Thursday, January 12, 2012

The Sony NEX 5KB Alpha Compact Camera - A Product Review

The Sony NEX 5KB is a very versatile Digital, aimed at the more serious photographer who is looking for quality linked to spontaneity. The new Sony is a revolutionary piece of equipment for a compact, and comes with interchangeable lenses which increases your photographic options and maintains creative flexibility. This camera is the world's lightest and most compact interchangeable and includes some unique features which combines with some new technology to take it to the forefront when comparing it to other cameras in its class; or so the Sony Publicity department says. Let's take a look for ourselves shall we. The camera comes equipped with the following.

Kit Lens E 18-55mm

Lens Hood

Lens Cap.

Flash.

Case for Flash

Battery Charger

Power Cord

Rechargeable Battery

Shoulder Strap.

USB Cable.

CD-Rom

Users of the Sony Cybershot who want to take the plunge and step up in class will feel at home with the overall feel and controls, and will definitely see the difference in delivered quality. For the rest who don't already own a Sony, you will be amazed at just how small this camera is; the body is barely 24 mm thick and inside there is so much technology. The interchangeable lens compact type cameras is a whole new world apart and on the surface it looks like Sony have surpassed their rivals. But is it as good as it looks?

I must admit I liked and found very useful, the "sweep Panorama" mode, which is a bit noisy but enables you to take snap shots of a Panoramic view, and seamlessly stitch them together. The handheld twilight feature is another great mode that combines a series of pictures into one sharp image.

The movie mode is a vast improvement on the Cybershot, but for the difference in price should be. One drawback though is that it doesn't have any manual exposure controls so there are still problems for Sony here. My opinion on using this type of camera for taking videos though is a definite no. Get yourself a video camera and keep this one for stills.

For me the interface of the camera is a bit small and complicated, and takes time to get used to; If you want to make lots of adjustments then it could turn out to be a bit tedious.

My conclusion? This camera is for someone who want to step up from the average low-cost digital, and start to take professional quality pictures. The picture quality really is in a different league to other compacts. The more experienced photographer will probable give this one a miss for no other reason than it is a Sony. Marks out of 10. A sublime 9.5.

Interchangeable Lens Camera

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Hidden Cameras - Spy Camera Sun Glasses - The Best Three Models

For decades hidden cameras have been one of the most effective spy gadgets on the market. Spy cameras and hidden cameras are covert ways of catching people doing things they shouldn't be doing. Spy glasses and spy sun glasses are some of the best spy gadgets you will ever find. Take an ordinary pair of sun glasses and install a hidden camera and you have a pair of spy sun glasses.

Of course, it's not that easy. You can't do it yourself, but there are several models on the market today that are very good.

No one would ever suspect that they are being recorded while looking at you wearing a pair of ordinary sun glasses. That is what makes them such effective spy cameras. Inside each one of these spy camera sunglasses is a DVR that can record both audio and video. They are all easy to download using a USB cable.

Here are what we consider to be the best three models of spy camera sunglasses.

The first is the Spy Camera Sunglasses with DVR. It has very high-resolution and a built-in DVR with 4 GB of memory that is expandable to 8 GB. It has a rechargeable battery that powers the DVR up to five hours. The sun glasses have a high quality polarized look, light weight and very stylish. Hidden inside is a DVR that records audio and video or you can take still pictures. Once the video is recorded, to play it back, use the USB cable. You can use these spy glasses anywhere that you need to take pictures or video but don't want to use a camera. It is the ultimate spy tool for private investigators, secret shoppers, security guards or police officers.

The second is the Spy Camera Sunglasses DVR MP3 player. It has 2 GB of internal memory for 100 minutes of video or 64 hours of audio. It can store still photos as well.

Our favorite is the Sun Spy DVR Spy Camera Sunglasses. This popular spy gadget has interchangeable full wrap around lenses, which are very popular today. It records video in high-resolution. The glasses have a battery that is rechargeable and 4 GB of built-in memory. The wraparound style makes them easy to use on a bike or motorcycle. The camera is very high quality five megapixel CMOS. It comes with a clear and polarized lens, black carrying case, glass cloth, two nose replacements and a power adapter.

Those are three of the best models of spy camera sunglasses. One might be just right for you.

Interchangeable Lens Camera

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Scuba Diving - How to Get Started In Underwater Photography

While you are scuba diving, you are no doubt amazed by the beauty and grace of the underwater world and wish to share it with your family and friends who you have not been able to convince to go with you as of yet. Or maybe you just want to capture photos of your experiences so that you can keep them for your own enjoyment. No matter the reason, most people have a great desire to begin learning underwater photography fairly early on in their scuba diving career.

If this sounds like you, you have likely already begun browsing your local scuba dive shops for equipment and started reading up on articles and information published by underwater photography professionals. While you can find a lot of information in this way, a lot of it is technical and hard to follow. For this reason, the best way to learn how to take pictures underwater is to start taking them and then learn through trial and error.

