Cameras.co.uk

Digital SLRs

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Fri, 16 May 2008 11:37:00 +0000

Digital cameras have seem many changes over the last 18 months with perhaps one of the biggest being the decrease in price of digital SLR cameras. This has seen them become more affordable and they are now within reach of almost anybody who enjoys photography as a hobby.

Digital SLR cameras can now be found from as little as £350 and it is usually possible to purchase at least one lens as part of the deal. This can be a good way to save some money on a lens. These cameras usually have between eight and twelve megapixels.

Lenses are an extremely important feature but it can be easy to fall into the trap where having bought an expensive camera with a great set of features, that any old lens will do. Lens quality is an important factor if you are looking for impressive quality images. Therefore, budgeting for the best quality lenses you can afford in addition to the cost of the camera body itself.

One of the main advantages of digital SLR cameras is their flexibility. With such an array of lenses to choose from, you can choose the right camera for whatever photograph you wish to take. There is also a wide range of accessories available which can further enhance these cameras capabilities.

Lens choice is continually increasing and there are now a range of lenses that are specifically designed to match smaller sensors that can be found with digital SLR cameras. If you want to take wide angle shots then a wide angle lens made specifically for digital SLRs will probably make a wise investment.

Another big advantage of going down the digital SLR route is that it helps to protect your overall investment. If you buy a number of lenses and then decide to upgrade the camera itself then your lenses should still work with your next camera provided it is made by the same manufacturer.

Super Zoom Digital Cameras

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Fri, 16 May 2008 11:35:00 +0000

Are you looking for a digital camera that can capture sports or wildlife photography? A Super Zoom model could provide the solution to this problem. Price’s can vary in price between £100 and £250 making the lower end of the range fall into the relatively cheap digital camera bracket. This would be the cheapest option if you are looking for a powerful zoom lens digital camera.

Cameras at the moment generally have zoom capabilities between 10x and 18x. Also, most of the super zoom cameras I have tested have fully manual exposure controls which include aperture and shutter priority. Cameras at the more expensive end of the range have a very wide range of features. This feature makes them suitable for anybody who sees photography as a hobby rather than someone who is looking buy a digital camera just to take a few snapshots with.

Many super zoom digital cameras are designed in the same style as traditional SLR cameras that enable you to get an excellent grip when you take a photograph. The only downside of this is that they can be both weighty and cumbersome. This needs to taken into consideration if you are buying a super zoom digital camera and I would suggest buying a camera bag to transport it from place to place.

If you use a super zoom camera in conjunction with a long lens there is a tendency for camera shake to appear. Some manufacturers have made attempts at combating this to some degree by introducing image stabilisation in some models. Even though every little helps, sometimes the best solution is to make use of a tripod whenever possible. This can often make a clear difference in the sharpness of a photograph.

One big plus point with the models in this digital camera comparison is the fact that the flash unit pops up on the majority of these cameras which helps to take the flash away from the lens of the digital camera. This means that red eye is very rare in portrait shots where the flash is used.

Advanced Digital Cameras

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Fri, 16 May 2008 11:32:00 +0000

The advanced digital camera range as I know is much smaller than it was three or four years ago. This is probably because of the way the price of digital SLR cameras has crashed over the past few years. Even so there is still a demand for this type of digital camera from people who would like a more convenient and therefore more portable advanced digital camera than the larger and bulkier digital SLR cameras.

This type of camera is a cross between High Specification, Super Zoom and Digital SLR cameras. They usually have around eight megapixels and zoom lenses between 4x and 10x. Like digital SLR cameras, you may find control dials that give you fast access to key controls rather than a array of buttons on the back of the camera. Many also offer custom modes where you can save your favourite settings.

Among the more advanced features that can be found are long exposures, custom white balance, matrix, spot and centre weighted metering, continuous shooting, best shot selectors and time lapse movies. Other features can include bracketing, noise reduction and options to adjust sharpness, contrast and saturation.

One of the main differences I have found between these digital cameras and the cheaper Super Zoom style models is build quality. These cameras tend to be far sturdier and a better feel in the hand. They also manage to avoid the problems of purple fringing when the zoom is fully extended.

These types of camera are becoming harder to come by and pricing has fallen since they were first introduced. However, if you see photography as a hobby then it may be a good idea to look at the latest offerings from entry level digital SLR cameras. I expect this type of digital camera to remain with us, but the flow of new models is much reduced from its peak around four years ago.

Standard Plus Digital Cameras

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:31:00 +0000

These cameras form the next logical step up from the entry level models. The main points that make these digital cameras different is that they generally have exposure controls that allow you to control both the aperture and shutter priority. Generally speaking, the kind of people who would want to buy this kind of digital camera are those who want to improve the quality of their photo’s without paying a huge sum for a camera. This being said, prices can range from £110 to £250.

