Technology Trends

Like many people who’ve made the switch from film cameras to digital, I’ve discovered that the lens tools I once used so effectively on my cameras to soften, diffuse and vignette my images for quality “finished” professional results won’t do for digital what they did for film.

I’m sure it’s arguable by some that their diffusers still work fine, and I too have discovered that some tools still work okay under some circumstances; my Ziess Softar #1 seemed to offer decent results when photographing a single subject in the studio but I knew that the black netting diffuser that I used with my Lindahl Bell-o-shade no longer worked on the nikon d70 zoom lens at the wider angles without showing lines in the image. Not a risk I was willing to take professionally so I just stopped using the Lindahl shade and drop-down filters for a while.

Then it happened. A savvy carriage trade-minded customer brought in a wall portrait that she had purchased several years ago by a photographer obviously using medium format lens tools like I was used to using in the past with my film camera. She wanted her new wall portraits to have that same “softened” look. So I arrived at the portrait session armed with my digital camera equipped with the very mild Softar Filter that works at any aperture on any lens thinking that this was good insurance at getting the kind of “softness” she could live with.

Understand that I knew any diffusion used on an entire family group portrait would be more exaggerated by their relative head sizes but I had explained that to her and she assured me she liked her portrait images “very soft”.

While the images looked good on the small camera monitor, once I opened them up in Photoshop and printed them out as proofs I knew they were too soft. I called a colleague who is a digital expert and explained to him what I had done. He told me that you simply cannot use on-lens filters anymore for professional softening and diffusion without creating mush on 35mm type digital camera images. This leaves the special effects job now to the computer and not the camera. “But I’ve tried using Photoshop CS for their diffusion tools and what I get doesn’t look like real photography,” I complained, “The results are terrible.” He agreed that Photoshop’s filters weren’t the right tools either to mimic the professional photography filters of the past but told me that there is a company that has a software program that is a plug-in for my Photoshop and has filter tools to recreate believable results for various levels of softening and diffusion.

The software is called “PhotoKit” and is available from Pixel Genius for only $49.95. I bought the Mac version and it is wonderful. I have played around with it now and have found that you can get varying degrees of whatever you want that looks similar to what you used to be able to do with your old lens filters and drop-down tools. Even more possibilities are now available to you. One of my favorites is the ability to lasso areas and “clear” the results of diffusion keeping eyes and teeth sparkly and sharp.

If there is a downside to doing your diffusion this way it’s that the customer can’t really see the results on the proof, so they have to “trust” your artistic license. But it was like this with retouching too so there will be a short new education curve for your clientele to learn, or to save yourself from disaster you might offer a second proof appointment to show the customer a proof of their selected images with the added softening or diffusion. It’s going to take more time and you’ll end up with having to rework some things more than you want so I’d only recommend this for customers like mine who’s initial concern was the diffusion issue.

In summary, softening and diffusion can be done effectively and professionally but it’s not as easy as it used to be when you’d just pick the filter you wanted and pop it over the lens. Your old on-camera lens filters will often turn your digital images to “mush” or images of weak contrast that may or may not be salvageable.

You can certainly get a nice usable vintage Leica for $500 or less. However, you need to understand a few things before you choose one. Leitz made two different systems of 35mm rangefinder cameras.

The earlier system has a mount that accepts lenses that screw into the camera body (what we call 39mm screw mount, or LTM for Leica thread mount). They introduced this system in 1930 with the Leica I(C) model, and continued it well into the 1950’s up to the classic Leica IIIg. Concurrently during the 1950’s, Leitz introduced a new system that accepts lenses with a special bayonet mount (rather than screw in, the lens is placed against the mount lined up with a red dot and a quick quarter turn locks it in place).

This is known as the M bayonet system, which started with the superb Leica M3 and continues right up to the latest M8. Okay, for $500 you want to find a classic Leica that your fiance’, who probably knows and appreciates the Leica mystique, can enjoy in his free time.

I’m talking hobby camera, not camera for his work, because a photojournalist today would be doing his job with the latest digital gear. No problem. You’re on the right track looking at the Leica IIIf. It’s a common model, with over 180,000 sold between 1950 and 1957, it accepts all the zillions of screw mount lenses Leitz made up to that time (and also early 39mm screw mount Canon, Nikon, and even many Russian made lenses), and there’s always a bunch available on eBay.

I do not recommend the Leica IIIg; although it is a better camera, collectors keep it’s price hovering in the $1000 range. I do not recommend some other common earlier models like the Leica III, IIIa, or IIIc; although they’re equally common and readily available for less money, they are also just old enough to cause a lot of trouble and frustration. Among the screw mount models, the Leica IIIf is a great choice. Find one that work! Don’t take a risk on an example that needs any sort of repair.

Look for one that has a bit of external personality (as long as there’s no overt damage, a few rub marks or gentle dings are not a problem), the seller guarantees it all works, as it should. And the Leitz Summitry is a fine fast lens, but get the Elmer 5cm f3.5 instead if you can.

Forget the original box (collectors will PUSH the price for original boxes, but there’s no advantage for you there), don’t worry about a case (they fall apart, and they sometimes cause more damage to the camera because they hold in moisture), but do try to get a proper Leitz lens cap. This is your best bet for a usable vintage Leica in the $400-$500 range.

