James Cooper

I was never really a professional with photography, but I was getting tired of the same old point-and-shoot camera. One day, I finally decided it was time to buy a Pentax SLR. Before I jumped in though, I did a lot of research. I eventually reached the decision to buy the Pentax K200D. I've never been one to buy an item because of its brand, because the name of an item does not necessarily determine its quality and performance. Now, I picked the Pentax K200D for many reasons which I will explain in detail below.

First of all, the camera offered weather sealing. On the box, it claims that it is the only camera in the industry (DSLR cameras) that is weather sealed. Though I probably won't need this, it is always good to have it to be on the safe side. Definitely a good feature for those outdoor photographers though.

Secondly, the camera allows users to take high quality JPEG and RAW photos at the same time. Most other cameras do not offer this, and alternatively only offer medium quality JPEG photos.

On another note, the camera is like the tank of cameras. I read many reviews from buyers of Sony and Nikon cameras, and many claimed that the cameras consisted of cheap lenses and were not very sturdy. I experienced this first hand after trying out some myself. Furthermore, the Pentax is complete opposite of those.

Something that is a positive to some users, yet a negative to some, is the fact that it runs on AA batteries. The reason why I find this to be a positive is because there are many good AA quality batteries available nowadays. With this camera and those batteries, I know my camera will be lasting for a long time. Even if I do run out of batteries, I can virtually go to any store and purchase batteries.

The camera features in-body stabilization. This is great for beginners, and this was proven to me directly. This feature helped save many of my photos! Lastly, the camera is an APS-C sensor, a feature that attracted many buyers.

So how do I like the camera? So far it's great! I've been testing things out, particularly with different lenses. The autofocus on the camera is very quick as well. The light metering is also very consistent for me so far. The only thing I found I did not like so far is its burst rate, which is a bit low (4 JPEG or RAWs). I guess it is not too important because I do not do sports shots. If you are looking for a camera to take sport shots, this may not be it for you. Otherwise, it is one of the best cameras I have owned, and will continue to use it and learn more! The price was reasonable, and if I could, I would have bought this camera way before I bought any of my other cameras. The Pentax K200D makes the idea of SLR cameras easy for beginners like me


Read more...
James Cooper

Sony is one of the giants of the electronic industry and their innovative ads and massive product line ups are almost second knowledge to the global electronic consumer. When mentioned their name, it is only natural so many buyers often feel a sense of reliability, durability, a company that has built its type with the pillars of cutting side line technology, research and development and a commitment to produce some of the best products know out there. The Sony and cr has in addition been synonymous with music with its SONY BMG affiliations and because of this, its portable music products have received quite a bit of fame lately. Today, this article will concentrate a bit additional on its diversification into the arena of the rechargeable battery pack.

Now, with so different out there on the economy today, any consumer would be hard pressed and often overwhelmed with the sheer amount of choice they have when properties do go out to purchase rechargeable batteries to lengthen the lifespan of this mobile electrical products. While there may be many features to think about, this article will tell you that the choice you need to go for is the Sony rechargeable battery. This is reduced to the amount of assured reviews that this product has received of late, and a quick check on the internet plans to reveal that more as opposed to 90% of the people who have purchased this product have been a multitude of than satisfied providing it. Sony rechargeable batteries have been celebrated to submit a power rating that is more than normal, with enough voltage and longevity to outlast most of the competition.

A small comparison with other brand and non brand named battery packs revealed that on average, Sony batteries were known to last larger number of than 1. 5 to 2 times the closest competition and got on par with counterparts which employed that more advanced technology and were much more steep as a result. Also, the warranty for the product is also quite extensive, covering all sorts of faults and accidents, and you can opt to protect your SONY product from damage by faulty batteries by contacting any one of their customer attention officers all over the world. SONY is truly a global organization and because of its cross border reach, you are able to depend and be safe in the knowledge that there is support when you need it and possibly within make contact with of wherever you may live in the world.

Also, be wary of imitations as many pirates in this day and age will mercilessly emulate the SONY logo and sell you mass produced batteries to make a quick profit. Buy them only from authorised local and foreign dealers and you might be absolute of the quality. You will always have the music that you need, your camera will never die on you at an awkward moment and any appliance you use in conjunction with a Sony rechargeable battery may have that additional level of confidence and reliability.

Read more...
James Cooper

Before actually buying a digital camera you have got to know how to buy it! We won't discuss features and specs here but we will go through a list of tips that can influence your decision.

What do you need?

Many people buy cameras that are more powerful than this photo skills. Before obtaining yourself a camera you must spend some time answering the following questions:

What will you use it for?
Where will you use it?
What's your level of expertise?
What facets interest you the most?
How much money are you ready to spend?

Once you have the answer to all these questions you're ready to go to the store and buy yourself a camera. When in skepticism ask the salesperson for some guidance.

Don't go chasing the megapixels!

