every task. Here, we'll provide you with a few basic tips to help you avoid the hassle and expense of buying a printer or multifunction device that doesn't live up to your expectations....'

Dec 6: File Formats Made Easy

Popular Photography has a useful article on File Formats that will help you work get your head around RAW files, JPEGs and the like:

'In most cases, uncompressed TIFF files are cumbersome in-camera, being slow to process and write to memory, but they come into their own when working in an image editor and shouldn't be ignored completely.

RAW files offer sublime versatility, but the spectre of guaranteed support for so many individual formats in 10 years time, let alone 70 years, may preclude their use in a routine for archiving. That said, they offer unparalleled versatility for the majority of users.

Highly compressed JPEGs can still provide quality prints, so long as they aren't going to be repeatedly edited and substantially enlarged. For sheer functionality and all-round versatility, the high-quality JPEG, is difficult to beat.'

Read the rest of this excellent article at File Formats Made Easy

Found via PhotographyBLOG

Dec 4: Top 5 Digital Cameras under $US300

Ask Men's Top 5 Digital Cameras under $300 (US$)

1. Minolta Dimage Xt
2. Sony Cyber Shot DSC-P72
3. Canon PowerShot A70
4. Nikon Coolpix 3100
5. Pentax Optio 430RS

Dec 4: 1.09 Gigapixel Image

Check out this 1.09 gigapixel image of Bryce Canyon in the USA. Its made up of 196 smaller images taken on a 6 megapixel camera and stitched together. I wonder how long it will be before we can take pics like this on our run of the mill DigiCams. The way things are going it might happen!

Source - Photography Blog

Dec 3: Nikon D70

The Nikon D70 is a 6.1 megapixel camera that is sure to be popular and will compete with the Canon Digital Rebel.

UK Readers buy the Nikon D70 Digital SLR here

Imaging Resource - Nikon D70 writes:

'The D70 looks to be a very interesting camera indeed. Pricing is set at US$999 for the camera body only, or $1299 in a bundle with a Nikkor AF-S DX 18-70MM f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED lens (more on this newly announced lens can be found in a separate news item). That puts the D70 just a touch higher than Canon's competing EOS Digital Rebel - but at just under $1000 body-only, still very much in the sweet spot for consumers considering stepping up to a digital SLR.'

Digital Photography Review has a little more to add.

Photography Blog writes:

'The D70 employs the popular Nikon DX Format sensor and Nikon F lens mount design. This maintains seamless compatibility with all AF Nikkor lenses while allowing photographers to take full advantage of high quality DX Nikkor lenses, designed exclusively for Nikon's D-series digital SLR cameras and optimised to achieve outstanding centre-to-edge-to-corner image quality. Developed concurrently as a perfect match for daily use with the D70 and compatible with all Nikon D-Series SLR models, the new AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED combines top performance and outstanding value.'

Thom Hogan - Nikon D70 writes: 'The D70 takes beautiful photos when used well, and can give almost any digital SLR on the market a run for the money in image quality. '

CNET gives the Nikon D70 a rating of 8.6 (very good).

Megapixel reviewed the Nikon D70 and rated it at 9.6 out of 10 for both functionality and photographic qualities.

The Nikon D70 has also won the 2004 Camera Grand Prix Award

On top of others praises - Time Magazine named it Gadget of the week.

Photographic Magazine reviews the Nikon D70 and writes - 'The D70's autofocusing system performs admirably, even better than the more-costly D100's on birds in flight. The one annoyance is having to scroll through the LCD monitor menus to switch between single-shot and continuous AF—the D100 has S and C positions on the focus-mode switch that let you do it instantly. (A quicker way for the D70 is to rotate the mode dial to the Sports Digital Vari-Program if you want continuous autofocusing, Portrait Digital Vari-Program if you want single-shot AF with a wide aperture/fast shutter speed, or Landscape Digital Vari-Program if you want single-shot AF with a small aperture/slow shutter speed.)'

The Nikon D70 will start being shipped to US suppliers for release to the public on March 18th 2004. The rest of the world should follow shortly after.

