Considering A New Camera?
March 1, 2010
So far we have been looking at how to use your camera, and most of you may have a point-and-shoot camera. These are great cameras, particularly given the advancements in technology today. Many functions previously unavailable on compact cameras are now there, giving you more options to get great photographs.
But perhaps you are thinking about making a change, an upgrade to a camera with more flexibility than your current camera. Here are some questions to answer when considering a new camera:
- Do you have the desire and time to learn something new?
- Do you want a camera that gives you the ability to:
- Choose your depth of field?
- Choose Advanced modes like Portrait, Landscape and so on?
- Choose Aperture Priority/AV mode?
- Choose Shutter Priority/S/Tv mode?
- Does your present camera give you these choices?
- What size prints do you want to make?
- Do you want higher quality, larger image files?
- Would you like to use a program like PhotoShop CS4
to correct and/or improve you images? - Would you like to be able to use interchangeable lenses?
- How much can you afford to spend?
- Are you willing to carry a lot of additional equipment when going on a shoot?
Putting some thought into answering these questions can help you decide whether upgrading from your present camera makes sense for you. And keep in mind there are lots of choices ranging from Digital SLR cameras for a few hundred dollars to high end cameras costing thousands of dollars.
The amount you pay for a camera does not necessarily mean that the camera will take better photographs; remember, the single most important element in producing great photographs is – you, the photographer!
If you have to choose between taking a course in digital photography like 123di, or purchasing a new camera like the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS
I recommend taking the course first. Your camera is a tool to use but the artistry, the ability to see and create great images, comes from the photographer – you!
Remember, keep taking lots and lots of photographs of your kids. You will be glad you did!
Betty Muscott, Child Photographer
Canon PowerShot SD780 IS Camera Review
February 3, 2010
My son is a mechanic for a charter airline, and his job is one of being what they call a “roadie”. What this means is that he travels with the airplane because a lot of places they go in the world there are no mechanics, facilities or services. Often times he has to work on the aircraft out on the ramp.
He flies on Douglas DC-8s and Boeing 767s, and has been all over the world. Some time back he asked me to recommend a camera to him, and upon my recommendation he purchased a Canon SD PowerShot SD780 IS. As a novice photographer he has found the camera easy to carry and use, and has downloaded a number of photographs on the places he travels to.
Today he happens to have flown from Norfolk, VA to Gitmo (Guantanamo Bay, Cuba), and I am sure he will have some great photos to share with me when he returns. That little Canon 780 IS works very well for him, fitting easily into a pocket, easy to use, excellent image quality and a good battery life.
Canon PowerShot SD780 IS Digital Camera
This wonderful camera may just be the slimmest ELPH yet, but it packs a lot of power. Its original design matches Canon’s most innovative camera technology, and even when the conditions for taking a picture are not ideal you have Canon’s technology on your side and you will be getting HD photos that are unforgettable.
The CanonUSA Customer Ratings for the PowerShot SD780 IS camera are as follows:
Pros
- Lightweight/Portable (109);
- Easty to use (104);
- Excellent image quality (97);
- gGood battery life (86);
- Nice features/settings (85).
Cons
- Poor low-light performance (27);
- Poor image quality (15);
- Complicated controls/menu (14);
- Missing features/settings (12);
- Short battery life (9).
Overall this little camera scored 5 stars 
What’s In The Box
- PowerShot SD780 IS Digital ELPH Camera Body;
- Lithium-ion Battery Pack;
- Battery Charger;
- Wrist Strap;
- Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM;
- USB Interface Cable;
- AV Cable.
Ultra slim and a hip design in 4 vivid colors, this compact yet feature rich 12.1 megapixel dynamo with HD movie shooting capabilities and large, crisp 2.5″ LCD make this camera easy to use, handy to tote and priced to delight.
If you are looking for a great little point-and-shoot digital camera this Cannon PowerShot SD780 IS ELPH Digital Camera will serve you well.
Remember, keep taking lots and lots of photographs of your kids. You will be glad you did!