The many people are not the present important when shopping for a camera. Any professional will tell you that without the right lens the number of megapixels is actually useless.

An average 5 megapixel camera will do a great job and the pictures can not take which much storage space. If you'll print your photos at a conventional size than this 5MP camera will be perfect.

You just have to worry about megapixels when you print your images at very large sizes.

Pay attention to the extras!
When shopping for cameras you have to preventing out the following: the case, the lenses, the batteries, the memory cards, the filters, the reflectors and the tripods.

If you buy more gadgets at the time most probably you'll also benefit from a generous discount from the store.

Do you have any extra gear?

Check if you can use any accessories you have left from your old camera such as: memory cards, lenses, filters, batteries and flashes.

Do you want a point-and-shoot camera or a dSLR?

Even if having a dSLR sounds great you should appreciated that they are heavier and more complex than the regular cameras.

How important is the optical zoom?

A camera usually has both optical and digital zooms. The one you ask for to pay attention to is the optical zoom because digital zoom is in most cases useless and has nothing to do with the actual quality of the picture.

The reviews.

Read some reviews before deciding that camera you will buy because other user's opinions are very pertinent in the decision-making process.

The test.

Before buying the camera you should play a tiny bit of with it to see how it feels in your hand.

The price.

Once you've settled for a certain camera you must find the best price for it. Do a pitiful online examination and thwart websites you can. Usually many retail stores offer alluring bonuses and great prices.

Read more...
James Cooper

Everyone enjoys taking photos of their children, especially during the holidays. These days it's great that you don't have to raise the film, make prints, and then mail them to the relatives. With digital cameras, you can just download the photos and send emails. Sharing photos through those you love has never been easier. If you want to get rid of the old film based camera and buy a digital, these types of tips providing help you.

1. Do the research. While heading to a shop and seeing dozens of wonderful looking digital cameras might be a bit overwhelming, making informed can take home the experience easier. Learn how each feature does and what do the reviews say about different models. Know what memory, optical zoom or megapixels really mean.

2. Know what you need. Once you know everything there is to know about the features of each digital camera, try figuring out what will you do with it. Is your purpose to take photos and mail them to friends? Do you want high resolution prints? Will you take a lot of photos, or only a few from era to time?

3. Choose a budget. Buying a digital camera such days can set you back anywhere from $100 to $1000. While having a lot of options sounds good, if you don't need a feature, why pay for it? If you want a nice camera with some basic options, the price will be around $300.

4. What kind of resolution do you need? One element that can make all the difference is the number of megapixels. The photo quality is better with further megapixels. Two megapixels in resolution is all you need for a 5x7 print. For 8x10 prints you when go with a camera with at least 3 megapixels. If you want better prints, go with cameras that have at least 5 megapixels.
5. Choose a camera with sharp optical zoom. If you have great optical zoom, you can get good photos of matters that are much further away. If you have a choice between digital and optical zoom, always go with the optical zoom. While digital zoom will increase the size of the photo, the quality will be distorted. Optical zoom on the a larger number of hand will give you a astronomical quality photo.

Read more...
James Cooper

Even if you know the photo language, finding the best digital camera to suit your needs can sometimes be pretty challenging. Below you'll find a list with 5 biggest mistakes you can make:

1. Don't buy a camera you haven't used before

Reading reviews and test scores won't do you any nice unless you actually see the camera. It is very important to check out its design because if it won't be comfortable in your hand then it is not the right camera for you.

You have to make sure such a the device is 100% functional and that it is spot on what you're looking for. If you're in doubt, ask the salesperson for some guidance.

When you think you found the right camera start making some tests. For example you can pretend like you are taking some pictures and while doing too you'll see how the camera feels in your hand.

2. Choose the best camera your money can buy

The temptation to buy yourself a very expensive and high-tech camera is very high for all of us but in most cases that's not necessary the best thing to do. A beginner shouldn't use a pro digital SLR because the controls are very difficult to use and the menu isn't that simple and intuitive at all. Truth be told a regular blog picture won't require a 12MP camera because that's simply too much.

Check out the list of features and see how many of them will you actually use because you do not have to spend finances on something you won't use ever again.

3. Don't Chase The Megapixels

Usually people compare cameras using merely the megapixel criteria.

If you use an old PC back home and you want to upgrade most probably high-capacity memory cards will not be on your shopping list. The same thing happens with digital cameras. If you only take pictures for your IM avatar, a 12-megapixel device will only use valuable storage space.

4. Pay respect to the Digital Camera Zoom Numbers

When shopping for a camera pay attention to the zoom. Don't let the digital zoom number fool you because any professional photographer will tell you that the digital zoom is useless in most cases.

If the salesman tells you that a certain camera has a 10x zoom you must ask him the precise merde for optical.

If you've worked in the out of mostly with film cameras you might also want to find out right about the 35mm equivalent.

