Friday, November 25, 2011

Is Lumix GF2 Camera Worth the Price?

There is only a week left until the new exciting Panasonic camera is going to be released to the public. It has already been priced and dated in Japan in November last year. Just like it's predecesor, it has been released in Japan one month earlier, Japanese retailers started to buy stocks since December 3. In US and Europe, it is going to be released at the end of January, and most likely the date will not change.

The price in Japan is a bit higher than in US. In Japan people are paying 1 for the camera body alone, 1 for camera+LUMIX G 14mm F2.5 ASPH lens kit and 81 for camera+both lens kits. A typical Panasonic camera case is priced . The colors are black, red and white, but in UK the silver version is soon to be released.

The price was announced in India also, it is 42000 INR.

GF2 predecesor, GF1 M4/3 camera hit the stores 2 years ago, in spring, the model was nothing out of the standards. The price however was about 0 for the camera and one lens and compared to this, the new Lumix gf2 price is very affordable (please consider the next exciting features included, like the touch screen functions and ability to span 3d pictures. Also, the lag is extremely small, non existent I might say).

I'm absolutely sure that in US and EU the price will drop after no more than 2 months because of the competition. By the end of the year, Panasonic Lumix GF2 prices will drop consistently as new products will be released on the market, like the expected canon d800 which will also be released in February this year.

Interchangeable Lens Camera

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-L1: Their 1st Ever Digital SLR Camera with Interchangeable Lenses

Panasonic has announced the launch date for the DMC-L1, its first digital single-lens reflex (SLR) camera with interchangeable lens. From 22nd July 2006 this camera will be available in Japan and already looks set to be a firm favourite.

Leica D Lens provides a superior optical performance and matches perfectly with the digital SLR camera body

The DMC-L1 has a new LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT 14-50mm/F2.8-3.5 lens equipped with an aperture ring, focus ring and zoom ring, for easy, direct aperture setting. The focal length range is equivalent to 28mm (wide) to 100mm (medium telescopic) on a 35mm film and provides exceptional results.
The lens also provides outstanding macro shooting due to a 29cm minimum shooting distance (0.32x maximum magnification, 35mm equivalent) across the entire zoom range.

Superb image rendering with MEGA O.I.S

The DMC-L1 comes with Panasonic's Optical Image Stabiliser feature which minimises jitter from shaky hands. Thanks to the gyrosensors and Venus Engine Plus LSI built into the lens, the system detects camera movement at a rate of 4,000 times per second
O.I.S features two further corrective modes. Mode one constantly and continuously compensates for movements, ensuring that the image in the LCD and viewfinder is always clear. Mode two only stabilises the image the instant the shutter button is pressed. Both modes work with the DMC-L1, providing consumers with outstanding benefits. Mode one will be available for Olympus users if they are using the new Leica D lens.

Refined design makes the camera a pleasure to hold and use

This new camera features a shutter speed dial on top of the camera body, enhancing the sense of camera control. Combined with a classic design this ensure the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 is distinct in both design and operation. The body periphery and grip are covered with textured, simulated leather ensuring a secure and comfortable hold.

Complies with Four Thirds(TM)* Standard

The DMC-L1 incorporates a live MOS sensor that conforms to the Four Thirds standard and offers 7.5 megapixels. It can be used with lenses made by a variety of manufacturers, giving users a host of equipment options. Noise is minimised by a special processing technology the runs on voltage as low as 5V.
*Four Thirds? is a registered trademark.

The power of the Venus Engine III LSI

The Venus Engine III is a newly developed image processing LSI which maximises the performance of the Live MOS sensor. Offering high resolution, superior colour reproduction and detailed gradation, the Venus Engine III also reduces noise to the level expected from a digital SLR, thus achieving stunning picture quality. The Venus Engine III also improves camera responsiveness supporting high-performance consecutive shooting and a short shutter interval. The Venus Engine III requires only 80% as much power as its predecessor and when combined with the Live MOS sensor's low energy consumption results in longer battery life.