Now if you want to bend just a bit, and you’d like to explore those later M series cameras, you can probably get a 1960-ish Leica M2 with a superb Submicron 50mm f2 lens somewhere in the $500-$600 range. All the same thoughts apply in regards to condition, etc. The biggest advantage of the M series over the old screw mount series is that if your fiance’ eventually wants to get a modern Leica (for work AND pleasure), any lenses he already has with the M2 would be interchangeable with the later camera.

The classic M3 is too desirable among collectors, the M1 has limited features, and you could consider stepping up for the M4 (actually it would have to specifically be the M4-2 because the original M4 has become quite collectible as well), but that model is the first of the “modern” designs. So there you have it, the Leica IIIf or the Leica M2, those are your best choices in your price range. Regarding your question about Leica values, in general, yes, all of them do increase in value.

The vast majority increases slightly ahead of inflation (over time, not right away), so not that terribly high, but certainly enough to equal money in the bank (and assuming you deal only in top condition). The historically significant models, and a few choice rare models, increase by much greater degrees, in some cases to the point of being ridiculous. Common models like the IIIf just seem to float along with the economy. So, in general, leica cameras appear to be a good to excellent “investment”.

Given the current state of technology, a case could be made that a photographer could exist today with only two lenses - a wide angle to moderate zoom, and a short tele to long tele zoom. That would be a mistake. For as good and flexible as today’s zoom lenses are, there are some compelling reasons to choose fixed focal length lenses on occasion. I’ll admit, 90 percent of the time I’ve got a zoom strapped onto my rig, but while researching and shooting the images for this story I once again found the joy in shooting with fixed focal length lenses, for the reasons stated below. Follow along with me to see why you should consider adding a couple of more lenses to your arsenal. For many of you, you already own them!

First, let me state that this article is aimed at those of us who do not own full frame digital cameras. While the debate about that is beyond the scope of this column, the fact is that the 1.5 conversion factor of many cameras make them ideal for portrait photographers who enjoy the look of long lenses and fast apertures. And they can achieve the look for a price unheard of in medium format days.

So here’s what I’m suggesting as an unbeatable, inexpensive, butt kicking combo - a 50mm f/1.8 or faster lens, and an 80 - 105mm f/2.8 or faster lens. On my Nikon D300 camera, that figures out to a 75mm lens, and about a 120 - 160mm lens, when compared to 35mm or full frame. You can do a lot of damage with this combo. Let’s see why you should consider this dynamic duo for yourself.

One: Results. Let’s start at the heart of the matter. If you can’t cook the bacon, the stove ain’t no good! And the combination of a short to medium length telephoto with a wide opening is a sure fire recipe for super results in the hands of a skilled shooter. One of the cornerstones of professional outdoor portraiture is the ability to separate the subject from the background. By shooting with these lenses wide open or close to it, throwing backgrounds and foregrounds out of focus is almost automatic.

The longer lens partner is obviously easier because of the larger image size at any given distance and narrower angle of view. Remember, all lenses have the same perspective, to change perspective, you must change distance. Also remember, two images taken with two different lenses at the same distance with the same f/stop will have the same depth of field, one will just have a larger image size. That’s why we love long lenses - to get further away from our subject for great perspective and have an image we don’t have to crop!

Two: Price: Here’s the best part - these lenses are free! OK, maybe not for everyone or someone who’s new to the game. But for those of us who have been shooting 35mm for years, we may already have these lenses! I know I did. I still have a Nikon 50mm f/1.8 lens (used to have a 1.4, darn) that came with one of several Nikons I used to own. And I bought a Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Macro lens that gets me to 1:1 years ago for shooting flowers and wedding detail shots. Both lenses are excellent performers. I’d guess the Nikon 1.8 glass is better than the 1.4 version, slower lenses usually are, and the Tamron 90 is known for it’s sharpness, so this is a great combo.

A little checking found used nikon 1.8’s for about $60 and new ones for about $115. The Tamron lens can be had for about $400 new and $250 used. Nikon also makes an 85mm lens in 1.8 and 1.4 varieties. The fast version is about $750 new, the slower only about $400. For portraits, I’d say the 1.8 is plenty fast, only buy the 1.4 if you do weddings in low light. It’s not a price issue, these prices are peanuts compared to medium format, but the super fast lenses usually make sacrifices in quality to attain the speed. Buy new or do some checking around on SHUTTERBUG, KEH, and other sources to find the combo that’s right for your shooting needs and equipment.

Three: Availability. Since these lenses I described were originally designed for 35mm film cameras, there are plenty of them around. I found some in the camera store across the street. Other professional will have them laying around, be smart and go buy them cheap off them! As mentioned above check SHUTTERBUG, KEH, EBAY, and others for used lenses, or buy them new from your local camera store (you won’t find them at Best Buy!) or one of the SHUTTERBUG advertisers. An important point here. If buying a new zoom lens, it pays to get one designed for digital, I’ve done my own testing and there is a difference. The fixed focal length lenses I’m discussing here have all performed admirably for me, so don’t hesitate to buy them.

Four: Focal Length: As discussed above, this lens combo is ideal for the digital cameras that have a conversion factor of about 1.5. The 85mm focal length will of course be fine with a full frame cameras, but one lens does not a combo make! Full frame shooters may want to consider finding an 85 and 135 lens to approximate the results we’re describing here. But those of us with the smaller sensors are able to find great inexpensive lenses in ideal focal lengths for portraiture. The 50 (75) length is great for shooting where space is at a premium and the 90 (135) length is about the ideal combination in terms of length, price, weight and performance.