Betty Muscott, Child Photographer
Latest News If You Are About To Purchase A Canon Digital Camera
January 28, 2010
If you’re thinking of buying a new compact digital camera, then you might want to wait a month and check out the very latest models to be released then by Canon. They have updated their Powershot A-series with several new features and are offering four new models which cover the entry level budget photography sector pretty comprehensively. We have been using Canon for years and love the reliability, ease of use and good quality lenses that they are renowned for. So if you too want to purchase a Canon digital camera check out their latest models:
The new Powershot A495 and A490 replace the popular Powershot A480, as a budget, very user-friendly compact digital camera. They both have 10 megapixels and a 3.3x Canon optical zoom lens. With Smart Auto modes, face detection technology and a new low light mode as well as smart flash mode, these little cameras do all the work for you, so that you really do just have to point and shoot. They also have great video capabilities and a new software option that allows you to upload video directly to YouTube. Retailing at $129.99 and $109.99 respectively, these compact cameras are a very affordable choice for the teenager in your life, or if you want a pocket camera as a back-up to your SLR, so that you never miss a shot of your kids when you are out and about.
The Canon Powershot A3100IS and A3000IS replace the current Powershot A1100 IS, both have a 4x optical image stabilized zoom and a large 2.7” screen. The A3100 has 12 megapixels and the A3000 10 megapixels and they are the first of the A series cameras to have Lithium Ion rechargeable batteries, instead of using AA battery cells, which should extend battery life to around 230 shots per charge according to Canon’s tests. Both cameras have the Smart Auto functions, Face detection technology and Smart Flash exposure as well as video capabilities. They retail at $179.99 and $149.99, respectively.
Two new creative modes have been added to all the new Powershot models: a new poster effect mode, to create retro poster style images on camera and and Super Vivid to add saturated color to dull images and bring a picture to life with rich color.
While there are no user reviews available yet, as the cameras will only be released in late February 2010, it could be worth waiting to buy a new compact camera, so that you get the very latest in technology. Alternatively if you are a bargain hunter, you might well find the previous models that are about to be replaced being sold at discounted prices as the new models come in to take their place.
Mum and Photographer
Valentines Day Is Coming
January 22, 2010
It’s almost upon us – Valentine’s Day. Everywhere I look I see pink and red, hearts and flowers. The candy makers are in full swing with their advertising, and the minds of gals are filled with thoughts of romantic times with their significant others.
Candy and Flowers
The only problem with candy and flowers is once they are gone – their gone! Not only that if you have kids there is always competition for the candy, and if the gift is flowers then you need to take a photo of them before they wilt and die.
Oh, sure, you can take one of the roses, stem and all, and press it into a book while later adding it to your scrapbook. But flowers are biodegradable, and soon enough will wither into dust.
So What To Do?
Well, pink is the theme of the day, so let me suggest a Cannon pink digital camera
Even if you have another camera or two around, this is one that is sure to please. It is about the same size as a deck of playing cards, can slip easily into any shirt pocket, or can be carried by a strap on your wrist.
It produces beautiful images, is easy to use with lots of shooting modes like Auto, Program, Portrait, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Aquarium, Underwater, ISO 3200, Indoor, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot, Digital Macro, Long Shutter and Movie. Yep, that’s right – you can even take movies with this slick little camera.
A Camera For All Occasions
With all of those shooting modes you will always be prepared for any occasion, and it comes with all of these items:
- PowerShot SD1200 IS Digital Elph Body
- Lithium-ion Battery Pack;
- Battery Charger;
- Wrist Strap;
- Digital Camera Solution Software CD-ROM For Your Computer;
- USB Interface Cable To Connect To Your Computer;
- AV Cable To Connect To Your TV.
The Right Color
It even comes in the right color!
Cannon Pink Digital Camera
If you need more information you can check out my review of this camera at Cannon SD1200 IS Camera Review.
Remember, keep taking lots and lots of photographs of your kids. You will be glad you did!
Betty Muscott, Child Photographer
Cannon SD1200 IS Digital Camera
January 9, 2010
If you are looking for a cool looking camera that is smaller than a pack of playing cards, then you have found a great “fit” for your pocket. This pocket point-and-shoot camera is approximately the size of a flip cell phone and weighs only 4.23oz.
The SD1200 IS comes with 10.0 mp (not to worry – that’s plenty of pixels, believe me!), Cannon’s new DIGIC 4 processor and is perfect for taking pictures at any casual occasion. It has a number of features making it easy to use, just like all Cannon cameras.
The combined zoom gives any photographer between 35mm and 105mm with the 3x optical, 4x digital and 12x combined zoom feature.