Your first underwater camera will likely be a disposable water-proof camera that works great for taking pictures in shallow depths. This will get you used to taking pictures underwater but is not ideal for taking photos in deep water. The next step up from this camera is the amphibious camera. This camera is small, lightweight, and ideal for beginning underwater photography in deeper waters. You can also take a normal land camera, house it, and outfit it for use in underwater photography. While this is the most expensive option, this is the equipment that produces the vivid, breathtaking photos featured in magazines. Whatever equipment you choose, two things that you cannot take underwater photos without are an external flashgun and interchangeable lenses.

Once you have your equipment, the best way to begin is to start taking pictures. Be sure to stock up on lots of film and take several shots of each subject. This way you can compare shots and learn from your own underwater photography mistakes. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Get close to your subject. One reason why underwater photography is so challenging is that matter is suspended in the water between you and your subject. The flash reflects off of this material resulting in blurry, obstructed pictures.

Start photographing small objects first. This will allow you to preset your equipment before you dive. Use a flashgun to provide white light as monochromatic blue light is the only light that penetrates deeper water. Artificial white light is vital in underwater photography for producing sharp, colorful images.

Position your flashgun correctly. Your flashgun should be positioned a good distance from the lens axis to avoid reflection of light off of suspended matter otherwise called back scatter.

After you get a feel for underwater photography, you will find that you can easily learn as you go. Take lots of film as this is the cheapest component of underwater photography. Compare shots, learn from your mistakes, and you will soon be wowing your friends and family with more than stories. You'll have the photos to back them up.

Interchangeable Lens Camera

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Sony Digital Camera - From Mavica to Translucent-Mirror Technology

The year 1981 was the benchmark year for the Sony digital camera, when the company introduced the prototype Mavica (Magnetic Video Camera) that took still images and stored them on floppy discs. The images could then be viewed on a television monitor in the maximum highest possible quality for television screens at that time. Seven years later, Sony launched the consumer version of the Mavica, which paved the way for greater innovations in digital cameras.

Another eight years would pass until Sony introduced the first Cyber-Shot model with a 1.8-inch liquid crystal display screen in 1996. Then, in 1998, a further innovation was introduced when Sony developed a digital camera capable of storing images on external memory rather than on the erstwhile internalized storage.

Sony introduced several more innovative digital cameras in the succeeding years, but they had all been effectively point-and-shoot and bridge cameras, targeted towards the casual photographer. While Sony had already developed a single lens reflex camera in 1988, it was not for the serious photographer, as it was limited to a fixed lens.

In 2006, the Sony digital camera took a step towards claiming a slice of the pie aimed at the serious photographer by purchasing the digital SLR assets of camera manufacturing giant, Konica-Minolta. Very soon thereafter, Sony launched the Alpha line of digital SLRs with interchangeable lenses, by releasing the A100 model, which drew on technology first developed by digital SLR maker Konica-Minolta. The Alpha brand name (Maxxum in some countries) was first used in Japan by Minolta in their groundbreaking and world's first autofocus film SLR camera, the Alpha 7000 in 1985. Sony has since then used the Alpha brand name in their line of digital interchangeable lens cameras, including the world's smallest such camera, the Alpha NEX series, which was introduced in 2010.

The Alpha line of cameras uses the bayonet lens mount of the original Minolta autofocus cameras, thus allowing Minolta Alpha or Maxxum autofocus lens to be used with the newer Sony Alpha cameras.

In 2010, Sony also introduced the first commercial use of translucent-mirror technology. Translucent-mirror technology allows for faster autofocus speeds in both still photographs and video. Previously, cameras relied on reflex mirrors that allow for the measurement of exposure through the viewfinder. These reflex mirrors flip up to allow light to pass through to expose the film, causing a momentary delay between the pressing of the shutter and the exposure of the film.

Indeed, Sony's bold steps in photography have allowed it to be a leader in the digital camera field, producing top quality digital cameras for both the hobbyist and professional photographer.

Interchangeable Lens Camera

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Best SLR Digital Camera For 2009

Digital SLR comes from digital single lens reflex, which is named this way because of the mirror that sits behind the lens of the camera and sends the light to the viewfinder.

The digital SLR's are designed in such a way that you can use a lot of different lenses, with different focal lengths. This versatility is the reason why digital SLR cameras are so popular among professionals. When you're using a camera that is not a SLR, you need to match the angle of the viewing lens with the angle of view. If you're doing short-range zoom or you have a fixed lens, then it's OK, but at different focal lengths it can be much more difficult. The SLR is better because the viewing and taking lens are the same.

While entry level digital SLR cameras don't always have Live View, advanced models usually do, and they let you compose the photos just like you do with a snapshot camera. The basic models will lock the mirror, and the prism will divert the image towards a sensor that is small. Then, instead of sending it to a capture sensor, it will be sent to the LCD screen, which can take down the performance a bit. If you're getting an older model you might need to focus on the image manually when you are in Live View, though contrast autofocus is available in newer digital cameras.

Digital SLR Camera Types

Digital SLR With Interchangeable-lens

These models are those considered as SLR's by most people. They're also the ones that we'll be talking about in this article. Just like the name says, in these SLR cameras you can change their lenses. This way you're able to switch from a supertelephoto lens to an ultra wide angle.

Examples: Basically, most digital SLR cameras that are sold today belong to this type.

