The benefits of Digital Photography

Recently Print Digital was asked to explain the benefits of using a digital camera over a more traditional based film camera, we are sure those who use digital cameras already can think of many good reasons why a digital camera is more often than not a better choice for a camera. We decided it would be a great idea to put our reasons down into article for the site, if there are any more first time buyers out there and still need a little more information then we hope this will help you to join the digital world.

• Price of digital cameras have dropped significantly over the last few years. It is now easy to spend £100 and come away with a great digital camera with a host of advanced features for altering the camera settings to get a good picture.
  


• Once a picture has been taken with a film based camera you will not see it again untill the film has been developed. With a digital camera you can view the image on the camera and then decide to delete or keep the image before viewing it on a computer screen or printing it out.
  


• Once the camera has been purchased there is little else to pay for, if you decide to print out the pictures yourself then there will be more to pay for ink, photographic paper and even a good quality printer.
  


• It is easy to transfer the photos onto a personal computer through a USB connection, the only way that this can be done with a film based camera is to scan the pictures, which adds more cost and time to the whole photography experience.
  


• Storage of images is easier to manage, as once they are on the PC then they can be archived. For extra safe storage they can be stored on a CD or DVD and then put away for safe keeping.
  


• It is easy to crop and rotate images once on the PC with cheap or free image editing software, there are many advanced techniques that can be done with software such as Photoshop but this comes with a more hefty price tag. Altering the colour, contrast, hue levels, saturation can be done more freely with a digital camera, making a completely different image made up of several others can eaily be done once you come to grips with the software.

These are only a few reasons why Print Digital like to use digital cameras over film cameras. A digital camera comes into its own with the different amount of features that they come with and how versatile they are. We never mentioned how verstaile the storage is on the camera itself for example.

Source http://www.print-digital.info

Caring for your Digital Camera

Camera cleaning is an essential part of digital photography, there are sensors and highly sensitive optics at play when you take a picture, so a few simple cleaning tips is all you need to keep it clean. If you feel that there is actual dust inside of the camera, it is best o take to a special shop where they can clean this area for you.

• Keep the lense clean with a soft cloth, never touch the lense as this can leave finger prints and may cause images to look blurry. If it requires a good clean then use lens cleaning fluid and use a photographic blower brush like the one in the picture above.
  


• Dont put the camera in any situations where smoke, steam, magnetic fields, sand or chemicals can get in contact with it.
  


• Dont store it in dirty or dusty places. Avoid any humid places. It is best to buy a camera pouch to store it.
  


• Dont leave the camera in direct sun light or anywhere where it can get hot.
  


• Avoid scratching any part of the camera, if the lense gets scratched then it could ruin all future images.
  


• Always keep dust cap on lenses if they are not being used.
  


• Never use Paper towels, paper napkins as this can scratch the camera. Facial tissue should not be used to clean the lens of a camera as the fluid and chemicals on the tissue can cause problems with smearing.

Source http://www.print-digital.info

The perfect digital image

You maybe standing in front of one of natures true outstanding places or in a special place at the right time... on a cruise ship while taking in a holiday in the Arctic watching Polar bears on the ice, you pick up your camera and take two or three images, or maybe your childs first birthday you take a few pictures of the special day. Once you get them to your PC and load them up on to the monitor only to find they are blurry or some child had his head just at the bottom of the image, the moment will probably never come again and you have missed the chance.

When facing these types of situations take as many pictures as you can, many photographers take hundreds of photos a week and only a handful will come in a good way. Filling the memory card with as many as you can of those special occasions is the only way that you will avoid dissapointment.

Practise makes perfect! Well not always but if you hardly ever take a picture with your camera except for those special occasions then dont expect to be able to pick it up and take breath taking pictures. Walk around the house and take photos of all your children, the pets, fresh flowers in the garden. Play around with the zoom as well, become familiar with the layout of the dials and the settings, so when that special moment does arise you are not caught messing around with the zoom and getting the dial into the right position, it should be natural.