While this is not a lot of zoom oomph, it is plenty for the average photographer. To add to the pleasure the camera has a great 2.5″ widescreen LCD screen, making it easy to view your shots and then show them off to your friends. In addition it has an optical viewfinder.
To add to the fun you can choose from any of the following colors:
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The linked optical viewfinder is a better substitute for the LCD for framing your shots, and was stuck at the top of the camera limiting the size of the LCD space. Today most people use the LCD for framing shots, but anyone who has experienced camera shake knows an optical viewfinder can really help.
Priced competitively you can get more information at Buy An SD1200 IS here.
Remember, take lots of photos of your little ones often – you will be glad you did!
Top Tips for Buying a Digital SLR Camera
December 29, 2009
What style of photographer are you? When you come up with the answer it help determine what you are looking for in a camera. If you would like to have more control over your pictures, then a buying a digital SLR camera is right for you. D-SLR stands for digital single lens reflex it uses a mirror behind the lens to direct the light to the viewfinder when you are taking pictures. Now that you have decided to buy a d-SLR camera, what do you need to consider when comparing cameras?
Features
Digital SLR cameras have a variety of features to offer, but you do not have to have a camera with all the features to have fabulous pictures. One item you hear a lot about is mega pixel. Mega pixels are the amount of data captured by the camera’s sensor; this does not measure the quality of the picture. Image quality needs to be addressed when discussing mega pixels, because the larger number of mega pixels does not always mean it is better. Most digital cameras will produce the quality and sharpness that the general public would be satisfied with when printing the most common size photos. Do you plan to take action or sports photos? You will want to take continuous shots so look into how many frames per seconds. The greater the number of frames per second the more pictures you will able to take in a small amount of time. Make sure the camera or the lens have image stabilization to help prevent blurry pictures from what is called camera shakes. In low light situations your lens is open longer to capture more light, this allows more time for the camera to be moved causing blurred pictures. Some cameras now offer the ability to shoot video; I personally would not use this option, so this would not be a determining influence in my purchase. I would review the software included with my camera for editing photos.
Regardless of how you answered the above questions, one tip still remains stick to your budget. Your budget needs to take into account the camera body, lens, batteries, memory card, camera bag, and if your budget allows a tripod. Depending on how you will use your camera, an extra set of batteries could come in handy since digital cameras drain batteries. Make sure the camera fits nicely in your hand and the buttons are easy for you to navigate. If you are uncomfortable with your camera, the less likely you will use it.
Purchase Back-Up Batteries for Your Digital Cameras So You Don’t Miss A Shot
December 8, 2009
Picture the scenario: it’s Christmas Day. You have all the family gathered together from far flung states for this one day. You grab your trusty digital camera to take a group photo of everyone to remember this special time. You set up the shot carefully, test the flash and look at your camera. There is a warning light. The batteries need replacing. You search your camera bag, but you know that you forgot to put camera batteries on your Christmas shopping list. There were so many other things to remember. If you’re lucky, someone else has spares for you to use. But otherwise your chance of a special family photo is lost.
To save yourself from this unthinkable fate for a keen photographer it makes sense to always purchase a back-up set of batteries, or even two for your digital cameras. The more advanced the camera, the more it uses up battery power, especially if you are using the camera flash. You can go through a set of batteries in no time, especially on festive occasions when you are trying to record every moment and get portraits of everyone present.
The best way to solve the problem of fading batteries is to invest in several sets of rechargeable batteries and a good quality battery charger. They don’t cost too much and it really is a worthwhile investment as it will save you a lot of money over time. Look for battery chargers that charge rapidly, as well as ones that can select two or four battery charging settings. They should also take various battery sizes for versatility. You can even get chargers that plug into the car cigarette lighter for when you are traveling.
On days when you will be taking a lot of photos you can have one set of batteries waiting fully charged in your camera bag, another set in your camera and a third set charging, so that you will never run out of power and miss an important shot. Make a habit of checking your batteries before you set out for a day of photography and double checking that you have a spare set with you.
Another useful gadget is a multimeter or voltmeter, so that you can check that the batteries are fully charged. Rechargeable batteries don’t last forever and if just one loses its charge it can stop the whole set functioning properly. By checking the batteries regularly you can save yourself a lot of lost photo opportunities on special occasions.
Mum and Photographer
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