You should also find that the number of megapixels starts to rise with these digital cameras. Generally, you can expect to find about 8 megapixels but the top end models can have up to 12. Some of the cameras in this category also have longer zoom lenses and can often have twice the amount of zoom or more compared to a standard lens.

Many cameras in this category have the facility to be enhanced with after market products such as underwater cases and lens converters. Basically, a lens converter alters the capability of the lens for example, telephoto or wide angle. You may even find fish eye or macro converters for some digital cameras in this category.

At this level, the range of features is increased as well as picture quality. Manual focusing, slower shutter times and additional flash control options can be found. More and more models have image stabilisation and face detection focusing is now the norm. Advanced flash units including pop up and twisting versions are also available on some models to improve photographs. Picture quality is impressive with sharper focusing and good colour detail in comparison to entry level digital cameras.

Although, the majority of the cheaper digital cameras in this category are made of plastic, the build quality of the more expensive models is usually a vast improvement on the entry level models. Television quality playback for movies is also made possible due to the 640 X 480 resolution that can be found on the majority of the cameras. Some digital cameras now offer an additional widescreen setting for movies.

Pocket Sized Digital Cameras

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:29:00 +0000

Pocket sized cameras are usually small enough to fit into even the smallest pockets, say perhaps even a pair of jeans for instance. Usually, I consider that any camera less than 25mm wide to fall into this class but as technology advances and digital cameras shrink even more, they will become even slimmer.

These cameras are normally constructed with a lightweight metal body and are very well made. This makes them a better bet than other types that come with the plastic cases of some lesser models. Design wise, there is good scope for choice although many digital cameras in this category share a similar rectangular shape. This means that finding a camera that you like the look of should be a breeze.

LCD screens are still a major feature of these cameras even with their small sizes. Most have at least a 2.5” screen and some even have one which is 3”. However, due to the size issue, many do not come equipped with a viewfinder. Picture quality is greatly improved now and if you select your digital camera wisely you should find you can take great snap shots.

At the moment, many of the digital cameras in this category have between 8 and 12 megapixels. Most lenses extrude from the camera body when it is switched on, but there are also a few to choose from with an integral lens. In terms of actually buying a digital camera, prices can range from £100 to £200 but most of them are roughly £130 to £150.

The quality of the models in this digital camera comparison varies greatly from camera to camera. For this reason, I recommend that you shop around to find the right model. One thing to remember is that the flash and lens are often close together therefore making red eye hard to avoid. Also, indoor shots can be not as good as the higher end digital cameras.

Pocket sized digital cameras tend to be easy to use and many of them are user friendly with a simple set of features. These makes the cameras in this category fall into the high quality point and shoot range.

One final point to remember is that the flash units can be limited in power with this type of digital camera. You should be aware of this limitation when you want to use this camera in lowlight situations.

Stylish Digital Cameras

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:23:00 +0000

I have usually found the types of digital camera found in this category both reliable and of good quality. When compared against the standard digital cameras available they are certainly better in build quality than the standard variations.

Cameras of this type, usually have around eight to twelve megapixels and zoom lenses are getting longer too. You can also generally find larger LCD screens but as is the case with many other digital cameras on the market, viewfinders are becoming a thing of the past.

These digital cameras are often small enough to fit into a handbag and are usually quite easy to carry around without being obtrusive. Generally silver in colour (as with many digital cameras), multiple colour options are becoming increasingly available. Many cameras now look fairly similar and therefore looks and style tend to vary very little.

This style of camera generally has good picture quality and often performs admirably in all manner of situations. The features available are similar to that of the standard digital camera but are easy to use and get to grips with.

Features such as image stabilisation (to help stop hand shake) and television quality movie modes are available on many cameras in the category. The build quality of these cameras is similar to the pocket sized models. I have generally found that the resulting pictures from these digital cameras are better and the flashes have a further reach.

Pricewise, they can be more expensive than both the pocket sized and standard digital cameras. Prices can be about £170 to £270 and they are probably more likely to be bought by somebody who would like a great quality camera that is user friendly but is prepared to pay a little more for it.

Simple and Easy Digital Cameras

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:04:00 +0000

Pricewise, these types of camera can cost between £60 and £120. There are cheaper options, but if you want a current digital camera from a well-known brand then this is the kind of price that you should be aiming for.

