InformationAddicts.com » Photography

Top 10 Most Popular Cameras and Accessories

admin — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:31:06 +0000

A few weeks ago I compiled a list on the Best Selling Computer Systems and Equipment which was very popular, and I have been asked on a few occasions if I would produce another list on the best selling or most popular cameras and accessories.
The below list is again taken from Amazon, and the reason I use Amazon is that not only are they one the biggest online retailers, but over the many years I have used them I have found them to be very reliable, normally the postage and packaging is free, with a fast turn around, but best of all, if the item you purchase is not suitable you can always return it.
If you are after a camera or any accessories, this list is a great place to start, as not only can you see what is the best seller, but if you click on the link you can also read reviews of the product wrote by the people who bought it.

Most Popular Point and Shoot Digital Cameras:

It looks like Canon rule the roost in the Point and shoot digital cameras, I was surprised that no Nikon cameras were in the top 10.
My all time favourite compact camera is the G9, in at number 6, this camera is a must for anyone who wants most of the functionalty and robustness of a DSLR but in a compact size.

1.Canon PowerShot 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Silver)

2.Canon PowerShot 8MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver)

3.Canon PowerShot IS 8.0 MP Digital Elph Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

4.Canon PowerShot 8MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

5.Canon PowerShot Pro Series S5 IS 8.0MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

6.Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

7.Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5K 9MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)

8.Canon PowerShot 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Black)

9.Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S 9MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver)

10.Canon PowerShot 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Black)

Most Popular Digital SLR Cameras

As you can see from the list below Canon and Nikon are in the top 8, with Olympus just making it into the top 10.

1.Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens

2.Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 Lens (Black)

3.Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

4.Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black)

5.Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens

6.Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens

7.Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

8.Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens (Black)

9.Olympus SP-570UZ 10MP Digital Camera with 20x Optical Dual Image Stabilized Zoom

10.Olympus Evolt E510 10MP Digital SLR Camera with CCD Shift Image Stabilization and 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 and 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 Zuiko Lenses

Photo Printers

1.Canon Pixma iP3500 Photo Printer

2.HP Deskjet 9800 Wide Format Color Printer

3.Canon Pixma iP1800 Photo Inkjet Printer

4.HP LaserJet 1022 Printer

5.Canon Pixma iP2600 Photo Inkjet Printer

6.Brother MFC-5840CN Network Color Inkjet Multifunction Printer with Photo Capture Center

7.Epson Stylus R2400 Photo Printer

8.HP DeskJet 3845 Color Inkjet Printer

9.HP Color LaserJet 2600n Printer

10.HP PhotoSmart 7450 Inkjet Printer

Most Popular Digital Photography Books

The first two books in this list are wrote by Scott Kelby, if you have never read any of his books then I recommend that you do, you won’t be disappointed. He writes about many different subjects including Photoshop and Elements to name just a few.

1.The Digital Photography Book

2.The Digital Photography Book, Volume 2

3.Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Updated Edition)

4.The Betterphoto Guide to Digital Photography (Amphoto Guide Series)

5.Digital SLR Cameras & Photography For Dummies

6.The BetterPhoto Guide to Digital Nature Photography (Better Photo Guide to)

7.The Digital Photography Companion

8.Mastering Digital SLR Photography 2E

9.The KODAK Most Basic Book of Digital Photography (A Lark Photography Book)

10.Shoot Like a Pro! Digital Photography Techniques

Kata Launch a Sleek Set of New Digital Photo Series (DPS) Camera Bags

admin — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:54:08 +0000

Up until a few years ago I had never heard of Kata, I had always used Lowepro camera and video bags and wouldn’t buy anything else. However I read with great interest sometime ago a review on Kata camera bags in a Photography magazine, and liked the look and design of them so much that I decided to buy one. Today it is my main camera and video bag as I really like the quality and comfort or this bag (here is a link if you’re interested) although now and again I do use my Lowepro bags, I do prefer my Kata shoulder bag.
Kata have launched some new DPS bags for video cameras, compacts, creative compacts and some Rucksacks, and I do have to say that they look the business. I think I will have to try one for my Canon G7 camera.

According to their website they quote that “The DPS purifies and focuses on the essence of the best technologies available, featuring a high level of protection combined with light weight in ergonomically designed pouches, shoulder bags and backpacks”.
Here is a link to their website, if you live in the US here is a link where you can buy them from (I have never used this store, and dont know what they are like), you can also buy them from Amazon.com and Ebay.com. In the UK you can buy them at this site.
You will not be disappointed with these camera bags.
Do you already have one? What do you think of it?