5. You do not know what camera you want to buy

The market is filled with a wide span of digital cameras for you to decide from and that's why finding the ideal camera can be pretty hard sometimes. The best thing for you to do is to build your Top 3 Favorites camera and start comparing their features.

Getting the perfect camera, is never an easy thing, especially with the way digital technology is persistently changing. Fortunately, there are plenty of helpful websites online like this one, that can narrow down your search and help you find the camera with all the features crucial to you.

Read more...
James Cooper

The newest Canon SX series of digital cameras is designed for passionate photographers, whether tech-savvy amateurs or professionals looking to upgrade their camera equipment arsenal with an affordable, high-power zoom performer. The new PowerShot SX1 IS and SX200 IS Digital Cameras are loaded with portions that are sure to please. The new cameras have an array of shooting opportunities enabling the user to choose the product of choice that is designed to fit their needs at a price that can not break their budget.

Check out the basic features of the Canon Powershot SX200 IS:

* 12.1 megapixels
* 12x Zoom (28-336 mm equivalent)
* Optical image stabilization
* 720p HD video
* 3" LCD
* ISO capability of up to 1600


With a new sleek and sophisticated package, the Canon PowerShot SX200 IS Digital Camera offers consumers a great compact camera with DSLR-like features. The PowerShot SX200 IS Digital Camera goes from wide angle (28mm) to a powerful 12x Optical Zoom lens (336mm), and, with the added bonus of Optical Image Stabilization. With this long-range lens, the photographer can get up finish to subjects or capture more in the frame.

The Canon Powershot SX200 IS is quite compact, making it a perfect camera to carry anywhere. You can take wide angle photos at the short end of the 28mm lens, or zoom to a maximum of 336mm to get a close-up of a bird at your backyard feeder. There is also the portrait feature with 9-point have to handle recognition.

The IS (image stabilizer) allows the photographer to take hand-held a picture without worrying about camera shake resulting in a blurry photo. The Canon Camera program modes include features usually found only on more professional cameras. The user can select Program (P), Aperture (Av), Shutter Speed (Tv), or Manual (M). There are also the camera presets that are available on most compact cameras, such as sports, portrait, macro, etc.

Available in three colors - black, blue and red - consumers can now choose to personalize their camera according to their lifestyle. High-resolution, 12.1-Megapixels, 720p HD Movie Mode and a large 3-inch LCD screen with wide-angle viewing round out the feature set. The PowerShot SX200 IS Digital Camera is scheduled to be available some time in March for an estimated retail price of $349.99.

Read more...
James Cooper


The photography industry is ramping up for the year's biggest event. It is the annual PMA (Photography Manufacturers' Association) trade show in Las Vegas. If I could pick a vacation spot next month as an amateur photographer, it could be PMA. This year, Canon has announced two new entries in the mid-level compact camera market. Actually, there are many new products by Canon and others, but this prediction will deal with two. The Powershot SX1 IS and Powershot SX200 IS are packed with improvements and new aspects the will make photographers at all levels, from height novices to professionals, take a long look.

The Canon Powershot SX1 IS is an upgrade of the SX10, and it has actually already hit the camera market, but it has not yet been offered in the US. In spite of making an upgrade, it is a prosumer ideal with features like none before it. It is the first non-DSLR to have the CMOS sensor that is included in the DSLR professional models. The ISO range of the SX1 goes from 80 to 1600 with only slight image deterioration at the high end. Here are some of the other specs:

* 10 megapixels
* Variable position 2.7" LCD
* 20x Optical Zoom (28mm to 560mm)
* Hotshoe (for external flash)
* DIGIC 4 processor
* 1080p HD video records at 30fps
* Suggested Retail Price $599

Video recording on this camera is as good as a dedicated video camera. It can be played back on a HD television with great clarity. For the amateur photographer who is looking for a professional look, with video capabilities, but does not want the hassel of carrying equipment and switching lenses, this may be the one for you. It could also be the "carry everywhere" camera for professionals. The second of the two SX models offered in March is the Canon Powershot SX200 IS. This is a so much compact camera with amazing power and flexibility. It will capture close-up at 28mm and zoom to 12x (336mm). It is sleek and good-looking, coming in 3 designer colors, black, blue, and cranberry. This new digital camera has an array of controls and options to give the user as much or as little control over the outcome as desired. Some of the notable specs are:

* 12.1 megapixels
* 12x Zoom (28-336 mm equivalent)
* Digic 4 processor
* Optical image stabilization to reduce camera blur
* 720p HD video
* ISO up to 3200
* 3" LCD
* Suggested Retail Price $349

The Canon Powershot SX200 IS is a little package with a powerful punch. It is a great camera for outings or vactions. It can be carried anywhere because it is a real compact, yet has the capablility to take large enough pictures to clearly print at 8 x10 and much larger. It will capture HD video as good as a dedicated camcorder. It will most certainly put Canon at the top of their game once again.

Read more...