These cheap digital cameras usually have fewer features than the more complex models. This means that they are generally, easier to use. Manufacturers have put a lot of emphasis on this area over the last few years and lots of cameras available are now quite straightforward to use. These digital cameras do however, come with their own set of limitations when you compare them to the more expensive cameras. The cameras are routinely made of plastic and there is often a noticeable difference in their build quality when compared to other types of digital camera.

The chances are that this kind of camera will struggle to take good pictures indoors, in a lowlight. This can lead to blurring in some photos where the camera cannot focus properly, making each photo slightly darker. However, there are some exceptions to this rule if you search around. There is also the issue of shutter lag which is the time taken between the shutter button being pressed and the picture being created. It is because of this that photo opportunities could be missed. Although there are a few cameras that are able to get over this problem, the majority suffer from this major flaw.

Most digital cameras now come with LCD screens and they are increasing in size and quality. You may find however that they do not have a viewfinder. Many of the cameras in this range will now accept memory cards to increase the amount of pictures that can be stored.

What to Look for in a Digital Camera

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:01:00 +0000

When you start looking for a new digital camera it is easy to be overwhelmed by the choice available to you. There are so many brands, types and feature available, it can be difficult to know which one will suit your needs best.

The main objective of this blog is to provide digital camera reviews that will help you to decide which digital camera is right for you and fulfils any specific requirements you have. This will include both cheap digital cameras and more expensive models.

Okay, where do we begin? Let’s start by identifying the different digital camera types into several different categories.

Easy to use Digital Cameras
Compact or Standard Size Digital Cameras
Digital Cameras that fit in your Pocket
Digital Cameras with Style
Digital Cameras with Super Zoom Feature
Sophisticated Digital Cameras
SLR Digital Cameras
Digital SLR’s for Professional use

Canon Digital Cameras

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:56:00 +0000

There are Canon digital cameras available for a broad range of people. It doesn’t matter whether you just take the occasional photograph or are a professional using photography as your livelihood. The Canon digital camera range is split into three different sections, namely, IXUS, EOS and Powershot.

The easiest and perhaps most straightforward range of Canon digital cameras is the IXUS. These models have metal bodies and are extremely stylish. They are known for being compact and some of them are small enough to slip easily into your pocket. All of the IXUS models are fairly simple and easy to use which makes them really high quality point and shoot digital cameras.

If you are considering buying Canon Digital SLR Cameras, from the EOS range you should remember that you need to keep a fair proportion of your budget to buy additional lenses. Although there is the option of buying a lens in a kit with the camera, it is likely that you will be looking for at least one more lens as well.

The Powershot part of the range offers a broader selection of digital cameras. At one end are some simple and easy cameras aimed at people who may not know a great deal about digital photography or who would rather not spend a fortune on a digital camera. The range then works its way up to one of the most advanced compact digital cameras you can buy. You will also find the super zoom cameras in this range. The Powershot range on the whole has a good selection of more advanced controls than you are likely to find in the IXUS range.

Cheap Digital Cameras for Less

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:54:00 +0000

If like most people, you are looking for a cheap digital camera or maybe a bargain then read on.

Since I regularly test cameras in order to produce an accurate review, it is usually necessary for me to actually purchase the digital cameras at the full retail price. This is because the majority of camera companies have refused any request to loan a camera to provide digital camera reviews.

This has lead to me sell the cameras after I’ve finished with them. Now, I would not expect to get back the full amount that I paid but if you don’t mind buying a camera that has only been used a couple of times then you can get your hands on a cheap digital camera.

These cameras are usually in excellent condition, but if there are any marks then I will say so. Everything that comes packaged with the camera at the time of purchase will be included in the sale. This includes memory cards, manuals, software, etc and if the camera comes with standard AA batteries then I will supply brand new ones.

All cameras I sell are supplied through standard eBay auctions and I will only post within the UK. All digital cameras sold by myself will come with a personal one year guarantee which will cover any breakdown through normal use.

Looking for Digital Cameras under £100

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:27:00 +0000

Cheap digital cameras that cost under £100 are quite easy to find these days but you should try to be aware of some possible pitfalls you may encounter.

Firstly, a cheap digital camera that fall into this price bracket is less expensive when compared to other models on the market. Although this makes then more accessible, the quality may be slightly lower in certain areas.

The main differences between these cameras and the more expensive models are that they will have fewer megapixels, giving a lower quality of pictures. They may not have an optical zoom lens, but with digital camera prices falling, you may find some cameras do have them.

Build quality is generally not as good and shutter delay or lag may be prevalent. Battery life too may be lower due to higher power consumptions.

Looking for Digital Cameras for less than £50

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:04:00 +0000

Okay, you’re looking to buy a digital camera for under £50 but you don’t know what differences there are between the cheaper and more expensive models.