If you are going to a special place to take photos then a little research on the location is essential. Where does the sun rise and set, is it a open space with lots of green fields or will you be in the middle of a concrete jungle. Is it a typical sunny spot or is known for its grey and cloudy days. These points may seem trivial at the moment, but if you turn up to a location to find you are in the middle of a field with rain and a strong wind with it getting dark very quickly you will be upset that you didnt research the area first.

Source http://www.print-digital.info

Digital camera lenses

here are three main types of lenses and zooms, there are fixed focal length lense, optical zoom lense and digital zoom lense.

With a fixed focal length lense the lense does not move at all (i.e no zooming), with these types of cameras the only way you can get close up picture is to move in closer, or if you are wanting to get a wide angle shot you will have to move back from the shot - but be careful to remember how the over all picture will look.

When a camera talks about its true zoom it is talking about its optical zoom lense, this is when the focal length actually extends and retracts. The image is magnified by the lense itself, using the optical zoom will always give the best picture over the digital zoom lense.

The third is digital zoom, this is when the camera does all the work instead of the lense. It enhances the central portion of the image in such a way that it actually degrades the over all picture. Unlike an optical zoom the actual length of the lens does not change at all.

This article does not cover dslr type lenses like wide angle lenses or telephoto lenses.

Source http://www.print-digital.info

Digital camera batteries

Batteries are vital for all photography and makiing sure that you have a spare set is essential if you intend to take alot of pictures. Print digital also recommend that when deciding upon a digital camera keep in mind what sort of batteries it takes. Does it take rechargeable batteries, are the batteries built and do you have to plug it into the mains, or does the camera only take standard batteries, if so then it can become exspensive if you are a keen photographer and use the camera alot.

There are three types of rechargeable batteries: NiCD, NiMH and Lithium-Ion. Nickel Metal Hydride are the most popular rechargeable batteries at present. They hold more charge than their counter parts NiCD and don't suffer from memory effect. The one small down fall of these batteries is that they will loose a small amount of charge even if they are not being used, so be sure to check the batteries before using them.

When you purchase a new digital camera make sure to ask what type of battery it takes, is it standard only or are they rechargeable. If they are rechargeable then ask if they are built in - if so can they be removed?

One sure fire way to drain the batteries quicker is to use the LCD view screen at the back of the camera, while it is a great way to make sure you get the picture you are after, remember it is also the quickest way to drain those digital batteries.

Source http://www.print-digital.info

Raw file format

A RAW file is referred to as being a true digital negative. The ability to shoot RAW is found on advanced and professional digital cameras. With a RAW image file, nothing is done by the camera such as sharpening or white balance. This means that the photogrpaher has full control over the image when being edited in Photoshop for example.

RAW is not used widely and can only be opened by certain image editors. Because there is no work done by the digital camera, these files are often very large in size and there for take longer to open on most computers. Having said that a RAW image will have a smaller file size than TIFF images. They would have a .raw extension if this format was used.

Source http://www.print-digital.info

Different types of digital cameras

Compact digital cameras
Most compact cameras are small and lightweight which can fit into a pocket or ladies purse. They have plenty of features despite their small size. Their price range can vary according to the different features that the camera offers.

Cameras in this category include:Concord Eyeq Duo

Point and shoot cameras
Easy to use cameras with enough controls that get the job done which won't overwhelm you. Best type to buy if you don't like fussing with lots of buttons and menues.

Cameras in this category include: Fuji Finepix F10

Advanced digital camera
Cameras offering fully automatic as well as manual and semi-automatic controls and other advanced features. Some take accessories and add-ons such as wide-angle and telephoto lenses, filters, remote controls and external flashes.

Cameras in this category include: Canon Powershot G6

Digital SLR cameras
Digital single lense reflex cameras offer a full range of advanced features that can be manipulated by the user. They all have the ability to inter change with many different lenses, be it telephoto lenses or wide angle lenses. Some of the more advanced cameras can be bought with out a lense to help reduce the price. The features that are on the cameras, expect to pay for them.

