Technology Trends

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.

The pentax optio P70 is a 12 megapixel digital camera with a 4x optical zoom lens. It is small enough to slip into most pockets. With plenty of competition around the big question is why would you buy the Optio P70 instead of one of the many other pocket digital cameras?

Most of these smaller compacts tend to have a similar set of features. One feature that I do not see all that often is manual focusing. This is included with the Optio P70 along with pan focusing. Ideally manual focusing would be controlled through twisting a focusing ring on the end of a lens barrel. This is the method used with Digital SLR cameras and is the easiest and quickest method to use. With a smaller camera like this one some compromises need to be made and manual focusing is controlled by pushing buttons on the back of the camera. If you are an experienced photographer this may not be ideal, but it is better than the feature not being there at all. Pan focusing comes in useful for tracking moving subjects.

More gimmick like features include a smile shutter and blink detection. If you turn on smile shutter the Optio P70 will automatically fire off a shot if it detects someone is smiling. With blink detection a warning message is given if the camera detects someone in the picture blinked.

After a photo has been taken there are some extra features that become available. These include being able to apply one of 11 colour filters, being able to soften the focus and being able to adjust the brightness of the shot. In addition you can record short voice memos to help you remember any important information about the shot. If you have taken a portrait shot using flash then red eye compensation can be applied to try and remove it.

Pentax has also included a High Definition movie mode. In my view this does not replace the need for a camcorder. After all you cannot zoom in and out while recording, but it can come in useful if you would like to shoot a short movie clip, but a camcorder is not readily available.

One area where I was left a little disappointed was with the macro mode. You are only able to focus from 10cm away from the subject. Most similar cameras allow you to focus from around 5cm. This is certainly a drawback if you are interested in taking close up shots with the Optio P70. This is a shame as the picture quality produced in macro mode is actually quite good.

A couple of points about the lens are that it is a wide angle lens and you can also increase the amount of zoom when shooting at lower resolutions. A wide angle lens helps you to squeeze greater width into a shot, so this can make sweeping landscapes even more dramatic or help you to squeeze more people into a group shot. I like the fact more zoom is available at lower resolutions. The way digital cameras have been marketed since their introduction tends to suggest the more megapixels you use the better the picture quality will be. This is not necessarily the case, so you should not worry about shooting at lower resolutions. A further advantage is that each image will eat up less space on a memory card.

In terms of pricing Pentax appear to have placed the Optio P70 somewhere between two stools. So it is a fair bit cheaper than expensive models like the Canon IXUS 100 IS, but still cost more than cheaper options like the Panasonic Lumix DMC FS6. Based on picture quality I feel Pentax has set the price a little on the high side.

The DCF SP 8×43 Pentax binoculars are smooth, well balanced, ergonomically designed and beautiful to handle, an excellent match for far more expensive top quality binoculars. If you don’t have £1,000+ to spend and you want high performance superior optics encased in a beautiful lightweight but rugged body then take a serious look at the Pentax DCF SP 8×43’s.

The image quality is amazing, I picked up the DCF SP 8×43 Pentax binoculars expecting a good quality viewing but was pleasantly surprised with the brightness and clarity of the image. The roof prisms are top quality high-refraction Bak-4 and phase coated and like all top quality binoculars the Pentax DCF SP’s come with fully multi coated lenses. Pentax use their own specially formulated lens coating which has been proven to deliver exceptionally bright, high contrast images (according to the brochure) and, in my opinion these binoculars stood up to the hype. I was particularly impressed at how well they performed against my all time favourites, the Swarovski 8.5×42 EL’s which are considerably more expensive.

I was impressed with the speed of focus which for me is an important feature that always influences my buying decision and being able to focus as close as 2mtrs was an added bonus. The eye relief is exceptionally good at 22mm (for the DCF SP 8×43 Pentax binoculars), the ‘twist up’ eye cups are comfortable and easy to use and the exit pupil is 5.4mm, all features that make these Pentax binoculars ideal for spectacle wearers. I did think the attached objective lens covers would prove to be irritating but I was wrong, they hang discretely below the binoculars and don’t get in the way.

The body of the DCF SP Pentax binoculars is fairly compact and exceptionally lightweight (695g) for full size binoculars due to its magnesium-alloy body. They are covered in dark green rubber armouring, which not only makes them exceptionally robust but also comfortable to hold.

