Picking a digital camera brand is something that comes down to what the individual needs the camera for. What are the person’s goals with the camera? Personal use or professional use? These are just a few of the many questions one should ask them self before picking the brand they feel is best for their needs. Generally, there area few brands that tend to dominate the digital camera industry. Firstly there is Canon, usually the cameras with the highest technology. Secondly there is Kodak, which is known for a great balance and a very easy to use interface. Then there is Sony, which most people claim is quite similar to Canon, and is basically an alternative. Lastly, Olympus has quite a few good cameras, and is known for having unique features that many other cameras do not have.

When picking a digital camera, one should know that each camera falls into a certain category. These categories include ultra compact, compact, creative compact, SLR-like, and SLR. Ultra Compact are very small, easy to fit in your pocket, although with this comes very small buttons which people often find hard to use (many Sony cameras are ultra compact). Compact cameras are the most common cameras for people to buy, usually can fit in convenient places (for example, your pocket), and the buttons and such are usually not too small or too big. Most brands tend to have cameras that fall under this category since they tend to be so popular. Then there is creative compact, which contains much more options as well as features. Generally more expensive, but is good for those who enjoy playing around with photos. SLR-like are a bit bigger, very easy to control (bigger buttons), and are usually good for those taking pictures in places with little light. Lastly, SLR are the largest cameras. They tend to offer the best quality of picture, best pictures in areas with little light, and best overall kind of camera.

Picking a camera brand highly depends on what category you want (as described above). Generally, most brands stick with one or two of the categories above when creating their cameras. If you are looking for something ultra compact, look into Sony. If you are looking for something SLR, or SLR-like, look into Olympus. Picking a brand is often a choice of preference, but do not be fooled by just the brand name of a camera.

Beginner or not, it is indeed possible for a photographer to take photos with a small meg digital camera that are not only creative, but good too. A wide variety of interesting images can be created with just a little imagination and creativity. Potentially good photographers do not need expensive equipment to take great pictures!

By using only your imagination and creativity and a small cheap camera, and by reading and using the tips here, imagine how proud you’ll be when somebody says to you, “That’s a fantastic picture! What camera did you use?”

Ha! You must remember that somebody could have an expensive camera, and still take lousy pictures because they don’t know too much about photography, haven’t bothered to learn or improve their skills, and are not creative.

They’ve set up their tripod and have taken a perfectly sharp image with no traces of any blurring in the final photo whether it’s been printed or is being viewed on a computer screen, but the composition of the photo is lousy with the horizon in the scene cutting across the exact middle of the picture, or they have placed the main subject of the photograph dead in the middle of the photograph’s natural frame.

Using the thirds rule will result in an image with a much more appealing composition.

Think of the ocean and a stunning sunset. Other than that beautiful orange glow of the sun in the sky, the sky is otherwise boring, but the ocean has lovely warm reflections on it, filtering towards you on little ripples of swells on the ocean. Now why would you want to put the horizon in the middle of your frame, and hide the extent of the orange glow on the water? Place that horizon line in your frame closer to the top of the frame – a third from the top, or even as close as a quarter from the top. Also, be sure to get it level!

Don’t place the sun in the middle of that horizon either. Rather place it off to one side of the middle, but not right up against the edge of the frame either.

You don’t have a tripod and are worried about a blurry picture because of using a slow shutter speed to capture all that glorious light? Rest your elbows on the roof of your car to steady yourself. If no car is nearby, at least relax, take a deep breath, and as you let your breath out, click.

© Teresa Schultz 2009

Camera shake is the bane of professional cinematographers. It looks nasty, can make audiences queasy and makes the picture hard to follow. This guide will help you avoid the dreaded camera shake and help you make steady, professional looking video. There are four chief root causes of camera shake.

The first cause is simply holding the camera incorrectly. The solution to camera shake is just as simple: hold your camera correctly. Whether you use simple digital cameras or the latest SLR digital camera, the proper hold is the same:

* Hold your camera close to the body

* Tuck in your elbows snugly against your sides

* Maintain a steady and relaxed grip on your camera

* Stand with your legs roughly a shoulder’s width apart

The aim of these suggestions is to stabilize both the camera and your body. This will ensure that camera remains as still as possible.