Five: Weight. Weight is the enemy of pictures taken. Think about it. If you’re like me, the thought of hanging a big, heavy zoom around your neck all day doesn’t sound like fun. If I ain’t having fun, I don’t want to take many photos. In the studio is one thing, but running around at a park or beach with heavy lenses and a tripod doesn’t appeal to me. I usually shoot with a bare minimum of equipment and rarely use a tripod, so weight is important to me. Will an 80-200mm f/2.8 lens take care of most of my shooting needs? Absolutely! But at over 2.5 pounds, it’s an albatross around my neck! Compare that to the 5.5 oz. of the 50mm lens, or the 13.2 oz of the Nikon 85mm f/1.8 lens. Remembering that you must carry backup gear, that allows me to carry a pretty small bag and shoot pretty freely with my subject. See the smile on my face?

Six: Maximum Aperture. Here’s one of the best parts - that big old f/stop. Working at f/1.8 was only a dream in medium format and f/2.8 was only on the ‘normal’ lens. There are of course two big reasons we love the fast lenses - the shallow depth of field and the ability to shoot in low light, even at slower ISO’s. The shallow depth creates a great look that sends sharp backgrounds and foregrounds packing. The speed extends my shooting day into the time where the light is usually at it’s best - the tail end of the day around and even after sunset.

I prefer not to use flash on my outdoor portraits and beach portraits are very popular in my area (East Coast). The only way I can hold detail in both my subject and the water and sky in the background without a flash is to wait until the brightness range is lowered at the end of the day. (That again is beyond the scope of this article, I’ll address it later.) In many cases I’ll shoot with my f/2.8 lenses until it’s so dark I’ll grab the 1.8 and finish the shoot with that. I’ll usually start shooting at ISO 100 and end up at ISO 400. When I hit about a 30/th of a second at f/1.8, I’m done, remember I’m not using a tripod unless it’s a group. Any darker than that and I’ll probably wander into the ocean anyway!

Conclusion: While full frame shooters can play in this group with a few different rules, the cameras with the smaller sensors are a bonanza for portrait shooters who want to be able to assemble a collection of lightweight, fast, and inexpensive lenses capable of producing fantastic results. The two lens combo described above should be capable of handling just about any portrait assignment that doesn’t call for a wide angle lens, and most traditional portraits don’t. Put together your own combo and have some fun!

The Panasonic HVX200A is not a camera for beginners, but it has many user-friendly automated functions and can be used by anyone willing to learn and wanting to create professional footage whether you are an upcoming independent filmmaker or a pro videographer! The HVX200A is a new and more improved version of the previous Panasonic AG-HVX200 and If you’ve ever used the DVX100, you’ll adapt to the HVX quite easy!

Videotape recording is now almost a finished chapter in camcorder technology, but since many are so used to tapes and still don’t wanna upgrade all their equipment, this camcorder can cater to both needs while moving into the new tapeless HD era. The new P2 technology is impressive, you can delete unwanted files as you go and then drop the ones you want to keep onto a hard drive and empty the P2 cards to shoot some more! The cards are still expensive but are coming down fast in prize and should save you money down the line since you don’t have to buy new tapes all the time and the cards can be used over and over. P2 technology also leaves behind the time-consuming digitizing process that tapes always required!

Besides the “hybrid” technology the HVX200A packs a large 82mm 13X leica zoom lens with a built-in wide angle, 1/3″ 16:9 progressive 3-CCD image processor, variable frame rates, uncompressed 16-bit 4-channel digital audio and the ability to shoot in many different formats including 480i, 720p, 1080i and 1080p DVCPro HD!

The Panasonic HVX200A creates amazing looking footage with vibrant colors and stunning image clarity. No other camcorder in this class offers the cinematic possibilities or more potentials in the hands of a skilled shooter!

Nikon D90, latest additional to Nikon’s line up of D-SLR, is designed similar to D80. One special feature of Nikon D90 Digital Camera includes the Movie Mode in HD; no other D-SLR camera has this feature. Along with it include the 12.3 Megapixel CMOS sensor, 3″ VGA LCD Display, High Sensitivity (ISO 3200), 4.5 Frames/second continuous capture, in-camera image editing feature, and GPS for geo-tagging. Current price of it is at $999 body only.

A new and improved rechargeable battery pack (EN-EL3e) capable of producing 850 shots compared to 800 shots from other batteries goes along with the kit. A recharge of not more than three (3) hours will fully charge the battery. Standard items like a printed manual, USB cable, LCD cover, Eyepiece cap, A/V cable, battery charger, and the nikon software Suite will also be included.

Nikon D90 Digital Camera supports both SD and SDHC memory cards. A standard 4GB SDHC memory card can only cost $58. SDHC cards have built-in security protection for sensitive data.

Built-in flash with Nikon D90 has a 12 meter guide number at ISO 100, but an optional external flash can be used for a better capture and to prevent redeye. An SB-600 Speedlight flash is perfect for the camera and can only cost $ 185.

The Nikon D90 body only does not come with a lens. For a perfect shot the Nikon 18-200mm VR can be added. Current price for the lens is only $669.95. Nikon 18-150 mm VR can also be used.

A wireless remote control can also be purchase together with other accessories. This allows a user to take pictures without the need of touching the camera.

The Nikon Coolpix L6 packs in great features for the low price. Long battery life, simple controls and a bright 2.5” LCD screen make this a great camera for the casual shutterbug or as a first digital camera. Nikon promises 1,000 pictures on one pair of lithium AA batteries (or 400 on alkalines), and offers easy-shot features like Face Priority, D-lighting and In Camera Red-Eye Protection to appeal to entry level users. Easy to find at less than $150 USD, the Nikon Coolpix L6 gives you the features that most new users want in a digital camera – and truly impressive battery life.