As you would expect of a top quality binocular the Pentax DCF SP’s are waterproof (JIS class 6), nitrogen filled and sealed ensuring that they can be used in all weather conditions, and are fully protected against fogging and potentially damaging dust particles.

All in all the 8×43 DCF SP Pentax binoculars get my seal of approval, they are exceptional value for money with many features that make their performance comparable to that of far more expensive binoculars. The high performance optics, lens coatings and prisms are of exceptional quality and the sophisticated inner-focus optical design has helped ensure that the Pentax DCF SP’s are lightweight and compact for 8×43 binoculars. I haven’t tried them for astronomy but they stand up well in a marine environment and they are quite impressive when used for bird watching.

As birding binoculars I still prefer the Swarovski 8.5×43 EL’s but I would still be happy with the Pentax DCF SP’s and given the cost differential I couldn’t say the differences between the two warrant the much higher price tag.

Understanding pixel and Mega pixels this first step in buying a digital camera. When looking to buy a digital camera you will need to make a decision about ‘Mega pixels’. This term is plastered all over every camera ad and is the least understood element in buying a digital camera.. There is a lot of confusing information about Mega pixels in digital camera buyers ads. Here is what you really need to know. There are different quality pixels depending on what price range a camera falls into. Quality of pixels is more important than quantity of pixels. That being said lets talk about what a pixel is, and how they work.

Digital pictures are made up of lots of little dots called pixels. If the pixel quality in the image sensor of the cameras are the same, the more pixels, the sharper the picture.

Camera manufacturers advertise the number of pixels using the term, Mega pixels. One million pixels = 1 Mega pixel, Two million pixels = 2 Mega pixels and so on.

Most stores carry cameras ranging from 1 - 11 Mega pixels.

So you may think the best thing is to buy the camera with the most Mega pixels for your budget. Now that is the obvious way and probably not a bad approach. But keep in mind some of your better brand cameras have higher quality image sensors and therefore they produce sharper photographs using fewer Mega pixels. You may not need a lot of Mega pixels to really enjoy your camera and get great looking pictures. Not to mention that the rest of the camera is of a higher quality of construction also. This is especially evident if you stay with established name brands like Canon and Nikon.

Professional Photographers use these for good reason. Dependability, durability, and image quality. So if you are torn between a 6 or 8 Mega pixel Canon Digital Camera and a lesser brand 10 or 11 Mega pixel digital camera, I suggest you stay with the Canon. Your pictures will be just as good and your camera will be far more dependable.

So how many Mega pixels are enough? If you’re planning on viewing your images on a computer screen (for example, in emails ,on websites, or in online photo albums) you won’t notice a difference between a 2 Mega pixel digital image and one that has 4 or 5 Mega pixels.

Your typical computer monitor can’t display all the detail that a 4 or 5 Mega pixel picture contains. The images are too big and they need to be published at a lower resolution for the web, example a resolution of only 72 is best for the web while a resolution of 300 is better for printing.

If you want to print enlargements. Images taken with higher Mega pixel digital cameras (4, 5 and 6 for example) contain more information. These images can be printed in larger sizes before they start looking bad ( they start showing digital noise, as the pixels appear to be breaking up).

If you’re a casual user who wants to email some pictures to friends and family and print some 4×6 inch prints a 2 Mega pixel camera will be fine.

If you want professional quality images and have a real need for the sharpest prints available you’ll want to go for as many Mega pixels as the budget allows.

As you move up the Mega pixel chain you will get more than just more pixels. The cameras will have more features and the ability to use manual controls. You will also have the advantage of having interchangeable lenses, which will greatly improve your ability to shoot more creative photographs. You’ll also be able to print much bigger enlargements of your favorite photos.

There’s more to a good digital camera than Mega pixels. Good lenses, image sensors will play an important part in your image quality. So be sure to stay with established brands like, Canon, Olympus, Fuji, Nikon, and Kodak, for example, when buying a digital camera.

One more tip…

So when should you care about higher Mega pixel cameras?

Ask any father what he wants for Father’s Day, and the answer will be “Not another tie or golf club”. It’s easier to buy gifts for moms, considering there are so many options available for women. But when it comes to buying Father’s Day gifts for dads, it’s easy to run out of ideas. What will dads like to get on Father’s Day?