Also get more information at on the Nikon D70:
- Lets Go Digital - Nikon D70
- DP Review - Hands on Test of the Nikon D70
- DP Review - In depth Review
- Clint Thayer Reviews Nikon D70
- Nikon D70 Sample Images
- Nikon D70 review
- Tour the Nikon D70 Factory in Thialand
- http://dpmac.com/d70-review/index.html">DPMac - Nikon D70 Comprehensive Review
- Hardware Zone - Nikon D70
- Nikon D70 Image Sample Gallery
- Outback Photo - Nikon D70 User Experience Report
- Nikon D70 Image Gallery
- Nikon D70 Digital Camera Reviewed
- Nikon D70 Review
- Gizmodo - Nikon D70 Review
- Popular Photography - Nikon D70 Review
- Mindful Musings - and Amateur Reviews the Nikon D70
- photo.net - Nikon D70 Review

- Moose's Camera Bag - Nikon D70 Review
- Ken Rockwell Nikon D70 Review
- DC Views - Nikon D70 Review
- The Nikon D70 Rocks
- Steve's Digicams - Nikon D70 Review
- Popular Photography - Nikon D70
- Pocket Lint - Nikon D70
- Digital Secrets - Nikon D70

Also see the following Press Release from Nikon announcing the D70.

Nikon Press Release 03/12/03
Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the development of the Nikon D70, a new lens-interchangeable digital SLR camera designed to deliver superb image quality and satisfying performance at a popular price users will find within reach. A new DX Zoom-Nikkor lens is being developed at the same time as a best match for the D70, and both products are scheduled to go on sale in the spring of 2004.

Development Background
Nikon forever changed the world of professional digital SLR cameras with the release of the Nikon D1 in September 1999. In constant pursuit of yet higher image quality and greater performance, the company followed with the introduction of the D1X and D1H, and then again with the release of the D2H at the end of November this year.

The range of Nikon digital SLR offerings was further expanded to reach the hands of enthusiasts and a broader audience in June 2002 when the D100 went on sale.

The size of the digital camera market has grown exponentially over these few years. This in turn has led to an increase in the number of customers expressing a desire to see Nikon release a D-SLR camera at a price setting that will better fit their personal budgets. Nikon has been advancing development of the D70 as the model perfectly suited to respond to this strong demand, aiming primarily at realizing a digital SLR camera that will win its place as the camera of choice for a wide range of users, from novices to the most serious and experienced enthusiasts.

Features
- The image sensor continues the heritage of the Nikon DX Format (providing a picture angle approx. 1.5 times the focal length of a 35mm [135] format lens).
- The Nikon D70 will inherit the Nikon F Mount, ensuring compatibility with AF Nikkor lenses already owned.
- A new DX Zoom-Nikkor lens is being developed concurrently to deliver a focal length range optimized for use as the standard zoom lens for the Nikon D70.

Dec 3: Rollei DP3210

Rollei have just announced their DP3210 Digital Camera. It has a 3.3 megapixel Sensor and 10x zoom lens. It stores its data on SD cards and has a 2.5 inch LCD. I'm looking forward to seeing it close up.

Rollei Press Release 02/12/03
Rollei launches a new 3.2 MP digital camera with 10x optical zoom! - Powerful digital zoom camera from Rollei!

The new Rollei dp3210 is a sophisticated digital camera boasting a 10x zoom lens and 3.3-megapixal resolution.

The dp3210 is Rollei's answer to the manifold challenges facing serious amateur photographers. Its high-speed, high-performance 10x zoom lens covers focal lengths from 5.7-57 mm (equivalent to 35-350mm in 35mm photography). Advanced automatic and manual modes conveniently cover even difficult photographic situations. What's more, the camera also allows the recording of video clips. The Rollei dp3210 will be available from mid-December.

While the 10x D-VarioApogon autofocus zoom lens already reaches out far into the distance, a 4x digital zoom adds even more punch to this zooming capability. In the wide-angle setting, focusing is possible from 50 cm to infinity, at the telephoto end from 120 cm to infinity. A macrofocus mode allows close-ups down to 10 cm at wide-angle and down to 90 cm at the longest focal length. Perfect framing control – indispensable with such a wide zooming range – is ensured by a TFT monitor and an 0.33" electronic viewfinder with a resolution of about 114,000 pixels, showing the precise frame that will be recorded.