The main and possibly the most obvious difference is picture quality. This is largely due to the amount of megapixels on offer from camera to camera. Cameras with a low number of megapixels, although being more than adequate for viewing pictures on a computer or for emailing to friends and family but they will probably not be suitable for producing photographs or prints.

Another possible issue with a cheap digital camera for under £50 is that the chances of getting a zoom lens or digital zoom are slim. The overall build quality of the camera will not be great and the performance capabilities will be lower. This will lead to increased shutter lag or shutter delay and the battery life will almost certainly be less.

I would expect the quality of the photographs taken with one of these digital cameras to be acceptable outdoors with good lighting, but I believe that they would struggle to take a good indoor shot where the cameras shortcomings would become more obvious.

Digital Camera for long distance/safari shots

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:27:00 +0000

Question: I'm planning to go to Africa next Jan and would like a camera that would allow me to take some good long distance/safari shots, but not too expensive. Can you help?

Answer: The most important feature to look for is going to be a long lens. Ideally I would suggest a Digital SLR for a number of reasons, but because you have said the camera needs to not be too expensive I will look at other options.

At the moment I would suggest your best buy is likely to be the Panasonic DMC FZ18. This camera gives you an 18x optical zoom lens. This is the longest lens currently available on a consumer level digital camera. The camera also has a variety of manual exposure controls, but can also be used in fully automatic mode, where all you need to do is like up the shot and click the button.

The camera has built in image stabilisation and this can help to reduce blur on handheld shots. A lens of this length adds weight to the camera and can make it harder to keep a steady hold.

If you are looking on the holiday as a trip of a lifetime then I would suggest getting the camera some way in advance of your holiday and getting plenty of practice. There are places throughout the U.K. where you can go and take photos of wildlife. Building up your experience could make the difference between a set of special photos and potentially disappointing ones.

This camera comes with a rechargeable lithium ion battery. You will need to consider how the battery will be recharged on the trip and if it is wise to buy one or two spares. Likewise you need to consider storage options. An extra large memory card may sound like a great idea, but I would look to take at least two good sized cards in case one fails on the trip.

Protection of the camera whilst traveling is another consideration and I would look at investing in a good quality case.

First Serious Camera

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 17:37:00 +0000

Question:
I have a simple digi camera but manage to take some pretty good photos i would like to get something a bit more professional as i am quite keen but don’t know where to start can you advise.

Answer:
Two questions to start with. How serious are you about photography and how much money do you have?

If the answer is photography is an important hobby to you and you have a fair amount of money then I would go for a digital SLR without any hesitation. You will find the picture quality outclasses that from smaller cameras in most situations. I would start off with something like the Canon EOS 400D or the Nikon D40x. You buy these cameras in a kit with a lens or two to get you started. To save money I have bought second hand lenses in the past and been more than happy with the quality. If you go down this route it is important to make sure the lenses you buy are good as they play a very important role in the overall quality of the photos.

The other advantage of buying a digital SLR is that you can add to the system as money becomes available. This lets you add lenses, flash units, filters etc. when you are ready to do so.

If this isn’t the route you wish to take at this moment in time then I would look at some of the more advanced compacts such as the new Canon Powershot G9 and Nikon Coolpix S5100.

Best Camera for Safari

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 17:36:00 +0000

Question:
The big question as I see it is: To SLR or not to SLR…any thoughts/recommendations would be extremely appreciated. This is the trip of a lifetime, but I equally would like a practical (ie not too heavy/bulky) option for post-safari photography…as I tend to bring a digital with me everywhere I go, but would not an SLR.

Answer:
For the best photos from your trip of a lifetime I would go for the SLR with a long lens if you can afford it. I would also take time out to practice before you go. Whatever you buy a long lens is likely to be a must. Therefore even if you buy a super zoom digital camera like the Canon Powershot S5 IS it is not that much smaller than an SLR anyway. To keep the cost down you can consider picking up a lens or two with the camera or finding a decent second hand lens.

If you already have a digital camera that you can take everywhere with you then keep hold of it. When you want to take some photos that are a bit extra special take the digital SLR along. When it is not practical or you just want some quick snaps take the compact with you.

Photos in School Halls with Poor Light

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 17:34:00 +0000

Question:
I have a Olympus mju 400, which for a camera is reasonable, I am however really disappointed with the images I have taken at my children's school in the hall and at the church, Xmas plays etc. I would really appreciate a little advice on how to make this better, they are extremely dark and out of focus. Is it just the camera or can something be done to change this or should we invest in a better camera, as not to miss out on these precious times?