The second cause are simply common mistakes made during shooting that increase the likelihood of camera shake. Even if you have a top-of-the line Sony digital camera with monitors, you will still need to avoid these common mistakes to ensure your camera images are the clearest they can be. When shooting pictures make sure to avoid the two most common errors:

* Jabbing the shutter release button hard instead of gently pressing it

* Moving the camera away from your eye right after a shot is completed instead of holding the camera at eye level for an additional moment after the shutter motion has completed

Another common mistake is using a shutter speed that is much too slow, which can make your images look blurry. Slow shutter speed is usually considered to be about 1/60th of a second or any speed that is lesser than the total focal length of the camera lens. For example, if a 300mm lens is used, then a camera shutter speed of 1/300th of a second might still be much too slow to get any sort of clear image. However, if you are instead using a 28mm camera lens, then 1/60th of a second would be considered slow. The reason slow camera shutter speeds are troublesome is because the human hand does not stay steady. Larger lenses like the 300mm will increase the weight in the hand and create camera shake. Using a higher shutter speed will decrease the amount of time of the shutter’s exposure as well as reduce the amount of camera shake that is then transferred to the picture.

Keep these tips in mind, and you are well on your way to reducing camera shake and making your captured images look the best that they can be.

Brand: rooCASE    Model : SD1400IS    List Price : $39.98    Sale Price : $18.68    Availibility : Usually ships in 1-2 business days Check Price at Amazon.com

rooCASE 2n1 Nylon Hard Shell (Black) Case with Memory Foam and NB-4L 900MaH Li-Ion Battery for Canon PowerShot SD1400IS 14.1 MP Digital Camera Black Feature

• Non-OEM Accessories for Canon PowerShot SD1400IS 14.1 MP Digital Camera Black
• Hard Shell Exterior and Memory Foam Interior to Protect your Camera. (Camera NOT Included)
• Mesh Interior Pocket for Accessories. Velcro Retaining Strap.
• Color Matched Rubber Zipper. Removable Carabiner.
• x1 rooCASE Hard Shell Memory Foam Case x1 Non-OEM Canon NB-4L 900mAh Li-Ion Battery

rooCASE 2n1 Nylon Hard Shell (Black) Case with Memory Foam and NB-4L 900MaH Li-Ion Battery for Canon PowerShot SD1400IS 14.1 MP Digital Camera Black Overviews

rooCASE Limited Lifetime Warranty. Exterior Dimension 5.2″ L x 3.6″ W x 2.1 D”. Interior Dimension 4.15″ L x 2.5″ W x 1.1″ D. Like a kangaroo safely carries her young in her pouch, rooCASE offers protective solutions for your precious electronic possessions. rooCASE designers work with your needs in mind, ensuring that cases have not only sturdy exteriors, but also the right-size pockets for smaller accessories. From this starting point of practicality, our designers then consider what’’s hip now. Choose from an array of functional yet fashionable cases for your laptop, netbook, or handheld or other electronic device. With rooCASE, quality and craftsmanship meets cutting-edge design.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored:Jul 26, 2010 01:44:09

The problem some are beginning to discover is that these cameras that look okay on small TV screens don’t look good at all on big screens. Grainy shots, mismatched colors, insufficient lenses for the distance and lighting – all these factors contribute to the problem. That’s why churches that are looking for excellence in their media ministry are beginning to look at professional cameras today the way they looked at projectors a decade ago. With prices on higher-quality cameras inching down every year, good cameras are not just for the largest churches anymore. It won’t be long before cameras are as common as projectors in churches.

If you’re beginning to consider cameras for your church, where do you start? The camera itself is actually the last thing to investigate. Just like with projectors, you have to understand your purpose and how your room conditions affect your needs before you try to meet these needs.

The very first thing that you have got to do is ask the question “why?” Is the camera strictly for recording? Is the recording for distribution to church members or just shut-ins? Do we want the camera images on the screen in the main sanctuary? Do we want to stream our services on the web or by podcast? Are we looking for all of the above? One particular camera or camera type can be the right choice or a very wrong choice depending on the answers to these questions.

Of all your room conditions, light is the most important one to take into account. The camera “sees” differently than the human eye. The greatest camera/lens combination in the world is still going to be limited by the available lighting. For example, the best possible lighting scenario for IMAG should have a variety of light fixtures (using different colored “gels”) covering the stage so that they combine to give the closest approximation of true white light. You need different colors to get skin tones that are accurate and pleasant, as well as true color reproduction of the scene.