Well, it depends. Does your dad like to read? Or is he one of those types who can spend hours with maps? Here are some ideas for great customized Father’s Day gifts sure to please your dad, depending on if he is a(n):

1. Environmentalist Dad

Belkin conserve : Here is a gift idea for dads trying to make all those subtle changes to our lives that conserve energy. By now, everyone has heard that a lot of energy is wasted on all those devices that sit drinking up juice while in “stand-by” mode. This power strip allows you to really turn off six of its eight outlets using a tiny remote control (you can glue it to the wall - I think it’s mostly there to save you the energy of bending down to the wall outlet). Two plugs are left unswitched so you can keep the DVR or VCR (does anyone have those now?) on while you’re out or away.

2. Boy Scout Dad

Swiss Tech 6-in-1 Key Multi-Tool : We love the Swiss Tech key tool. It folds into a key-like object that fits unobtrusively on a key ring. It doesn’t take any space, looks just like a key, and yet has so many features that any boy scout, pre-adolescent or middle-aged will be pleased. In a small space, you have a Phillips and regular screwdriver, a bottle opener, a knife, and a file. Sure, you wouldn’t want to use these tools to renovate your kitchen, but like any pocket knife, all that stuff comes in handy often enough to be glad you’ve got it. My wife and I both have one and never travel without it. In polished stainless steel. A bit pricey at $19.99, but worth every penny.

3. Book Lover Dad

Daddy’s Little Girl: Stories of the Special Bond Between Fathers and Daughters by Gregory E. Lang

If you have a daughter, it’s hard not to get a little emotional reading this collection of anecdotes compiled by Gregory Lang (author of more pithy books like “Why a daughter Needs a Dad: 100 reasons”). This is not a “deep” book, but it does get at a lot of important truths about the importance of a father to little (and big) girls. Sometimes, that’s also what dads need to give an extra push to their efforts. We all need to know that all those hours pushing swings and replacing toy batteries are the foundation of an enduring relationship that doesn’t end suddenly at adolescence. There has been plenty of research that shows this to be true, but Mr. Lang, in this compilation of his own and others’ stories relates how this plays out in different ways. For the dad of a young girl, it also gives a not-always-comfortable (read morbid) look into the future when kids are grown up and dad is looking at what he’s leaving behind as a legacy rather than what he is building in the here and now.

4. Cartophile Dad

Hometown Map Jigsaw Puzzle Centered On Your Home : From the New York Times store, this unique, made-to-order jigsaw puzzle features a map that centers on your home. The map, an extract from the renowned U.S. Geological Survey, has fascinating details and provides names of main roads, contour lines, transport infrastructure, water features, vegetation, and shows notable buildings/structures. Personalized for $44.95.

5. Gamer Dad

Wii from Nintendo : Permission to buy a video game console. It now seems universally permissible to add a Wii to the family entertainment options. Either dad already has one or he’s waiting for you to say it’s okay to let one in the house. Now with the addition of Wii Fit, even moms can rationalize getting in a round of Mario Tennis before dinner. Unfortunately, if you don’t have a strategy, it’s still impossible to walk into a store and buy one of these. You’ll either have to scope out deliveries at your local electronics store or plan to pay $100 over the MSRP to buy one online. We have found no other real options.

6. Traveling Dad

“Bushnell Powerview 12×25 Compact Folding Roof Prism Binocular (Black)” (Bushnell) : With slightly more magnification (12X versus the usual 10X) in a compact package, these are good portable binoculars for travel dads and sporting events. At around $20, this is a great little binocular.

7. Beer Lover Dad

Krups BeerTender : For the beer lover, the Krups BeerTender, a countertop “kegerator” for the 5 liter minikegs of Heineken beer is just perfect to give you the perfect pour every time. The tap keeps the beer at 39 degrees Fahrenheit. Some models come with a 30-days freshness countdown counter.

Attention: meant only to be used with Heineken mini-kegs.

8. Photographer Dad

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5K 9MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Time to get a new family digital camera. We’ve had great luck with our little Panasonic Lumix D9 with its leica lens. Now Panasonic has a new model that shoots at 9MP (far more than mortals actually need), but also sports HD output. The optical stabilization is top notch and it has a 10X zoom. Only $350.

Father’s Day is not just about burnt toast, breakfast in bed, or that brand new tie. It’s a day for children to express their love and gratitude for the unsung hero in their lives.

Few years ago, images captured by the film cameras were considered to be the only way to record and store moments of life. While some of us used them to memorize occasions such as graduation party, marriages, birthdays and even anniversaries, others used them to record personal feats such as competitions and educational felicitations. However, there were some factors on which a film camera does not stand up to the expectations. The factors such as image quality, deletion of unwanted images, special image effects and worse light conditions were some of the points where the film camera proved to be completely sub-standard.