Answer:
I’m afraid to say that smaller compacts will struggle in these situations. As you can see they are unable to pick up enough light either to expose the photo well or focus sharply. It is very difficult to advise you as to exactly what camera to buy. Conditions vary from school hall to school hall and sometimes you will find yourself sitting further forwards or more towards the back. This is also not something I test cameras for.

The only camera I have used in these situations where I have been really happy with the quality of the photos is with a digital SLR. This is because I have been able to use some of the more advanced settings in order to get the quality I want. If you do not want to go to that level of expense I would try one of the larger cameras from Canon or Fuji. The reason I suggest Canon is that in my opinion their consumer level models are the most reliable overall. My suggestion for Fuji is because their cameras work better than most in lowlight situation. Even with these cameras I am not able to guarantee you stunning photos, but they should be an improvement on the photos you are currently getting. The larger cameras tend to offer a bit better all round quality and you are likely to find the longer zoom lenses they have useful as well.

There is no harm in asking around and getting a second opinion. If you have a decent local camera shop then I would pop in there for a discussion.

New Sony Digital Cameras

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 11:36:00 +0000

Sony have announced three new digital cameras. These are due in the shops in September 2007. Two of the cameras the DSC T70 and the DSC T200 are slimline, pocket sized cameras. The third camera is a super zoom digital camera with a 10x optical zoom lens.

The T70 and T200 are eight megapixel models. The T70 has a 3x zoom lens while the T200 has a longer 5x zoom. Other headline features include High Definition quality for playback on high definition televisions, 16:9 wide LCD touch screens and a special setting that detects a smile and automatically takes a photograph without the need for you to press the shutter button. The size of the LCD screens are larger than standard. The T70 has a 3 inch screen while the T200 has an even larger 3.5 inch screen.

Both cameras offer a choice of colours. The T70 is available in silver, black, white and pink. The T200 comes in silver, black and red.

Tapping the screen causes the camera to focus on the selected area of the shot. If you are taking a portrait shot touching the screen turns on face detection focusing.
Although not pocket sized the DSC H3 is much smaller than other super zoom cameras from Sony. It has dimensions of 106.0mm x 68.5mm x 47.5mm and weighs 246g. This is also an eight megapixel camera.

Other attractions include face detection software, in camera retouching of photos already taken and a special sports shooting mode to take advantage of the long zoom lens.

All three cameras offer image stabilisation.

Estate Agent Seeking Digital Camera to Photograph Rooms

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:14:00 +0000

An estate agent has contacted me asking if I would recommend a Canon IXUS 950 IS to photograph interiors of houses.

The answer is no. Standard advice for anyone who wishes to take this type of photograph is to select a camera with a wide angle lens. The advantage of a wide angle lens is that you can squeeze greater width into a shot. This means that as well as for photographing property a wide angle lens is useful for taking photos of groups of people and also landscape where you are trying to cram in a wide expanse of scene.

If you look at a specification for a digital camera you may have noticed an item called 35mm equivalent focal length (or something similar). This is the piece of information you use to judge whether or not a camera has a wide angle lens. You will also notice that any lens that can zoom in and out has two figures for the focal length. The first one is the ‘from’ figure and the second is the ‘to’ figure. For example a focal length of a digital camera with a standard 3x zoom lens may be quoted as 35 – 105mm. This means the camera can zoom from a focal length of 35mm to one of 105mm.

A camera lens is considered to be wide angle if the focal length starts from 35mm or less. In my opinion extra width than this really helps therefore for any genuine wide angle photography such as in this case I would suggest looking for cameras with a from or minimum focal length of 28mm. This counts out the Canon IXUS 950 IS. Within this range of cameras the Canon IXUS 850 IS would be the one to go for. It has a similar specification, but also offers a wide angle lens with a minimum focal length of 28mm.

One other point worth raising is that for the best quality shots I would always suggest a digital SLR with a decent wide angle lens. This is the ideal solution, but is a lot more expensive and is therefore out of the price range for a lot of people.

Does face detection software make a difference?

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:44:00 +0000

Although I wouldn’t quite say that face detection software is all the rage more and more digital cameras are now using this. Fuji goes as far as to include FD for face detection in the name of their cameras that have this feature. This certainly gives the impression that the software is something special.

What is face detection software?
All this is really is an extra focusing method. You switch to this type of focusing when you wish to take a portrait shot. The idea is that it helps to produce a more sharply focused face in the photo.

How does face detection work?
Face detection software is intelligent enough to pick out a face or a number of faces in a group shot. It is then able to place the main focus of the photograph on the face or faces in the shot.

Does it make a difference?
Well this is the big question! To be honest I never noticed cameras having that much difficulty before in producing sharp faces in portrait shots. In my tests I have not really noticed a great deal of difference when taking a portrait shot in good light. When light gets lower, especially under artificial lighting indoors I have noticed from time to time that when I turn face detection on it does produce a sharper image than without it.

