Archive for category Digital Cameras
Thin Digital Cameras Are A Big Deal
Posted by Expert Photographer in Digital Cameras on July 21, 2010
Thin digital cameras are all the rage, and are constantly grabbing more and more market share. Manufacturers have taken notice and today’s offerings rival relatively bulky digital SLR cameras in certain features and feature sets, as well as their quality in terms of photography. Thanks to advances in electronics, many capabilities that were once the exclusive reserve of an SLR can now to be found on many thin digital cameras as well.
Take for instance the matter of the LCD screen; resolution used to be a major selling point for SLRs and thin digital cameras, but the latest releases can claim just about as many megapixels as the best SLR. Of course, megapixels don’t tell the whole story behind image quality, and it’s possible for a 10-megapixel compact camera, say, to be outperformed by a dedicated SLR with only 8 megapixels. This could be due to any number of variables, but one very likely culprit for such a situation – which is not entirely hypothetical – is the quality of the image sensors.
After all, thin digital cameras have to be compact and thus smaller with less physical space to fit the components, meaning that their sensors can be some twenty-five times smaller than those found inside SLRs. Each pixel in the sensor therefore collects smaller photons, resulting in pictures that are less sharp and less clear with a much smaller resolution, with more noise and grain likely.
This is one important reason why the old compact versus SLR debate won’t subside any time soon even though technology keeps blurring the distinctions between the two. There are many subtleties involved in any serious consideration of hardware and equipment, and experienced professionals tend to prefer SLRs for finer control and versatility. And, truth be told, there are many reasons to go with an SLR over a compact, not the least of which is resell value. A line of thin digital cameras may go through two wholly new product versions in one year!
But nothing beats the convenience of a compact. Unless you need something like the ability to switch lenses, particularly for true telephoto zoom, lightweight compacts are the way to go for all-around practicality and affordability. For taking simple snap shots on a family vacation, a compact would probably be most appropriate, whereas a full sized SLR is much more attuned to legitimate, professional looking photography. And technology advances every year, continuing to “cross-reference” features and feature sets such that SLRs are getting more compact while compacts are getting more powerful and robust in their capabilities. Only some real-world hands-on experience will determine which is best for you – though, of course, with prices continuing to fall after a product debut, you could simply purchase one from each category!
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Why You Should Use A Flash Diffuser With Your Camera
Posted by Expert Photographer in Digital Cameras on July 20, 2010
As an amateur photographer, you probably have at several digital SLRs and multiple lenses. Although you probably take most of your pictures during the daytime, you do, or will eventually, take some in low-light scenarios, like bars and lounges. Because of this, using an Olympus Flash with your Olympus camera is important, as is learning how to use it properly. Although some of the most artistic pictures are taken without flash, most low-light pictures require one, thus making it an important addition to your equipment..
Your on-camera flash is easy to use, but creates a problem. On my Olympus E-510, the on-camera flash is not strong. So I bought an Olympus Flash FL-50, which has greatly improved my photography technique.
Unfortunately, this Olympus flash FL-50R is still very strong and creates sharp shadows, which does not result in pictures I showing other people. For example, if you take a picture of a person leaning against a wall, the flash can create a dark shadow on the wall, which makes the person look bigger than they actually are. It was time to get a flash diffuser, and my sto-fen omnibounce is now permanently attached to my Olympus flash. It’s a little white box that is ideal for spreading the light all over.
Flash Diffuser will save you!
Before I bought a diffuser, although my Olympus Flash Fl-50 gave me a lot of creative freedom in taking the pictures I wanted in almost any lighting conditions I faced, it still was too harsh. It created glares on shiny surfaces, resulting in shadows, and sometimes didn’t act properly when it came to fill lighting.
What the flash diffuser does is “diffuse” the light. It spreads the flash light around so that it doesn’t hit your subject directly. By softening the light, it also creates a more natural feel, which is something great to have when using flash lighting. Furthermore, it allows you to give your image a softer look without dialing down the flash power. This helps with any fill lighting problems you may have previously had.
Buying a Flash Diffuser
As I previously mentioned, I used a Sto-fen Omnibounce diffuser, which does a better job than the diffuser that comes with my Olympus FL-50. There are also larger diffusers available, such as those from Gary Fong. However, I have not tried it, since it is slightly more expensive.
Still on the fence? Make your own Diffuser
If you’re not sure you want to invest 30$ on a flash diffuser, then you can still make your own. I did, when I wanted to see if things are different. One way to do this is to simply tape some tissue to your Olympus flash. Although it can easily get torn, it will filter and spread the light, acting as a diffuser will. It isn’t ideal, but it is good enough. The second approach you can use is to place an index card at 40 degrees to your Olympus flash. Although it isn’t exactly a diffuser, it is a quick way of letting the light bound off the card. This spreads the light around the room, with effects similar to those obtained with a diffuser.
Of course, as always, have fun with your camera!
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Capture The Moment With SLR Digital Cameras
Posted by Expert Photographer in Digital Cameras on July 20, 2010
SLR digital cameras have taken the world of photography by storm, with many “prosumer” models rivaling all but the very best of the old-fashioned film-based designs. Today’s offerings are simple enough to use for point-and-shoot newbies who have the money to spend on these generally expensive cameras, but are chock full of the advanced features demanded by professionals for fine-tuning and even on-the-fly image editing. While important distinctions still remain between the class of digital SLR cameras and those falling under other categories, the dividing line has become greatly blurred with each new product cycle and business quarter. Overlaps abound, to the point where the age-old debate between SLRs and “P&Ses” may no longer be valid.
Digital SLR cameras are certainly more affordable than ever before, with the least expensive models available for only a couple hundred dollars (while some models are priced well over a thousand). Though such cameras are vastly downgraded in terms of their feature sets, they are still recognizably SLRs due to what features still remain on board! But technological advances will surely continue to level the playing field until a typical camera will be capable of a typical set of tasks, broad in the scope of abilities and “deep” in the quality of their performance.
So is it worthwhile to continue paying premium prices for the SLR label? As a mid-level consumer who needs more than a point-and-shoot but isn’t likely to do a lot with the fancy features such as built-in image manipulation, what should the choice be? Given the amount of money at stake, it isn’t a decision to be made in haste.
You should opt for whatever you’re comfortable with in accordance with your given needs. It’s easy to try out a camera in the store before committing money towards purchasing it, and even then many retailers these days still offer fairly generous return policies that in effect allow you to rent the camera for just fifteen percent of its retail value so long as you return everything in mint condition within the month (also known as the “restocking fee” on “store returns”).
Start with a consideration of what you’ll actually be using the camera for. Do you seriously want to compose award-winning shots – or would a thin, lightweight P&S serve you much better? And even within the class of P&Ses, you’ll have to choose between factors such as optical zoom, shutter speeds, and other technical criteria to ensure a camera that truly meets your needs. One of the remaining characteristics of digital SLR cameras is that they still tend to be bulkier, seeing how they are jam-packed with the kind of advanced electronics unavailable to simple P&Ses. They aren’t designed as cameras that fit in your pocket or purse, ready for casual snapshots during a memorable night out.
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