Full-time Live View for a whole new style of Digital SLR shooting

The heart of a digital SLR is the mirror box unit, which integrates a quick-return mirror, viewfinder, and AE sensor. This, combined with the full-time image output function of the Live MOS sensor, achieves a full-time Live View function that displays the image on the LCD directly from the sensor signal. This incredibly useful function can be selected in both Auto Focus and Manual Focus modes. In Manual Focus, photographers can enlarge an image within the frame and then select the area focusing, making it easier to check the focusing condition on the large 2.5inch, high resolution, 207,000 pixel LCD. It is also possible to check the depth of field by pressing the Aperture button.

Shake off dust with the Supersonic Wave Filter system

A big problem with digital SLRs with interchangeable lenses is the possibility of dust getting inside the camera during the lens changes and contaminating the image sensor. If this happens, professional cleaning is often required. The DMC-L1 manages this problem by incorporating a Supersonic Wave Filter dust reduction, which uses supersonic vibration to shake off dust that might otherwise affect the image.

A Digital SLR offering home networking capabilities

As with all Panasonic Lumix cameras, the DMC-L1 is uses SD memory and is also compatible with mass-storage SD standard based on FAT32. This includes the upcoming super-high-capacity SD Memory Cards allowing more than 2GB (SDHC).

Interchangeable Lens Camera

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Photography and Why You May Want a Digital SLR Camera

If your just beginning to take your photography a bit more serious and maybe want to try your hand at making some money with your photography, you will want to look into getting a digital slr camera. SLR stands for single lens reflex, so you add the digital and you have the d-slr camera.

D-slr cameras can cost quite a bit more than a top line point and click camera, but if you are wanting to become the more serious photographer this will be one of the best investments that you will make. The second investment that you can make is taken the time to understand your camera completely. You would be amazed on what you can learn about photography by knowing how to use your camera.

You see the beauty of the digital slr is that you have the artistic control of the traditional slr and the convenience of digital files. When you use interchangeable lens you have the choice of both manual and automatic settings. This makes it easy to play around with the camera and see what is best for you and what you want.

To help you decide whether a digital slr camera is right for you I am going to show you a few reasons why you want to purchase a digital slr camera. The first of these reasons would be that the d-slr allows you to get the perfect lens for the perfect photo. Manufacturers have a very large variety of d-slr lenses. You can have zooms, super zooms, and even ultra wide angles. The list goes on, there is a lens for just about any type of photography that you can think of.

Another thing about the digital slr is the faster power up. The d-slr power up is almost instantly and this allows you to react quickly so that you do not miss what could be a once in a lifetime shot. This in itself is reason to go from the point and click camera to a d-slr camera. With the rapid frame rate you can take several pictures within a second. You can do this because the d-slr has a fast image processor and large buffer.

Now at the top of the list would be that you get better image quality. A digital image that is taken with the d-slr is almost always a lot better that a point and click, I mean a lot better. You have higher light sensitivities and some digital slr cameras have a mega pixel rating up to 16 mega pixels.

A few more things that I think you should know is that with the digital slr you have threw the lens viewing. With this you can get away from the sun on your screen and not being able to see what you are shooting. This also stands true for areas that are dimly lit. Also you easy access to controls with thumb and forefinger wheels that control feature exposure settings. This is real important when it comes to not missing a shot, you do not have to look for the control wheel that you want. And end up losing the shot.

Last but just as important as the rest of the others benefits to having the d-slr is that you have more creativity and flexibility with camera accessories. These accessories include external flashes, wireless transmitters, and even remote triggering devices. As with the lens the list goes on with way to many accessories for me to list here.