When it comes to different shooting modes, the new Rollei camera also has a lot to offer. The 2.5" TFT monitor with a resolution of 119,548 pixels shows all relevant operating data and the camera status at a single glance. Exposure, for example, can be controlled by either programmed AE, aperture-priority AE, shutter-priority AE or manually. In addition to these exposure modes, there are special subject-specific programs tailored to portraiture, scenery, night scenes and sports or action photography. For discriminating users, there are different metering methods (spot and center-weighted average metering) as well as the possibility of bracketing in increments of 1/3 EV and a B-setting for time exposures.

To allow for difficult lighting situations, white balance can be manually controlled by pushing a button. Alternatively, there is automatic white balance for either daylight (sunny or cloudy), tungsten or fluorescent light. Several flash modes let the user choose between ON (fill flash), OFF, Auto, red-eye reduction and slow sync for evocative night-time photography. Sensitivity is variable from a noise-free ISO 70 up to ISO 400, allowing available-light shooting even in twilight.

The Rollei dp3210 has a built-in self-timer (2s or 10s delay) and can also be triggered with the aid of an infrared remote control. In addition, it allows continuous shooting at a rate of 1.25 fps and a high-speed mode with a maximum burst of nine images at approx. 3.3 fps.

In addition to stills, the Rollei dp3210 will also record video clips and sound. The corresponding files are recorded with 320 x 240 pixels and 15 images per second in the AVI format either in the camera's internal memory or on a SecureDigital card. A PAL/NTSC video output makes transmission to a TV set a cinch. To download stills to a computer, there is a USB interface.

Specifications

- CCD sensor: 1/2.7“, 3.2 megapixels
- Image resolution/photo mode: 2048 x 1536; 1600 x 1200; 1280 x 960; 1024 x 768; 640 x 480 pixels
- Video clips: 320 x 240 pixels, AVI file, 15 fps
- Storage medium: SD cards up to 512 MB
- Recording formats: JPEG, EXIF 2.2, DPOF 1.0, AVI
- Lens: high-speed 10x high-performance zoom lens D-VarioApogon AF 5.7-57 mm f/2.8-3,1 HFT (= 35-350 mm in 35mm photography)
- Digital zoom: 4x
- Focusing: Autofocus and manual
- Focusing range: 0.50 m to infinity (W), 1.20 m to infinity (T)
- Macrofocusing: 0.10 m to 0.90 m (W), 0.90 m to infinity (T)
- Shutter: Mechanically and electronically controlled
- Shutter speeds: ½ s – 1/2000 s, B for time exposures
- Sensitivity: ISO 70 – 400 (automatic), ISO 70/100/200/400 (manual)
- Exposure modes: Programmed AE, aperture-priority AE, shutter-priority AE, manual
- Exposure compensation: Automatic and manual, ± 2,0 EV in 1/3 increments
- Drive: Single frames and continuous shooting with bursts of max. nine images at 3.3 fps
- White balance: Auto, manual, daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent
- Flash modes: Flash ON / flash OFF / Auto / Red-eye reduction / slow sync
- Flash range: 0.50 m – 4.40 m (ISO 400)
- Self-timer: 2 s/10 s delay, IR remote control
- Viewfinder: LCD color viewfinder with eyesight correction
- LCD monitor: 2.5“ low-temperature polysilicon TFT color monitor with 119,548 pixels
- Interface: USB (Version 1.x), Video out (NTSC, PAL), audio out, microphone in
- Video preview: photo or video real image
- Power supply: 4x AA alkaline batteries (1.5 V), 4x AA NiMH batteries (1.2 V), 2x lithium battery CR-V3 (3.0 V)
- Dimensions (mm/w x h x d) and weight: 109 x 68 x 66, approx. 310 g (without batteries and memory card)
- Tripod socket: ¼“
- Standard equipment: Rollei dp3210 digital camera , USB und video cables, 4x size AA batteries (for initial use), shoulder strap, case, 16MB SD card, IR remote control, lens cap, editing software PhotoSuite SE and PhotoVista editing software, driver CD (WIN 98/ Mac OS) with operating instructions, brief instructions