The growing needs of the camera users and enthusiasts led to the birth of a new technology. This new Digital Technology saw the introduction of digital cameras in the markets. These digital cameras allowed the users to capture high-quality images even in the worse light conditions, without compromising on the image clarity and quality. In addition to that, the users were given an option to delete unwanted images besides giving some image effects to the captured images. These cameras were also sleek, elegant, ultra-stylish and portable but expensive than the film cameras.

However, as the time passed and new technologies were introduced, the prices of digital camera gradually fell by a significant amount. In the present day market, this fall can also be attributed to favorable government policies and market trends besides a rise in user’s income and growing competition. Now that we have learned the reasons behind the development and popularity of the cheap digital cameras, let us now move to some of the eminent names and products in the marketplace.

Some of the biggest names in the world of cheap digital camera are Nikon and Canon. If you are looking for high-class yet cheap digital cameras in the market then the Nikon Coolpix L10, nikon l11, Nikon S200 and Nikon S510 are some of the feasible options. These Nikon digital cameras are high on performance, quality and user-friendly embedded features.

Get started with the digital technology by grabbing a cheap digital camera today, if in doubt, get the world class Nikon digital camera for yourself.

For most people buying a camera of this nature, it is likely that you are not a camera afficionado and do not understand all the technical jargon that you read in most professional reviews. Of course, there are many who do understand it; that’s clear when you read some of the user reviews on this product. So for a novice photographer, who may be just use to inexpensive point-and-shot cameras, and is moving up to an SLR, you might have trouble decoding a simple user review let alone a professional who wants to show off his or her tech savvy.

But, for those who do not have expertise in camera technology, I am going to write this review with you in mind and point out the technical details of this camera and try my best to explain what in the world it all means.

So let’s get started. First off, this Pentax K200D has received an uncanny amount of 5 star ratings. (62 to date) vs 0, with a capital “Z”, 1 and 2 star ratings, with only 2, 3 star ratings, an amazing feat for any one product. The only drawbacks this camera seems to have, is the speed in which it takes to reset and move on to the next photo you want to take.

What does that mean for you? If you are in the market for a camera to take sports action photos, and you want to click one right after another, this camera may not be for you. You will have to wait a couple of seconds while the camera resets and refocuses for the next shot.

Speaking of focusing, the auto focus setting is an above average setting for this camera, which for all intent and purposes is fairly quick. There are other brands out there on the level of this SLR camera that may be quicker in response, but are lacking in the more important categories, if your needs do not require fast action shots this camera is one of the best on the market.

There seems to be a variance on the auto focus setting in a few of the reviews I’ve read. One in particular mentioned that with the auto focus setting he was getting 2 out of three good pictures, with one out of the three a little out of focus, but not to the point where the picture is unacceptable.

Whenever you read a review, you must keep in mind everyone has different needs and tolerance points. You must consider your personality; are you a perfectionist? I know I am, and I must assume that the reviewer in this case is, as well. Also you must consider whether this particular individual may also be an impatient type of person and doesn’t let the camera have the proper time to fully refocus before snapping the next picture.

In that case, this camera may not be for you, you may need to look for a further upgrade or another brand that is a little quicker in this regard.

Let’s take a look at some of the features of this SLR digital camera. With 10.2 megapixel CCD sensor, the Pentax K200D offers superior image resolution with maximum control over noise. And with body-based Shake Reduction, the Pentax SLR system will stabilize your shots, providing maximum flexibility with no compromise in optical quality. It increases your handheld shooting shutter speed range by 2.5 to 4 stops for blur-free pictures, and is compatible with every Pentax lens ever produced.

Which brings me to this next point, Pentax has manufactured over 25 million lenses in the last six decades; all DSLR bodies offer backward compatibility with every one. With some of the older screwmount lens, you may need an additional screwmount adaptor, but for the most part, whichever lens is used, whether the most recent lenses or a classic screwmount, it will faithfully capture the image desired.

The body of the Pentax has 60 seals to protect the inner components against humidity, moisture and dust particles. Coupled with the durability of a fiber-reinforced polycarbonate body and a stainless-steel chassis, and you can keep shooting even in harsh conditions, with a very manageable weight, and a comfortable grip design, this camera is easy to handle.