Interchangeable Lens Camera

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

In Review: Dewalt's DCT410S1 12v MAX Inspection Camera Kit

Bursting onto the industrial scene in early October of 2010, Dewalt's DCT410S1 inspection camera kit is fast becoming one of the most interesting, most talked about tools on the market. Accompanying six other tools in a new release from Dewalt, the camera is compact and innovative to literally provide craftsmen with a new way to look at their jobsites.

Before this little rascal joined the power tool pool, inspection cameras we much more akin to, well, the kind of power tool no one gets exactly excited to work with. After a heartfelt and hearty amount of research though, Dewalt's DCT410S1 enters the scene quite a bit more prepared than the competition. A flexible snake-like cable with a camera lens attached to its end makes up one half of the new inspection camera. The cable, of course, is waterproof for protection in less than perfect working conditions, and as the thing reaches 3 feet long (36 inches), it has the length to get your spyglass into otherwise impossible spaces. In fact, the camera lens at the tip of the cable allows users to see into, record, and photograph a jobsite's virtually impossible spaces.

Peeping behind walls, inside pipes, and into the depths of other workzone nooks and crannies, the camera is ideal for electricians, plumbers, remodelers, installers, and any other general someone who needs eyes in a too tight, too small, too awkward, or generally too impossible environment.

Additionally, as the camera's LCD screen is cordless and detachable, you can essentially see what's going on in you bathroom pipes while sitting on the couch in your living room. This is clearly not the most efficient use of this tool, but its possible nonetheless. The detachable monitor allows users to accurately see the opposite end of a carefully positioned camera without compromising camera angles or positioning. This, of course, renders the tool smart and simple to use with a convenience feature that really makes a difference on the job. The LCD screen is 3.5 inches to provide an even better view, and with a 3x zoom capability, this inspection camera is seriously the envy of all others. The LCD screen additionally charges directly from the camera handle allowing users to simply reattach the screen or replace the battery to continue working.

The inspection camera is powered with Dewalt's lithium ion technology to ensure there's a strong, long-lasting, and fast charging power source behind this truly awesome little gadget. And as if all that weren't enough, the batteries are interchangeable across the entire 12v line.

Interchangeable Lens Camera

Monday, November 21, 2011

The Best Binoculars, Make an Informed Decision

Before answering the question 'what are the best binoculars (UK)' I need to make it very clear that a good pair of binoculars is something you can and should get really passionate about. The best binoculars bring distant images to life with amazing resolution and clarity making you feel as if you are part of a completely new and exciting world.

Imagine being able to see every little detail of what you are viewing with absolutely perfect contrast and clarity no matter where you are and what you are doing. If you experience such perfection you will become passionate and you'll wonder how you ever lived without the very best binoculars. UK binoculars do vary from what is available in the US and the two environments are completely different so the best binoculars in the US may not be available in the UK or may not perform so well under the different environmental conditions.

You also have to consider that people's opinions vary, sometimes quite dramatically, so what each person considers too be the best binoculars is probably not the same. Also, you need to be clear as to what you want to use the binoculars for, the best binoculars for astronomy won't necessarily be much good for bird watching and the best sport binoculars won't necessarily be very good as marine binoculars.

One thing that you need to look for in any binoculars is the quality of the lenses and prisms. The best binoculars come with fully multi-coated lenses and top quality Bak-4 prisms. Given the generally damp environment, the best binoculars for the UK, if you want to use them regularly outdoors, should be waterproof and fog-free to ensure a perfect viewing experience.

If you are looking for best marine binoculars in the UK then take a look at the Steiner Commander XP binoculars, they are amazingly high spec, waterproof to 10mtrs, nitrogen sealed with Steiner Nano-Protection (weather proof protection against the environment), high performance HD XP optics, long life rubber armouring and interchangeable eyecup system, truly professional marine binoculars which delivery an amazing performance in low light conditions and come with a 30 year guarantee.