Summary

The Nikon Coolpix L6 is NikonÂ’s latest entry in their line of Coolpix digital cameras. It features low price, long battery life and simple controls that make it easy for anyone to shoot good digital pictures. The Coolpix L6 is lightweight, easy to use and perfect for the entry level shutterbug who wants a reliable camera thatÂ’s easy to use and offers good picture quality. Nikon has aimed the camera squarely at the young and young-at-heart crowd with its advertising, styling and user friendly features that make the Coolpix line popular.

Highlighted Features – Long Battery Life

By far the most impressive feature of the Coolpix L6 is the record-breaking long battery life. Nikon has partnered with Energizer (yes, the company with the bunny) to research and engineer energy saving features that conserve battery life. Their innovations give this camera a very impressive 1,000 shots per set of AA lithium Energizer batteries – and just to get you started, they include a set of Energizer lithium batteries. With most other cameras in any price range averaging 200-300 shots of battery life, Nikon has good reason to wave the flag about their performance in this area.

As the mother who missed the shot of her daughter being handed her sheepskin because I was changing the batteries on my digital camera, this is a feature I truly appreciate. Even with alkaline batteries, youÂ’ll get about 400 shots out of the Coolpix L6 before you have to change the batteries.

Easy Controls

Nikon bills the Coolpix L-series of cameras as ‘memories made easy’, and the L6 delivers on that promise. The camera does away with complex controls and gives you features that make it easy to take high quality pictures with very little experience. This is not the camera for the experienced shutterbug who wants total control over every technical aspect – but it doesn’t pretend to be. This is the camera for my mother, who has a professional quality digital that she routinely hands to the nearest grandchild at every opportunity because she has no idea how to set the lens speed, adjust the flash or any of the other myriad settings it offers.

With the Coolpix L6, you really can just point and shoot. If you want more control, though, there are fifteen ‘scene’ settings that allow you to choose from settings with easy to understand names like daylight, low light or portrait. You can choose to add fun extras like color effects,

Image Correction Features

The Nikon Coolpix L6 also offers three in camera innovations that let even inexperienced picture takers eliminate common picture problems. In camera red eye protection automatically corrects the infamous red-eye effect when taking flash pictures. The Face Priority mode will automatically recognize facial features when taking portrait shots and enhance the facial area of subjects so that you donÂ’t get out of focus faces. And the D-light detection will automatically correct under and over exposed shots by making a copy of the photo and adding in detail to only the out of balance areas of the photo.

Super Cool Coolpix Features

The Coolpix L6 also offers two special features that help the amateur photo buff get the most out of a digital camera. The Best Shot Selector will automatically select and save the sharpest image from a series of up to ten pictures taken in sequence. And if youÂ’ve ever ended up with a blurred, out of focus memory of a special moment, youÂ’ll really appreciate the Blur Warning, which will let you know when a photo youÂ’ve shot is out of focus so that you can retake the shot before leaving the scene.

Image Quality

The Nikon Coolpix L6 offers great image quality for even the newest of users. With 6.0 megapixel capability and a 3x Niktor Zoom lens, the L6 gives users the ability to take a wide range of photos from tight close-ups and full panoramic scenery shots. Nikon technology puts high quality digital images within the range of anyone who can point and shoot.

Other Coolpix L6 Features

- Lightweight and compact, easy to hold and shoot. The L6 is slim and comfortable to hold, with all the controls on the right hand side of the camera, making it possible to take one-handed shots. It weighs in at just 4.4 ounces without the battery or SD memory card. The dimensions (3.6 x 2.4 x 1.0 inches) make the Coolpix L6 a slim pocket-size camera.

- Menu available in choice of 20 languages

- USB capability to transfer pictures to your PC for editing and sending in email.

- In camera editing and fun effects let you trim and frame pictures without connecting to the PC

- Movie mode lets you record at up to 15 frames per second

- 23 MB internal memory, supports SD memory card for more storage capability

- Built in flash with four modes for best flash selection

- 2.5” super bright LCD monitor for excellent picture viewing

Slideshow capability for playback of images

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- Slideshow capability for playback of images

- Included NikonÂ’s Picture Project software for organizing, sharing and editing pictures

The Nikon D80 was one of the most hyped and eagerly anticipated 10 megapixel DSLRs which has been rated as a superb camera to own. At the time it was being favourably compared to its only other competitor, the Sony A100, but a lot has happened in recent months. The Nikon D80 has proved to be an overwhelming success. It is a 10 megapixel digital SLR that is designed to be affordable but an upgrade from some of the budget model digital SLRs on the market. The extra money you spend on the Nikon D80 will give you a more solid and sturdy feel as well as an 18-70mm lens as opposed to an 18-55mm lens found on less expensive models. The Nikon D80 offers a number of features not found in any of its competitors in this price range, many from the fantastic D200. One of the most interesting and misunderstood features is weather sealing, giving good all weather performance.

The Nikon D80 has some extra buttons but apart from that, the casing is practically identical to earlier Nikon ‘D’ series. The similarity, however, is purely cosmetic and does not mean that the Nikon D80 is in the same league as the entry-level D50. The Nikon D80 offers two control dials, enabling one to be used for aperture and one for shutter speed when shooting in full Manual mode, a very handy feature.