One interesting point though is when looking at a range of cameras such as the Canon Powershot range I have never really had a problem producing a sharply focused portrait even when the light wasn’t brilliant. Now though without the face detection software turned on focusing for portraits is not quite so good. I must admit to having no idea why this should be!

So my verdict on the current batch of cameras I have tested is that I wouldn’t worry too much if the camera you are looking to buy doesn’t push a face detection feature as one of its main selling points.

Digital Camera LCD Screen Care

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:10:00 +0000

Digital cameras are delicate items and it is important that you take good care of them. Warranties last for either one or two years, but it is very easy to damage a camera and then find it is no longer covered for repair under warranty. With the most basic of repairs costing over £100 it is very easy to write off a digital camera.

The LCD screen remains one of the most vulnerable areas of a digital camera. With many digital cameras no longer having a viewfinder the role of the LCD screen has become even more significant.

Recently a case where a screen had stopped working was reported to me. The camera was within warranty and was sent to a repair centre. There engineers discovered the camera had been squashed at some point causing a tiny chip to the corner of the screen. This was barely visible to the naked eye, but was the reason why the screen no longer worked. Although the damage was accidental it was considered that it had been caused by misuse and the camera had not simply broken down. Because of the way the damage had been caused the camera could not be repaired under warranty.

To have the screen repaired outside of the warranty would have cost £130. This is almost exactly what the camera would cost to replace new. On top of this you also have the expense of sending the camera off to the repair centre in the first place. Therefore the camera was really a write off. Although in most cases like this you can lodge a claim on your home insurance this is not really a route you would like to go down unless you have to.

When I asked the engineers about the problem I was told that although not a common problem it was one they had seen on a number of occasions. Although they could not be sure how the damage had been caused they said it was consistent with the camera being squeezed between other items in a packed suitcase or that someone had put the camera in a back pocket and sat on it. Therefore you can see just how easy it is to damage the screen.

There is very little I can recommend to help you overcome this sort of problem. All you can really do is take as much care of your camera as possible. You could consider buying a camera case though. The downside of this is that it may make it difficult to fit a camera in a pocket. Cases are relatively inexpensive. For a pocket sized digital camera you can pick one up for around £7 - £8 or even cheaper. These will offer some extra protection. For me the best place to pick up a camera case is from your local camera shop. A decent size shop should have two or three to choose from. Although the addition of a case doesn’t mean you can be reckless with a camera it does offer a degree of protection and could save you from writing off your camera.

How to Avoid Blurred Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:36:00 +0000

There are three reasons why photographs may be blurred. The first reason is that the camera is unable to focus properly. The second reason is that there was movement of the subject while the shutter was open and the picture being taken. The third reason is there is movement of the camera while the photo is being taken.

First I will look at the problems caused by poor focusing

Focusing problems can occur when you are too far away from the scene for the camera to focus sharply, when you are too close in or when there is not enough light for the camera to lock onto the subject. You may also find focusing can lose it’s sharpness as you move away from the centre of a photo. This last problem can be especially true when you buy a cheaper camera or lens.

If any of these focusing problems are affecting your photographs then you can try changing the focusing method you are using. For example if your camera supports manual focusing then you can try this setting. Other methods you can try are macro focusing for close ups and infinity focusing for subjects that are a long way away. If the scene is too dark for your camera to focus then all you can do is attempt to add more light. If your camera has an auto focus illuminator make sure this is switched on and try moving in closer to take the photo. Moving in closer can help to increase the strength of the illuminator and therefore increase its effectiveness.

Next I will look at blur caused by the subject moving.

An example of this type if blur is if you are taking a photo of a moving car or if you are taking a photo of a child and the child moves unexpectedly. In some instances this type of blur will enhance a photo. For example it can help to give a feeling of speed in a cycle race. At other times it can spoil the shot.

The problem is caused by the amount of time the shutter is kept open to let enough light in to properly expose a photo. Therefore we need to look at ways to decrease the length of time the shutter is open for.

1. If you have a camera with manual exposure controls you can set the shutter speed to a fast setting.

2. If your camera does not have manual controls then you can try using a special scene mode such as sports mode.

3. Unless you have a very basic camera you will be able to change the ISO setting. Try increasing the ISO level. Be aware though that increasing ISO levels is likely to reduce the overall quality of the photo.