System requirements
- PC, Windows98/SE/2000/ME/XP, Min. 32MB RAM, (recommended: 64MB), min. 128MB free disk space, USB interface, CD-ROM drive
- Apple Macintosh, Version 8.6 or higher, min. 32MB RAM, (recommended: 64MB), min. 128MB free disk space, USB interface, CD-ROM drive

Dec 3: HP Photosmart 945

The HP Photosmart 945 is a 5 megapixel camera with an 8x optical zoom lens.

UK/European Readers buy the HP Photosmart 945

Steve's Digicams writes about the 945 saying: 'The Photosmart 945 is HP's new Top-of-the-Line digital camera for 2003. It features 5-Megapixel resolution and a powerful 8x Fujinon optical zoom that produces outstanding close-ups and brilliant photos of distant objects. The Photosmart 945 is HP's first digital camera to feature Adaptive Lighting Technology that enables digital cameras to produce photos that look more like what consumers see. The color electronic viewfinder lets you frame your shots with "through the lens" ease just like an SLR camera. The 2-inch color LCD monitor can also be used for framing or review of images.'

PC Mag reviewed the HP Photosmart 945 and gave it a 4 start rating. They wrote:

'The HP Photosmart 945 combines simplicity, good resolution, and very good image quality in a clunky-looking camera....The HP 945 is an excellent camera for families and seniors who value simplicity, solid handling, and good image quality over style'

Byte Sector review the HP Photosmart 945 and write - 'I have reviewed a fair number of cameras from various manufacturers. This is the first camera I have personally taken a look at from HP. In terms of image results it is great however it needs support from its own Digital Flash technology to improve the images it captures otherwise they come out darker then usual, using this option results in highly noisy images as well (under low light). The image processing on the camera is very slow, I have never come across a camera yet that takes its time to update the LCD when focusing or zooming. The movie quality is terrible compared to many other cameras on the market but where this camera really shines is its user convenience. HP has made it very easy to navigate and use, I find that this is where HP dominates compared to other manufacturers.'

Photography Blog reviews the HP Photosmart 945 and writes - 'The HP Photosmart 945 is a digital camera that promises a lot and delivers on some of those promises, but not all. For every great feature that the camera offers, there seems to be another one that isn't so well implemented. The extensive Help system and Digital Flash are innovations that are exclusive to HP and that really make a difference. On the other hand, the high levels of noise at ISO 200 and above and the poor playback options only serve to annoy and make you forget about what HP have got right. The HP Photosmart 945 also lacks a few crucial features which its target audience will probably miss - auto-bracketing of any kind (exposure or white-balance), a remote control or lead, and a rather meager supplied box kit instantly spring to mind. So can this one year old camera hold its own in what has become a very crowded marketplace? Well, the attractive prices on offer do go some way to making up for what the camera lacks, and it undoubtedly has some great features, so I would answer yes, if you can live with the shortcomings. The HP Photosmart 945 was ahead of its time in some respects when it was originally announced, and it hasn't quite been superseded yet.'

Read more reviews of the HP Photosmart 945 at:
- DC Resource
- DC Views
- Steve's Digicams
- Megapixel - HP Photosmart 945 Review
- Imaging Resource - HP Photosmart 945

Dec 3: Olympus C-750

The Olympus C-750 is a 4 megapixel digital camera. Its 10x optical zoom lens sets it apart from many other digital cameras.

It has a hot shoe for an external flash, has a metal casing and the capability to record sound in movie mode and remote control. These features set it apart from the earlier released 3.2MP C-740.