Cameras in this category include: Olympus E-1

Source http://www.print-digital.info/

Pet photography

An error that happens frequently when taking a photo of your pet is to concentrate on its face or depict it by itself, with no context around it. When taking the photo detach yourself from the animal and the situation and assess the visual interest of the picture - this way it is more likely to appeal to people who do not know the pet and it will have a wider audience.

Taking photos of the owners with their pets is tough as it may not appeal to everyone. Looking at different shooting angles and lighting will help to widen the audience.

Lets not forget though, pets are difficult to get into position, they seem to do what they want when they want!

• Try to take the photos at the animals quietest time of the day. It could be just after feeding time when it is at its laziest. Dawn is also a good time when the animals are at their coldest.
  


• Let the animal be handled by its favourite person. It should be calmer and less likely to behave erratic.
  


• Make the animal comfortable with the flash and the noise of the camera, even the smell. This will help to put the animal at ease.
  


• Always move slowly and smoothly, sudden movements could excite the pet.
  


• Try for unexpected distances, lighting and angles. There are the traditional bog standard poses that you will have but try for something memorable.

Source http://www.print-digital.info

ISO settings on a digital camera

ISO settings
On all compact digital cameras and digital SLR ISO settings can either be manualy set or automatically set by the camera. An ISO setting dictates how sensitive to light the digital sensor should be. The sensor in the camer captures the detail of the image, the data is then turned into digital signals to be stored on a memory card. ISO settings start at around 50 and generally go up to ISO 400, some dslr cameras can go up to 3200. The higher the ISO number the more sensitive the sensor is and will take in more light. Taking a photo out side in bright sun light would mean a low ISO setting maybe of 100 or less. Taking a picture in doors at a party would need at least a 400.

AUTO ISO
The camera decides on the settings, by judging the brightness of the settings. The photographer has no control.

ISO 50 - 100
This manual setting is best used for images taken in bright sun light, portrait and landscape photography. It can be used for macro photography as it also tends to produce better quality

ISO 100
Adds extra light to the image with out any loss in quality, a good use for photography in the shade on a sunny day.

ISO 200
Best used on cloudy and overcast days. Acceptable image quality, though loss in the over all quality of the picture can be detected.

ISO 400 and above
For use when you are unable to use a flash. Also useful for indoor photography whether you use a flash or not. If you intend to take action photos like sports then a high ISO setting with a quick shutter speed will be needed to ensure that you capture the action quickly with enough light.

Source http://www.print-digital.info

Use of flash lighting

When taking a photo inside or in a slightly dark enviroment, the digital camera will recommend to use its own internal flash to brighten the scene for you. Once the photo has been taken and loaded on to the computer they can look very dark and the image turns out not as planned. The image below has been taken with the cameras own flash:


The background has come out very dark and not very accurate to what the actual light was at the time. The next photo that was taken was with no flash used, but instead the exsposure compensation was used to increase the sensitivity to light, this means that the camera would increase the amount of light that it captures:


While the picture is slightly blurred you can see how much lighter the image is over all, this picture and the lighting in it, are almost identical to the living area where it was taken. While we at print digital are not saying to never use the flash on the camera, it is always worth while remembering the other features that the camera offes when lighting a shot in a dark enviroment.

Source http://www.print-digital.info

Digital Camera Tripod

Have you ever taken a picture and the end picture has been blurred. It can be down to several reasons, the camera could have moved as the picture was taken, if you held the camera the movement as you breath could have affected the image. In certain conditions the image can be more blurred - such as low light conditions when the shutter is open longer. If the apeture is wide open or you use a telephoto lens expect to have a certain amount of camera shake.

There is one essential piece of equipment that can be used that will eliminate a blurred image, a tripod. They can be picked up for as little as £20 and can help transform your images from shaky images to pro digital shots that you will want to frame and put on your wall.

Source http://www.print-digital.info

Digital Camera Forums and Digital Camera Chat

There are many digital camera sites out there that proclaim to be the leading review site, or the most up to date news site for digital camera sites - but what people really want is to read an impartial review from people from the real world!

