Posts Tagged ‘First’

Quick Guide on How to Pick Your First Mirrorless Interchangeable Camera System

Check Out Our Offering on Digital Photography Secrets Here

According to Samsung, mirrorless interchangeable cameras (MILC) are the future. Samsung, and many experts also predict that the sales of MILC cameras will eventually surpass digital SLR cameras. Today, they are not less than a dozen MILC cameras and 30-40 lenses available.

Basically, MILC system camera has a larger sensor equal to those in digital SLR camera but it does not has mirror and optical viewfinder like DSLR cameras. Therefore, milc camera has considerable less bulk and weight.

However, you might be confused on which MILC system is the best for your needs and experience. Just like DSLR camera system, choosing the best suited MILC system is very important to enhance your photography experience.

Up to date, there are three major systems to consider. The first one is micro four thirds system which include Panasonic and Olympus. The second one is Samsung NX system and the last one is Sony NEX system.

I would suggest Panasonic if you want the most responsive cameras with tones of lenses in their arsenal.

Panasonic micro four thirds system cameras is famous for its auto focus performance which almost equal to beginner digital SLR camera.

Panasonic offers two kinds of design. The first one has built-in electronic viewfinder and DSLR like grip. This kind is like a mini DSLR. For example: Panasonic G1, G2, GH1 and GH2. The second version is more compact due to no EVF and DSLR like grip. It looks like enlarged compact camera. For example: Panasonic GF1. The overall design is geared towards function rather than aesthetic appeal.

So far, Panasonic has the best lens collection and some of them are very high quality such as Panasonic Leica 45mm f/2. 8 macro lens. Because Panasonic belongs to micro four thirds system, it can use Olympus m43 lenses too or if you use appropriate adapter, you can use other manufacturers and old legacy lens from film era as well.

I would suggest Olympus if you want to be unique and fashionable

Olympus is the second company to release MILC camera after Panasonic. Unlike Panasonic, Olympus does care on aesthetic. For example, Olympus PEN E-P1 is a very nice looking camera. Its design derived from vintage camera from film era.

Olympus has unique feature which is built-in sensor image stabilization which will work with any lenses mounted on it. As a result, Olympus lens is considerably smaller than other lenses which employ lens-based image stabilization. Fixed focal length lenses will also get benefit from this technology.

Like Panasonic, Olympus also belongs to micro four thirds system, so you can use the lens interchangeably with Panasonic or other lenses that have micro four thirds mount.

However, the downside of Olympus is on auto focus and general performance. It starts up time and auto focus system is twice slower than other MILC camera system. In addition, some of their cameras including E-P1, E-P2 do not have built-in flash and all of their current camera do not have built-in electronic viewfinder. (Olympus might plan to release one next year).

I would suggest Samsung NX if you love great interface, handling and control

Samsung is a relative new comer in MILC system, but it is very ambitious to bring the best MILC system to the market. Generally, Samsung camera performance is almost equal to Panasonic cameras, and it employs larger sensor than micro four thirds system (Olympus and Panasonic). Therefore, it has slight advantage in low light photography and dynamic range.

So far, Samsung has two designs. NX10, their first camera, has built-in electronic viewfinder and the newer NX100 does not has it. The design is modern and simple.

What unique about Samsung NX system is their lenses. Some of the new ones has i-Function features, which you can use focus ring on lens to change various setting such as ISO, WB, etc.

NX system interface is nicely designed with great looking graphic and typography. It is great especially for beginners.

There is no considerable downside to this system other than they don’t have many lenses available yet. But they seem to be very enthusiastic about this system and will launch five more lenses next year.

I would suggest Sony NEX if you are point of shoot shooters and love to be in style

Sony NEX is famous because it is the smallest MILC cameras in the market, yet it has large sensor equal to those of DSLR cameras. Like most Sony products, its design is stylist and relative high quality. For example, it lenses are made from aluminum case instead of plastic. Performance wise, Sony NEX system is only a tad slower than Panasonic system.

Sony NEX system is very friendly to beginners. Its interface is made as simple as possible. If you are used to point of shoot camera and have little or no knowledge about photography, learning how to operate Sony NEX will be a piece of cake.

However, if you are experienced photographers, you might be a bit disappointed with the interface. It takes many button presses until you can set the camera according to your will.

Like Samsung NX, Sony NEX system is very new, so lens collection is somewhat limited in 2010. But due to good sales outlook of NEX system, we can expect more lenses from Sony in the new future.

I hope this article could give you an idea on which system is the best for you. Happy shooting!

 

Looking For a Refurbished Digital Camera? Read Our Recommendation First

A Digital Photography Tutorial Called Best FIRST Digital Camera

Check Out Our Offering on Digital Photography Secrets Here

Simply the name “Pentax” will bring a smile to the faces of photographers both young and old. In the world of cameras Pentax has become synonymous with quality cameras. This reputation was earned in the era of film yet with digital technology Pentax has risen to the top of digital camera manufacturers and is known for its excellence in performance and quality.