European Readers buy the Olympus C-750UZ here

Update: Olympus has just announced a firmware update for this camera

Read Reviews of the Olympus C-750 at:
- Digital Camera HQ - Olympus C-750
- DC Resource - Olympus C-750
- Steve's Digicams - Olympus C-750
- PyroPort - Olympus C-750

Dec 3: Sony Cybershot DSC-F717

The Sony DSC-F717 is a 5 megapixel camera with a 5x optical zoom. Whilst it was released in 2002 it still remains and very highly thought of digital camera. It is one of Sony's L Shaped cameras and comes fitted with a fast f/2-f/2.4 Carl Zeiss lens.

Image quality is excellent - even at full telephoto range.

CNETreviews the Sony DSC-F717 and gives it a rating of 8.0 (very good) and describes it as - 'A dynamite package that should appeal to photography enthusiasts, especially those switching to digital from 35mm SLRs'.

Accessories for the Sony DSC-F717 include:
- Wide angle conversion lens
- Custom Fit Camera Case
- External Flash

Read more reviews of the Sony DSC-F717 at:
- DP Review - Sony Cybershot DSC-F717
- Digital Camera HQ - Sony DSC-F717
- DC Resource
- Megapixel - Sony Cybershot DSC-F717
- Steve's Digicams - Sony Cybershot DSC-F717

Dec 2: Most Popular Digital Cameras

These are the 10 most popular Digital Camera Posts on this site over the past couple of months:

1. Minolta Dimage G400
2. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T1 and DSC-U40
3. Canon EOS 300D
4. Canon PowerShot A80
5. Fuji Finepix S7000 and Nikon Coolpix 5700
6. Canon PowerShot A70
7. Sigma SD10
8. Canon PowerShot SD10
9. Sanyo Xacti DMX C-1
10. Nikon Coolpix 3700

Dec 1: Nikon D100

The Nikon D100 has been out for a year now but is still selling reasonably well here in in Australia if reports from my local camera store are to be believed.

UK Readers - Purchase the Nikon D100 Digital Camera here

The Nikon D100 is a digital SLR with a 6.1 megapixel sensor. It is compatible with the majority of Nikon's 35mm lenses, 2.5 frames per second, 1.8 inch LCD, Depth of Field Preview mode and from what I've heard seems to be a quality yet affordable option when it comes to buying a D-SLR.

Other reviews of the Nikon D100 can be found at
- Steve's Digicams - Nikon D100
- Imaging Resource - Nikon D100.

Dec 1: Sony Cybershot DSC-F828

The Sony Cybershot DSC-F828 was announced in August of this year and takes their semi pro range a step further than before. It has an 8.0 megapixel sensor and its Carl Zeiss zoom lens has a 7x zoom. It comes with a CompactFlash Type II card slot as well as a Memory Stick Pro card slot.

PC Mag reviewed the Cybershot DSC-F828 and gives it a 4 star rating saying:

'On paper, the groundbreaking 8-megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F828 seems like the ultimate professional camera. In the real world, it's nearly perfect—but not quite....

Despite the bulky appearance, the DSC-F828 is a pleasure to hold and shoot. The manual zoom ring lets you find the perfect setting quickly, and the major controls are easy to use. Autofocus, shutter lag, and image storage are nearly instantaneous.

Our only major complaints are with image quality. '

Get the Latest Price on the Sony DSC-F828

Tom's Hardware Guide compares the Canon Powershot Pro 1 with the Sony F828.

CNET reviewed the Sony Cybershot DSC-F828 and gave it a rating of 7.9 out of 10 and writes - 'The fourth generation of Sony's Cyber Shot F series, the DSC-F828 is also the most sophisticated digital still camera the company has produced to date. Its impressive spec sheet includes an 8-megapixel CCD, a swiveling 7X zoom lens, and a new RGBE filter system that Sony developed to improve color range and accuracy. With great ergonomics, a feature set made for all but the most advanced amateur photographers, and performance that lets it pull ahead of many of its competitors, this model makes a strong first impression. But a closer look reveals a few flaws that you should know about before you fall for the distinctively designed DSC-F828.'