There are many large and well known camera sites out there that also run forums - sites where people can find out information about what the best camera is for them and ask opinions from experts from around the world. Many forums have specific sections on makes and models such as Canon, Nikon and Kodak - and others have large sections where you can show case your own images and have others leave comments on where you could have done better - or tell you that you that are a great photographer! Below are a few forums worth a look, Print Digital recommend DCresource as a large forum with alot of expert users to chat with:

DCresource Forums
DPreview Forums
DCviews Forums
Steves Forums
Photography Review Forums

Source http://www.print-digital.info

Exif Data - Digital Camera Data

When you take a picture with your digital camera the camera settings are stored in a digital file and then attached to the photo, this file is known as Exif data. To view this information right click on your image icon and click properties, a windows box will open, once this has opened click the summary tab and then advanced, you should be presented with the information showing your Exif Data.

As you can see you are presented with alot of information, heres a run down of the most important of that info:

Manufacturer
Who made the Camera?

Model
What model of camera took the picture?

Date and Time
This records exact date and time the picture was taken

Compression
Was the picture saved as a Jpeg or in RAW format

Exposure Time
How long was the exposure?

F Stop
How big was the apeture?

Exposure Compensation
Was exposure compensation used?

Focal Length
What focal length was the lens set to?

Metering Mode
Was there a metering mode used?

Flash
Was the flash fired in the shot?

Width
The width of the picture in pixels

Height
The height of the picture in pixels

Source http://www.print-digital.info

History of Canon DSLR's

Canon have been making DSLR's since the year 2000 and have probably become the defacto supplier of professional digital photographers through their rich heritage of quality DSLR cameras. This page will obviously grow as more cameras are added to their range over time - cameras that are discontinued will be clearly marked.

DSLR's Produced by Canon in 2008

• Canon EOS 450D
• 12.2 megapixel
• Released March 2008
• Will replace the Canon EOS 400D

DSLR's Produced by Canon in 2007

• Canon EOS-1DS Mark III
• 21.1 megapixel
• Released Nov 2007
• Replaced the Canon EOS-1D Mark III
  

• Canon EOS 450D
• 10.1 megapixel
• Released Sept 2007
• Replaced Canon EOS 30D &
  

• Canon EOS-1D Mark III
• 10.1 megapixel
• Released May 2007
• Replaced the Canon EOS-1D Mark II N
  

DSLR's Produced by Canon in 2006

• Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II
• 16.7 megapixel
• Replaced the Canon EOS-1D Mark II
  

• Canon EOS 400D
• 10.1 megapixel
• Released August 24, 2006
• Replaced the Canon 350D
  

• Canon EOS 30D
• 8.2-megapixel
• February 20, 2006
• Replaced the Canon EOS 20D
  

DSLR's Produced by Canon in 2005

• Canon EOS 5D
• 12.8 megapixel
• August 22, 2005
• Replaced the Canon EOS 30D
  

• Canon EOS-1D Mark II
• 8.2 megapixel
• August 22, 2005
  

• Canon EOS 350D
• 8.0-megapixel
• February 2005
• Replaced the Canon EOS 300D
  

• Canon EOS 20Da
• 8.2-megapixel
• Released February 14, 2005
• Replaced the Canon EOS 20D
  

DSLR's Produced by Canon in 2004

• Canon EOS 20D
• 8.2-megapixel
• Released August 19, 2004
• Replaced by the Canon EOS 10D
  

DSLR's Produced by Canon in 2003

• Canon EOS 300D
• 6.3-megapixel
• Released August 20, 2003
  

• Canon EOS-1Ds
• Released April 2003
• 11.4 megapixel
• Replaced the Canon EOS-1Ds
  

• Canon EOS 10D
• 6.3-megapixel
• Released February 27, 2003
• Replaced the Canon EOS D60
  

DSLR's Produced by Canon in 2002

• Canon EOS D60
• 6.3 megapixel
• Released February 22, 2002
• Replaced the Canon EOS D30
  