For the best image stabilizing binoculars then look no further than the Canon IS Binoculars. I know I don't stand alone when I say that once you own the Canon 10x42L IS binoculars you'll wonder how you survived without them. Users absolutely rave about them. The lenses are just fantastic, they are the first binoculars to carry the red L-series ring only previously found on Canon professional camera lenses. These binoculars must come high up the list for the best binoculars, fully waterproof, unrivalled IS capabilities (in any moving environment), superb lens quality, close focus distance of just 2.5mtrs and long eye relief. The one main downside is perhaps weight (1030g) but to get the IS technology there always has to be a compromise regarding the weight.

Bushnell make great binoculars so in your search for the best binoculars for you take a look at the Bushnell Elite. Premium Bak-4 phase coated prisms, fully multi-coated lenses, waterproof, nitrogen sealed, rainguard lens coating and long eye relief. The new XTR technology utilises no less than 60 layers of coatings on each prism to deliver a combined 90% light transmission.

There are some great little compact binoculars to, one of my favourites is the Olympus RC I compact binoculars. Only 195g in weight, credit card size when folded, really stylish, high index Bak-4 prisms and multi-coated lenses.

When buying binoculars it all comes down to what you want to use them for and how much you are prepared to pay. Price doesn't always denote quality and binoculars that are ideal for one activity aren't necessarily good for another. Don't however make the mistake of paying too little, finding they are useless and casting them aside. Top quality lenses do cost! No one can say what are the absolute best binoculars (UK) unless they know what the binoculars are to be used for and even then, as I said, its still a matter of opinion. Just watch out for the lens coatings and the quality of the prisms, make sure the weight suits you, don't go for too high a magnification if the binoculars are to be hand held (unless you buy IS binoculars), for outdoors, in the UK, waterproof is usually best, if you are new to binoculars and looking to observe fast moving objects then go for binoculars with a wider field of view and if you wear glasses you want an eye relief of 15mm plus. Happy hunting for the best binoculars in the UK.

Interchangeable Lens Camera

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Digital Camera and Photography Terms Explained

You want to buy a new digital camera but you wonder what all these abbreviations and strange terms are and what do they mean? Here are a few which I have tried to explain in a simple way.

AE Lock. This means Auto Exposure Lock and means that you can point to your subject matter, get a light reading, then swing the camera to set up the complete picture, still retaining that setting.

Aperture. Size of the variable opening in the lens that controls the amount of light that passes through the lens to the sensor (CCD) and which is usually expressed as an f/number.The higher the f/number the smaller aperture, and the lower the f/number the larger the aperture. Also controls depth of field.

Aperture Priority. This is a semi-manual setting in some cameras. The user sets the aperture for the depth of field they want and the camera sets the shutter speed to obtain correct exposure.

Auto Focus. Most digital cameras have an auto-focus mode which focuses the lens

Battery. Cameras come with different types of batteries which power the camera. Each manufacturer tends to have their own variation on this and batteries are not usually interchangeable between cameras.

Bracketing. Bracketing shots is where a photographer takes shots of the same scene three times or more at different exposures. This can be done automatically on some cameras.

Card reader. Device that is used to connect the computer with your memory card

CCD or charged coupled device. This refers to the chip inside the camera which is used to record image information (on a non-digital camera this would be the film).
Light hits the CCD when a photo is taken, and then the analog CCD converts the information to digital.

Contrast. This is the difference between the lightest and darkest part of a photo.

Depth of Field. The distance between the nearest point and farthest point, that is sharp and in focus. This varies with aperture setting. A small aperture will give greater depth of field than a large aperture.

Digital Zoom. Some cameras will provide digital zoom which really means that it "zooms" into the center part of the image and enlarges the pixels. This causes " noise" or poor resolution. Optical zoom is far superior.

DPI Dots per inch. Printers define the sharpness of an image by DPI. A figure of 1200 dpi, or higher is required for printing photographs.

Exposure. Exposure is a combination of how long the shutter is open and how wide the aperture is.