Next, camera placement is an issue that a lot of churches struggle with. “Can we put cameras where they are not going to be a distraction to worship?” There are basically three options to address this dilemma, each with definite pros and cons:

Option 1: The choice that gives you the best performance for the lowest price is to place manned camera stations in the midst of the room. The downside is that the camera equipment and operators are going to be visible to the congregation. It’s often a major distraction at first, but we typically find that after a few weeks no one seems to notice anymore. Each church will have to decide for themselves if this is a good option.

Option 2: The second option is to place the cameras at the back of the room. How far away will the camera be from the scene it is trying to capture? Perhaps more appropriately, how close can the camera be to the scene? To place cameras 100′ away from the stage and capture a tight head and shoulders shot is not possible without spending a great deal of money. You’ll need a large lens capable of reaching that far, which requires a camera that can work with that lens. Not every church will have a budget for the kind of camera equipment necessary to pull this off.

Option 3: Robotic cameras are the third option. These cameras don’t need a person standing next to it to control its movement. These cameras were originally used strictly for high-tech security, but recent advances in technology and function make them a viable option for some churches who need to get closer to the stage without a huge camera. To find out more about robotic options, check out this month’s VISUAL AIDS.

An exciting development in video recently is the advent of High-Definition or HD video cameras. Up till now the cost of HD cameras has been prohibitive, to say the least. However, new cameras on the market bring the visual quality of HD at least within sight of, if not within, the budgets of many ministries. So, when looking at a camera system for a church, Standard Definition vs. High Definition is a topic that definitely needs to be addressed. It is important to note that just going with HD cameras does not make the system HD. Every component along the way has to be capable of dealing with the high-def signal for the system to be considered truly HD. However, it can be a good idea to start with HD cameras and upgrade the rest of your system over time.

It will save you a lot of time and trouble in re-budgeting and re-convincing people if you prepare your decision makers for these issues before you even begin to shop for a camera. When you’ve done this part of the work, now it’s time to decide which cameras are right for you and how many you will need. That’s where Fowler comes in. We’ve already done research on a number of cameras, some of which are designed for the needs of churches. If you need help sifting through some of the initial issues, we can do that, too.

Call Fowler at 800-729-0163 or email us at info@fowlerinc.com.

One of the favorite subjects of most photographers is outdoor landscapes. There’s so much beauty and majesty in nature, and many of us want to capture the moment and take it with us forever in the form of a snapshot or photograph. Unfortunately, the photo often doesn’t live up to our memory of the actual landscape scene. Here then are a few tips on how to take better landscape photographs in the future.

1. If your landscape scene includes the horizon or distant mountains, try to look around for something of interest that you can put into the photograph in the foreground that will bring better balance to the composition. There are lots of things that can work to accomplish this goal, including fences, flowers, tree branches and much more. The key is to be on the lookout for foreground subjects of interest, and not just focus all of your time on the distant horizon instead.

2. A favorite trick of professional photographers to greatly improve the appearance value of their photographs, is to look for ways to lead the eye of the beholder into the photograph and especially toward the main subject of the photo. Again, this is something that you have to generally look around for to find when you are outdoors. But look for things like a road, a fence, a river, or anything else that has a directional line to it that can be used to point the way to the main subject of your photo. This greatly enhances the overall appearance value and provides one of those simple but meaningful professional touches.

3. When photographing distant landscapes such as mountains, lakes, forests and so on, it’s very easy to lose a sense of scale in the photo. So what was huge and impressive in real life becomes compressed and uninteresting in a snapshot if you aren’t careful. A good way to avoid this is to place something in the photograph that gives a point of reference for scale. For instance, just including a person in the photograph of a large landscape can help you begin to get a feel for the size of the area that you are viewing.

4. Try to place the main subject of your landscape scene slightly off-center rather than in the dead middle of the photograph. Many photographers have a tendency to want to naturally place their main subject in the center, but actually the best photographs are those that have the subject slightly off center either vertically or horizontally in the photo. So a good way to remind yourself to do this, is to divide the scene up into thirds both up and down and across and then place the main subject on one of the spots where the imaginary lines converge. That should help ensure that your photos have more drama and interest in the composition.

5. The very best landscape photographs are taken when the light from the sun is at its best. This is usually very early in the day or very late in the day, when the sun’s rays are longer and shadows provide more detail. The harsh midday sun can flatten and wash out many landscape photographs making them uninteresting and bland. So most landscape photography is best done in early morning or late afternoon.

In addition to the tips provided above, digital photography presents its own set of challenges for landscape photographers. Film cameras simply required that you bring along enough film for the trip. Digital cameras require that you bring enough media storage to make sure that you have enough for all of the photos that you want to take. Remember there are most likely not going to be any stores close around, so plan accordingly and use the tips provided above to be able to take better landscape photographs with your digital camera.