Digital SLR With Fixed Lens

On these digital SLR's, the versatility is limited by the fact that you can't change the default lens. The mirror that bounces the light towards the viewfinder is nonmoving and semi-transparent in most of these models.

One example of a camera with fixed lens is the Olympus E-20N

Camera similar to SLR's

Cameras that look like digital SLR cameras are usually digicams that have either an optical finder or a small LCD. You can't consider them as digital SLR cameras since the mirror is missing, and the quality of the photos isn't even close to what you can do with a true SLR. Usually, this type of camera has a very long zoom, and another name for them is magazooms or ZLRs.

Interchangeable Lens Camera

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Better Photos From Better Cameras - Digital SLR Cameras For The Masses

Digital single lens reflex cameras (aka DSLR) are the newest rage in photography. While they have always been the choice of professionals, recent camera buyers are opting for these types of cameras much more frequently. All major manufacturers have models available, but the most popular brands are Nikon and Canon. Mid-range DSLR cameras can be purchased for about 00. This is a real bargain when you consider prices only a few years ago were much higher. Right now, you can get one of the budget models for about 0.

If you have followed the trends in digital photography, you know that the size of image sensors has found a happy medium after a few years of intense competition, starting at 6-megapixels and increasing to the present day 14-18 megapixel sensors. Currently, if you get a camera with a 14-megapixel sensor, you will have plenty of "pixel-power" to produce images of the finest quality at just about any size for hanging on your wall.

In addition, features and settings have improved tremendously. Video is now a common feature and it usually comes with stereo sound and full HD quality. There are creative features and additional mode settings so that you can choose a photo style that will give you a finished photo with a professional look. This simply means that you can shoot your pictures and practically eliminate the post processing that was previously needed to get your images to wow your audiences.

Of course, the one thing that most new buyers state as their top reason for buying a mid-range DSLR camera is the flexibility that comes with interchangeable lenses. Lens choice can make a night-and-day difference in the outcome of a photo shoot. If you want to take more professional looking portraits, you can choose a lens just for that purpose. If, on the other hand, your goal is to get much better at nature photography, you would choose a different lens. The beauty is that the lenses go on the same camera. It is true that the lenses can actually cost as much or more than the unit you attach them to, but even if you can't afford the biggest and best at first, you can build your kit as time goes on. And if you discover at a later time that macro photography is the way you want to go, again, the lens is all you need.

You may wonder if getting a lens that is more expensive than the camera is a good investment. The answer is, yes. This is a decision you will have to make as your skills develop. But experts agree that the lens is as important as the camera.

And the most important of all is the one who is holding all this fabulous equipment. You will have to develop your knowledge and skill to reach your goal of taking better pictures. If you don't study and practice, you may as well just keep taking pictures with your old point and shoot model or your cell phone.

Interchangeable Lens Camera

Monday, December 19, 2011

How to Take Great Pictures With a DSLR Camera - 5 Tips

Do you have a DSLR and want to make the most out of your photos? These tips will help you do just that. With DSLR cameras becoming more affordable, many people are upgrading their cameras in order to take advantage of the increased flexibility and performance that these cameras offer. The 5 tips below will help you make the most of your DSLR camera.

1. Use the lens hood when taking pictures

DSLR cameras have interchangeable lenses. Most of these lenses have a matching lens hood that fits on the front of the lens. The hood blocks light from coming in at an angle and causing a reflection on the front lens element. Shooting through this reflection will reduce your sharpness and contrast. Consistently using your lens hood will make your photos look crisper. It will also help protect the front of the lens from damage.

2. Take the camera out of automatic mode when necessary

Camera meters are calibrated to give good results when you take a picture of an average scene. When the scene is not average, you will need to adjust the exposure to compensate. If the scene is very bright (like snow), you have to set the camera to expose a little more to get things brighter. If the scene is very dark, you have to reduce the exposure to make it darker. If the subject is backlit, you need to increase the exposure so that the subject is not underexposed. You can adjust the exposure by using the exposure compensation controls or by switching to manual exposure mode.

3. Use continuous autofocus mode when the subject is moving

DSLR cameras typically have a continuous autofocus mode, which will track a moving subject and continuously adjust the focus until you press the shutter to take the picture. Make sure to use this mode when shooting things that move. This mode would be perfect for taking pictures of kids or pets running around.

4. Use an external flash so you can bounce the light off a ceiling or wall

Most DSLR cameras have a built-in flash. Unfortunately, the integral flash does not provide very good results. The pop-up flash lacks power and can't be bounced. To get natural looking photos with a flash, you really have to bounce the light off a ceiling or wall to make the light more diffuse. Direct flash might be fine for snapshots, but for more critical work, you need to use an external flash with bounce capability.

5. Adjust the ISO speed based on the shooting conditions

The ISO speed determines how sensitive the image sensor is to light. A higher ISO setting reduces the required exposure, but increases the noise in the photo. For best results when taking photos, you should use the lowest ISO setting that you can. When taking action or low light photos, you may have to raise the ISO setting accordingly.

If you keep these 5 tips in mind, you will be well on your way to making the most out of your DSLR.

Interchangeable Lens Camera