The Nikon D80 offers the serious underwater photographer many of the attractions of the professionally aimed (and priced) D200. With much of the technology packed into the smaller and less expensive D80 originating with the Nikon D200, it’s no surprise to find demand for the Subal ND80 housing so strong. The Nikon D80 is a powerful digital SLR camera that has a lot of features for you to leverage. If you’re not already familiar with how you can use aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance and metering to improve your digital photos, I encourage you to learn. The Nikon D80 shows very little noise but has significant softness at ISO 800 and above. These results are not surprising considering the same sensor design is used for all top Nikon DSLRs cameras.

The Nikon D80 is obviously not aimed to Nikon fans with huge collections of vintage MF lenses. But if so, they can be used. The Nikon D80 digital camera is one of our favorite cameras to have been released. Not only does it set a value point for digital SLR’s, but the D80 is feature-rich, lightweight, and takes incredible photos. We have yet to read a poor report on this super model. The Nikon D80 supports i-TTL, TTL and non TTL flashes and offers a maximum flash synchronisation to 1/200 seconds. The Nikon D80 is a dream come true for the enthusiast: excellent image quality with low noise at high ISOs, instant response, and excellent handling — at an affordable price.”. The Nikon D80 offers 95% scene coverage and 0.94x magnification. The viewfinder has built-in diopter adjustment (-2.0 to +1.0m-1).

The Nikon D80 is a fairly inexpensive digital SLR that packs spectacular performance and excellent (though somewhat soft) image quality into a well-built, solid camera. For under $1000 you get quite a lot of camera, and it will certainly make people think twice about spending hundreds more on a D200. The Nikon D80 Digitutor site - view the photo gallery where they show samples of images taken with various pro-level lenses such as the Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D, Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 Macro VR, Nikkor 12-24mm f/4 DX, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR, and the Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 DX. Left and top menus also allow you access to operational notes and tutorial videos.

The Nikon D80 inherits technological advantages developed exclusively for Nikon’s latest professional digital SLR cameras, combining color independent analog pre-conditioning with improved 12-bit digital image processing algorithms. The result is natural looking images that benefit from faithful color and tone reproduction.

If you are an amateur photographer and in the search of a digital camera that has features which cannot be found in any other digital camera, then Nikon Coolpix S10 is the one for you. It is enabled with the Best Shot Selector (BSS) Mode. This feature enhances the quality of your work. In this feature, you get to shoot approximately 10 snaps and then you can choose the best one out of the ten. It is this unique feature that will tempt you to buy Nikon Coolpix S10. To add to this, it comes in a reasonable price. So, it is all the more hard to neglect this offer.

Key features

Nikon Coolpix S10 has a 6 mega pixel CCD sensor. As a result, the picture quality discerned is very good. This is because, a CCD sensor comprises photo sensitive cells that trace incoming light and convert them into electrical signals. To add to this, higher resolution of a camera asserts that the quality of the images will also be good. It has a 10x optical zoom and a 4x digital zoom. So, you are empowered to click as many snaps as you like without distance or setting being a barrier. To view the snaps clicked and also to get a preview of the snaps that are intended to be clicked, you get to use the LCD display that measures 2.5 inches. It is also enabled with four shooting modes that make sure images turn out well even in case of an unfavorable setting. To add to this, there also exists a Macro Mode. Transferring data is also easy with Direct Print and PictBridge since these software ensure that communication between the camera and the printer goes on smoothly without the presence of a computer.

User friendly aspects

Nikon Coolpix S10 comes with a tiny joystick, with knurled edges, which makes navigating through its well designed menu system a walk over. If you intend to shoot a scene without using flash, then Nikon Coolpix S10 comes with a Best Shot Selector (BSS) mode that comes to your rescue. In this feature, you get to shoot approximately 10 snaps and then you can choose the one with the least smudge. It also comes in other variations, namely, Highlight BSS, Shadow BSS, and Histogram BSS. The images received from Nikon Coolpix S10 are extremely accurate and consequently impressive.

Conclusion

Nikon Coolpix S10 is an ideal purchase for advanced amateur photographers. It has some very good features that you may find really enticing.

History

Pentax, a popular brand in the digital world, is completely owned brand of Hoya Corporation. The company was found by Kumao Kajiwara in Tokyo, Japan during the year 1919. The Pentax digital camera was the first candidate to slot in a pentaprism view finder and a response mirror setup.

During 1960’s, a campaign slogan for Pentax spoke “just hold a Pentax”. That little statement was more than enough to speak for Pentax.

Market Capture

In the year 2005, Pentax Corporation clubbed with Samsung Techwin to do work in the field of camera technologies and retook market from Canon and Nikon. Then both of these majors started manufacturing new DSLR products from this collaboration. The Pentax *istDS2 and *istDL2 models were also seen as the Samsung GX-1S and GX-1L.

Products

The cameras that were manufactured by Pentax Corporation during 1960’s-70 were compact and functional, with smooth controls for operating. The design of the body was simple and clean, with not many fancy trappings. No sooner did you picked one up and held it; your hands knew that it had a precision device capable of delivering the highest quality results.

As such Pentax manufactures a large range of digital cameras, ranging from tiny point & shoots till full-featured SLRs; the major business of the company is composed by its compact Optio series of cameras. Some of the latest digital cameras from Pentax are the Pentax K200D, Pentax K20D, Pentax Optio W60, Pentax K10D.