Photobird reviews the Sony Cybershot DSC-F828 and writes - 'In a perfect world, everyone would have the pleasure to test drive the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F828. It's one fine camera that everyone should have the opportunity of using. Whether you want to keep it or not, with its price range, ease of use issues, and non-interchangeable lenses, is a different story for each individual. But, this Sony digital camera does have its high points, including its remarkable Carl Zeiss 7x zoom lens, 8 megapixel resolution, long-lasting InfoLithium batteries, its solid construction, and eye-catching design. With the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F828, Sony has really set the benchmark for the upper-level range of digital cameras. If you're looking for a high-end digital camera, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F828 should definitely be on your digital camera comparison list.'

DPexpert reviews the Sony DSC-F828 and writes - 'Some reviewers claim the 8mp 4 colour sensor has too many light receptors on a small chip causing increased noise and optical aberrations. dpexpert didn’t see any problems in our 30 cm by 40 cm prints, so we conclude that for use in the real world, as long as the ISO rating is not pushed too high, you can make superb pictures. Auto focus, exposure and tonal range are as good as we have seen on any digicam. Auto white balance is about the best we have seen in any camera.'

For more information check out these pages and reviews of the Sony DSC F828:
- Steve's Digicams - Sony Cybershot DSC-F828
- Imaging Resource - Sony DSC-F828
- Digital Photography Review - Sony Cybershot DSC-F828
- Megapixel - Sony Cybershot DSC-F828
- Sony Cybershot DSC-F828 - Optical Analysis
- Popular Photo - Sony DSC-F828
- DSC-F828 Firmware update Ver.2.0
- Cameras bulking up with the megapixels - Sony DSC-F828
- Lets Go Digital - Sony DSC-F828 Review
- Photo.net - Sony DSC- F828

Dec 1: Leica Digilux 2

Leica have announced the newLeica Digilux 2.

Order your Leica Digilux 2 Now - up to $250 Discount

I've always dreamed of owning a Leica - their reputation is amazing and this 5 megapixel camera looks like keeping that reputation high. It is described by Leica as being an analog digital camera in that its features are controlled through switches, dials and rings rather than by pressing digital buttons like most modern digital cameras. This makes it one of the more classic looking and behaving digital cameras on the market.

Camera Corner reviewed the Leica Digilux 2 writing - 'My favorite feature - the built-in flash. This is a built-in with a difference; it swivels to provide bounce flash. In other words, when you run out of available light, you can still take pictures that look as if they were taken with available light without an independant accessory flash.'

CNET reviews the Leica Digilux 2 and writes - 'Remember these relics: shutter-speed dials; metering-mode switches; and mechanical rings for aperture, zoom, and focus control? Stone Age technology, sure, but here's an amusing factoid: they work a whole lot better than the motorized, menu-ized, electro-fantabulous cybercontrols that dominate new digital camera design. Enter Leica and its 5-megapixel, 3.2X zoom Digilux 2, which boasts all of those Stone Age controls. It thereby outclasses nearly every other consumer digital model, but alas, it ends up falling far short of being the old-school enthusiast's dream digital camera. Plus, it costs as much as a higher-resolution, entry-level digital SLR with a couple of lenses, which will rightly be a tempting alternative for many. If you're willing to give up that swanky, red Leica badge, you can find the nearly identical Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC1 for about $250 less.'

The LEICA DIGILUX 2 at a glance (from the Leica Digilux 2 site)
- Fast 7 – 22.5 mm LEICA DC VARIO SUMMICRON f/2 – f/2.4 ASPH. zoom lens (equivalent to a 28 - 90 mm zoom lens on a 35 mm camera)
- 2/3" CCD sensor with 5.0 million pixels
- Analog photography feeling conveyed by manual setting possibilities directly at the lens
- Its traditional clear design readily identifies it as a typical Leica
- Transfer-reflexive 2,5“ display with a resolution of 211,000 pixels and outstanding brilliance
- Electronic viewfinder with 235,000 pixels that covers 100% of the picture being taken
- Extra large picture storage card with 64 MB
- Interval timing and control via the PC
- Connections:
USB 2.0 (High Speed); DC IN; AV output with option of PAL or NTSC; Remote release cable
- Extremely robust and long-lived because of the use of high-grade materials and precision fabrication

The Leica Digilux 2 has won a number of awards including The Digital Journalist BEST IN SHOW award from PMA 2004. In writing about it they say - 'As a lifetime Leica user, I can only tell you this is the camera I WANT. My guess is that dealers will have a problem keeping this great camera in stock.' I respect the person who writes this so its a pretty good recommendation!