DSLR's Produced by Canon in 2001

• Canon EOS-1D
• 4 megapixel
• November, 2001
• CCD sensor instead of the CMOS sensor
• Used heavily still as worker cameras in newspapers etc
  

DSLR's Produced by Canon in 2000

• Canon EOS D30
• 3.1 megapixel
• May 17, 2000
• First DSLR built by Canon

Source http://www.print-digital.info

DSLR Buyers Guide

So, you have decided to buy a DSLR digital camera instead of a top end digital compact camera? There are many factors you now need to consider before buying your camera. For example; Canon Vs Nikon, how many mega pixels, kit lens or better etc… the list goes on! Hopefully this handy guide will help to answer some of those questions for you;

Make of camera:

This is a tough one, as to look at the two market leaders, Canon and Nikon, of DSLR cameras there is not a lot to separate either. For many years Canon has been regarded as a high end professional camera manufacturer and has dominated sports photographers as well as photo journalist’s camera bags.

Canon has recently revamped its entry level DSLR cameras with many new additions; Canon 350D, Canon 400D and the Canon 450D.Nikon have recently released new entry level DSLR cameras such as the Nikon D80, Nikon D40 and the Nikon D40X.

Mega pixels:

In basic terms the quality of an image has nothing to do with the mega pixel count. The quality of an image is mostly related to the digital sensor that captures the light.

The amount of mega pixels a DSLR camera has, has an impact on how big you would like to print out your images. The higher the count, the bigger you can potentially print out an image.

Manual controls:

Nearly all DSLR cameras come with full manual controls. This enables you to control shutter speed, ISO setting, white balance, auto-focus (or) manual focus, metering, lens aperture and multiple set programmes.

The above are all basic manual controls that should be found on all DSLR cameras.

Memory cards:

If you are moving up from a digital compact camera you may already have a large collection of memory cards that you are hoping to use with your new DSLR. Not all cameras take the same type of memory cards though.

Canon cameras mainly take Compact Flash cards with newer cameras starting to accept Secure Digital cards. While Nikon take a variety of Secure Digital cards, Compact Flash cards and Microdrive cards.

Kit lens quality:

Another huge factor in the quality of your photographs is the lens that is used. Most DSLR’s come with a lens known as a kit lens. A kit lens tends to be very low quality with cheap glass and components.

It is normally possible to buy a DSLR camera with a better quality lens as a bundle for a very good price. If your budget can stretch this far then it is highly recommended that you do so, the difference in quality can be very noticeable.

Extras:

In the box you can expect some nice extras;

• Camera body
• Lens (if applicable)
• USB cable (to transfer images)
• Disc (software to transfer images, RAW converter and image management)
• Manual
• Warranty
• Memory card (some cameras come with a memory card, usually a 512MB card)

Holding the camera:

It is essential to hold the camera before parting with any money! When holding the camera you will be able to see how easy it is to get the shutter button to take a photo, or check if the LCD is bright enough for you. Those are only two of many things you should check, always consult with the sales person.

High street or online:

This comes down to personal preference, and if you would like to hold the camera before you buy.

Most decent camera shops will let you hold the camera and even take photos beforehand. I like to grill the sales assistant as well, firstly it’ll make him feel that he has earnt his commission, and secondly they can clear up any questions or doubts you may have. If they stumble or don’t know the answer to any of your questions, ask them to find out. Don’t forget it’s a lot of money that you will be spending with them so make sure you are going to be 100% happy with your camera.

Online does tend to be cheaper, but you don’t get the chance to hold the camera and take some sample images. You also are in the hands of you local postal service or courier company!

Price:

A new DSLR is not cheap; expect to pay in the region of £500 - £600 for a decent entry level camera. Top of the range tends to be £6,000 for the Canon EOS 1Ds MK3.