The Pentax K20D digital SLR model follows the footsteps of the company’s successful K10D model. The K20D camera is a newly manufactured 14.6-megapixel with CMOS sensor. The Pentax K20D continues to provide both; the dust-reduction policies used in the K10D as well as K100D cameras like vibration of the sensor which will remove the dust particles. Pentax has even included a “dust alert” functionality which helps more leaning methods, by locating exactly on which part of the sensor do the stubborn dust particles reside.

The Best Digital SLR

If money is no object and you are looking for the best possible 35mm digital SLR, then you will want to know exactly which is the best digital SLR. At the moment most people would probably reply the Nikon D3, but this is about to change. This summer Leica, who were always known as the Rolls-Royce of 35mm cameras, will be launching their latest offering in digital SLRSs - the Leica S2.

The only problem there is likely to be with the new S2 is the cost. With this new digital SLR Leica are taking aim at the medium-format digital camera market, by creating a 35mm camera that can provide the same quality image as a medium-format camera such as a Hasselblad. The Nikon D3 for example has a 24 megapixel sensor, which is about double that of the ‘average’ high-quality digital camera.

The Leica S2 will be taking this even further by featuring a 37.5 megapixel digital sensor. In Leica’s own words the Leica S2 is a “remarkable new camera from Germany that redefines the professional DSLR class with a custom 37.5-megapixel, 30 x 45 mm sensor built into a 35mm-sized body”.

This digital camera is expected to seriously shake up the digital camera world and will force other manufacturers to significantly improve their products. 

The 37.5 megapixel 30 x 45 mm sensor on the Leica S2 is almost 60% larger than full frame 35mm and the quality it offers is “well beyond that obtainable by conventional pro-caliber DSLRs”.

The aim is to combine the quality of a medium-format digital camera with the ergonomics, and ease of use of a 35mm DSLR.

Back in 1925 Leica redefined photography when they created the legendary model A. The S2 is expected to have the same effect on digital photography in the 21st century.

The S2 is completely weather-sealed for use in the studio and also outdoors as it is, according to Leica, the ideal camera for “people who actually want superior image quality, but the nice hand-held option of taking pictures. So more the moving kind of taking pictures.”

Although the S2 approaches medium-format quality, it is significantly lighter and less cumbersome, you can therefore take it with you up mountain sides with relative ease, which cannot be said for medium-format cameras which are heavy and generally also require a tripod to be carried up the mountain too.

Leica are keen to emphasize that the S2 is a “tool, not a toy,” and that it has been created for professional photographers and pro-am photographers who require quality and reliability, it also has only enough buttons as are absolutely essential to professional photographers, i.e. there is no unnecessary no clutter.

The launch of the S2 is expected for the summer of 2009 and will be up against medium-format cameras such as the Hasselblad H3DII-39 megapixel with an 80mm lens. The Hasselblad sells for around $22,000 - the Leica S2 is expected to be priced around $20,000 - so start saving.

A wide range of binoculars can be used for nature study and bird watching. However an 8x 21 maybe all right for watching a blackbird in your garden on a bright, sunny day, but they would not be the best binoculars for birding, if you were in a shaded woodland area. Here you would need birding binoculars with a bigger objective lens, to allow in more light, and therefore enhance your view.

Whether you buy marine, sports or hunting binoculars telescopes or goggles, they are usually described in terms of magnification x the diameter of the objective lens. In a pair of 7×50 binoculars the seven represents the magnification, and the fifty the diameter of the objective lens. The bigger the objective lens, the more light is available and you will be able to have a clearer view of the bird.

If you will be birdwatching in swampy or damp areas, make sure you have waterproof binoculars. Compact binoculars will be easier to carry and use, but may cost more, or be lower quality than heavier binoculars. For the serious birdwatcher, scopes offer a greater magnification.

Eyecups are an important consideration for the bird watching enthusiast. Often cheaper binoculars have folding eyecups. These can be difficult to move, leading to the bird flying away, before you get them in place. Look for birding binoculars with eyecup that twist up, or slide in and out. You also want to make sure that the focus mechanism is situated well.

For hide work the best binoculars are a 10 x 40 or a 10 x 50 binocular, but if you need a wide field of view, a bright image and a high definition, Weitwinkel marine binoculars are ideal. Its ok, I’m not trying to confuse you here, Weitwinkel is simply the German name for wide-angle lens.

If you are looking for the best binoculars for birding, or even for sport golf or hunting binoculars, there are many excellent online shops, and even army surplus stores, to make your purchase. They usually have interesting binocular reviews and a large selection of goggles, scopes, nightvision monoculars, rangefinders, as well as binoculars for sale.

Nikon monarch binoculars birdwatching are well worth investigating, as these are lightweight and suitable for spectacle wearers. They have phase-coated optics, which offer amazing light transmission. There is also a waterproof option.

A popular brand worldwide is Praktica. The Praktica 10x 50 birdwatching binoculars have high quality bak-4 optics.

Zeiss, Leica and pentax zoom binoculars, are other names to look out for, but personally I believe the best binoculars for birding are made by Steiner.

With the knowledge that birdwatchers are some of the most challenging and serious of recreation users of binoculars, they made a precedence to understand their needs. In 2007 Steiner binoculars introduced a high spec, professional range or binoculars for birding, the Discovery.

The latest in this Steiner binoculars range, 8×44 and 10×44 offer exceptional precision and resolution of image, with unique high-definition XP-Optics, coatings of titanium, fluorite, a new dielectric prism coating, fast-close-focus system, wrap-around eyecups, and a great deal more.