When Pentax introduced their first camera in 1952 they were hailed as innovative creators of easy to use technology. With the advent of digital technology Pentax has consistently shown that they are still a force to be reckoned with in the photography business. By producing quality, durable cameras they have provided their fans with amazing cameras that have stood the test of time. Their most prominent contribution to date has been the 35 mm SLR camera. Their dedication to the photography consumer has always been constant and it continues to grow stronger each year. Here is a look at the cameras that Pentax offers to the digital community.

During the past 80 years Pentax has created an immense number of cameras that have allowed people to capture the treasured moments of their life. Thankfully, for the children of today, there are a new set of digital Pentax cameras that will carry on their legacy. Pentax has two categories of digital cameras on the market today, the Optio Digital Cameras and the *ist Digital Cameras. To appreciate how far Pentax has come with its technology I want us to look at each of the categories.

Both new camera users and digital photo enthusiasts will enjoy the Optio Digital Cameras. Optio Digital Cameras are easy-to-use yet also include a variety of highly sophisticated and advanced features. They are user-friendly and contain loads of image-enhancing features. They are the best of both worlds, easy to use and rich in features. I am listing some detailed specifications that you can find in the Optio Digital Cameras.

You can find the Optio Digital Cameras with a megapixel range of 2. 0-6. 0. They usually have a 1/ 2. 5 inch interline transfer CCD. Most of the cameras have a LCD monitor which is usually a TFT 1. 8 inch color screen with 100% LCD resolution and a screen resolution of about 130,000 pixels. Features include a variety of picture modes such as landscape, portrait, sports, night scene and many more. Built in language settings including English, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, Russian, French and Swedish which makes these cameras perfect for anyone, anywhere. These cameras work with standard USB ports to connect to your computer operating any Windows Vista, 2000, XP, Me, 98, 98SE system.

The second type of camera that Pentax is marketing is the Pentax *ist. The *ist was created for the professional photographer and has marked the company’s triumphal entry into the digital SLR market. Some of the features you will find on this camera include a minimum of 6. 1 megapixels resolutions, an APS format sensor and 2. 5 inch LCD display with 210,000 pixels resolutions. The Pentax *ist cameras have a built in ISO setting up to 3200. The digital storage format of these cameras also includes the RAW file format along with the JPEG and TIFF formats.

Available white balancing modes include auto, cloudy, daylight, shade, fluorescent light, tungsten light and manual setting. As you will find on most digital SLR’s the storage media is SD card. You can also check the depth of field prior to taking the photo. LCD options include slide show, digital filter and image rotation capabilities. You can also choose whether to delete a single photo or to delete all the photos. As I mentioned above, these cameras are geared more to the needs of advanced digital camera users or amateur enthusiasts.

Looking For a Refurbished Digital Camera? Read Our Recommendation First

Canon PowerShot G12 First Look

You’d be hard pressed to tell the PowerShot G12 apart from its predecessor if the model names were covered. Do the similarities in appearance extend to the excellent image quality we saw from the G11? We’re taking a first look at some sample images to find out.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 First Look

After nearly two years on the market, the LX3 has been replaced by the Panasonic Lumix LX5 as a top-tier compact point-and-shoot. Can we expect improvements to camera performance and image quality? Take a look at our initial impressions while the full review comes into focus.

First Time Tips For Digital Photography

Check Out Our Offering on Digital Photography Secrets Here

However, if you don\’t know how to use it a digital camera won\’t save you any money. Below are some pointers on how to use your camera, and take advantage of your Mac in the process.

You need a computer

While there are some cameras which allow you to view your photos on a TV, in practice a digital camera is pretty worthless without a computer. The best computer to have is a Macintosh with a USB port, which covers everything Apple has made since the iMac.

It will also help if the camera comes bundled with Macintosh-compatible photo editing/viewing software. Mac OS X 10. 1 comes with software capable of downloading pictures directly from some cameras; you may not need to load a thing.

Learn the basics

Yes, you will probably need to read the cameras manual. Please note that some cameras don’t come with a printed manual, you must read an Acrobat file from the CD-ROM that came with the camera. Take your time and find all the controls and learn how to use them. Make sure you understand how to load batteries, plug it into your computer, and turn it on and off.

You will also want to be aware of buttons you don\’t want to push. (I recently watched someone wonder aloud what one button did, so they pushed it — and watched their rechargeable battery fall into the Pacific Ocean. )

Generally speaking, the more expensive the camera, the harder it will be to operate. Low-cost digital cameras rarely support more than “point and shoot,” which means you simply aim it at the subject, push the button, and it takes a picture. The camera will try to auto-focus the image and adjust the exposure according to available light.

The more costly digital cameras allow you to manually adjust focus, focal length, lighting, and many other settings which will help you turn a good picture into a really bad picture — if you don\’t read the manual first.

Excellent Tips For Digital Photography introducing Dan Feildman’s Digital Photography Guide “How To Take Beautiful Digital Pics Made Simple”. Look no further for quality digital photography tips. . . www. LearnDigitalPhotographyNow. com

Looking For a Refurbished Digital Camera? Read Our Recommendation First