You can also expect to get the right exposures with the settings you want. Auto Picture mode automatically calculates photographic factors to pick the best picture mode. The Scene modes offer a selection of eight modes specialized for alternate conditions. Plus, Sensitivity-Priority AE (Sv) mode is designed to automatically select the optimum combination of aperture and shutter speed for a user-selected sensitivity.

Aperture refers to the diaphragm opening inside the lens. This opening regulates the amount of light that is allowed in for optimum exposure. In SLR cameras, aperture size is usually calibrated in “f-numbers” or “f-stops”. Those are the little numbers engraved on the casing of the lens. Each of these values represents one times the amount of light that is needed. For example, an f16 setting with allow 1X the amount of light than a setting of f22.

Getting back to our features, next we have a 2.7 inch high-resolution, wide-view LCD monitor with a 160 degree field of view of your subject in 230,000 dots, which allows for more precise playback. The Prime image processing engine maximizes image properties and allows custom adjustment of image parameters, such as truer color tones, a wider dynamic range, and natural-looking high ISO images.

The 230,000 dots is the amount of pixels that the LCD screen is made up of. The ISO is the number indicating a digital camera sensors sensitivity to light. The higher the sensitivity, the less light is needed to make an exposure. Digital cameras automatically select the ISO but most have a setting to change it manually. Auto ISO generally works best for bright scenes.

With Enhanced Dynamic Range mode, this camera gives you 200% more dynamic range, which brings out detail in the highlighted portions of your image while maintaining detail in darker areas. Dust Reduction and Dust Alert features eliminate the need for time-consuming retouching by sealing against dust and determining if and where any dust remains after the system is activated.

Advanced 16-segment metering and 11-point AF, with 9 cross sensors, ensure perfectly exposed and focused images, even in the most difficult lighting conditions. Custom Image modes, with six preset options, offer superior control of how the PRIME processor develops images, and can be further modified to meet your needs. Get beautifully processed images in any shooting condition.

In addition to a wide range of preset white balance options, take advantage of full manual control. Every preset and manual white balance setting offers fine adjustment control, giving you powerful options to tune the white balance exactly as you need it. The K200D offers 23 custom functions with 52 individual settings, ensuring that you can fully customize the camera to suit your individual needs.

And lastly, this Pentax K200D SLR camera runs on standard AA size lithium batteries. This is a real nice feature, and comes in handy when you are out taking photos and your batteries run down. The convenience of these standard batteries is that they are easy to find in most any store. This is much easier than trying to find a specialty store for a custom camera battery.

So there you have it. I know it’s a lot of information to digest, but this camera is chock full of features and comes highly recommended by those who have already taken the plunge and purchased it. If you would like to see more information on this camera, like user reviews with the pros and cons that may be of interest to you, just click on this link to Electronics Review Central, and you will get all this, images of the camera, purchasing information, and more.

I hope this review was helpful to you. Until next time…

Russ Schmidt

C.E.O., Electronics Review Central

There are at least 10 great reasons for buying the all new nikon d40x.

1 . It’s a Nikon! As a Nikon user for over 20 years I want to be able to use all of the lenses I have bought over the years . Plus the Nikon name in itself is a guarantee of superb quality - these are the guys who make state of the art professional cameras . The D40X gives you access to Nikon’s Total Imaging System - Nikkor lenses, i-TTL creative lighting system and the new SB-400 speedlight.

2 . The camera is very small and only 475gin in weight. No-one wants to lug about a heavy camera all day . The D40X is well-balanced and you have easy access to the controls.

3 . The D40x has a massive 10 megapixel DX format image sensor - the same size as the professional Nikon cameras . This means detailed high-resolution images that are perfect for enlargement.

4 . The 3-area Autofocus system almost guarantees sharp pictures in all sorts of situations.

5 . Cameras nowadays must have a large LCD screen to make it easy review your images quickly as you take them . The D40x has a bright 2.5-inch LCD monitor.

6 . The camera has no less than 8 Digital Vari-Programs . The choice includes Auto Flash Off, Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close-up and Night Portrait.

7 . Nikon’s own built-in i-TTLflash technology means the D40X always provides the correct exposure no matter what the conditions.

8 . A film speed range of 200 to 1600 ISO allows you to take pictures even in low-light situations without using a flash.

9 . You can make prints directly from the camera without the need for a computer using the Pictbridge system.

10 . Amazingly , you can retouch pictures in camera before you have even download them to your computer with the Retouch Menu. You can have black-and-white or sepia tones, and Red-Eye Fix and D-Lighting.