EXIF. The exchangeable image file. This is used by cameras to record data of a shot such as date, time taken, exposure etc which can be read sometimes in the camera or in software. This is useful for knowing what was happening when a picture was taken.

Exposure Control. Controlling exposure settings through shutter speed and aperture is important to serious photographers. Cheaper digital cameras will only shoot in auto mode. If you feel that you might want to take photography more seriously at some point this needs to be considered.

Focal length.Focal length describes the magnification of the lens. The greater the focal length, the greater the magnification.

F-Stop (or f/number or stop). The size of the opening in the diaphragm which allows light into the camera

Histogram.A histogram is a graph which shows image tones or a graph of brightness. Can be used to check exposure of a shot to see if you need to adjust and shoot again.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group). A format, that that allows the camera to squeeze a large picture into a small amount of memory. This is the most common system used by digital cameras

LCD Liquid Crystal Display. The majority of digital cameras have a screen at the back of the camera which can be used for viewing shots taken or sometimes as a viewfinder. A heavy user of battery power!

Macro.This is the camera mode for taking extreme close-ups.

Manual mode. This is found on top end cameras and is used by experienced photographers as this gives full control over shutter speed and aperture.

Megapixel. This is a million pixels and can describe the sensor's capacity. Megapixels define the quality of your image. More megapixels means a better and sharper picture or that it can be enlarged without losing quality.

Memory Card.The majority of digital cameras store pictures taken onto memory cards which can be removed and the pictures transferred to your computer. Cards are of various shapes and sizes but all do the same job.

Memory Stick. Memory Stick is a removable flash memory card format, launched by Sony in October 1998 and is also used in general to describe the whole family of Memory Sticks.

Optical zoom. This is a true zoom that brings you closer to the subject without moving by magnifying the image. It is preferable and superior to digital zoom. It is recommended to get at least 3x optical zoom.

Pictbridge. Pictbridge is a standard technology that allows the transfer of images direct from a camera to a compliant printer, bypassing the computer.

Pixels. A pixel, meaning picture element, is the base component or building block of a digital image and can have color and tone.
There can be several million "building blocks" in an image.

RAW .The name is to identify the virtually raw data (has had no internal processing by the camera) image file format.

Resolution. A measure of an image expressed as picture size or pixel (megapixel) size or dots per inch on a printed image i.e. the more pixels there are in an image the sharper the picture will be. This is usually shown as, for example, 1200 x 1800 which relates to height and width.

Shutter priority. This is a semi-manual mode and the opposite of aperture priority.
The photographer chooses the shutter speed and the camera sets the correct aperture for the conditions.
Useful for action shots or the need to blur shots.

SLR. Single Lens Reflex is a camera which has a mirror that reflects the image onto a pentaprism and then on to the viewfinder screen. This means you see what the camera sees and is useful for framing your shots accurately.
The mirror reflexes out of the way when you take the picture.

Secure Digital (SD) is a flash memory card format developed for use in portable devices.

Sensor or CCD.An electronic chip, or light sensor which contains light- sensitive pixels and which records the image when you take a picture.

Shutter Speed. Speed of the shutter as it opens and close to allow light onto the sensor. It is expressed in fractions of a second i.e.1/60, 1/250

TIFF Tagged Image File Format. TIFF is an image file format that does not lose any quality when it is saved and compressed.

Tripod. If you are taking landscape or portrait photos a tripod is essential for clear, sharp photos in order to reduce camera shake and blurring of images.

USB. Universal Serial Bus. This is a standard interface on all computers that allows accessories to be connected to the computer while it is turned on.

I hope this is useful!

Interchangeable Lens Camera

Saturday, November 19, 2011

SLR Cameras - What Is A Single Lens Reflex?

The hottest thing in the digital camera market is undoubtedly the digital SLR, which is better known as a dSLR. While dSLRs are flying off dealer shelves, many new users are confused about the terminology. Most people know that SLR stands for "single lens reflex." Since nearly all SLRs accept interchangeable lenses, it would appear they should be known as multiple lens reflex (MLR) cameras.

