Digital Camera Memory Cards




Does it really make a difference what size memory card you use? To your camera, no; to you, however, it could mean the difference between getting the picture you want or running out of space on your memory card.



When choosing the most logical size, take into account how many pictures you usually take at a time. Your needs if you are a world traveler will be different from those of a person who only uses a camera for holiday get-togethers. You also need to decide how big the files are of the pictures you take. Smaller files such as pictures for online will take less space and enable you to fit more on a card. Larger files for printing will need more room.



If you have a 2 mega-pixel camera, 128MB is usually enough. For a 3 or 4-megapixel



camera, a 128MB or 256MB memory card is usually plenty. For a 5-megapixel camera, start with a 256MB memory card.



Here's a rough guideline of how many pictures a flash memory card can hold:



*A 128MB flash memory card can store about 21-41 large, uncompressed images or up to 100 small, compressed images. This is good enough for most photographic needs.



*A 256MB card will store about twice that, 42-82 large pictures and nearly 200 smaller ones. Important events like weddings and once in a lifetime events might warrant this size just to make sure you don’t miss that one special moment.



A 1GB card has room for nearly 4 times as much as a 256MB card, If you are planning a long vacation with a lot of picture taking, this might be best with the capacity to hold 168-328 large images and a total of close to 800 smaller images.



Whatever you decide, remember you can always use several smaller cards and just change them when they are full. It only takes a few seconds to switch memory cards, so don’t panic if you don’t have a large memory card.


READ MORE - Digital Camera Memory Cards




Digital photography can be maximized to its full potential once you have the perfect camera, the proper color and the perfect lighting. Even if you have with you the latest model of digital camera, your photos will not turn out great if you are not making use of the right strategies in getting them right.





Experts in digital photography have come to realize that the digital camera is only one of the things you need to have great pictures. There are also other factors to consider so that you will not be disappointed by the result. One of them is the digital photography lighting.





Have you ever seen digital photos that seem to blur and indistinguishable? There are a lot of cases like this. Even if you try and edit them using Photoshop or any other software, you cannot seem to get the desired lighting you want.





This is because you have not considered having the proper lighting when the photo was taken. You were thinking that the camera and its features will be able to do that for you. Yes it can. But they may not reach your expectations.





The secret to getting that perfect picture is to do it right the first time. By doing it right, it simply means that you need to think about how well or bad the lighting is in the process of taking the photo.





Below are some of the natural sources of digital photography lighting that will make your photos look terrific.





1. After sunrise and before sunset.





It is during these times that photography is at its peak. Meaning, photos turn out great when they are shoot after sunrise and before sunset. Why is this so?





This is because the orange color that appears in the sky during these times adds to the colors that your digital camera is capable. Most of the time, some photos appear dull and unrealistic when they are printed because of the representation of the colors when it is printed.





The color of the environment can add a sort of brightness to your photos. In addition, it will make it easy for you to edit them on your computer once you feel that you want to put in some combination in the natural setting of the picture.





2. Sunlight.





Sunlight is one form of lighting that is very effective once you know how to modify your shots. Keep in mind that you are not capable of altering the brightness of the sun or the shadows that it can create on your photos.





It is up for you to choose the best position wherein you can make the most of the light that is emitted by the sun. Work them to your advantage. Try on different angles and see if they look perfect once frozen.





You can also make the most of the drop shadows that is created by the sunlight. Just make sure that they will not blur your photo. Fro minor adjustments, you can just edit the photos straight from your computer.





Shooting digital photos is not only about having the most advanced digital camera. It is also about looking for strategies and techniques that will benefit your shots. Try to shoot your photos with the perfect lighting and you will see that you do not need to edit or add some more colors in them.


READ MORE - Digital Photography Lighting for Picture-Perfect Photos




With the entry of digital cameras, photography has never been so exciting.





Today, there are varieties of digital cameras to choose from already. Whether you shop either at the department store or online stores, you will see lots of them. Different digital cameras offer different features and capabilities. This is the reason why choosing one is getting more and more difficult. Once you see what each have to offer, you will obviously have a hard time deciding which one to buy.





One of the usual mistakes that people commit when buying their own digital camera is to be enticed by what the advertising mediums have to say about them. By the time they own that camera, they will realize that they are not as good as they first thought it is. It would then be too late to return it and opt for another kind.





Keep in mind that getting a digital camera should take a lot of consideration. Just like buying a car, you have to consider all aspects since this is one thing that you want to work well and would want to have for a long time.





Below are some of the things that will aid you in your decision making process before buying a digital photography camera?





1. The cost.





Ok, so you wanted the latest canon digital camera out in the market. But are you ready to shed the needed amount of money for it?





Cost is a big factor when buying digital camera. It is obvious that the best camera comes with a price. And your budget may not exactly encompass its high cost.





This is not saying that cheap ones are not as good. There are those that you can get for a reasonable price and still works just as well as an expensive one. You need to shop around for the best deal first before you decide on one. Better yet, you can save up on that expensive camera that you wanted all along.





2. The purpose.





Will you be using the camera to shot your family members? Or are you planning to shoot some good photos worthy of a professional?