Slow Motion Bullet Photography

admin — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:50:22 +0000

I came across this website that shows amazing pictures of objects being sliced in half by a single bullet, it must have taken a lot of time and patience to set up these pictures.
This would make a great hobby, all I need now is a gun (only kidding).
Let me know what you think.

7 Great Tips for Taking Photographs When you Have a Family and No Time

admin — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 11:23:09 +0000

Do you enjoy photography but are not able to pursue it as you have a family which take up most or all of your time? I know the feeling.
I only have 1 little girl and she takes up most of my spare time, but using the tips below I can still do my photography.
1. Set your alarm clock early one morning and get yourself out for a few hours. This is a great time to shoot some pictures as everywhere is deserted and you have it all to yourself.
2. When the little ones are in bed and the nights are light this is a great time to go out and shoot some pictures. Of course if you are a single parent you might need to ask your family to baby sit for a few hours or even pay someone.
3. If the nights are dark and the kids are in bed then you could set up a little make shift studio and experiment with various photos, for example, try a bit of macro photography, all you need is a table and some lighting.
4. When the weekend comes organise something for the family to do for a few hours and you can head off alone to take some pictures.
5. Take your family out for a country walk and see just what photographs you can take, you will be surprised. Don’t weigh yourself down with tripods and accessories, just take the basics, and remember don’t make it too boring for your family, try and enjoy it.
6. Even better get them all to join in, give the camera to each member of your family when you are out and about. You could also buy them a little throw away camera and get the pictures developed, set a competition for the best shot of the day and give a prize.
7. Last but not least spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon taking family portraits, again to get them all involved.
Do you have any more tips that you could share? Then please let me know.

Simple camera technique, Fill in flash explained

admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:03:47 +0000

Have you ever taken a photo of someone outside and they have their back to the sun and when you have viewed the picture you have shot, they seem to be very dark but the background seems nicely exposed? Then you need to use your pop up flash to illuminate them which is very easy to do, simply by pressing the flash button on your camera (DSLR’s normally have a pop up flash) and then take the shot. As you will see they will be nicely lit. If you find that the subject is still a little bit dark you will need to get a little closer, and if your subject is too bright when viewed then step back a bit. Remember in photography trial and error is the key.

Here’s another quick tip on Red-eye, which occurs when reflected light from the back of the eye is captured on your camera’s CCD, as the flash on cameras are too close to the lens. We have all done it, taken a picture of someone using the flash in a dark room and then when we have looked at the picture they look like the devil. The best way to stop this is too use an external flash with your DSLR and attaching it to your camera’s hotshoe. Or fixing it to a bracket by the side. However if you don’t have a hotshoe and you only use a compact camera then look for a button that activates the red-eye function. This basically emits a light into the back of the subjects eye before the flash fires and prevents red-eye, hopefully, but not always as if the person is not looking red-eye will still occur. If possible get the person to look at the camera then take the picture.

I hope these little tips help your photography, do you have any great little tips on taking better photos? If you do I would love to hear from you.

Beautiful wildlife photos

admin — Tue, 13 May 2008 10:42:54 +0000

I came across this website gallery with some exellent photos on it, but the beautiful photos that caught my eye were these photos of African Wildlife by an artist called NickBrandt (also take a look at his own website) Take a look at them and also at the other artists on this website, they might even inspire you.