PC Mag writes 'The Leica Digilux 2 is the first digital camera with the true look and feel of a fine handmade Leica—and image quality to match. But be warned: Leica quality does not come cheap.'

DP Review writes - 'When you first handle the Digilux 2 you can't help but be impressed by its build quality and logical control layout. I'm quite comfortable stating that the Digilux 2 has the easiest to use manual controls of any current digital camera.'

Luminous Landscape reviews the Leica Digilux 2 - 'using it was like shooting with a real camera, not a computer with a lens attached — which is what so many digicams remind me of. Not to disparage all digicams. Some are very good, and though the paradigm is different, one gets used to it. But for long-time photographers who enjoy the feel of shutter speed knobs and aperture rings and the control that a manual focus ring gives, the LC1 / Digilux twins will feel like coming home again.'

Photographic reviews the Leica Digilux 2 and writes - 'the Leica Digilux 2 isn't designed for bargain hunters. But if you are looking for a full-featured 5-megapixel digicam with a great lens and a meticulously crafted magnesium body, this one deserves very serious consideration.'

For more information on the Leica Digilux 2 read:
- Luminous Landscapes - Leica Digilux 2 Review Part 1 and Part 2 and Part 3
- Buy n Shoot - Leica Digilux 2 Review
- Photonet - Leica Digilux 2 Reviewed

Order your Leica Digilux 2 Now - up to $250 Discount

Following is the Press Release from Leica announcing the Digilux 2.

December 1, 2003

LEICA DIGILUX 2 - The “analog” digital camera.

The new LEICA DIGILUX 2 camera combines the best of two worlds.
In the new LEICA DIGILUX 2, modern digital technology and the proven concepts of traditional analog photography are joined in a harmonious combination: Decisive photographic parameters such as sharpness, aperture, focal length and shutter speeds can be controlled like those on a classic single-lens-reflex camera by means of setting rings on the lens and a shutter speed dial.

To ensure the best pictorial results, the lens, the sensor and the electronics are optimally tailored to one another. The 2/3-inch CCD sensor is very large for its resolution of 5 million pixels. This combination of a high-performance lens and a large surface per picture element produces an extraordinary pictorial quality.

The LEICA DIGILUX 2 at a glance

Fast 7 – 22.5 mm LEICA DC VARIO SUMMICRON f/2 – f/2.4 ASPH. zoom lens (equivalent to a 28 - 90 mm zoom lens on a 35 mm camera)
 
2/3-inch CCD sensor with 5.0 million pixels
 
Analog photography feeling conveyed by manual setting possibilities directly at the lens
 
Its traditional clear design readily identifies it as a typical Leica
 
Transfer-reflexive 2,5“ display with a resolution of 211,000 pixels and outstanding brilliance
 
Electronic viewfinder with 235,000 pixels that covers 100% of the picture being taken
 
Extra large picture storage card with 64 MB
 
Interval timing and control via the PC
 
Connections:
USB 2.0 (High Speed); DC IN; AV output with option of PAL or NTSC; Remote release cable
 
Extremely robust and long-lived because of the use of high-grade materials and precision fabrication

Dec 1: Digital Cameras on the Cheap 

Wired News has a great article titled Digital Cameras on the Cheap. Here is the first couple of paragraphs:

'When it comes to stocking stuffers, the gifts most people think about are probably less expensive than the average digital camera. But the budget-conscious shopper can find cameras to fit the sock -- especially if the recipient is a casual shutterbug.

Low-end digital-camera prices range from just a few dollars for single-use disposables to about $300 for name-brand ultra-compact or point-and-shoot models. The prices depend on features such as resolution and optical zoom, and whether the camera is new or refurbished. '

They go on to talk about some new disposable digital cameras - like the KODAK Plus Digital 35 mm One-Time-Use Camera as well as some medium and high low end cameras. Its got some good ideas with Christmas coming up.

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