By knowing what use your digital camera will have, it would be easier to determine the type of digital camera to buy. If you buy a simple one that can be used at home, you will not get the capabilities that you need if you plan on taking really good photographic pictures. On the other hand, it would be a waste of your money if you have the latest digital camera only to be used for personal photos at home.





3. The durability.





Since digital camera is more expensive than the conventional film cameras, you definitely would want something that will stay durable for a long time. You want something that will last even through rough handling and seasons.





If you happen to purchase a typical digital camera you may want to buy some accessories to protect it from scratches and damage. It is best however to get one that is known to have a good quality and durability.





Get the best value out of the money that you will pay for a digital photography camera. Think hard about these important factors first so you will get it right the first time.


READ MORE - Goodbye to Films, Say Hello to Digital Cameras




Maybe you have heard something like this before: “The better the cameras, the better the photos.” In this effect, you might have thought of digital cameras. Many believe that these models are just a one-click away for great photos. Do you also believe on this?





Ponder on the following article and the appropriate answer will be revealed to you.





The rivalry between film cameras and digital cameras is relatively fresh. How come? Three mega pixels digital cameras have an array of choices for consumers, which is already comparable to a high quality point and shoot models. Nowadays, the same thing goes with five mega pixels digital models for excellent quality photographs. The thing is, quality photographs can be taken with ease using digital cameras.





Some of the main advantages to digital photography are:





• pictures can be previewed immediately on the built-in LCD screen



• costs of installing films are replaced with memory sticks or cards that are primarily reusable and can store thousands of pictures



• the stored photographs can easily be shared by copying off the images and/or sharing the memory stick or card



• images can easily be transformed into black and white and/or sepia and can also be cropped after the picture has been taken





However, photos under low light and taken using film and digital models are both susceptible to artifacts or granularity. Images taken by both cameras appear to be very similar can be further improved with the advent of software that can improve and manipulate the quality and details of images.





Furthermore, you can take lousy shots with the most expensive Nikon models and make great photos with the passé point and shoot cameras. It suffices to say that it is not the camera that solely makes great and even picture-perfect images. The man behind the camera can squeeze or miss a big time out of the gadget that he has.





The following presents a ten-point aid that will enable you to take photos like a pro using your digital cameras. Practice on these tips so you can maximize the expense of your gadget.





1. Those Tones Should Warm Up





Change your white balance setting from auto to cloudy when shooting sunny landscapes and outdoor portraits. This increases the yellow and red tones, thus resulting in warmer and richer pictures.





2. Use a [Sunglass] Polarizer





A polarizer should always come in handy when taking those general outdoor shooting. Polarized shots have more saturated and richer colors because unwanted reflections and glare are minimized or even removed.





If your digital camera can not accommodate a polarizer, simply place a sunglass as close to the camera lens as possible making sure that the rims of the glass will not be taken along with the image. The effect of a polarizer can be maximized when the light source is perpendicular to the object.





3. Shining Outdoor Portraits





One of the most useful and amazing features of digital cameras is the flash on or fill flash mode. This feature allows you to take control when to use the flash. It simply goes on whenever you want it available. This helps in capturing great outdoor photographs.





The camera exposes for the background first then adds enough flash to illuminate the subject when you are using the flash on option. Wedding photographers have been using this technique for many years to create professional looking portraits where everything in the composition is simply excellent.





To come up with a more relaxed photograph, try putting the subject under the shade and use the flash to add illumination.





You can also practice on using rim lighting where the sun illuminates the hair of the subject from the side or the back.





However, you should not stand that far away when using the fill flash since most built-in models have a range of 10 feet or even less.





4. Macro Mode Frenzy





I am quite sure that you would want to look at the fine details of your surroundings but would not be willing to crouch down and lie on the ground with your belly.





In that case, you just have to look for the macro made or close up symbol, usually a flower icon, and get as close to an object as possible. Once the confirmation light signals you to shoot, just press the shutter down to record the portrait.





However, using the close up mode allows you to have a shallow depth so you can concentrate on the part of the subject that you want to emphasize and let the rest go soft.





5. Chaos of the Horizon Line





There are still photographers who become disoriented when lining up their shoots. In other words, once they look at their cameras monitor, images that are erect seem to be a little tilted or bowed inward.





The most appropriate way to take care of this matter is to take your best shot at a straight picture, then take another picture after repositioning the camera. Afterwards, you can delete the others once you feel you captured a perfectly aligned image.





Also, just practice level framing your shots until you become acquainted with the process.





6. Massive Media Card





You have to have an extra memory card especially when you want more moments to preserve. The following suggestions should be considered before buying a memory card:



a. for 3 mega pixels – a 256 MB memory card



b. for 4 mega pixels – a 512 MB memory card



c. for 6 mega pixels – 1 gigabyte memory card





Then you do not have to miss another shot because your card is full.





7. Not High Resolution All the Time





It is more advisable to squeeze more images by shooting a low quality and resolution settings than taking shots with a high resolution all the time. This way you can reserve a space and a 2272 x 1704 resolution on the next great image of the century and enough for the portrait to be printed on a 8” x 10” inch paper suitable for framing.