On the face of it, a digital slr battery grip might not seem to be the most useful camera accessory, but once you’ve used one you might just change your mind!

With many modern digital cameras having a greater range of power hungry features such as image stabilisation or LCD screens in addition to powered auto focus systems, having an extra battery installed in your camera and ready to use is very handy. You will double the battery life and therefore approximately double the number of shots you can take before recharging. Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Olympus and Sony all offer battery grips to fit their digital SLR cameras.

Most camera battery grips include a vertical shooting facility, making it much easier to use the camera in ‘portrait’ mode. In most cases, the camera controls are duplicated on the grip so that rather than having to ‘twist’ your wrists to use the shutter button, you can use the shutter controls on the battery grip to take your picture. Once you get used to having this extra set of camera controls it’s hard to go back to using the camera in the conventional way!

As digital slr cameras are designed to be ever smaller, the addition of a battery grip provides a little extra surface area for better camera handling. This makes it easier to steady the camera properly, and should help control camera shake, particularly if you regularly use a telephoto or longer zoom lens.

It is important to choose the correct battery grip for your camera as they are not usually interchangeable. Canon battery grips for the EOS camera lineup include the BG-E3 model which will fit the Digital Rebel XT/Xti range (EOS350D and 400D outside of the USA), whilst the BG-E2N fits the recently released Canon EOS40D model. If you own the full frame Canon EOS 5D model, you will need the BG-E4 battery grip.

Nikon digital SLR owners can also buy a specific Nikon battery grip to suit their camera. If you own a nikon d80 camera, you need to buy a Nikon MB-D80 Multi-function Battery Pack, whilst owners of the Nikon D200 camera will require the MB-D200 grip.

Fitting a battery grip to your camera is very straightforward. In the case of my Canon EOS 40D it took less than 5 minutes from start to finish and simply involved removing the battery compartment cover and attaching the battery grip with one large knurled wheel.

To sum up, a battery grip will add a little weight and extra size to your camera, but the advantages are so much more than just having an extra battery installed. In fact, once you’ve installed a battery grip on your slr camera I doubt that you will ever want to remove it!

Before you decide on which waterproof camera to buy, and assuming that you are not a professional photographer, nor want to use the camera below 10 feet, these are some factors you should consider:

Conforming To Standards:

Japan being a dominant manufacturer of cameras, Japanese Industry Standard (JIS) Waterproof Standard 8 and JIS Dustproof Standard 5 can be considered as the benchmark for deciding on a good waterproof camera for amateur use. You should be able to use the camera at up to a depth of 10 feet.

Design & Weight:

As you intend to use the camera under water it should be designed to fit snugly in your hand, while having sufficient heft to make for efficient use. The build should be rugged, using standard aluminum and plastic. It should be light-weight, and not more than 6 ounces. A wrist-strap should be provided, to prevent the camera from slipping, and falling into the water.

Sealing:

This is an important factor, and should include covers for DC and the USB/AV jacks, as well as protection for the battery and storage card compartment, from water.

Photograph Quality:

The camera should be in the 5 - 7 mega pixel range, and have at least a 3X optical zoom lens. A reasonably wide aperture range will give more landscape photo options. High ISO will give relatively noise free photos.

Other Features:

Look for a sufficiently large LCD display, at least 2.5 inches, apart from Auto Mode, Movie Mode, Synchro Sound Record Mode, Digital Shake Reduction, Movie Shake Reduction, Drive/ Burst Mode, Playback Mode, and Manual Control options, as well as good shutter speed. The camera should also have sufficient memory to permit continuous shooting for sufficient time, in its movie mode.

Price:

Once you have all the above features, check whether the camera is priced reasonably.

I started photographing children at a very early age. When I was growing up I had two younger brothers and two younger sisters, and one of the first things I ever purchased with my baby sitting money was a camera.

It was a Kodak StarMite and I really loved that camera. My siblings became my favorite subjects, and soon I was snapping photos of them as often as I could. Living on a dairy farm also presented opportunities for great photographs, and when I could afford it I snapped away.

In those days everything was on film, and it was expensive to develop film, particularly for a young girl. While I did the best I could, I wish there could have been many more photographs of those days.

But today we have no such excuse. Today’s digital slr cameras with memory cards you can take hundreds, even thousands of photographs. But there are a lot of choices in cameras, and when I go to a store and kind of peruse all of the choices there the sales person always talks about how many pixels the images produced by the camera will have.

Well, more pixels does not necessarily mean it is a better camera, unless you are taking photographs to be blown up and published on a billboard! You see, there is a limit to the number of pixels that can be used to produce a photograph of a particular size.

So while I am taking photographs of children the parents always ask me what kind of camera to get. As a professional I have used most every make of camera there is, and my favorite remains my pentax spotmatic SLR camera.

It is not digital, requires no battery, and I get great photographs with it. For digital cameras I love the Canon line of digital slr cameras best of all.

The reason is that I find the cameras to be intuitive. In other words, the various controls on the camera are where I would expect them to be, and they do what I expect they will do.

One of the more important things about the digital slr cameras is battery life. Some cameras literally eat batteries. It is so frustrating to be snapping away when the light is just right, the subject is co-operating nicely and then the camera dies! Ugh…

This is particularly true of child photography. Kids are in motion all of the time, have a short attention span, and you can miss that very special look in the blink of an eye.

So the best advice I can give is don’t spend a lot of money on pixels, rather make sure the camera “feels” right, that the battery lasts a reasonable amount of time (buy an extra battery too), and that it is easy to operate.