Digital cameras ratings are great tools for deciding which camera best fits your needs and budget. Ratings consider the specifications, features, camera design and test results. These facts are then analyzed and summarized to help the reader make an objective decision.

Before reading the ratings though, we must decide which type of camera fits our needs. The four main types of digital still cameras are:

1. Ultra-Compact Digital Cameras
2. Compact Digital Cameras
3. Prosumer Digital Cameras
4. Digital SLR Cameras

Top Rated Digital Cameras

This summary of top rated cameras is grouped by type, but in no particular ranking order.

Ultra-Compact Digital Cameras are pocket-sized and weigh only a few ounces, making them the perfect go-anywhere camera. Rated from three to more than seven megapixels, they produce quality photos that can be enlarged to 8″ X 10″ or larger. Most include optical zoom and other features.

• Canon PowerShot S410, SD200, SD300, SD400 and SD500 Digital ELPH cameras
• Casio EXILIM EX-S100,EX-Z50 and EX-Z750
• Fujifilm FinePix F410
• Konica Minolta DiMAGE X50 and G600
• Nikon Coolpix 3700 and S1
• Olympus Stylus 400 Digital, 500 Digital and Verve
• Pentax Optio S5i
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F88, DSC-L1, DSC-P200, DSC-T1, DSC-T7 and DSC-W1

Compact digital cameras are slightly larger but will still fit in a loose pocket or purse. Some are very inexpensive and make the perfect entry level camera. Three to seven megapixels and optical zooms are standard, with advanced features on some models.

• Canon PowerShot A400, A510, A520, S60 and S70
• Fujifilm FinePix A330, A345 and E550
• Kodak EasyShare C360, CX7430, DX6340, and DX7440
• Nikon Coolpix 3200, 4600, 4800, 5600 and 7900
• Olympus Camedia D-540, D-580 and D-595
• Pentax Optio 30
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S60, DSC-W5 and DSC-W7

Prosumer digital cameras are for the true photo enthusiast. They are a cut above the compact digital cameras, but less expensive than digital SLR cameras that professional photographers require. SLR-style TTL, six megapixels or more, image stabilization, super zooms and other advanced features are typical.

• Canon PowerShot G6, Pro1, S2 IS and S70
• Casio EXILIM PRO EX-P600 and EX-P700
• Fujifilm FinePix S5100
• Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2, A200 and Z5
• Nikon Coolpix 8400, 8700 and 8800
• Olympus Camedia C-5060 Wide Zoom, C-7000 Zoom, C-7070 Wide Zoom, C-765 UltraZoom, C-770 UltraZoom and C-8080 Wide Zoom
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5 and DMC-FZ20
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F828, DSC-H1 and DSC-V3

Digital SLR Cameras offer just about anything the serious photographer could want or need. High quality optics in interchangeable lenses, top rated sensors up to 16 plus megapixels, and advanced professional focus and exposure controls make these cameras a photographer’s dream come true.

• Canon EOS 20D, EOS 300D Digital Rebel, EOS 350D Digital Rebel XT, EOS-1D Mark II Pro and EOS-1Ds Mark II Pro
• Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro
• Konica Minolta MAXXUM 7D
• Nikon D50, D70, D70s, D2x Professional and D2h High Speed Professional
• Olympus E-1 and E-300 EVOLT
• Pentax *ist D and *ist DS

Of the hundreds of digital cameras on the market, these rated at the top of their categories. Each camera has unique features, but all are best digital camera values.

Nikon officially introduced the 12.1 MP nikon d700 FX format (equivalent to 35mm format) digital SLR on July 1st, 2008. The D700 is often said to be a “D3 in a D300 body”. Take a D3, put it in a smaller body, do some clever cost-cutting but modest feature changes, lower the price to nearly a half, and you’ve got a D700. So, just how close is the D700 to the D300?

The D700 shares a number of features with D300. Both of them sport a powerful 51-point AF system, a high resolution 3in VGA monitor with Live View, the same 1005-pixel metering system, along with an HDMI port for connection to HDTVs - albeit using a mini-jack on the D700. Both of them are also tough, offering resistance to dust and moisture.

For the camera body, the dimension of D300 is approximately 147 x 114 x 74 mm (5.8 x 4.5 x 2.9 in), D700: approximately 147 x 123 x 77 mm (5.8 x 4.8 x 3.0 in). Without battery, the weight of D700 goes up 995g and the D300 is 825g. So the D300 is slightly smaller and lighter than the D700.