4. You can also consider using flash.

Finally I will consider blur caused by the camera moving while the shutter is open. This is often a problem caused by lowlight with the shutter needing to stay open for longer to let enough light into the photo. The same tips as for blur caused by a subject moving can be tried. These may cause additional problems though. If the shutter is not open for long enough as in points one and two the photo may be under exposed (too dark). Tip three may force the ISO levels up so high that picture quality really does suffer.

The best solution is to use a tripod. This works especially well if you use the self timer to trigger the shutter or another method that means you are not touching the camera while the picture taking is actually in progress. Using a tripod avoids all camera movement. This will therefore eliminate all blur caused by camera shake. If a tripod is not available then resting a camera on a wall will have the same effect.

It is not always practical to use a tripod or a wall and a self timer. For example if the subject is moving in a way that is difficult to predict. The only other action you can take is to turn on image stabilisation if your camera has this feature. This allows you to continue to handhold the camera. This does not always eliminate all blur, but should help to improve the quality of the photograph.

Buying Lenses for an SLR camera - Compatibility

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 15:42:00 +0000

Care needs to be taken when buying a lens to ensure it is compatible with your camera body. There are two factors to look out for.

Each camera body has a specific lens mount. Each lens will fit onto a specific lens mount. For example a lens made by Canon will fit a Canon lens mount, but cannot be fitted onto a Nikon camera and vice versa. This gets slightly confusing as some other camera manufacturers, such as Fuji, use lens mounts from other manufacturers. Therefore you need to know the lens mount your camera has and buy lenses that are compatible with the mount.

Next you need to make sure that the lens is compatible with the type of camera (digital or film) you have. This is because some lenses made for film cameras are not compatible with digital cameras and some lenses are made specifically for digital cameras and will not work with film cameras.

Lenses made recently for film cameras tend to work perfectly well with digital cameras, but some older lenses may not work at all or suffer from certain restrictions. Therefore it is advisable to check with your dealer before buying. If you are still not completely certain then check directly with the manufacturer.

There is one other point to consider when buying lenses made originally for 35mm cameras to use with a digital camera. This is that a conversion factor needs to be applied to the focal length of the lens in most cases. This is because the sensor in most digital SLRs are smaller than those in film cameras. The knock on effect of this is that when you attach a 35mm lens to a digital SLR it increases the zoom capacity of the lens while decreasing the wide angle capability. The exact conversion factor to apply depends on the sensor size of you camera, but normally works in the range of 1.5 to 1.6 times. To illustrate the difference this can make I will use a 200mm lens. If the conversion factor for your camera is 1.5x this increase the focal length of the lens to the equivalent of a 300mm lens.

Buying Digital SLR cameras

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 15:40:00 +0000

In a previous article I talked about the benefits of buying an SLR camera over a compact camera. In this article I am going to discuss the Digital SLR camera that might be suitable for your requirements.

If you look at the specifications of a number of digital SLR cameras you will find a lot of features that are common to all of them. Therefore whichever camera you buy will have all the features most hobbyist photographers need such as manual exposure controls and manual focusing. Therefore you will need to think carefully before leaping in and buying one of the more expensive cameras. You will need to ask yourself if you really need the extras that the more expensive models offer.

Perhaps it is easiest if we split the range of digital SLR cameras into three simple areas. These are cameras for hobbyists, professionals or serious hobbyists or professionals with special requirements.

As you step up through the levels one of the first things you will notice is an increase in the build quality. You are also likely to see improvements in burst shooting speeds. At the highest level you will find speeds of ten frames per second. This is a big advantage to the professional sports or wildlife photographer. You are also likely to find the more you pay the better the camera is as you tests its limits. For example as you pay progressively more for a digital SLR you would expect noise to be less of a problem.

Even if you are buying an SLR camera with a lower price tag it is worth considering your future options. Once you buy a particular brand of SLR it can be very expensive to change brands later on after you have invested in a range of lenses and other accessories. This is an area where Canon and Nikon have an advantage over other brands as they offer a greater choice of more advanced models.

For an entry level digital SLR you are likely to find yourself paying between £350 and £800 for a camera body. That is a fair price difference and you need to sit down and consider whether or not the extra cost can be justified. These prices are for the camera body alone. At the cheaper end of the market you with find models such as the Canon EOS 400D, Nikon D40x and the Sony A100. More expensive bodies, but staying below the £800 mark are the Canon EOS 30D, the Nikon D80 and the Pentax K10D.

Moving up a step you will find models such as the Canon EOS 5D, Nikon D200 and the Fuji S5 Pro. These cameras are used by professional photographers whose needs are perhaps not quite as demanding as those of sports and wildlife photographers. This means that they can have slower burst modes and are not quite as rugged in their construction. I am aware of many wedding photographers for example who use SLR cameras in this bracket.