However, if you have enough memory (and you should), there is no reason to shoot at a lower resolution and risk missing the chance to display your work the big way.





8. Tolerate that Tripod





Tripods are “unnecessarily bulky” for some so seldom do people like to bring them around.





Nowadays, there is an ingenious way to settle the dilemma whether to bring a tripod around or to do without it. The UltraPod II™ developed by Pedco fits in your back pocket and holds your camera steady in various situations.





You can use the Velcro™ strap to attach your camera on a tree limb or an available pole. Its legs can be opened on any flat surface or even on a boulder.





Now, you can be a real photographer without carrying a heavy burden.





9. The Fun with Self Timer





Another under-used feature on almost every digital camera is the self timer. This function can be used to save the photographer for missing the picture by delaying the firing of the shutter up to 10 seconds.





You can attach your UltraPod™ to ensure that your camera will not be taken away that easily by some strangers. Of course, you need to aim at the subject and not at a distant background before setting up the timer. Also the depth of the subject should be checked too.





By using self timers, you can also avoid accidentally jarring the camera when you are interested in making long exposures of cars driving at dusk as you initiate the focus.





10. Slow Motions





Normally, you will use an exposure of one second or a bit longer to create the flowing effect of water. In this case, you have to look for waterfalls or streams that are under the shade.





One trick is to use a polarizer or your sunglasses to darken the scene and create a longer exposure. More so, this technique can also eliminate distractions from your portrait.





For a really good photographer, which implies using creativity and ingenuity, viewers often get curious and ask, “What sort of camera model do you have there?”





Would it be more humbling for them to hear that you are using a normal aim and shoot model?





Or you can simply say, “Model ME.”


READ MORE - Digital Photography Tip #1: Don’t Assume that DigiCams Do All The Work!




Have you heard of, “There is more than meets the eye?”





We use our eyes to view things in our environment. However, through time, man has devised ways on how to preserve the things normally seen and thus treasured, whether these are beautiful or not, and one of which is by using cameras.





The images that are captured by cameras can make our eyes see things that have happened before. Moreover, it enables the heart to wish for beautiful things to happen in the future.





These days, the biggest sellers in the camera market are the so-called digital SLR cameras. These are the modern gadgets that can trigger our creativity and seats of emotion.





Though relatively new, most people choose digital SLRs because it can be easily manipulated. However, having these cameras does not completely guarantee that the every captured image is great and perfect.





Following are some point by point guidelines that should be considered to maximize the expense of your digital cameras:





1. Simplicity





Zoom in to capture the part you want to emphasize. Thus, irrelevant objects or areas can be taken away or just allow them to soften.





2. Rule of thirds





When capturing a moving object, it is advisable to capture them moving into the imaginary tic-tac-toe frame from one of the two sides.





3. Shapes and lines





Capture a straight line at an angle by moving five to ten feet away to the side to capture at an angle.





4. Vantage point





To add significance or emphasis to an object, take a picture at a lower vantage point. Increasing the height away from the object can reduce its significance.





5. Balance





Pick out the dominant objects and arrange them so that they complement each other. However, unbalanced or asymmetrical objects are often more visually stimulating than balanced objects.





6. Framing





You can use the frames of your windows to capture an outdoor scene. You can also use doors and walls of a building to capture a person a walking person.





7. Indoor photographs





You can use natural lighting when you are taking candid shots so that the subjects will not be bothered by the flash coming out of the camera.





8. Camera adjustments





The aperture allows light to enter. You must learn how to adjust this properly and appropriately so that images will not appear as either very bright or very dim.





Lowering the shutter speed allows the image to be more exposed to light. You must learn the proper length of exposure so that images will not appear as blurry.





9. ISO speeds





Digital cameras have ISO speeds ranging from 100 to 800. The higher the ISO, the higher the camera’s sensitivity to light’s exposure. Be sure to master using this element along with the camera’s aperture and shutter speeds.





10. Lens/Filters





There are digital cameras that allow additional lenses to be attached to the main lens, or the lenses can be completely interchangeable.





Lenses can be categorized as follows:





a. macro lens – allows you to get closer to objects like insects and flowers





b. wide-angle lens – used for capturing landmarks, and large and wide sceneries





c. telephoto lens – allows longer zooms that let you get close to objects that are rather unsafe





Filters, on the other hand are used to:





a. soften the effect of the image



b. provide blurring on the edges for portraits that have sensitive moods



c. add light flares for the image to be more dramatic



d. to reduce glare so that pictures appear more saturated, crisp, and vivid.





However, if you still want to improve on the images that you have taken, the following list of software can allow touch-ups:





• Adobe Photoshop



• Apple’s iPhoto



• Corel Paint Shop Pro



• Google Picasa



• LView





Once you have understood and mastered the important points on digital photography and capturing pictures, you will soon realize that the keys in getting great pictures are: “Even a simple aim and shoot camera” and “Creative ME.”


READ MORE - Understanding Digital Photography: Techniques in Getting a Great Picture