Brand: Nikon    Model : S70 Red    Availibility : Usually ships in 1-2 business days Check Price at Amazon.com

Nikon Coolpix S70 12.1MP Digital Camera with 3.5-inch OLED Touch Screen and 5x Wide Angle Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) Zoom (Red) Feature

• 12.1-megapixel resolution for stunning prints as large as 16 x 20 inches
• Bright, 3.5-inch touch-panel OLED with Clear Color Display
• 5x wide-angle Zoom-NIKKOR glass lens; 5-way VR image stabilization system
• Record 720p HD movies with sound
• Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)

Nikon Coolpix S70 12.1MP Digital Camera with 3.5-inch OLED Touch Screen and 5x Wide Angle Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) Zoom (Red) Overviews

12 MP Coolpix S70 red

Nikon Coolpix S70 12.1MP Digital Camera with 3.5-inch OLED Touch Screen and 5x Wide Angle Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) Zoom (Red) CustomerReview

I will admit, I purchased this camera just becuase of the commercial (and I love Nikon’s!) and the picture quality is AMAZING! I had a bit of trouble at first getting all the settings right, but once I learned how the camera behaved, I have been happy ever since! Many of the negative reviews are because of picture quality and I can’t say how strongly I disagree with that. The 12.1 plus the features of the Nikon make for a superb picture! The one downfall that I can’t get over, but is easy to accommodate is that I cannot turn the camera around and take a picture of my husband and I without hitting a setting on the screen. It isn’t comfortable to work this way, but that isn’t what it was made for!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored:Jul 22, 2010 17:21:16

The Nikon L100 camera is the ultimate camera for anyone who wants to take high quality pictures in any circumstance without being a pro. This L100 is perfect for those who want to leave the camera in a “all auto” mode and know that they are still going to take great photos.

The problem with many of today’s digital cameras is that they offer so many options that most people will never use. A review by a women in Michigan did not purchase the Nikon L100 camera until a few days before heading off to Europe and she was very impressed by this camera. She did not have much a chance to practice with the camera before leaving and stated that there were very few photos she did not like because of the camera.

That is the real beauty of this camera, you can literally take the camera out of the box and start shooting fantastic pictures. What makes the Nikon L100 camera so unique is that fact the Nikon has combined the simplicity of a fully automatic point and shoot compact with a big wide angle 15x zoom lens and image stabilization that you usually only see with advanced super zoom cameras.

Nikon’s superior technology and lens quality provide you with exceptional images that are properly exposed and focused all the time yet is small enough to be portable. Being 10MP you can print images up to 16 x 20 and start hanging your own pictures throughout your house. All in all this camera really is perfectly suited for those who want a no fuss no muss camera that take great pictures.

Brand: Zeikos    Model : ZE-DC26-R    List Price : $39.99    Sale Price : $24.49    Availibility : Usually ships in 1-2 business days Check Price at Amazon.com

Zeikos ZE-DC26-R 3-in-1 Digital Camera (Red) Feature

• 3-in-1 Camera: Digital camera, Video camera, PC Web-Cam
• Allows you to take up to 160 photos to go
• Shoot video clips on-the-go
• Video chat with friends on the internet
• ArcSoft Photoimpression 5 image editing software included

Zeikos ZE-DC26-R 3-in-1 Digital Camera (Red) Overviews

The Zeikos 3-in-1 Camera brings you closer to you loved ones or business associates. This digital camera allows you to take up to 160 photos to go. Simply plug the digital camera into the USB port and download and edit your photos to share with friends and family. Take video clips or chat one-on-one as a PC-Web Cam.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored:Jul 20, 2010 11:46:14

Brand: Cobra    Model : DC5200    List Price : $71.95    Sale Price : $41.19    Availibility : Usually ships in 1-2 business days Check Price at Amazon.com

COBRA DIGITAL DC5200 5.0 Megapixel 2-in-1 Digital Camera Feature

• 5MP digital camera
• 2048 x1536 pixel CMOS senesor
• 16 MB internal memory with Secure Digital Card
• 1.5-Inch color display
• Features auto flash & optical viewfinder

COBRA DIGITAL DC5200 5.0 Megapixel 2-in-1 Digital Camera Overviews

5.0 Megapixel 2-in-1 Digital Camera

*** Product Information and Prices Stored:Jul 19, 2010 08:59:09