If you want to understand how the SLR received it's name, you have to dip into the history of the camera. Early cameras were similar to the view cameras used today. The photographer looked through the lens, focused, composed and then inserted a single film plate behind the optics to make an image. While the entire process was crude by modern standards, the photographer enjoyed great control, since he looked directly through the actual imaging lens to compose the shot.

While this was fine for still life, portraits and landscapes, this process did not lend itself to action photography. These early cameras could only record a single image at a time. Which is why you have never seen a motor-driven view camera.

Realizing the need to offer sequences of exposures, camera makers begin to experiment with various roll-film designs. With a roll of film in the camera, the photographer could fire off numerous images without reloading. Although this improved throughput dramatically, it caused another problem. The roll of film had to pass closely behind the camera's optics, which meant that the photographer could no longer look through the camera lens to compose and focus.

Rangefinder cameras appear to keep things in focus

The lower-end, consumer roll-film cameras generally used an inexpensive "fixed-focus" lens, so a simple viewfinder was sufficient. Better quality optics, however, require the lens to be focused, and since the photographer could not look through the lens with a roll-film camera, this was a major problem. One of the first solutions to this problem was the Rangefinder -- a type of camera that offered a distance measuring scale in the viewfinder. By determining the range from the viewfinder, the photographer could then adjust the focus to match -- usually with very good results.

Twin Lens Reflex cameras offer another solution

While the rangefinder type cameras worked well, the camera industry is always evolving. A second method of allowing the photographer to focus and compose appeared in the "Twin-Lens Reflex" cameras. These cameras used two identical lenses, arranged one on top of the other in the manner of an over-and-under shotgun. The film winds past the lower lens, while the photographer can focus through the upper lens. The twin-lens cameras were fairly bulky, so designers added a mirror and ground glass to the top of the camera, hence the term "reflex.

Now the user could hold the camera at waist level and look down at the ground glass which previewed the image via the mirror behind the upper lens. As the user adjusted the focus on the upper lens, a gear mechanism moved the lower "taking lens" to match.

While both rangefinders and twin-lens reflex cameras offered a credible way to focus and preview a shot, neither allowed the photographer to actually look through the lens. This sometimes made exact composition difficult.

SLRs take cameras another step forward

In their quest to allow users to see through the actual "taking" lens, camera makers turned to the periscope -- a simple device using two mirrors placed at opposite angles to bend the light path. Periscopes are easy to understand -- any kid can construct one from a couple of mirrors and some scrap wood.

In a camera, the lower mirror is placed at a 45 degree angle directly behind the lens. Light striking the mirror is projected upwards to a ground glass. While a second mirror would show the image on the ground glass to the user, it would not appear right, because mirrors tend to reverse things. So camera designers added a prism arrangement that corrects the reversed image. When you peer through the viewfinder on a SLR, you look through a prism, which displays the image on a ground glass, which displays the projected image from the mirror located behind the lens.

There is just one problem. If you have been paying attention, you have no-doubt realized that the lower mirror blocks the light path to the film (or digital sensor as the case may be.) Now the photographer can look though the lens, but the image cannot be projected on to the filmplane.

So the camera designers had to add another wrinkle. They had to move that mirror. Just long enough to make an exposure, since when the mirror moved, the photographer could no longer see anything through the lens. So they designed the "instant-return" mirror. At the instant of exposure, the mirror flies upward, the shutter fires and the mirror snaps back down. It is a incredible feat, when you consider that instant return mirrors have to flip up and back in a heartbeat, over and over for the life of the camera.

Once the instant return mirror was perfected, photographers could once again design their images by looking through the lens. Unlike the twin lens reflex, this new breed of camera needed only one lens to focus and shoot with. So they became known as... you guessed it.... Single-Lens Reflex cameras.

Interchangeable Lens Camera