Source http://www.print-digital.info

Kodak Intros Two New Cameras

Kodak today announced two inexpensive cameras featuring image stabilization and the company's Smart Capture feature that automatically recognizes scene characteristics and adjust camera settings accordingly. The Kodak EASYSHARE Z1015 IS is a 10-megapixel model with a 15x optical zoom lens starting at a wide 28mm. The company claims a click-to-capture speed of less than 0.22 seconds. Light sensitivity can be set all the way to ISO 6400, though this level is only available when shooting at 3.1 megapixels or less. Full manual control over aperture and shutter speed are available, along with program mode. List price for the Z1015 IS is $349.95, with shipments slated for September.

The other new camera is the M1093, a compact 10-megapixel point-and-shoot featuring a 3-inch LCD screen and a 3x zoom lens. Face detection is available along with HD video capture. This one is available in black, red and silver for fashion-conscious buyers ready to invest $199.95 when the camera ships in September.

Source http://www.digitalcamerainfo.com

Dell adds storage, disaster management services to portfolio

Dell on Monday announced it was adding customizable storage and disaster management services to build out its services portfolio, which it began revamping last year.

The services, which include disaster recovery and data backup services, will offer tools and consulting for customers to meet exploding data storage requirements across multiple networking and hardware environments, the company said. (Compare Data Backup and Replication products.)

Dell has done occasional storage and disaster recovery consulting, but this is the first time these services are being pulled together as an offering to customers worldwide, said Paul Kaeley, global practice leader at Dell.

Two levels of disaster recovery will be offered to customers. The first level, for midsize consumers, will protect data around key applications and provide tools to restore IT operations in case of a disaster. A higher service level targeted at larger customers will include the design and implementation of IT disaster recovery plans through tools and aligning more people to ensure the plan is effectively implemented.

Dell is also offering managed backup services with reporting and monitoring services to stabilize data backup. If a backup system goes astray, Dell is offering a managed backup through remote management. The services will span all storage offerings, including EMC storage resold by Dell.

The tiered storage service will categorize high- and low-priority data to different storage levels to help a company cut costs.

The price and size of the services will be proportional to the size and complexity of the environment, Kaeley said.

Part of Dell's effort to "simplify IT," the service upgrades reflect Dell's push to reduce IT maintenance costs via customized hardware, software and services. Dell has acquired companies such as MessageOne and Everdream to boost its remote management portfolio.

Dell has also been under increased pressure to improve its service offerings in the wake of HP's acquisition of services company Electronic Data Systems in May. Analysts have said that EDS gives HP a leg up over Dell in the global services market.

Through its services, Dell does not want to send consultants to sit on a client's site for months only to create a 600-page report, Kaeley said. Dell intends to customize services and solve problems quickly through speedy data collection and reporting, Kaeley said.

Source http://www.networkworld.com

Dell simplifies blade server management with I/O virtualization

Dell is releasing an I/O virtualization tool for its blade servers, making it easier for IT managers to install new blades and swap out servers.

Without I/O virtualization, IT shops have to manually assign Media Access Control (MAC) addresses and World Wide Name (WWN) identifiers each time they put in a new blade server. Dell's FlexAddress, announced Tuesday, abstracts the MAC and WWN addresses from the blade hardware, instead tying the identifiers to slots within Dell's PowerEdge M-Series blade chassis. (Compare blade server products.)

"FlexAddress is like a life insurance policy against downtime," says Rick Becker, Dell's vice president of solutions.
Rivals IBM and HP already have I/O virtualization tools for their own blade servers. HP released Virtual Connect in February 2007, and IBM announced its BladeCenter Open Fabric Manager in November 2007.

Dell is competing most directly with HP, because both vendors rely heavily on the x86 architecture, says Charles King of the Pund-IT analyst firm .

The significant aspect of Dell's FlexAddress is that it will "work with most any I/O switch, including Brocade and Cisco," King says. "With the HP I/O solution, both the Ethernet and Fibre Channel connectivity is done with a proprietary HP switch module."

Despite its proprietary switch, HP does claim Virtual Connect is capable of supporting "any industry standard" switch.

FlexAddress starts at $499. The product comes in the form of an SD card for the PowerEdge M1000e Chassis Management Controller.

Source http://www.networkworld.com