The Main difference between the two cameras is that the D700 uses a FX - full frame sensor and the D300 uses the DX - 1.5x cropped sensor. The D700 employs exactly the same 12.1 Megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor as the D3, which conforms to Nikon’s FX format and deliver images with 4256 x2832 pixels when coupled with an FX-compatible lens. Like the D3, you can still use DX-format lenses, but with a cropped portion of the sensor, delivering 5 Megapixel images.

The viewfinder on the Nikon D700 features an eye-level pentaprism with high refraction index and provides 95% frame coverage with 0.72x magnification. It’s not as accurate as the D300 or the D3 which both offer 100%.

Now let’s talk about the sensor size. D700 uses a 36 x 24 size and pixel density is just 1.4MP/cm2 compared to the 23.6 x 15.8 Size and Pixel Density of 3.3MP/cm2. It means that technically the D700 should have cleaner file since the pixel density is almost half that of the D300.

Nikon D300 has 70-300mm VR lens and you effectively get a lens that has a 450mm reach at the telephoto end of the zoom range. This comes handy when you’re shooting wildlife or sports where the subjects are far away. The same lens on the D700 would result in photos where the subject will not fill up as much of the frame as it would on the D300.

In a word, the Nikon D700 is basically a Nikon D300 sized version of the Nikon D3 digital SLR. The major advancements in performance and design that were first introduced with the Nikon D3 and D300 have been incorporated in the D700 along with a few differentiating features and functionality. But the D300 is much cheaper than the D700-nearly half of the D700’s price. So whether it is worthy to upgrade your D300 to D700 depends on you needs.

Pentax digital camera problems are not something you hear about, but that may be because Pentax gives you very clear digital camera basics for operating their cameras. They explain everything in detail and seem to leave nothing unsaid about operating the pentax cameras. The biggest problem with the Pentax digital cameras is the warranty coverage and the time it takes to send your camera in for repairs. It can take up to eight weeks before you receive your camera back from the manufacturer. When you buy any camera, especially a Pentax digital camera, you should check the lens to make sure no damage has been done during shipping or assembly.

As for some other Pentax digital camera problems, they are not so much about the camera as much as it is what you can and cannot do with the camera. If you buy the W30 digital camera, which is supposed to be waterproof, you might find out that not every camera stands up to this particular statement. You should always look for a underwater camera that is highly rated by users before selecting any underwater camera. The customer service is not very helpful if something happens to this and many other cameras.

Other than the usual Panasonic digital camera problems associated with user error, Panasonic cameras do hold up well when taking clear pictures. Before buying any digital cameras, you should read the reviews and check for any recall alerts from the manufacturer to ensure you are getting a good camera that will give you only the best quality pictures. You will find that some users rate the cameras poorly. You just have to use good judgment and determine if it could be a user error that causes the problem before you decide to buy any digital camera. Digital cameras are easy to use if you read the manuals.

Whatever your passion, if you want the best performance you have to have the best tools for the job and with binoculars it is no different. There are only a few top quality binoculars that are streets ahead of anything else on the market and among them are the Ultravid Leica binoculars. If you are really passionate about what you do don’t settle for anything other that the absolute best in precision engineering and optical performance, qualities that binoculars such as the Swarovski EL’s and the all new leica Ultravid’s are renowned for.

Leica have absolutely excelled themselves with the Ultravid’s, which are a great improvement on the original Trinovid series, to produce absolutely superb binoculars with exceptional optical resolution and contrast. Just take a look through Ultravid Leica binoculars and you’ll be amazed at how bright, clear and sharp the images are. You will truly understand what images should look like through binoculars of superior optical design.

For comfort and ease of use the Ultravids get top marks:

• the lightweight die-cast magnesium housing with central titanium hinge and soft tough rubber armour make them comfortable to hold, lightweight yet extremely rugged, ideal for extreme conditions added to which

• Ultravid Leica binoculars are precision engineered to ensure perfect balance making them the ideal companion during periods of extended viewing and

• focusing is so quick and easy with the newly designed, perfectly smooth, central focusing system

As with all superior quality binoculars the Leica Ultravid’s are waterproof, nitrogen filled and sealed to ensure a perfect performance in all weather conditions, an absolute must for regular outdoor use in the UK. The Utravid Leica binoculars ability to perform in extremely high and low temperatures is outstanding as a result of high performance Teflon disks that operate with almost no lubrication.