10 tips for better landscape photos

admin — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 10:42:25 +0000

In my earlier days of photography when I used to take Landscape photos my pictures never seemed to quite turn out how I actually saw them that day. Back then I used to take them to be developed and can remember being exited to get them and see my work but only to be disappointed as most of them were flat and uninteresting. I decided to join a photography club and read photography books on Landscapes and realised where I was going wrong. Do you want to know what makes a good Landscape photo? Then read on and I will show you.
1. Use a tripod if possible, as landscapes are normally sharp from front to back (but not always) which will normally mean a slow shutter speed. If you don’t have a tripod then make sure that your shutter speed is fast enough to let you take a sharp image otherwise your photo will be blurred.
2. Use Aperture Priority mode on your cameras dial (it will possibly look like ‘A’ or ‘AV’) and choose about f/5.6 on a compact and at least f/11 on a DSLR and also use the lowest ISO value you can (100 or less) for the best image quality.
3. If you know how, make sure your metering mode is set to Evaluation/Matrix or Centre weighted so that your shots come out at the right exposure (if not have a look at your manual).
4. Make sure you get the Horizon in your image level by using either the lines in your viewfinder or on the LCD screen (you may have to switch this function on, look at your cameras manual), which is also very helpful for taking other pictures too. If you use a tripod use the spirit level if it has one. Personally I prefer to use the lines on the LCD screen.
5. Rule of Thirds is one of the most important rules to remember as dead central compositions very rarely work. What is the rule of thirds you may ask? Imagine your photo with a noughts and crosses board on it, this would divide your image into 9 equal boxes are you still with me? Now all you have to do is put the point of interest or the focal point (see below) on one of the imaginary four points where the lines cross.
6. Focal Point is basically the main subject or main point of interest which will hold the viewers eye.
7. Use Lead in lines (shown on the right) if you can, which are lines that basically lead the viewer’s eye into the image and onto the focal point. Roads, paths, fences, railings, hedgerows, jetty’s etc all work well.
8. One thing I would recommend is try taking your photos from different Viewpoints, never shoot from head height if possible, go down low, try from a height or experiment by using different angles.
9. Remember to keep your photos simple, more often than not you snap away at the trees and the hills in the background or anything else that looks interesting only to find out when you view your photo on the LCD screen the shot looks messy and boring. Remember that less is more, take your time composing the shot, what you need in your photo is some foreground interest which could be a person, a colourful rock or plant, or a large rock. This will draw the viewer’s eye into the scene.
10. Always try and take your pictures around the Golden hour which is about 30 minutes before sunrise and up to 1 hour after sunset as this it the time when the light is much warmer and gives your image much more detail. Never take photos around lunch time as the sun light is straight above and images will look very flat.

I hope this article will help you to take better Landscape photos? If you have any questions please let me know. Do you have any Landscape tips? Then please share them with us.

Is your sensor dirty?

admin — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 09:02:20 +0000

The trouble with digital SLRs is that dirt can get on the sensor, if you look at a picture you have taken you may see small grey blurry spots on the lighter parts of your image, such as skies. The marks will be grey and fuzzy because the dust is not actually in contact with the surface of the sensor but in fact the dust is on the surface of the low pass filter which lies on top of the sensor. The gap between the sensor and the dust is enough to throw the spots out of focus and allow some light to creep underneath.

You can test to see just how much dust you have if any, by either taking a picture of a white wall or a plain piece of white paper using a telephoto lens or a lens zoomed out to its longest focal length. Select the Aperture priority mode (AV) and set it to the smallest aperture (f22), you do not need to get the image sharp as this does not effect the test so a tripod is not necessary if the shutter speed is very slow. Take the shot and transfer the image onto your computer and with either Photoshop or any other good image software magnify the image to 100%. The chances are that you will see some grey spots, but you have to decide if they will spoil your photos. If you feel that your sensor does need cleaning then I would advise you to look at the cameras instruction manual on how to do this or go to the manufactures website, the process is normally quite straight forward.

Now the reason I actually wrote this article is to help you prevent dust actually getting onto the sensor, so here are a few tips:
1. If your are going to change the lens, firstly switch of the camera as this reduces static on the sensor and therefore reduces the risk of attracting dust, then swap your lenses over.

2. Try to avoid changing your lenses in a dusty environment, I know this isn’t always possible, so if you have to change the lens point your camera down with the lens mount facing the ground, this stops dust falling into the opening.
3. If you do not have a lens on the camera never leave the mount open and exposed, always have the body cap on it.
4. Keep the body cap free from dust. Did you know that the body cap and lens cap attach to each other? This will keep the inside of both caps clean when a lens is on the camera.
I hope this article has helped you? Do you have any other tips to stop the dust getting on your cameras sensor?

Shoot your details.

admin — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 09:16:40 +0000

At this time of year most people will be taking their Digital Cameras on holiday to take shots of the family etc and on average will take over 50 shots to take home and look at or print out. However what happens if your memory card gets lost and with it all those precious shots you and your kids have taken. One great way is to make sure that on the first frame of your memory card you take a shot of your name, address and telephone number, and then if someone does find it then it can be sent back to you