Be sure and take the time to look through the manual that will come with the camera to see if it makes sense, is easy to read and understand. So many times I have gotten home with a new camera and have a hard time understanding the instructions in the operator’s manual.

Once you have purchased a good digital SLR camera make sure you do the most important thing - take a lot of photographs of your children. They grow faster than you think, time passes by quickly when you are raising your kids, and they will leave before you know it.

Don’t miss the opportunities that are there now - they won’t last long! Trust me, you will be glad you did!

2008 was an interesting year for DSLR’s and photographers in general, even if you ignore the ultra-high end announcements from Leica, Hassleblad and Red. The three main players in the DSLR space (Nikon and Canon each with around 40% market share, and Sony with around 10%) all launched milestone cameras. Below we’ll detail their hits, and misses.

Nikon

After their groundbreaking releases in 2007 with the Nikon D3 and D300, they set the bar high for 2008, but in general didn’t disappoint with four new bodies:

Nikon D60

While not revolutionary, the Nikon D60 replaced the D40x in Nikons consumer lineup, in a smaller, better package, becoming one of the smallest and lightest DSLR’s ever made.

Nikon D700

Coming almost as a complete surprise, the Nikon D700 was launched mid summer, containing the 12 megapixel full frame sensor out of the flagship D3, but with a body similar to the D300. At $3,000, this camera showed Nikons commitment to FX, and the camera instantly became the choice for many pros that didn’t need the weather sealing or the advanced features of the D3 (for example wedding photographers).

However within months of its release, the Sony A900 came out with a 24 megapixel full frame sensor for the same MSRP, and the Canon 5D Mark II came out with a 21 megapixel full frame sensor and 1080p HD Video, for $2,700.

While the D700 remains the most complete package (best autofocus, arguable the best metering, and for the vast majority 12 megapixels is plenty), it has come under severe pressure from its higher megapixel rivals. Just four months after its release, the street prices have dropped 25%, down to the $2,300 range for a USA model.

Nikon D90

Replacing the D80 in Nikons lineup, the Nikon D90 took the sensor from the respected D300, improved on it slightly, added video, and packaged it in a smaller, lighter body with scene modes and a more basic autofocus and metering.

The Nikon D90 was also the worlds first DSLR to feature HD Video capture, with its 720p/24 f.p.s. mode. However, a few weeks later Canon announced a much more comprehensive video offering with it’s Canon 5D Mark II, and video remains the weakest feature on the D90, lacking autofocus and giving very little control over key elements like exposure.

At $999, this helped firm up Nikons consumer lineup, by creating an outstandingly capable advanced consumer DSLR in the Nikon D90.

Nikon D3x

After years of rumor, Nikon finally announced it’s high megapixel camera, the 24 megapixel Nikon D3x.

The camera immediately caused a backlash with its $8,000 price point, which at the time of release was about double the street price of the Nikon D3. This the uproar was only fuelled further, when it was revealed the only significant differences between the D3 and the D3x were the sensor and a slightly improved EXPEED processor, combined with the fact Sony can produce a DSLR with the same size/megapixel sensor for a mere $3,000.

This camera is aimed squarely at the studio/landscape photographer, and initial tests have shown that the sensor is cleaner at high ISO’s than the Sony (but comparable to the 5D Mark II, which has fewer megapixels). So while it’s clearly an impressive camera, it remains to be seen how many photographers can actually justify the price tag.

Canon

In addition to some entry level DSLR’s, can had two big releases in 2008.

Canon EOS 50D

Replacing the 40D, the Canon 50D featured a 15 megapixel 1.6x crop sensor, making it the highest pixel density available today (equivalent to a 39 megapixel full frame sensor).

However the initial reception hasn’t been especially positive. Because of the high pixel density, the camera suffers more from the effects of diffraction, doesn’t have the high ISO ability many hoped it would, and shows up issues with lenses more than any previous model. Despite this, it remains a solid camera at its current street price of just over $1,000.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Probably the most significant release of the year, the Canon 5D replacement features a 21 megapixel Full Frame sensor, ISO capabilities similar to the new Nikon D3x, and it became the first DSLR to feature full 1080p HD Video capture. Despite some initial problems (like the infamous “black dot” problem), for $2,700 Canon provides an amazing feature set, and appears to have hit a home run with what is arguably the best prosumer package on the market today.

Sony

After solidifying its consumer lineup, Sony went after the prosumer market with the Sony A900 featuring a 24-megapixel full frame sensor for under $3,000.

Sony A900

The camera lacks basic features expected on today’s DSLR’s like Live View, but the next camera available with 24 megapixels is the $8,000 Nikon D3x. However it’s biggest competition comes from the Canon 5D Mark II, which has a slightly lower resolution at 21 megapixels, but more than makes up for it with its lower $2,700 price tag, full 1080p HD Video mode and features like Live View.

While clearly an impressive camera at a solid price point, unless you really need the extra resolution, it would be very hard to pick the Sony over the Canon.

Summary

With groundbreaking cameras in the Nikon D3x, Nikon D90, Canon 50D and Canon 5D Mark II, 2008 solidified full frame sensors in the marketplace, witnessed a continued push towards higher megapixels, and saw the introduction of video on DSLR’s.

Looking forward, 2009 should be an interesting year. With negative economic conditions and fierce competition for market share, we should see prices drop, and features like video mature making for some interesting, if not groundbreaking cameras in the near future.