If you want elegance look no further than the Ultravid 8×42 and 10×42 (BL series) Leica binoculars, they are slimmer and lighter than their rubber coated counterparts, exceptionally light for binoculars of their size and optical quality, just 695g and 710g.

Leica have introduced a whole series of optical improvements into the Ultravid design to ensure that every model in the Ultravid Leica binocular series delivers edge to edge sharp, crystal clear images with excellent contrast:

• Leica AquaDura Coating, modelled on a lotus plant who’s leaves never get dirty and where droplets of water never rest, this newly developed coating alters the surface of the outer lenses of the binoculars to ensure liquids can no longer stick to the surface and when water rolls off the dirt goes with it.

• The high-definition optics in the Ultravid HD Leica binoculars utilise FL lenses to increase image resolution. The HD models offer exceptional contrast and natural colour with sharper, more clearly defined images. The FL lenses are made from calcium fluorite, a mineral with an extremely low refractive index and low dispersion which reduces colour aberrations.

• Ultravid Leica binoculars come with high performance (HDC) optical coatings which not only protect the outer lenses from environmental influences and scratches but ensure that light transmission is as close to 100% as possible (99.7%).

• A change in the prism glass material and the use of phase correction coating P40 on the prisms has enabled Leica to deliver outstandingly bright viewing, even in low light conditions.

• The HighLux system (HLS) is a mechanical system combined with a specially developed mirror prism coating that has been utilised to optimise light transmission and contrast and ensure the sharpest possible view.

The attention to detail in what can only be described as an absolutely superb pair of binos has resulted in near perfect Leica binoculars of a stunning design with an exceptional image quality that is hard to match. Definitely worth a look if you are looking for high performance compact, mid-size or full-size binoculars.

With the acceptable image quality and the other advantages of digital photography the majority of professional news photographers have begun capturing their images with digital cameras. Digital photography has also been adopted by many amateur snapshot photographers, who take advantage of the convenience of the form when sending images by email, placing them on the World Wide Web, or displaying them in digital picture frames.

Also, one big advantage of digital photography is the instant review of pictures, with no wait for the film to be developed: if there’s a problem with a picture, the photographer can immediately correct the problem and take another picture (up to hundreds of photographs on the same media device).

Digital cameras have also been integrated into many cell phones. The photographer is able to color-balance and manipulate the image in ways that traditional darkroom science cannot offer, although film users can utilize the same technology with a film scanner. But digital cameras also tend to be much more sensitive to moisture and extreme cold. For this reason, photographers who work in remote areas, such as those who work for National Geographic overwhelmingly favor film SLR cameras. Many digital cameras can deliver only JPEG files.

Another format that may be encountered is RAW, which contain unprocessed image data straight from the camera’s image sensor. Compact digital cameras usually include zoom lens and flashes that cannot be changed, but digital single-lens reflex camera (digital SLR or DSLR), operates on the same optical and mechanical principles as a film single-lens reflex camera, and offers the possibility to change lenses. Recent manufacturers such as Nikon and Canon have promoted the adoption of digital Single-lens reflex cameras (dSLRs) by photojournalists. Lenses in digital photography can be Telephoto lenses, Wide-angle lenss or Normal lenss, used for landscapes, portraits and close-ups (macros). Digital anti-shake tools (also called Image Stabilisation) allow taking sharp hand-held pictures where previously a tripod was required. Digital SRLs work also with RAW images containing unprocessed image data straight from the cameraÂ’s image sensor.

Since the data isnÂ’t processed on the camera the photographer will do so on the computer in order to get it into more usable formats like TIFF or JPEG. This method offers flexibility of the results regarding exposure, lighting, white balance, contrast, colours and saturation as well as greater creative control of the image.

From Canon, good compact cameras the Powershot A series, such as A520, A620, A700 and others, main difference between them being their megapixel image resolution and optical zoom. Canon PowerShot S3 IS is a type of camera that moves a step forward from compact to dSLR. As for the SLR’s and dSRLs, Canon comes with the Rebels: Digital Rebel XT, Canon EOS 200D, and Canon EOS 30D. Nikon is considered to be as good as Canon but sometimes cheaper: Nikon D40, nikon d200, and Nikon D70. Other notable cameras are Olympus E-330, Fuji FinePix S9100, FujiFilm Finepix E900, Sony Cybershot DSC-W100, HP Photosmart R967 and many many others. Choosing a digital camera can be very difficult and the techniques are in constant progress so that these cameras get better and better, more and more powerful but still smaller, therefore some of them received the name “pocket camera”.