A further step up brings us to the top of the range models. Currently these include the Canon EOS 1D MkIII and the Nikon D2Xs. These cameras are likely to appeal to professional photographers searching for the ultimate quality, where speed of shot is very important and those working in environments where the camera could take the odd knock here and there.

The next article in this series will start to look at what you need to consider when buying a lens.

Does an SLR Camera Produce Better Photos?

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 15:34:00 +0000

I get a number of requests asking what type of digital camera is best for someone who is either looking to make a career out of photography or is planning to undertake a photography course.

The answer is an SLR camera. There are two main reasons for this. The first is that the picture quality produced by an SLR camera is far better than that produced by a smaller compact model. The second is that an SLR camera forms the hub of a camera system that can be built up over a period of years as requirements change and the money required to buy a new piece of kit becomes available.

In this article I will look at why an SLR offers better quality than a typical compact, point and shoot camera. I will use a later post to talk about building a camera system.

In the digital world one of the main reasons why an SLR better than a compact model is down to the size of the camera’s sensor. The sensor is the area inside the camera where the image is captured and recorded. The sensor inside and SLR is much larger then you will find in a smaller compact camera. This means that the pixels can be much larger in size. The size of each pixel is important. The larger the pixel the more detail that it can hold. More detail equals better quality.

The second reason for better quality photos with an SLR camera is that the lenses you can buy are simply better than those found on smaller cameras. It is easier to build a good quality large lens than it is to build a good quality very small lens. A good quality lens will also cost at least as much and quite often considerably more than a small compact camera. This gives you an idea of the extra quality that a manufacturer can afford to build in.

There are other reasons why SLRs are better cameras as well. Internal components such as focusing and metering systems tend to be of a higher quality. The poor performance of smaller cameras when higher ISO used is well documented in my reviews. With an SLR camera you can expect much better lower light results. Another plus point with an SLR is that shutter lag is much less of a problem.

You will also find a full set of manual exposure controls inside an SLR camera. These do not affect the picture quality in the same way a sharp lens or larger pixel size will, but by manually setting the shutter speed or aperture size you will change the way the photograph will look. Likewise manual focusing is very handy to have too.

So there is no doubt in my mind that if you see yourself as a serious photographer the SLR route is the one to go down.

Next I will run through building your camera system.

Digital Camera Auctions

noreply@blogger.com (Cameras.co.uk) — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 14:20:00 +0000

I have been asked what I think of buying older, used digital cameras from online auctions such as Ebay. The question relates to models that are now a couple of years old or more and the question is are they likely to offer value for money.

When I took a look at Ebay I concentrated on used cameras available for less that £100.

Some of the digital cameras that were selling included a Kodak Easyshare DC240 that was sold for £20 plus £6 postage. There were also a couple of other Kodak digital cameras where people had bid under £20. The problem was that these cameras did not meet the auction reserve price and therefore were not sold. I also saw an Olympus C-765 selling for £91 + £10 postage. This is a fairly advanced compact with a long zoom lens.

So would any of these cameras be consider good value for money. This depends on the condition of the camera, but I would say spending £20 for the Kodak Easyshare DC 240 would be a very good piece of business. At that price it certainly gives people the opportunity to pick up a digital camera that they could not otherwise afford.

Also sold was a Canon Powershot S45 for £67 + £6 postage. The Powershot S45 would still be quite an advanced digital camera so again I would say it was a good deal.

Another camera sold was the Fuji Finepix A101 for just £5.50 + £6 postage. Well if you would like a digital camera I’m not sure you will be able to find anything cheaper than that!

The camera I am not quite so convinced about is the Olympus C-765. Personally I feel some of the current super zoom cameras offer better value albeit at a higher price. So you do need to be a little careful about what you buy.

What do you need to take into consideration?
This may sound strange, but I don’t think there has been a great advance in picture quality over the past couple of years. The type of photo I am talking about here is the standard snap shot taking in decent lighting conditions.

Areas where cameras have changed include offering more megapixels, longer zoom, faster shutter response times, better battery consumption, larger LCD screens and they have also tended to shrink in size. You will also find longer and better quality movies with sound, an improvement in some lowlight photography and shorter macro focusing distances. Therefore you need to weigh these factors up when considering whether or not to pick up a cheaper, older model.

When buying an older camera it is hard to tell just how many miles are on the clock. Digital cameras are fairly delicate machines and there is always a risk involved when buying out of warranty.

To sum up there are some bargains to be had, especially for those who are looking for cameras available for less than the cheapest current models. You do need to think about the factors that are important to you personally before jumping in.

If you would like to check out the latest auctions to find a cheap, used digital camera then follow this link: Low Price Camera Auctions